Reps. Garth Everett (R-Lycoming), Keith Gillespie (R-York) and Michael Sturla (D-Lancaster), three of Pennsylvania’s members on the Chesapeake Bay Commission, introduced and the House unanimously passed House Resolution 739 designating the week of June 5-11 Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week. 

The text of the resolution follows--

Designating the week of June 5 through 11, 2016, as "Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, The Chesapeake Bay is the largest and most productive estuary in the United States, its watershed spanning six states and the District of Columbia; and

WHEREAS, The Chesapeake Bay is fed by 50 major tributaries, the largest being the Susquehanna River, which provides 50 percent of the fresh water to the bay; and

WHEREAS, Stretching 200 miles from Havre de Grace, Maryland, to Norfolk, Virginia, the Chesapeake Bay has an average depth of 21 feet and ranges from 3.4 to 35 miles wide; and

WHEREAS, The Chesapeake Bay supports 348 species of finfish, 173 species of shellfish and more than 3,600 species of plant and animal life, including 2,700 types of plants and more than 16 species of underwater grasses; and

WHEREAS, The Chesapeake Bay produces more than 500 million pounds of seafood harvest each year; and

WHEREAS, The bay's tributaries in this Commonwealth are an important source of drinking water and recreational fishing and boating for this Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, The Chesapeake Bay watershed is an extraordinary and vital natural resource, with some of the nation's most productive farm and forest lands in this Commonwealth's portion of the watershed; and

WHEREAS, This productivity supported the settlement and growth of our nation and is a vital resource for future generations; and

WHEREAS, The Chesapeake Bay area is home to more than 17 million people, many of whom rely upon the bay for their livelihood and recreational activities; and

WHEREAS, The rich history, pivotal economic importance and astounding beauty of the Chesapeake Bay watershed never cease to amaze residents and visitors alike; and

WHEREAS, All residents of this Commonwealth are encouraged to commemorate "Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week" with events and educational programs designed to increase awareness of the importance of the Chesapeake Bay to this Commonwealth, the region and the United States; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the week of June 5 through 11, 2016, as "Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania.

For more on Chesapeake Bay-related issues in Pennsylvania, visit the CBF-PA webpage.  Click Here to sign up for Pennsylvania updates (bottom of left column).  Click Here for a copy of CBF-PA’s most recent newsletter.

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3/28/2016