WHEREAS, the Chesapeake Bay is the largest and, at one time, the most productive estuary in the United States, spanning six states and the District of Columbia; and

WHEREAS, the Chesapeake Bay watershed is an extraordinary and vital natural resource, as well as an integral part of the history and heritage of the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, the Chesapeake Bay is fed by 50 major tributaries, including the Susquehanna, Potomac, Rappahannock, York, and James Rivers, and contains more than 15 trillion gallons of water; and

WHEREAS, the Chesapeake Bay stretches 200 miles from Havre de Grace, Maryland, to Norfolk, Virginia, has an average depth of 21 feet, and ranges from 3.4 to 35 miles wide; it supports 348 species of finfish, 173 species of shellfish, and more than 3,600 species of plant and animal life, including 2,700 types of plants and more than 16 species of underwater grasses; and

WHEREAS, the Chesapeake Bay area is home to more than 17 million people, many of whom rely upon the bay for their livelihood and recreational activities; and

WHEREAS, an important source of food for the Commonwealth and the east coast of the United States, the Chesapeake Bay produces more than 500 million pounds of seafood harvest each year; and

WHEREAS, the rich history, pivotal economic importance, and astounding beauty of the Chesapeake Bay watershed never cease to amaze residents and visitors alike; and

WHEREAS, all residents of the Commonwealth are encouraged to commemorate Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week with events, activities, and educational programs designed to increase awareness of the importance of the Chesapeake Bay to the Commonwealth, the region, and the United States; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly designate the second week in June, in 2016 and in each succeeding year, as Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week in Virginia; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates transmit copies of this resolution to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, and the Virginia Conservation Network so that members of those organizations may be apprised of the sense of the General Assembly of Virginia in this matter; and, be it

RESOLVED FINALLY, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates post the designation of this week on the General Assembly's website.