Supporters of the Nanticoke River
Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network
The Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network connects you with the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers through more than 160 exceptional parks, wildlife refuges, museums, sailing ships, historic communities, trails and more. Gateways are the special places where you can experience the authentic Chesapeake. More than 160 special places for experiencing the Chesapeake Bay have joined the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network since 2000.
Friends of the John Smith Chesapeake Trail
The Friends of the John Smith Chesapeake Trail envision a Chesapeake Bay watershed teeming with fish and wildlife; with healthy waters and abundant forests, wetlands, shorelines and open spaces; a place of natural wonders and discovery, rich in cultural traditions; and managed sustainably for the benefit of future generations. While history and growth have altered the watershed, we strive for the “goodly bay” Captain John Smith observed and the Native Americans enjoyed before Europeans arrived.
The Conservation Fund is dedicated to advancing America’s land and water legacy. With our partners, we conserve land, train leaders and invest in conservation at home. From our headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, and our field offices across the country, we’ve saved land in all 50 states—more than 6 million acres of wild havens, working lands, vibrant communities and more.
Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Pollution and other harmful activities degrade the Bay. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) fights for strong and effective laws and regulations. CBF also works cooperatively with government, business, and citizens in partnerships to protect and restore the Bay. When necessary, we use legal means to force compliance with existing laws.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service – Chesapeake Bay Field Office
Chesapeake Bay Field Office biologists work to protect endangered and threatened species, migratory birds, freshwater and anadromous fish, and wildlife habitats in the District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. We also work with many other partners to preserve and protect living resources of the Chesapeake Bay and Delaware Bay ecosystems.
First contact with the Nanticoke Tribe was recorded by Captain John Smith in 1608. Since that time, the Nanticoke Tribe has survived by adapting to changes, supporting one another, and befriending non-native people who lived nearby. There are nearly 500 Nanticoke living today in Sussex County and many tribal members who live in other states. We are proud of our ancestors, we appreciate traditions, and we are enthusiastic about the future.
This group of over 250 are descendants of the original Nanticoke, whose home was and is the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Their name, Nause-Waiwash (nah-soo WAY-wash), is a reference to two Nanticoke ancestral villages based in Dorchester County, Maryland.
Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
It’s the mission of the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control to protect and manage the state’s vital natural resources, protect public health and safety, provide quality outdoor recreation and to serve and educate the citizens of the First State about the wise use, conservation and enhancement of Delaware’s Environment. DNREC provides funding for the Delaware portion of the Nanticoke Creekwatchers Water Monitoring Program, and created the Delaware section of the Nanticoke Water Trails.
Maryland Department of Natural Resources
The Department of Natural Resources leads Maryland in securing a sustainable future for our environment, society, and economy by preserving, protecting, restoring, and enhancing the State’s natural resources. Maryland DNR provides technical assistance for the Nanticoke Creekwatchers Quality Assurance Program, and created the water trails around Fishing Bay Wildlife Management Area.
Delmarva Low Impact Tourism Experiences (DLITE)
DLITE represents a union of Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia businesses, conservation organizations, and local, state, and federal partners which have formed an alliance
to encourage nature- and heritage-based tourism and conservation on the Delmarva Peninsula.
Nanticoke Watershed Alliance
The Nanticoke Watershed Alliance is an organization whose philosophy and intent is to provide environmental stewardship to the river and its watershed.
The Nature Conservancy
The Mission of the Nature Conservancy is to preserve the plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive.
The Chesapeake Forest Lands are most of the former land holdings of the Chesapeake Forest Products Company, comprised of 238 parcels totaling more than 58,000 acres in five lower Eastern Shore counties in Maryland. These lands make up 12 percent of the productive forests in the region, which in the past produced 15-20 percent of the region’s annual timber harvest. In 1999, the State of Maryland purchased 29,000 acres and The Conservation Fund, on behalf of the Richard King Mellon Foundation, purchased 29,000 acres.
Friends of Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge
Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge encompasses over 25,000 acres on Maryland’s beautiful Eastern Shore. As a major stop on the Atlantic Flyway, Blackwater is a vital haven for waterfowl, as well as a sanctuary for the American bald eagle, the endangered Delmarva fox squirrel, and the peregrine falcon. The Friends of Blackwater invite you to come explore the Refuge that Time magazine once called “nature on the throne of her glory.” Come see what all the fuss is about – we know you won’t be disappointed!
Rural Development Center, University of Maryland Eastern Shore
The Rural Development Center’s mission is to strengthen and diversify the rural economy of Maryland’s Eastern Shore. We strive to increase incomes, employment, and the local tax base by providing assistance to counties, communities, and businesses. The RDC collaborates with local higher education institutions, governments, and the private sector to accomplish this mission.