Penn State showcases work to protect Chesapeake Bay during commission's visit

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Leaders from the Chesapeake Bay Commission visited Penn State's University Park campus Sept. 4-5 to experience the impactful work being done at Penn State to help better the Chesapeake Bay watershed, while also engaging in discussion and exploring solutions that address water quality, agricultural vitality, and community impact across the region. 

The Chesapeake Bay Commission is a tri-state legislative body with representation from Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia that plays a leading role in supporting policies to restore and protect the bay. According to the commission, Pennsylvania is the largest landholder in the watershed, comprising 35% of the total Chesapeake Bay drainage basin, making Penn State research, Penn State Extension and the College of Agricultural Sciences vital partners in helping to achieve the region’s environmental and economic goals.  

Through a series of site visits, commission members were able to experience how local efforts in Centre County are helping to preserve the health of the overall Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. 

Included in their visits was a stop at Evergreen Farms, where members of the commission learned how the dairy farm uses innovative management practices to improve soil and water conservation. The combination of these tactics benefits both the farm and Spruce Creek, a nearby world-class trout stream that runs through the farm.  

They also saw efforts to address drainage from abandoned coal mines, one of the most pressing challenges for the region's approximately 2,000 miles of streams. The drainage produces acidic water that contains high levels of metals that impact the chemical and physical environment of the streams and, ultimately, the bay. 

With the collaboration of several local partners, including Penn State, treatment systems are being installed to restore water quality while also tackling challenges to facilitate successful wide-scale adoption so that the benefits of these systems can be fully realized.  

Additionally, members of the commission attended a showcase event featuring Penn State researchers and members of Penn State Extension, where they learned more about the University’s role in protecting the watershed. The event also provided an opportunity for University leaders to engage with commission members.  

“Hosting the Chesapeake Bay Commission on our campus is meaningful for Penn State. It reflects our commitment to the land-grant mission — to put knowledge in service to the people of the commonwealth and beyond,” said Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi during the event. “It also demonstrates the critical importance of sustainable funding for science and research, which makes progress like this possible.” 

State Sen. Gene Yaw serves as vice chair of the commission and as chair of the commission’s Pennsylvania delegation, which also includes Jessica Shirley, secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection; state Sen. Scott Martin; state Reps. Kerry Benninghoff, Carol Hill-Evans and Nikki Rivera; and G. Warren Elliott, who serves as the Pennsylvania citizen representative.  

“The Chesapeake Bay Commission is making real, on-the-ground progress in Pennsylvania,” Yaw said. “Our visit to Centre County highlighted the innovation and commitment of our farmers and conservation partners who are leading the way in improving water quality and restoring legacy mines. Penn State plays a vital role in this effort through world-class research and expertise that benefit the entire Chesapeake Bay watershed and ensure Pennsylvania remains at the forefront of conservation and environmental stewardship.” 

According to Mike Stefan, Penn State vice president for Government and Community Relations, the visit showed Penn State’s land-grant mission in action — harnessing the University's research-backed know-how to support farmers and local communities while also helping to reduce pollutants in Pennsylvania’s streams and rivers that may ultimately impact the bay.

"With more than half of the land in Pennsylvania draining into the Chesapeake Bay, our state and Penn State play a huge role in the restoration and conservation of this important ecosystem," Stefan said. "Penn State is committed to supporting and working with the Chesapeake Bay Commission to provide healthier waters, sustainable farms and resilient communities."