2023 Impacts: Strengthening Clean Water Laws
/Back-to-back policy wins make Maryland a national leader in forest protections
As a Maryland native with deep family roots in the state, Anna Mudd spent much of her childhood swimming and fishing in the Potomac River. An avid hiker, she now likes to explore local trails with her 3-year-old son, enjoying all that her home state’s natural bounty has to offer.
Anna’s passion for the outdoors, coupled with her deep love for the local community, inspired her to get involved in advocacy work over 15 years ago. Personally motivated by her desire to fight the devastating impacts of the global climate crisis and keenly aware of the rapid development happening in Maryland, she grew alarmed by the reckless deforestation due to the state’s weak conservation laws.
She became determined to protect forest ecosystems that are essential for clean water, public health, and fighting the climate crisis. She knew this would require the entire community and might take years to accomplish, but her son’s generation would suffer the consequences if she and her neighbors didn’t speak up now.
Anna became a leader in local and state coalitions helping to shape forest protection policies with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation before joining Potomac Conservancy last winter. She jumped into action and mobilized hundreds of constituents who called on decision makers to pass stronger forest protection laws. Their voices joined others throughout Maryland in a collaborative effort with Nature Forward, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, and other partners.
Our hard work bore fruit. In the spring of 2023, two major forest conservation laws were significantly updated with far-reaching benefits for clean water and our local environment.
Maryland’s Forest Conservation Act and Montgomery County’s Forest Conservation Law both significantly raise forest protection standards and will ensure a net gain of trees in the coming years and decades.
Through our Clean Water Advocacy program, Potomac Conservancy holds elected leaders accountable for their commitments to protect streamside forests, safeguard our drinking water sources, and invest in nature-based solutions that combat pollution and the climate crisis.
Our movement helped make Maryland a national leader in forest protections, and we are not stopping here. Next year, we are excited to expand into Virginia, and we are so thankful for you supporting us in making an ever-greater impact. Together, we are a force of nature!
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