It is with great pleasure that the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay recognizes Steve Saari as the 2022 DC Watershed Champion Awardee at this year’s “Taste: Celebrate the Chesapeake on September 22nd at the Annapolis Maritime Museum. We recognize Steve as a staunch supporter of the Alliance, and an advocate for equitable environmental impacts in the District of Columbia. 

Steve Saari is the Associate Director of Watershed Protection with the District of Columbia Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE).  Steve manages a talented, motivated team of twenty professionals who work hard to protect and restore the health of the District’s waterways.

As Associate Director, Steve oversees an annual budget of over $20 million, including funds from Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Grants and high-profile funding sources, including Stormwater Utility Fees and “Bag Bill” monies.  Steve has an M.S. in ecology and has been in the watershed restoration field for twenty years.   

 Over a decade ago, Steve was the driving force behind the RiverSmart Homes (RSH) program concept, which the Alliance now administers the landscaping, rain barrel, and permeable surface grants for DOEE.  Steve is helping prioritize maintenance of existing projects in order to ensure proper function over time, which has led to a new partnership with the Alliance to administer the District’s Green Stormwater Infrastructure Maintenance Program.  

Steve has been a friend and partner to the Alliance since the early 2000s, as a participant on many of our multi-day kayaking sojourns.  Steve’s passion for cleaner rivers and streams of the Chesapeake Bay comes through in his day to day work.  We appreciate the decade plus partnership with Steve, and DOEE – thanks for all you do!

Join us at the Taste on Thursday, September 22nd, at the Annapolis Maritime Museum to celebrate Steve’s accomplishments!