Baltimore holds the key to a cleaner Chesapeake Bay. Seriously.

If you want to see the future of cleanup efforts on the Chesapeake Bay, take a good look at Baltimore. Stop laughing. At first, you might see 92 square miles of aging urban space that few recognize as an environmental role model. Look closer, though, and you’ll find the Middle Branch of the Patapsco River, where Maryland lawmakers, state agency leaders and environmentalists see the best path to a healthier bay.