20th anniversary edition of MPT's Chesapeake Bay Week runs April 21-27

Maryland Public Television (MPT) is set to celebrate the Chesapeake Bay region with its 20th annual Chesapeake Bay Week® slate of documentaries and specials highlighting the beauty, importance, and fragility of the nation’s largest estuary.

During the week of April 21-27, MPT will offer more than 22 hours of broadcast and livestream programming focusing on the Chesapeake Bay’s history, heritage, and resources, along with efforts to protect its diverse ecosystem. Even more content will be available to stream live and on-demand using the free PBS App and MPT’s online video player.

A video preview and more information about MPT’s 2024 Chesapeake Bay Week lineup can be found at mpt.org/bayweek.

This year’s schedule includes more than 30 documentaries and specials, including eight programs viewers will see for the first time. Cornerstone MPT productions debuting in April are Racing Rivals: Log Canoes of Chesapeake Bay on Monday, April 22 at 8 p.m. and The Chesapeake Bay Summit 2024: Course Correction on Tuesday, April 23 at 8 p.m. Another six programs acquired by MPT from talented film producers will premiere throughout the week.

MPT’s annual Chesapeake Bay Week is a unique programming initiative and part of the statewide public TV network’s ongoing commitment to celebrating the bay and examining critical issues faced by communities throughout the Chesapeake region.

New Chesapeake Bay Week programs

Racing Rivals: Log Canoes of Chesapeake Bay – premieres Monday, April 22 at 8 p.m.

Elegant, agile, and propelled by outsized sails offset by nimble crew serving as human ballast, the iconic racing fleet of Chesapeake Bay log canoes embodies tradition, speed, and grace. On breezy summer weekends along the Eastern Shore, those who restore, race, and revere them are out to win, but not at the expense of preserving these unique vessels and the heritage they represent.

Eroding History – premieres Monday, April 22 at 9:30 p.m.

Eroding History tells the story of two Black communities on the Deal Island Peninsula in Somerset County that are losing their land and their history due to the intersection of historical racism and modern climate changes. Meet the passionate people working to save these communities while exploring the challenges they face.

The Chesapeake Bay Summit 2024: Course Correction – premieres Tuesday, April 23 at 8 p.m.

With a major restoration deadline looming, some of the world's foremost experts on the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed join esteemed journalist and host Frank Sesno to discuss complex questions about the best course of action to clean and protect our nation's largest estuary. Panelists grapple with why progress has been slower than expected, what new approaches are needed, and what a healthier bay of tomorrow will look like – all in front of an MPT studio audience.

A River Called Home – premieres Wednesday, April 24 at 7 p.m.

Follow the journey of four women who launch at the headwaters of the James River in Virginia and paddle to the Chesapeake Bay. Along the way, the team conducts a water quality study to help assess how our waterways are being protected and what more we have left to do.

A Passion for Oysters – premieres Wednesday, April 24 at 7:30 p.m.

The oyster presents challenges for protection and restoration unique among Bay seafood. A Passion for Oysters explores these issues and more, evoking the history, culture, art, and science surrounding the Chesapeake Bay oyster, to help explain the roots of the never-ending conflict it inspires.

Salted Earth – premieres Wednesday, April 24 at 8:30 p.m.

Through interviews with scientists, farmers, and community leaders, Salted Earth provides a sobering yet inspiring look at the real and present challenge of sea-level rise. It asks a question that affects us all: Can our strategy against the rising sea succeed, or are we fighting an unwinnable war?

Rob and the Litter Buggie – premieres Wednesday, April 24 at 8:50 p.m.

Maryland filmmaker Rob Simmons sets out on a 15-mile bike ride along the Caroline County backroads to pick up any trash along the way and see just how much litter is out there. With the help of family, friends, and even strangers, Rob collects far more litter than he had initially imagined.

Reviving the Forgotten River – premieres Friday, April 26 at 7:30 p.m.

The Anacostia River, nicknamed “DC’s forgotten river,” is an infamously polluted tributary of the Chesapeake Bay. But after years of work by local activists, progress toward the river’s restoration is being made – so much so that the Anacostia may soon be swimmable for the first time in over half a century.

Maryland Public Television (MPT) is a statewide, public-supported TV network and Public Broadcasting Service member offering entertaining, educational, and inspiring content delivered by traditional broadcasting and streaming. MPT creates and distributes local, regional, and national content and is a frequent winner of regional Emmy® awards. For more information visit mpt.org.