In response to a 1997 toxic bloom of Pfiesteria piscicida and concerns over nutrient runoff in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, the State of Maryland passed the Water Quality Improvement Act of 1998.  The Act is one of the most comprehensive attempts of any state to control agricultural runoff.  The discourse surrounding Pfiesteria quickly changed from discussions over the biology and ecology of the marine organism to the effects of agricultural runoff on water quality.  In the process, farmersâ environmentalism came into question, and public sentiment suggested that farmers should be regulated like other environmental polluters.  Farmers argued that public perception did not incorporate farmersâ beliefs and practices, nor the complexity and challenges faced by todayâs farmers.  Ethnographic research with farmers and environmental professionals reveals the presence of strong cultural beliefs and values underlying perceptions of Pfiesteria, environment, and pollution.  A key role for anthropology in this context is to investigate how stakeholder groups use different or complementary sets of cultural beliefs and values to construct models of environment and pollution, and in turn use this knowledge to promote dialogue and foster partnerships among stakeholder groups to address environmental concerns.

Keywords: algal bloom, nutrient runoff, poultry farming, environmentalism; Maryland