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The Alliance’s annual Taste celebration presents an opportunity for like-minded clean water advocates to gather and celebrate our beautiful watershed and all we have accomplished to protect it. In 2024, over 380 guests attended the three Taste events, raising a combined total of over $140,000 for clean water in our Chesapeake communities!
Early bird tickets for the 2026 Taste are on sale June 23rd! Explore ticket packages
Over 100,000 streams and rivers flow through 64,000 square miles of forests, fields, cities, suburbs, and communities on their way to the Chesapeake Bay. Our watershed is a patchwork of communities that rely on its forests, streams, and rivers. It’s a sustainable source of fish, crabs, and other shellfish. It’s where we recreate and connect with nature. It’s our source of clean drinking water. It’s ours to protect.
The Taste is a celebration of our Chesapeake Bay watershed, offering live music, locally-inspired eats, awards, and camaraderie. As our largest annual fundraiser, the Taste aims to bring together like-minded corporations and conservationists within three distinct Chesapeake Bay watershed communities.
As a regional event offering a small, intimate atmosphere, the Taste presents a unique opportunity for you to support our critical work and enjoy an evening with other individuals who genuinely want to make a difference in our watershed.
9.3.2026
6:00 to 8:00 PM
Railroad House Inn
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9.10.2026
Robins Nature Center at Maymont
9.17.2026
Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital
9.24.2026
The Atreeum at Soaring Timbers
“As an industry partner with an inherent passion for helping to rid the Bay of harmful pollutants, Luck Ecosystems has teamed with the Alliance on a number of projects that enhance communities and create environmental solutions throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Working together, we have installed rain gardens, protected streams, and utilized our RainScape biofiltration products for more effective stormwater management. Luck Ecosystems and Luck Stone are proud to support the Alliance’s mission to bring together communities, companies, and conservationists on far-reaching initiatives to keep our lands and waters healthy for generations to come.” – Jimmy Rodgers, Regional Sales Manager for Luck Ecosystems
Collaborate for clean water with us. Become a Taste sponsor today.
Explore Sponsorship Opportunities
Every year the Alliance recognizes local leaders and champions from around the watershed. This year, we’re excited to for you to meet our 5 award recipients that we will be recognizing at the Taste for their leadership and dedication to cleaner rivers and streams. The following awardees have thoughtfully considered how to push the boundaries between science, the environment, and art, and are leaders to be recognized for their exemplary stewardship and profound impacts on the Bay.
Albert McCullough was a scientist, engineer, mentor, and Chesapeake Bay advocate whose legacy lives on in restored waterways and inspired lives.
Al’s expertise in shoreline forensics, tidal marshes, and more has led to many of the design innovations used in living shoreline designs in Maryland and across the watershed. His ingenuity, dedication, and leadership have created a lasting legacy for Chesapeake Bay coastal restoration.
Hear More About Al
A Maryland native, Les grew up on a farm in Calvert County. He received his Juris Doctorate from Widener University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree in East Asian Studies from the University of Maryland. Leslie Knapp, Jr. (Les) currently serves as Water and Science Administration Assistant Director for the Maryland Department of the Environment. He has been with the Department since 2022, serving first as a Senior Local Government Advisor and then as Government Relations Director.
Les exemplifies the spirit and impact of a Watershed Champion through his steadfast support of local governments in their efforts to protect and restore the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The Alliance has benefited from Les’s leadership, humility, dedication to inclusion, and transformative contributions to the Bay watershed!
Read About Les
“Uncle” Bill is a constant in every team member’s life, both as a no-nonsense part coach, part manager, part mentor, and part disciplinarian, but also as a rock of support who will always be there. After serving 35 years in prison, Bill came out to a totally different world, but he didn’t let that stop him. Bill trained to become one of only a handful of people certified by the DC Government’s Department of the Environment as an environmentally-friendly Riversmart contractor, and continued to grow his landscaping and native plant knowledge across the ensuing years. Bill is a dependable, hardworking, and purpose-driven leader.
Will Avila is the founder of Clean Decisions and Changing Perceptions, organizations that create opportunities for returning citizens through employment, entrepreneurship, and community engagement.
Learn More About Our DC Watershed Champions
Bill Ferrell
Will Avila
Melissa Erdman is a District Conservationist with USDA-NRCS in Juniata County, PA. She has been with NRCS for over 20 years, 15 of which have been serving the agricultural community of Juniata County. She is a 2005 graduate of Penn State University with a degree in Agricultural Science and a Minor in Watersheds and Water Resources. She was the 2023 recipient of the Northeast U.S. Hugh Hammond Bennett Excellence in Conservation Award. Beyond the professional sphere, she also serves as the Envirothon advisor at Juniata Christian School.
Melissa has worked closely with the Alliance and has shown a deep commitment to putting farmers first in agricultural conservation projects in Juniata County. She has helped provide meaningful solutions to farmers and boost the Alliance’s work towards advancing environmental stewardship in the agricultural community.
Read More About Melissa
Jenn Clarke is a Program and Operations Supervisor with the City of Richmond’s Department of Public Utilities and is passionate about building partnerships, community, and infrastructure to improve the health of the James River and how life is enjoyed along it.
The Alliance witnessed Jenn’s tireless support through collaborating on a successful green street revitalization project, Fulton Green Street. Jenn has also been a real leader driving the City of Richmond and its partners in implementing the RVA Clean Water Plan in a way that grounds efforts in partnership and true community engagement.
Hear An Interview With Jenn
Use the form below to share a congratulatory message in honor of our 2026 award winners!
Paula LowryAs a supporter of the Alliance and a former DPU employee. I am so happy for you.
Congratulations to you, Jenn!! You are steadfast in driving our work forward, while still ensuring people feel heard and appreciated; and you do this with grace and a delightful sense of humor!! You are such a pleasure to work alongside on all of our parks projects. Thank you for all you do!! Enjoy this moment and I look forward to continuing to see the results of all of your great work in RVA.
Nissa RichardsonCity of Richmond Parks and Recreation
We are so proud of Jenn and it’s well deserved. I was lucky to work alongside her earlier in her career and her work ethic and persistence are the best. Virginia is lucky to have her on their team!
Emily Adamson
Congratulations, Jenn! I’m so excited for you, and this award is absolutely well deserved. It’s been a pleasure working so closely with you over the past year, and I’m thrilled to see you get this recognition for all you do with the City. Looking forward to continuing to work together!
Ann HousemanHazen and Sawyer
Congratulations, Jenn, on this much-deserved award! Your passion and enthusiasm for Richmond and the James River are evident in all you do, and the energy and care you bring to your work is contagious. Congratulations on this outstanding honor!
Jack MurphyGFT
Congratulations, Jenn, on this incredibly well-deserved recognition! It has been a privilege to witness your extensive contributions over the last few years. So many of us admire your passion for your work, genuine kindness, and the way you lead with humility and approachability. You have a remarkable ability to bring people together around a common purpose, not losing sight of the communities you serve. Your stewardship of Richmond's water resources and the Chesapeake Bay watershed has made a lasting impact, and this award is a wonderful reflection of the difference you've made.
Matt WisniewskiGFT
Congratulations, Jenn, on this well-earned recognition. It’s been inspiring to see the energy, care, and dedication you bring to everything you do for the City of Richmond and the James River. Your ability to bring people together has changed my view on how projects should be delivered.
Needless to say, your passion for improving both the river and how people experience it is truly remarkable. For me, this recognition is a reflection of the positive influence you’ve had on so many people, including myself.
Well deserved!
Kyle LogueGFT
Congratulations, Les! This award is a wonderful and well-deserved recognition of your leadership, dedication, and many contributions to clean water and the Chesapeake Bay watershed. We are proud to see your work honored.
Tina AlleyMaryland Department of the Environment
I met Jenn probably back in 2018 and very new to my position at the Alliance. All my interactions with Jenn were positive and left me feeling like a true partner. Jenn understands meaningful community engagement and knows how important it is to engage audiences of all grade levels. She has always been a big proponent of education work and thus was able to deliver on my request for her Scoop the Poop posters! I am so excited to honor Jenn this year with the VA Watershed Champion award.
Meredeth Dash
Congratulations Les! We are grateful for your steadfast leadership of the Local Government Leadership Workgroup and long-time partnership with the Local Government Advisory Committee. You are a true champion for clean water AND local governments!
Laura Cattell NollAlliance for the Chesapeake Bay
Congrats Jenn!! Well deserved!
Grace LeRoseRetired
