Muddy runoff construction from a single subdivision smothered one of the Chesapeake Bay’s vital nurseries—turning crystal-clear waters into a hazy graveyard for underwater grasses that shelter crabs and fish.
Over the past four years, more than 200 failed state inspections at Ridgely’s Reserve have allowed relentless sediment to cloud the Gunpowder River, blocking sunlight and wiping out 1,200 acres of submerged aquatic vegetation essential to wildlife, says Theaux Le Gardeur, the Gunpowder Riverkeeper.
But this story isn’t just about loss. It’s about how legal action can drive positive change. By pushing regulators and developers to act—rather than letting violations sit on paper—lawsuits helped elevate stormwater failures, tighten oversight, and force corrections on the ground.
Episode at https://bit.ly/LawsChesapeake
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