November Stormwater Scoop

Our New Logo

Earlier this year, the Chesapeake Stormwater Network took on an exciting (and admittedly a little intimidating!) challenge — rebranding our organization. We wanted to refresh our messaging, logo, and website to better serve our network. But where to begin?

The first real conversations around this began last spring. It quickly became clear that we needed a creative partner who could help us transform our image while staying true to our mission and values. Enter Sunnyside Creative. They guided us through a series of stakeholder meetings, bringing together many of our partners who regularly engage with us.

Those conversations were incredibly insightful. We learned how our partners view our role in their work — what we’re doing well, and where we could improve. From there, we refined our messaging, met with our Board, and started taking steps to strengthen our public outreach. That meant updating our emails, refreshing our presentation templates, and yes, redesigning our newsletter!

Next came the creation of our new logo. While our previous logo will always hold a special place in our hearts, we knew we wanted something that reflected the multi-faceted, holistic nature of our work — something that came through loud and clear during all those Zoom calls. We aimed for a design that was still recognizable but more adaptable and meaningful to a wider audience. Not an easy task!

After a few iterations, plenty of discussion, and only a couple of spirited design debates, we landed on the logo you see today. It’s the result of months of collaboration between our staff, partners, and funders — a true reflection of who CSN is and what we strive to be. Every element was intentional. (Fun fact: the idea for the color gradient came from a bathroom wallpaper that caught David’s eye!) We loved how the gradient symbolizes the interconnected aspects of our work — blending together into a cohesive vision for a healthier Bay. You might also notice a subtle nod to our original logo in the overall shape and gray outer ring.

Ultimately, CSN remains committed to connecting stormwater professionals and serving as a trusted resource for research and innovation in the field. And this logo isn’t the end of the story — it’s just the beginning! Our website redesign is well underway as we reorganize our resource library (shout-out to Sofia and Jolette, our amazing interns!), create new graphics, and explore new ways to meet the needs of our growing network.

We’d love to hear your thoughts! If you have feedback or ideas as we continue this journey, please reach out — we always welcome the conversation.

The Inaugural CUSP Symposium

In late October, Chesapeake Stormwater Network hosted our first ever CUSP Stormwater Career Symposium. Over 60 members of the 2025 CUSP cohort joined us in Baltimore to network and learn about career pathways and professional development opportunities in stormwater management. In the morning, attendees heard from a panel of rising stars who shared their experiences as early career professionals. They offered fresh perspectives on the skills, credentials, and attitudes that led them to where they are now. In the afternoon, we were joined by a panel of regional leaders focused on developing and sustaining our green workforce to offer perspectives on employer needs, and different pathways to stormwater careers.

During a lively lunch, representatives from five of our partners  – Morgan State University, Biohabitats, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, CityScape Engineering, and the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay – tabled and talked with attendees about opportunities and experiences at their organizations.

The day concluded with a delightful tour of the National Aquarium’s newest exhibit – Harbor Wetlands. Led by the Aquarium’s Conservation Coordinator; we learned about this unique approach to floating wetlands and some of the benefits it’s providing to the Inner Harbor.

Thank you so much to our sponsors!

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