Protecting Clean Water & Chesapeake Bay Restoration

Social media graphic Southside ReLeaf shared when announcing the letter campaign with the Clean Water Coalition.

In April 2025, the Choose Clean Water Coalition (comprised of more than 300 organizations, including Southside ReLeaf) organized advocacy efforts to support policies that protect clean water in Virginia and advance the ongoing restoration of the Chesapeake Bay. Coalition members sent letters to Senator Mark Warner and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin addressing federal decisions that could impact water quality protections and environmental monitoring efforts.

The campaign urged:

• Protection of Chesapeake Bay water quality standards and restoration efforts.

• Continued federal support for clean water protections.

• Preservation of key Department of the Interior offices involved in water quality monitoring and environmental oversight.

This effort highlighted the importance of coordinated regional advocacy in protecting shared environmental resources and maintaining long-term investments in watershed restoration.