Chesapeake Bay Foundation

Founded in 1966, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) is the largest independent conservation organization dedicated solely to saving the Bay. Protecting the Bay means restoring and safeguarding its entire 64,000-square-mile watershed, which spans six states and homes more than 18 million people. 

Pennsylvania’s 85,500 miles of rivers and streams, within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, supply more than half of the freshwater to the Bay. Restoring and maintaining them is paramount to Bay health and the well-being of Pennsylvania.  

Central to CBF’s work in the Commonwealth is Lancaster County. Through tree plantings, agricultural partnerships, environmental education, advocacy, volunteer programs, and restoration projects, we are helping build a healthier watershed and stronger, more resilient communities. 

Celebrating 40 of Saving the Bay in PA  

CBF opened a dedicated Pennsylvania office in Harrisburg 40 years ago and has since become a leading voice for clean water and environmental stewardship across the Commonwealth. Grounded in science and focused on local waterways, we educate thousands of people each year, advocate for better public policy, partner with communities and landowners, and perform critical hands-on restoration projects.  

Education in PA  

CBF's award-winning education programs connect thousands of students, teachers, and school leaders with the watershed each year through immersive outdoor experiences. We also work closely with farmers and landowners to implement conservation practices such as riparian buffers, rotational grazing, and no-till farming that improve water quality and strengthen local landscapes. CBF’s Farmers to the Bay program further extends our educational programming by providing farmers in Lancaster County with an opportunity to travel downstream to experience first-hand the impact of the conservation efforts they are implementing on their land. One of our proudest moments was when our team worked with the CBF Student Leadership Council program o make the eastern hellbender the official state amphibian. They took this issue straight to the Pennsylvania legislature, found a sponsor for their bill, and persevered through two attempts to get the bill passed in 2019. This effort led to a statewide rallying cry to be a “Hellbender Defender”! 

Advocacy in PA  

CBF advocates at the local, state, and federal levels for science-based policies that reduce pollution, restore natural habitats, and support sustainable growth. Together with our supporters, we work to ensure a healthy Chesapeake Bay and vibrant local waterways for future generations. 

Restoration in PA  

Through hands-on restoration projects and strong community partnerships, CBF helps reduce pollution and rebuild natural systems such as forests, wetlands, and streams. A recent milestone was the completion of the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership, which brought together more than 320 organizations to plant 10 million native trees across Pennsylvania, advancing clean water goals and improving habitat throughout the state. Our efforts to add more trees to the landscape, and reap the benefits of this important conservation practice, continue throughout properties in Lancaster County with several thousand new trees being planted to create forested riparian buffers each year.  

Join us in person on Friday, November 20th   

CBF is truly Rooted in PA! To celebrate this milestone year, we are hosting a celebration at Zoetropolis. Come join us for a private screening of the documentary Roots so Deep, light fare, drinks, and an unforgettable Lancaster Extra Give!  

RSVP Today!

Friday, November 20 | 6:00-9:00 p.m. 

Zoetropolis Cinema Stillhouse | 112 N Water Street, Lancaster, PA  

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