Chesapeake Environmental Improvement Council - CEIC

10/24/2022

On Saturday, City staff from the Park and Facility Planning Division, including our Urban Forester, and members of our Tree Board took students from the UVA School of Architecture Urban & Environmental Planning and Landscape Architecture program and their professor for a tour of the City. This course on Green Infrastructure: Green Cities is having the students study the City of Chesapeake to determine community needs and opportunities for our urban forests, water, recreation, and historic and cultural resources with the goal to draft a green infrastructure plan focused on our City. We are very much looking forward to seeing the results of this student-driven study and using it as valuable input into a citywide Urban Forestry Management Plan.

10/21/2022

10/20/2022

Great citizen science project to better map tidal flooding in our region. See below on how to get involved.

10/20/2022

Chesapeake Master Gardeners Fall Plant Sale is coming up on Saturday, Nov 5

10/19/2022

Chesapeake Television will be covering the Chesapeake Candidate Forums, presented by the Women's Division Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce Chesapeake, tonight, October 19, and tomorrow, October 20. The forums will air live each night at 6:00 p.m. on Cox Channel 48, Verizon Channel 43, and online at www.CityOfChesapeake.net/LiveFeed. The forums will be available to watch on demand the next day at www.YouTube.com/ChesapeakeTelevision.

10/18/2022

You’re not lazy, you’re just really passionate about helping the pollinators 🐝 🦋

10/17/2022

The Elizabeth River Project has quite a number of free trees available for residents of the City of Chesapeake who live in the Elizabeth River Watershed through their Free Tree Program. To learn more and sign up for a FREE TREE please use this link: https://elizabethriver.org/river-star-homes/free-tree-program/

10/16/2022

Our well-deserved award recipients...

10/16/2022

The Elizabeth River Project has a new Home Planting Guide with four different sample wildflower planting plans for different conditions like Full Sun or Shade, Dry to Medium to Wet Moisture conditions. Check out the full guide athttps://files.constantcontact.com/30b7cd9a001/1f5cf142-a1e5-473f-b67d-d32cc7ed8f9e.pdf

10/15/2022

Chesapeake Recycles Day ♻️
Happening now!
Come on out. Enter from 1441 Crossways Blvd at Sentara College.

Refer to original post for what you can bring.

10/13/2022

The next Chesapeake Recycles Day is coming up on Saturday, October 15 from 9 am to Noon at a new location - Sentara College, 1441 Crossways Blvd in the Greenbrier area.

The City is partnering with Goodwill, SPSA, and Shred-It to collect a wide variety of items at each of our events. In general, accepted items will include electronics, clothing, household items, household hazardous waste, and sensitive documents. Click here to view a list of eligible items and important exclusions for each drop-off station.

What is NOT accepted?
- Plastic Bags (please recycle at a local store)
- Tires
- Tube TVs (flat panel TVs 42 inches and smaller only!)
- Business items (personal only - items brought in a business-labeled vehicle cannot be accepted)
- For shredding, no magazines, books, CDs, disks, or any non-sensitive documents (junk mail, blank envelopes, etc.).

Please also note the following disposal limitations:
- Household Hazardous Waste: No more than 5 gallons of liquid or 75 pounds of solid waste
- Shredding: No more than 3 copy paper boxes or 3 paper grocery bags

Shredding NOT Done On-Site

For all the details, please visit https://www.cityofchesapeake.net/government/city-departments/departments/Public-Works-Department/wastemanagement-recycling/chesapeake-recycles-day.htm

10/08/2022

The next Chesapeake Recycles Day is coming up on Saturday, October 15 from 9 am to Noon at a new location - Sentara College, 1441 Crossways Blvd in the Greenbrier area.

The City is partnering with Goodwill, SPSA, and Shred-It to collect a wide variety of items at each of our events. In general, accepted items will include electronics, clothing, household items, household hazardous waste, and sensitive documents. Click here to view a list of eligible items and important exclusions for each drop-off station.

What is NOT accepted?
- Plastic Bags (please recycle at a local store)
- Tires
- Tube TVs (flat panel TVs 42 inches and smaller only!)
- Business items (personal only - items brought in a business-labeled vehicle cannot be accepted)
- For shredding, no magazines, books, CDs, disks, or any non-sensitive documents (junk mail, blank envelopes, etc.).

Please also note the following disposal limitations:
- Household Hazardous Waste: No more than 5 gallons of liquid or 75 pounds of solid waste
- Shredding: No more than 3 copy paper boxes or 3 paper grocery bags

Shredding NOT Done On-Site

For all the details, please visit https://www.cityofchesapeake.net/government/city-departments/departments/Public-Works-Department/wastemanagement-recycling/chesapeake-recycles-day.htm

10/07/2022

10/06/2022

The Chesapeake Farmers' Market happens on Wednesdays and Saturday, 8 am to noon, now through November, at Chesapeake City Park. For sale, you'll find farm raised vegetables, fruits, herbs, plants, cut flowers, honey, eggs, grass fed beef and pork, free range chickens, jams, jellies, pickles and more.

The CEIC often has an information table set up too, especially on Saturdays, so stop by and say hi when you are there.

10/05/2022

River Star Businesses - Elizabeth River Project

The Elizabeth River Project recognizes business who are making environmental stewardship THE standard in the Elizabeth River watershed. No matter what kind of business you operate - a large industrial site, shipyard, municipal department, office, restaurant, or faith community - your voluntary efforts count toward restoring our home river. If you are interested in becoming a River Star Business, the Elizabeth River Project is still taking application for its next round of recognition. This program is offered FREE and they also work to help businesses find the grants, expertise and resources they need to reduce toxic pollution, improve flood control, and restore crucial wetlands and wildlife habitat. Learn more at

RIVER STAR BUSINESSES Without the help of our River Star Businesses, improving the health of the Elizabeth River would be impossible. We work hard to help businesses find the grants, expertise and resources they need to reduce toxic pollution, improve flood control, and restore crucial wetlands and....

10/04/2022

Now really is the best time to plant a tree! A fall planting allows the tree to use its energy for establishing a good root system, instead of for leaf growth. While all new tree plantings need regular watering, the cooler fall temperatures reduce the amount and frequency of waterings. With weekly rainfall or watering, your tree will be well established by next summer. See our fall edition of the Heron Chronicle to get step by step instructions on how to plant a new tree -https://www.cityofchesapeake.net/Assets/documents/departments/parks_rec/Boards+and+Commissions/CEIC/Heron-Chronicle-Fall-2022.pdf

10/03/2022

Those who live in low-lying areas are likely to see notable flooding during tomorrow afternoon’s high tide, around 4:00 p.m. High tide will be around a foot higher than Friday, meaning areas that flooded on Friday will flood again and additional areas will flood as well. Please take precautions today, which could include moving vehicles and protecting items in garages, crawl spaces, and at ground level. Please pay close attention to weather and emergency alerts. Evacuation is not required at this time but if you are concerned for your safety, please consider seeking shelter with friends outside of low-lying areas. Those who do have to be on the road tomorrow should be prepared for road closures during the evening commute.

10/02/2022

The next Chesapeake Recycles Day is coming up on Saturday, October 15 from 9 am to Noon at a new location - Sentara College, 1441 Crossways Blvd in the Greenbrier area.

The City is partnering with Goodwill, SPSA, and Shred-It to collect a wide variety of items at each of our events. In general, accepted items will include electronics, clothing, household items, household hazardous waste, and sensitive documents. Click here to view a list of eligible items and important exclusions for each drop-off station.

What is NOT accepted?
- Plastic Bags (please recycle at a local store)
- Tires
- Tube TVs (flat panel TVs 42 inches and smaller only!)
- Business items (personal only - items brought in a business-labeled vehicle cannot be accepted)
- For shredding, no magazines, books, CDs, disks, or any non-sensitive documents (junk mail, blank envelopes, etc.).

Please also note the following disposal limitations:
- Household Hazardous Waste: No more than 5 gallons of liquid or 75 pounds of solid waste
- Shredding: No more than 3 copy paper boxes or 3 paper grocery bags

Shredding NOT Done On-Site

For all the details, please visit https://www.cityofchesapeake.net/government/city-departments/departments/Public-Works-Department/wastemanagement-recycling/chesapeake-recycles-day.htm

10/01/2022

The numbers are in and they are staggering!

During the month of September, four small teams participated in the International Coastal Clean-up here in Chesapeake. Team leaders diligently recorded data of the individual pieces of litter collected. This information is used by Longwood University/Clean Virginia Waterways for study of the sources litter that can enter our waterways. This is just one reason that these cleanups are beneficial.
From:
https://www.longwood.edu/cleanva/AboutPage.html#WhatWeDo
"Thanks to the data collected by our volunteers since 1995, Clean Virginia Waterways has developed expertise in marine debris issues including an understanding of the sources, impacts and solutions to marine debris."

Here's a condensed list of all items collected by our groups:
Total pounds - 447
aluminum cans and drink pouches - 120
plastic bottles - 214
bottle caps - 263
cigarette butts - 204
drink cups - 87
food containers - 80
food wrappers - 451
plastic bags - 154
straws - 79
plastic utensils - 23
balloons - 21
small pieces of plastic and foam - 701!
construction materials - 71

We MUST do better!

10/01/2022

This is a good time to check your yard for any standing water and avoid having mosquito problems next week. Tip and Toss that standing water to stop mosquitoes from breeding.

Rain + heat = skeeters who love to eat! Don't make your yard an AYCE buffet. Tip, Toss, Cover areas where mosquitoes may breed. For more information about mosquito borne illness, including West Nile Virus and EEE, visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/environmental-epidemiology/frequently-asked-questions-about-mosquitoes/

09/30/2022

Be aware!

As we deal with remnants from Ian, it’s important to be especially aware of the high tide schedule as that's when we'll see the most impact when it comes to flooding. Today, high tide is around midday so those low-lying areas could see some water build up any time now. Keep an eye on the forecast throughout the weekend as we could again see some inclement weather and tidal flooding Sunday and Monday. Learn more about the tide schedule here: https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/map/index.html?region=Virginia

09/29/2022

Rains coming. Where does it go? Into our rivers and then the Chesapeake Bay or Albemarle Sound via a complex network of ditches, storm drains, and pipes. And along with the water, everything it picks up - litter, loose soil, fertilizer, pesticides, dog p**p, etc. - goes straight into the river too.

You can find a full map of the City's stormwater system at https://chesva.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/portfolio/index.html?appid=78019d6880fb4f6e906db5d3e5e6f7e4

09/29/2022

Cancelled

Due to the anticipated weather-related conditions on Saturday, October 1, this event is cancelled. The Arbor Day Ceremony will be rescheduled for a later date.

09/27/2022

This is a great opportunity to get your own litter cleanup supplies to keep your neighborhood streets free of litter.
Help Keep Chesapeake Beautiful! 💚

It's that time again! We are gifting cleanup kits in preparation for a busy month! Enter now until the end of the month HERE - https://keepvirginiabeautiful.org/cleanup-kit-giveaway-form/

09/26/2022

It’s back-to-school time! For many, this means new books, new clothes, and new supplies. With all the paper, technology, and general supplies, it's easy to accumulate waste throughout the school year. This year, as you're preparing your students to walk the halls to their new classrooms, try to focus on reducing waste! According to the EPA, there are four rules for waste reduction: reduce, reuse, recycle, and buy recycled.

09/25/2022

Just a reminder to use healthy garden practices that minimize or eliminate the use of herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers!

09/23/2022

The fall edition of the Heron Chronicle is now up on our website athttps://www.cityofchesapeake.net/Assets/documents/departments/parks_rec/Boards+and+Commissions/CEIC/Heron-Chronicle-Fall-2022.pdf

Inside this issue, find
How To Reduce Your Waste This School Year
Conservation Landscaping - Cost Sharing Program
Upcoming Events
License Plate Fund Program
How to Plant a Tree
Chesapeake Recycles Day
Meet the CEIC Vice Chair, Amy Weber!
2022 AutumnFest and Arbor Day! - On Oct 1
2022 Notable Yards Contest Winners
Find Us at the Farmers’ Markets
Keep Chesapeake Beautiful Photos
Environmental Award Nominations
Chesapeake Bikes & Trails Committee
Newton Neck Park Clean Up Results