Last Stand at Shady Side
They say it was Tropical Storm Agnes in '72 that started the long, slow demise of the Chesapeake and the way of life of so many watermen who fished the bay. Then MSX and Dermo infected the oyster bars and the water got dirtier. The grasses started to disappear from the bottom and then the crabs and fish left, too. Now, watermen from the Chesapeake's western shore have gathered together in a small town called Shady Side to see if the Chesapeake - and their way of life -- can be saved.

Tapping the Mountain Sap
The hollow tapping echoing off of the rolling, rocky hills is sign that the first warm whispers of mountain spring have come for Randall Steyer. As one of Maryland's 16 maple syrup producers, Steyer and his family look forward to the annual ritual of collecting sap from their farm's ancient maple trees.

Clagett's Test Plot
This working family farm, operated as a joint effort by the DNR, CBF and the University of Maryland, provides a real-world connection between agricultural practices and the Chesapeake Bay. Farmers looking for ways to reduce or eliminate use of fertilizers and pesticides can compare the growth.