The Alliance translates technical or complex information on watershed issues into easy-to-understand toolkits and guidebooks for lay audiences. These products range from “do-it-yourself” guides to publications that provide general advice and direction in working with professionals from various fields of expertise.

BayScapes

BayScaping to Conserve Water - A Homeowner's Guide (205.8 kb) - In some households as much as 40 percent of the water used each month finds its way into the landscape, so future fresh water supplies depend upon wise outdoor water use. (Tool)

BayScapes for Wildlife Habitat - A Homeowner's Guide (171.5 kb) - Forests and open spaces are rapidly giving way to development, to accommodate a growing number of people in the Bay watershed. Whether converted to businesses, shopping malls or houses, the results remain the same: natural habitat is destroyed and species diversity is lost. (Tool)

Using Beneficial Plants - A Homeowner's Guide (70.8 kb) - Beneficial plants are plants that require minimal maintenance-such as trimming, watering and fertilizer or pesticide applications-because they are well adapted to local climate and soil types. (Tool)

BayScaping for the Long Term - A Homeowner's Guide (185.5 kb) - Most of us don't realize how daily landscape maintenance decisions affect the surrounding environment. The impacts of landscape decisions reach far beyond individual property lines, however. (Tool)

Beneficial Plants - for BayScaping in the Chesapeake Bay Region (219.0 kb) - BayScapes are environmentally sound landscapes benefiting people, wildlife, the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. Use this Beneficial Plants list in conjunction with the BayScapes Homeowners Guides. (Tool)

Conservation Landscaping - A BayScapes Homeowner's Guide (187.3 kb) - Conservation landscaping promotes landscaping management that works with nature to reduce pollution and enhance wildlife habitat. (Tool)

Creating Landscape Diversity - A Homeowner's Guide (172.6 kb) - We generally consider the forests, fields, farms and wetlands when describing this watershed, but rarely do we think to include the urban and metropolitan areas falling within its boundaries. (Tool)

A Homeowner's Guide to Designing Your Property (1.1 MB) - This guide is designed to help you implement the concepts of BayScaping in your own yard. The enlargements on the inside pages show plant types and quantities for different areas of the property. The back page features a plant list for you to use to install this design. (Tool)

Citizen Monitoring Resources

3 - Standard Monitoring Data Sheet (89.1 kb) - This standard field datasheet assists citizen monitors with providing water quality information to ACB. When completed, the information is used to provide the general public with a better understanding of local water quality conditions. In addition to standard monitoring, this data sheet can be used for bacterial monitoring and Hydrolab readings. (Tool)

JRA Standard Field Monitoring Datasheet (bacteria, no nettles) (52.9 kb) - This field datasheet is identical to the standard datasheet but additionally lists the James River Association (JRA) logo and is intened for use by JRA monitors. (Tool)

JRA Field Monitoring Datasheet (nettles, no bacteria) (50.7 kb) - This field datasheet is identical to the standard datasheet for sea nettles (does not contain bacteria) but additionally lists the James River Association (JRA) logo and is intened for use by JRA monitors. (Tool)

Monitor information form for database documentation (7.0 kb) - Form necessary to document all of the monitors associated with each site in the citizen monitoring database. Please download this form, fill out by hand, and fax or mail to the Alliance Citizen Monitoring Coordinator. (Tool)

1 - Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Manual (283.3 kb) - This updated manual was prepared to assist volunteers performing chemical water quality monitoring throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The manual includes background material and instructions for measuring air and water temperature, dissolved oxygen, salinity, water clarity and pH. A sample data sheet is included as well. (Tool)

2 - Cheat Sheet to Citizen Monitoring Manual (160.2 kb) - This 20-page "Cheat Sheet" was prepared to serve as an accompaniment to the Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Manual. Monitoring instructions are shortened in bulleted steps. (Tool)

4 - Site Documentation Form for monitoring sites (49.6 kb) - Form necessary to document site information in the volunteer water quality monitoring database. Please download this form, fill out by hand, and fax or mail to the Alliance Citizen Monitoring Coordinator. (Tool)

Community Watershed Forums

Community Watershed Forums: A Planner's Guide (1.4 MB) - This guide is designed to help those interested in conducting their own community watershed forums. (Tool)

Guidelines for Natural Stream Channel Design in Pennsylvania

Guidelines for Natural Stream Channel Design in Pennsylvania (1.6 MB) - Complete publication that discusses natural stream channel design. (Tool)

Less Toxic Pest Promotion

Integrated Pest Management - A Homeowner's Guide (177.6 kb) - Integrated Pest Management (IPM), as the name implies, is the integration of various management strategies-including biological, cultural and chemical methods-into a comprehensive program of pest control for the home landscape (Tool)