We . Protect
We . Serve
We . Celebrate
We . Are
WE PROTECT
Our mission is to protect, conserve and replenish Maryland's longest and deepest intrastate waterway.
Through strategic advocacy, restoration and education our goal is long term sustainability for the ecosystem of the entire Patuxent River basin and the people who rely on its future.
Our Nottingham Visitors Center offers Kayak, Canoe & Equipment Rentals and coordinates community events.
While we are a grass roots community based non-profit, we are proud to be members of the Waterkeeper Alliance that advocates for the health and well being global waterways.
Patuxent River Keeper is funded through grants and public donations. We accept tax deductible donations in any amount.
WE CELEBRATE
We often host celebrations and special programs at our Nottingham Center. Check this space to see what is coming up next!
WE ARE
The Patuxent Riverkeeper
Established in 2004 by Fred Tutman, the grass roots movement of the Patuxent Riverkeeper spans seven counties in Maryland to advocate for and restore the Patuxent River.
Today the Patuxent is a study in contrasts with regions rich in history, wildlife and unforgettable scenic vistas to other areas with poisoned beaches, dead zones and hopelessly blocked and snagged upper tributaries.
Once one of the most productive sources of shellfish in the world, the Patuxent has been deeply and negatively affected by negligent land use.
And yet scientists have pointed to the incredible resilience of the ecosystem, its ability to heal itself if we humans can be compelled to mend our behavior toward the river and embrace responsible stewardship.
Stormwater + Politics = Compromise?
Several people have contacted us to inquire about how to rank or score the track record of legislators who supported the recent weakening of the stormwater rules through a "compromise" in the MD General Assembly. Using the term "compromise" as a euphemism for weakening of the regulation is a variety of "spin" that should be…
Riverkeeper thoughts on the 2000 Patuxent Oil Spill
May 6, 2010. Today, just over 10- years to the day from the April 7, 2000 oil spill from the Chalk Point plant, I visited Swanson Creek near Benedict, MD and motored over "ground zero" of the power company pipeline that leaked some 11,000 gallons of fuel oil into the waters that were once rich…
ROLLBACK OF MARYLAND STORMWATER REGULATIONS
Patuxent Riverkeeper along with other coalition partners worked very hard in the General Assembly to defend the State Stormwater Regulations from an assault by the builder lobby. The business interests initially sought more explicit grandfathering for projects in the development pipeline as the May 4th deadline for implementing the new laws approached. Arguably this was…
Patuxent 2020 Report
The Patuxent 20/20 Report is an intensely researched strategic plan that reviewed publicly available documents, researched studies and consolidated the findings into a visionary implementation plan to protect the Patuxent and bring it back to health. Download it here: Patuxent 2020 Plan
Newsletter Archive
Here is a complete downloadable list of Patuxent Riverkeeper newsletters: First Newsletter September 2005 Newsletter November 2005 Newsletter December 2005 Newsletter March 2006 June 2006 July/August November/December January/February 2007 Fall 2007 Summer 2007 Winter 2008 Summer 2009 February 2010
BAY LEADERS CALL FOR RADICAL NEW ACTIONS
38 BAY LEADERS CALL FOR RADICAL NEW ACTIONS TO RESTORE THE BAY FOR RELEASE: 12:00 noon, December 30, 2009 A consortium of senior Chesapeake Bay scientists, policy makers, and Bay advocates meeting in Annapolis called for an end to the politics of postponement and urged the Obama Administration and the Bay states to adopt 24…