Maryland Coastal Bays Program

Marine Spatial Planning

2010-04-01T07:54:00.000-07:00

By Monty Hawkins

Marine Spatial Planning has been the cause of much controversy, but inaccurate recreational catch data is the real problem and managers’ use of poor catch data is causing serious trouble in the sport fishing world.

Our Ocean Policy and Marine Spatial Planning is about ways to minimize conflict and to ensure that culturally important fishing grounds and fish habitat aren't needlessly lost as we press on with new energy for our nation. Ocean Policy, including Marine Spatial Planning, isn't about taking away fishing areas; it’s about preserving them as the US moves into a new era of energy development.

As a party boat operator in Ocean City with 30 years experience, I am fighting for my business' very existence because of recreational catch-estimate data rotten enough to make a menhaden processing plant blush.

As fishery rebuilding plans have advanced – often with great success – the effects of less than perfect marine science and data's complex illusions are creating havoc as we close in on some species' restoration. For example, in September and October 2007 shore fishers targeting flounder in Maryland are officially estimated to have caught what state party and charter boats will catch in 15 years.

We are often falsely accused of going over-quota and have repeatedly fought the data and lost. We lost because we could not prove guys fishing on the bank weren't catching like an Alaskan factory trawler; lost because 36,017 flounder from shore in two months seemed to regulators a reasonable number even if Maryland's professional crews caught well under 3,000 in a year; lost because although the data is astonishingly poor it is considered the “best science available”, is inarguable and must be used. We suffer shortened seasons, emergency closures, size limit increases and creel limit reductions because of statistical analysis that, literally, couldn't survive the light of day.

This bad data is building and is getting worse. Marine Spatial Planning is not the problem nor will it be. Fishermen would be foolish to allow big-energy in without some manner of safety-net. America does need to move forward with energy policy. Fishers need to look ahead as well.

Windmills will actually contribute to marine production and will create reef communities. However, as the Chesapeake's fishers learned with the closing of the gas-docks by Homeland Security, sometimes what's good for fish doesn't remain good for fishermen.

I'm proud to tell you Maryland's coastal anglers did not wait for the government. We had self imposed regulations on many species long before management--sometimes half a decade before regulations. We have privately funded much of our reef restoration and creation. We are staunch conservationists whose businesses are being destroyed by bad catch data, poor stock assessments and a general lack of flexibility. Even the skippers fishing after WWII never had ocean flounder fishing as we now do. We are still rebuilding' the summer flounder population though.

The challenges of rebuilding, fishing on rebuilt stocks, and finding those species left behind are not insurmountable, but bureaucratic rigidity is making it mighty difficult. All those fishermen, commercial and recreational, who recently rallied in DC, were there for the Flexibility in Rebuilding American Fisheries Act.

Fishers need managers that can manage as we navigate and follow a compass course yes, but dodge a new sand-bar. Held rigidly to data sets of ill-found science, this math that would have made Madoff's staff envious, our regulators are running us hard-aground.

There's no flexibility in the Great Recession. It’s destroying the fishers. What fishermen need now is truth and wisdom. Truth in stock assessments, truth in catch estimates, truth in news reporting and wisdom in our governance. Strikes me we could use some of that near everywhere.

Monty Hawkins is Captain of the Morning Star Party Boat in Ocean City. He also writes a regular fishing report. He can be reached at mhawkins@siteone.net.

Berlin Spring Celebration Goes Green with GBG

2010-03-26T18:05:00.001-07:00

Grow Berlin Green has taken its mission to establish Berlin as a model community for environmental protection, conservation and smart growth and put the concept into real projects that will have an a real and lasting on the community.

On April 3, Grow Berlin Green, along with the Berlin Main Street Program, is sponsoring this year's Berlin Chamber of Commerce Spring Celebration.

The event will include the same fun entertainment as previous years, including the pig races, Easter bonnet parade and egg hunt, but will also feature an environmental twist.

This year the event will also celebrate flowers, plants and green ideas. Free seedlings will be given out by the town of Berlin and the Chamber of Commerce will be passing out free seed packets for vegetables and plants. Some of the vendors will feature natural products or green services and one booth will be sponsored by a local landscaper who hopes to decorate the town with beautiful native plants and flowers.

Children who participate in the Easter Bonnet Contest and Parade can make theirs from home using recycled materials, which is a new category in the contest. It's a great way for children to learn that items once thought of as disposable can actually have other uses. For a detailed schedule of all the Spring Celebration festivities, click HERE.

Additionally, after months of effort on the part of GBG and the town leaders, businesses in downtown Berlin will soon have access to a free recycling service for their glass, plastic, metal and paper waste.

GBG and the Berlin Main Street Program have partnered to purchase a large multi-compartment container for recyclables, and the owners of the Globe have generously offered to site the container behind the restaurant.

Earlier this month town officials reached an agreement with Worcester County on a pickup fee. Next up, GBG will now coordinate with the town, the Main Street Program and the Berlin Chamber of Commerce to educate businesses about the new service and encourage all businesses to participate. The container could be in place as early as May.

This is a true breakthrough and GBG should be applauded for playing such an important role in making it happen.

To highlight the importance of energy conservation, this spring GBG will be giving away free CFL light bulbs to students at Stephen Decatur High School and Middle School, and Berlin Intermediate School students. This giveaway will hopefully encourage the parents to purchase these energy saving light bulbs in the future. GBG purchased some of the bulbs, while others were donated by local businesses.

In an effort to spread the word about the group's efforts, and to educate and mobilize citizen action, as well as promote various Berlin activities and events, last week GBG began a major public service announcement campaign on Public Radio Delmarva.

This type of outreach, which reaches thousands, is invaluable to a small community such as Berlin and it's a very exciting initiative.

Managed by a coalition of the Maryland Coastal Bays Program, the Lower Shore Land Trust and the Assateague Coastal Trust, Grow Berlin Green is driven by community education, empowerment and action.

The success of this program depends on the commitment of Berlin citizens, businesses owners, educators, students and policy makers. It seems clear that GBG has worked with all of the above to make the town of Berlin a better place to live, work and visit.

Sustainable Communities Act of 2010

2010-03-11T05:56:00.000-08:00

A three-year, $50 million program proposed by the O’Malley administration would award tax credits for transit-oriented development, the renovation of eligible Main Street districts such as Berlin, as well as other types of non-historic commercial revitalization to encourage communities to promote sustainable living.

The Sustainable Communities Act of 2010 calls for the authorization of a tax credit, improvements to the Community Legacy and Designated Neighborhood programs, and changes to the governor’s Smart Growth cabinet. The act calls for broadening the 14-year-old Heritage Tax Credit program as the Sustainable Communities Tax Credit to help stimulate local economies, create construction jobs and support ecologically friendly development. The Maryland Historic Tax Credit Program is well established as a key element in downtown areas and older communities throughout the state.

State officials say the upgraded program will attract and sustain private investment in revitalization areas and projects, preserve the authentic historic character of Maryland communities, advance green and sustainable development practices, and streamline and align government programs and resources. The previous program was restricted to historic properties. The proposal asks that up to 40 percent of the credits be made available to people where they live and work. Revitalized Main Streets and attractive storefronts are vital to the public health of any community and for the cash registers of small business owners.

Although not traditionally thought of as a job stimulus, most work done for historic renovation is labor-intensive. According to a recent study, every dollar of rehabilitation tax credit generates $8.53 in economic activity and each million dollars in tax credits conservatively is estimated to put about 73 skilled trades people to work on labor-intensive projects in the construction industry.
Based on previous successes with the old program, state planning officials say the new program can be expected to leverage more than 3,600 jobs over the next three years without impact to the 2011 and 2012 State operating budgets, adding that because eligible projects will be approved more quickly, developers and contractors will be able to expedite the hiring process.

Credit certificates will be given to projects that are considered exceptional based on criteria developed with the governor’s Smart Growth subcabinet. Developers will receive a credit certificate to secure funding for their projects.

The bill also calls for cooperation among state agencies, including Planning, Transportation, Housing and Community Development, and Business and Economic Development. The Energy Administration is involved to tie historic renovation to green building standards, making it one of the first programs in the country to do so. Bringing in experts on health, labor and energy will help us sharpen the focus on sustainable communities, says Richard Hall, Maryland’s Secretary of Planning.
The proposed Sustainable Communities Act of 2010 would put Maryland in line with federal changes that focus on improved coordination of transportation, environmental protection and housing investments. A new partnership between the Department of Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and the Environmental Protection Agency was announced by the Obama administration last year.

A Sustainable Community is one that encourages good health and reflects the concept that economic, environmental, and social issues are interdependent and that regions, cities, towns and rural lands must continue into the future without harming the natural resources that support them. Housing, transportation and resource conservation are managed in ways that retain the economic, ecological and scenic values of the environment. These are also communities where the use of fossil fuels, emissions of greenhouse gases, water resources and pollution are lessened.

Reinforcing sustainable communities and making existing towns and cities more attractive for future growth, rural, cultural and historic resources will be better preserved, local economies will be stronger and the state will gain more efficient and economical use of its investments in existing infrastructure such as roads and schools.

Let's Luau!!!

2010-03-03T11:53:00.001-08:00

Get out your grass skirts and Hawaiian shirts and mark your calendars for Sunday, March 21 when the Maryland Coastal Bays Program and the Ocean City chapter of the Surfrider Foundation present the first ever Live Aloha – Taking Care of the Earth spring luau.
The event is designed to serve two purposes. The first is to provide a fun and unique event to lift our spirits after a winter that was like no other in our area. Toward that end we are pulling out all the stops to make this Hawaiian feast a memorable and authentic luau. Second, and just as important, the luau will help us raise funds for the first the annual Earth Day community cleanup in Ocean City on April 17. (Details regarding the Earth Day cleanup will follow in the coming weeks.)
Our Live Aloha Luau will be a big, fun, family-friendly party at Seacrets featuring traditional Hawaiian food. Polynesian entertainment, including dancing hula girls in grass skirts and flowered leis, and an exotic and amazing Samoan fire dancer, will make the day even more authentically Hawaiian.
The Diamondheads – named after a volcano that cuts along a piece of Hawaiian coastline famous for its surfing – will bring their surf music style to the party. Ocean City’s own BARCODE will also perform. Both bands are waiving much or all of their performance fees for the occasion.
Singer, guitarist and DJ Glen “Honu” Mihalik will serve as the event’s emcee. Mihalik has recently relocated to the area from Hawaii so he brings another layer of authenticity to the luau. Seacrets is graciously providing the perfect venue and many local businesses are donating goods and services that will be auctioned at the event.
The Live Aloha theme is based on a movement in Hawaii that began in the early 1990s on the belief that a community is the sum of the attitudes and actions of its individuals. A cooperative spirit then flows from the individuals whose attitudes and actions are community-concerned, caring and responsible. The movement is guided by values that underlie the spirit of Aloha – respect for others and respect for the land. The Aloha Spirit calls on people to leave places better than they found them, to plant something, to enjoy nature, pick up litter, share with neighbors and create smiles.
The Live Aloha movement encourages sharing and community building to form a common set of actions that all could accomplish regardless of power or income and this community bond would provide a source of togetherness and strength. The Coastal Bays Program and the Surfriders have collaborated for this event because we believe the people who live here truly embody the Live Aloha spirit. Our hope is that the luau will bring people, ideas and resources together for the benefit of our watershed that will carry through to our April 17 Earth Day cleanup.
Much like the Coastal Bays Program, the Ocean City chapter of the Surfrider Foundation works to protect and improve coastal shores and water quality through hands-on projects, education programs, and outreach campaigns. We hope to see you at our first ever Live Aloha – Taking Care of the Earth Luau on Sunday, March 21 from 1 – 5 pm at Seacrets on 49th Street and the bay in Ocean City. Advance tickets cost $25 per couple or $12.50 for an individual and will be $15 each at the door. Children under 12 are free. To purchase advance tickets contact Sandi Smith at 410-213-2297 or sandis@mdcoastalbays.org.

Wetlands Reserve Program

2010-02-25T08:59:00.000-08:00

Landowners in the Coastal Bays watershed may be interested in a program that provides technical and financial help toward protecting, restoring and enhancing forested wetlands, coastal marshes, and former wetlands on agricultural lands.

The goal of the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) is to achieve the greatest wetland functions and values, along with optimum wildlife habitat and long-term conservation practices on every enrolled acre. This voluntary program is open to private property owners and is offered through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). NRCS has worked together with farmers and landowners for more than 70 years to conserve and restore natural resources on private lands.

Land considered for the program must be considered restorable and suitable for wildlife habitat. Land types that are eligible include forest, woodland and other lands where hydrology has been significantly degraded, farmed wetlands, prior converted cropland, farmed wetland pasture, riparian areas and land that has been significantly changed by recent flooding. In 2008, nearly 6,000 acres were enrolled in the state’s program.

There are three options for enrollment. The first is a permanent conservation easement in perpetuity. Easement payments are usually based on a cap, but the landowner cannot receive more than the land’s fair market value. All costs with this easement type are paid for by the USDA, which also pays 100 percent of the costs of restoring the land and required maintenance.

The second option is a 30-year easement, in which payments are 75-percent of what would be paid for a permanent easement. USDA also pays for up to 75-percent of restoration costs. The third type is a cost sharing agreement. This is a 10-year agreement to re-establish wetland habitat and functions. USDA pays up to 75-percent of the cost. This option does not place an easement on the property and the landowner is responsible for maintenance.

As an added bonus for permanent and 30-year easement holders, USDA pays all costs associated with recording the easement in the local land records office. These costs could include charges for abstracts, recording fees, appraisal and survey fees and title insurance.

Although the land is protected from development and agricultural and timber production the landowner retains access control and can still utilize it for compatible uses, including hunting and fishing. These easements result in increasing fish and wildlife habitat, improving water quality, reducing flooding and protecting groundwater and biological diversity.

Participants voluntarily limit future use of the land, but retain private ownership. Landowners benefit by receiving financial and technical assistance in return for restoring and protecting wetlands, reducing problems associated with farming potentially wet and difficult areas, and developing wildlife and recreational opportunities on their land. Wetlands benefit us all by providing fish and wildlife habitat; improving water quality by filtering sediments and chemicals out; reducing flooding; recharging groundwater; protecting biological diversity; as well as providing opportunities for educational, scientific, and recreational activities.

Even after the completion of restoration the NRCS and its partners will continue to help, often through reviewing restoration measures, clarifying technical and administrative aspects of the easement and project management needs, and providing basic biological and engineering advice on how to achieve optimum results for wetland dependent species.

The Wetland Reserve Program was established by Congress in the 1990 Farm Bill and reauthorized in 1996 and again in 2002. The 2002 bill raised the national aggregate cap to 2,275,000 acres nationwide, up significantly from the previous 1,075,000 maximum. The 2002 Farm Bill also authorized continuing the program by enabling the Secretary of Agriculture to enroll up to 250,000 additional acres each year.
Maryland landowners can learn more about how to submit an application to the WRP by contacting NRCS Maryland through USDA Service Centers or by visiting the NRCS Maryland homepage at www.md.nrcs.usda.gov.

WRP and similar programs will be presented at the March 6, 2010 Landowner Conference to be held in Snow Hill. For more information on this conference or to register contact Katherine Munson at kmunson@co.worcester.md.us or go to the county’s webpage at www.co.worcester.md.us.

Snow!

2010-02-16T07:01:00.000-08:00

"Under the microscope, I found that snowflakes were miracles of beauty; and it seemed a shame that this beauty should not be seen and appreciated by others. Every crystal was a masterpiece of design and no one design was ever repeated. When a snowflake melted, that design was forever lost. Just that much beauty was gone, without leaving any record behind."

Those eloquent words were written by Wilson “Snowflake” Bentley, who in 1885 became the first person to photograph a single snow crystal. He would go on to photograph more than 5000 snowflakes and make the discovery that no two snowflakes are alike.

In the aftermath of a recent blizzard it’s difficult to think of snow in such a poetic manner. In reality, snow is a mineral, just like salt or even diamonds. At the center of a snowflake is a speck of dust that can contain anything from an outer space particle to volcanic ash. As the snowflake forms around that speck, its shape is altered by humidity, temperature and wind. A snow crystal can be 50 times as wide as it is thick. According to Guinness World Records, the largest snowflake ever recorded was a 15-incher that besieged Fort Keogh, Montana, in 1887.

As Bentley documented with his photographs, individual snowflakes can be beautiful, but blizzard conditions make for dangerous roadways. Although snow and ice are bad for driving, these natural substances pose no threat to our environment. The methods we use to remove snow and ice, however, can be harmful to our natural resources.

Because it is readily available, effective, and inexpensive, salt is typically the first line of defense to make our roadways safer. Yes, salt is a natural resource, but excess salt can saturate and destroy soil’s natural structure and result in erosion. High concentrations of salt can damage and kill vegetation - a vital buffer between land and water - and pose a serious threat to fresh water ecosystems and fish. Excess salt can also get into our groundwater and runoff into reservoirs affecting our drinking water.

At home we can avoid using salt on our driveways, sidewalks and walkways. When possible, shoveling immediately after the snow stops falling is a good idea. If you’re unable to do so or prefer not to shovel, consider investing in an electric snow blower. True, electric models consume energy, but unlike gas blowers they don’t emit greenhouse gases.

Alternatives to salt for traction include sand or even birdseed (which has the extra benefit of providing food for birds at a time when they really need it). Although these substances won’t melt snow or ice, they will provide a better grip on slick surfaces. Avoid products that contain nitrogen-based urea. Not only are such products more costly, they don’t work when temperatures fall below 20-degrees. Moreover, when urea is applied to the ground it eventually runs off into the street, into storm drains and ends up in our waterways.

To help prevent surface water contamination, snow should be piled in an area that has an adequate depth of soil between the ground level and the water table. The soil and vegetation will act as a filter for pollutants in the melting snow. Always avoid plowing snow into surface waters or near storm drains

We are unaccustomed to blizzard conditions in our area. Still, we should be informed on how best to handle such an abundance of snow and ice so we can protect our abundant natural resources all winter long.

Worcester County Landowner Conference to Provide Stewardship Guidance

2010-02-08T06:05:00.000-08:00

By Katherine Munson

Aldo Leopold, a crusader for land ethics, stated in A Sand County
Almanac, published in 1949, "We abuse land because we regard it as a
commodity belonging to us." While a sense of ownership may contribute
to our abuse of land, enhanced knowledge is the best solution for
restoring and conserving our soil, water, habitat-or collectively-the
land, as Leopold defined it.

As the watersheds of Maryland's Coastal Bays and the Chesapeake Bay
become more populated and developed, successful long-term restoration
will be ever more dependent on the collective actions taken by
individuals, in particular, landowners. This is because the vast
majority of Worcester County's shoreline, and 80% of forest in Worcester
County, is privately owned.

Landowners, whether they own a small residential lot or a 300-acre farm, have a vital role to play in restoration and protection of Worcester County's clean water for future generations. By enhancing or creating natural areas and woodland, landowners can also enhance recreation, aesthetics, and wildlife viewing opportunities on their own property for their own enjoyment and for the enjoyment of future generations.

On March 6, 2010 tools and information landowners need for informed land
stewardship will be provided during a day-long conference tailored to
specific land restoration and conservation issues in Worcester County.
The program will be held from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM at the Worcester County
Government Center in Snow Hill. This event is made possible by Worcester County and a grant from the Maryland Coastal Bays Program.

The conference is open to all county residents and landowners interested
in land stewardship and will offer information and inspiration relevant
to both the small lot and the large farm. Invited experts and county
staff will present information on shoreline restoration, forest and
wildlife management, "greening" the residential yard, natural
resource-related regulatory programs, and restoration and conservation
opportunities.

Two concurrent sessions will run throughout the day, one
for the residential lot owner and another for the owner of larger
property. There will be opportunity take home resource materials on a
variety of related topics and get questions answered by professionals in
forestry, shoreline restoration, natural landscaping, wetland
restoration and related topics. Owners of smaller properties in
particular, are rarely offered technical expertise more routinely
offered to owners of larger parcels, and this is an opportunity for
these landowners to tap the knowledge of experts in this field.

Every household or individual attending will receive a book, published
by the Natural Resource, Agriculture and Engineering Service (NRAES),
relevant to his or her property or interests: The Woods in Your Backyard
is an award-winning handbook for landowners of less than 10 acres.
Forest Resource Management: A Landowner's Guide to Getting Started is a
workbook to help landowners envision and achieve land stewardship goals
on a larger property.

To register for the program send a check made payable to Worcester
County for $6 per registrant to Worcester County Department of
Development Review and Permitting, Attn: Signe Dennis, 1 W. Market St.
Room 1201, Snow Hill, MD 21863. First preference will be given to
Worcester County residents and landowners. Others interested in
attending will be admitted as space allows.

Katherine Munson is a Planner with the Worcester County Department of Development Review and Permitting. For more information about the conference contact Munson at 410-632-1200 ext 1302 or kmunson@co.worcester.md.us.

Tom Patton Honored with Golden Osprey Award

2010-02-04T09:07:00.000-08:00

The Maryland Coastal Bays Program is pleased and proud to announce that Berlin resident Tom Patton has been named the winner of our prestigious Golden Osprey Award.
The program gives the award for outstanding and life-long achievement toward protecting the coastal bays, and Patton fits the criteria perfectly.

Patton is truly in tune with our natural resources, progging for clams, dipping soft shell crabs, hunting and fervently preserving our natural and cultural heritage through action, advocacy and commitment for decades. The Golden Osprey has only been awarded three times before in the history of the Coastal Bays Program.

Patton has helped the Coastal Bays Program a great deal over the years, serving on the Coastal Bays Fisheries Advisory Committee, and assisting with blue crab issues and development and growth-related concerns. He was one of the driving forces behind the original and two subsequent conferences on the Coastal Bays. It was the first conference that directly led to the state and Worcester County seeking our acceptance into the National Estuary Program.

His volunteer experience also includes work with the Maryland Historical Society, the Lower Eastern Shore Heritage Committee, St. Martin's Church Preservation Foundation, and with political advocacy and community association issues. He serves on the board of the Assateauge Coastal Trust (ACT).

His commitment to our natural environment dates back to the 1960s, when he was instrumental in lobbying Congress to create the Assateague Island National Seashore. He was an early participant in the Committee to Preserve Assateague Island – now ACT - and was the driving force behind moving that group from Baltimore to Berlin. He was instrumental in changing the focus of ACT to include the entire coastal bays watershed. Patton played an integral role in the revitalization of downtown Berlin and the formation of the Berlin Farmer’s Market.

In 2005 Patton published the book Listen to the Voices, Follow the Trails - Discovering Maryland's Seaside Heritage, an insightful account of the unique natural and cultural history of Maryland's seacoast. The book captures the rapidly-disappearing oral traditions past generations, urging readers to explore Worcester County's many wonderful rural byways, historical sites, and its abundant natural heritage.

Patton created the nonprofit Rackliffe House Trust in 2004 with the goal to restore the former plantation house once owned by his ancestors. That same year he leased the house and three acres of the 100-acre parcel for 50 years from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. The house is located adjacent to the Sinepuxent Bay, near the National Seashore's visitor center. He has devoted himself to the proper restoration of Rackliffe House with the goal to transform it into a coastal heritage museum.

Patton has made a significant difference in the health of our watershed through his dedication and volunteer service. Such involvement is vital to our success as outlined in our Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan, which states that the program works by recognizing the mutual dependence of good estuary management practices and citizen-based efforts to sustain the community’s culture and economy. As previous Osprey winner and MCBP Foundation Board member Carolyn Cummins puts it, Patton embodies the role of citizen involvement and all that is vital to the success of the with the Coastal Bays Program. Patton also joins Ilia and Joe Fehrer Sr. and Jeanne Lynch in receiving the honor.

Please join us as we celebrate Patton’s Osprey Award on Feb. 18 at 6 pm at the Globe restaurant in Berlin – a fitting location since it is one of the Berlin properties that Patton restored. Tickets are $20 for MCBP members and $25 for non members, and includes hors d'oeuvres and a signature Osprey drink specially created for the occasion.

To purchase tickets contact Anita Ferguson by Feb. 10 at aferguson@mdcoastalbays.org or 410-213-2297, ext. 109. Ferguson is the Public Outreach Coordinator for the Maryland Coastal Bays Program.

Attention Worcester County Landowners!

2010-02-01T09:05:00.000-08:00

Would you like to restore natural function to your shoreline?
Enhance wildlife habitat on your forested property?
Replace lawn with a more natural landscape?
Learn about the current restoration and conservation programs available to large properties?

The Worcester County Department of Development Review and Permitting invites you to a day-long LANDOWNER CONFERENCE. Experts will teach sound shoreline, forest and wildlife management practices that landowners can implement.

Location: Worcester County Government Center, 3rd Floor; 1 West Market Street,
Snow Hill, MD 21811
Cost: $6.00 per registrant (to cover food costs)
Saturday, March 6, 2010

Whether you own a 1-acre lot or a 200-acre farm, this conference will provide valuable information to help you achieve your land stewardship goals. Every household/individual attending will receive a copy of The Woods in Your Backyard, or Forest Resource Management, an $18 value.

Click HERE for information on how to register for this valuable learning experience! This workshop is made possible by Worcester County and a grant from the Maryland Coastal Bays Program.

MCBP Not Involved with Pending Lawsuit

2010-01-29T13:13:00.000-08:00

A recent suit filed by a local environmental organization against a Berlin poultry grower, make it again fitting to note the differences between advocacy organizations and the Maryland Coastal Bays Program.

It should be made clear that the Maryland Coastal Bays Program works through consensus, does not get involved in lawsuits, and works closely with landowners to help them do conservation work or solve pollution problems. We are not part of this or any other lawsuit.

As part of the National Estuary Program, we work with local farmers, developers, scientists, recreational and commercial fishermen, tourism professionals and local business owners to find practical solutions to issues related to conservation in the bays behind Ocean City and Assateague. In addition to these constituency groups, Ocean City, Berlin, Worcester County, the state of Maryland and the US Environmental Protection agency are all partners.

Since 1996 our focus has been to protect and enhance the health of the bays behind Assateague and Ocean City, and our method to accomplish these goals has always been to reach common ground through listening and learning.

A group that does engage in advocacy and lawsuits is the Waterkeeper Alliance, a global coalition of water-quality watchdog groups. In Worcester County, the local Assateague Coastkeeper (Kathy Phillips) is also the director of Assateague Coastal Trust (ACT). In her position she does what she is supposed to do – be an advocate and watchdog for water quality. ACT has a long history of environmental advocacy in the coastal bays, beginning with efforts in the early 1970s to preserve Assateague Island, which is now protected as a National Seashore.

The director of the Coastal Bays Program is Dave Wilson. His role is to provide oversight and direction to implement the Coastal Bays Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP). The CCMP represents a consensus of the best means needed to preserve the economic and ecological prosperity of the coastal bays in the next century. The plan includes reachable scientific goals and the most effective means for implementing them. To be sure, when our partners eschew their commitments or when they act in a manner that gives priority to special interests rather than the community as a whole, we work to hold them to their commitment. However, this is far different from being an advocacy organization.

Still we have worked with ACT in the past on projects like the Worcester County Comprehensive Plan and the Grow Berlin Green Initiative, and there is no doubt that we share a common goal with ACT to preserve and protect the watershed. But our methods to accomplish these goals remain quite different.

In making the distinction between the methods of the Coastal Bays Program and those of the Coastkeeper, ACT and other advocacy groups, we do not intend to disparage. Watchdog groups are vital to ensuring that protocols are being followed and laws are being abided. Sometimes this results in legal action, which can lead to frustration and anger within the community regardless of the merits of the accusations.

There will always be some who confuse the Coastal Bays Program with other environmental groups, and we will have to work to dispel that misconception. Along the way we will continue our mission to care for our natural resources.

Coastal Stewards Wins Award for Best New Heritage Initiative

2010-01-20T13:25:00.000-08:00

The Lower Eastern Shore Heritage Council (LESHC) today awarded the Coastal Stewards as Best New Heritage Initiative of 2009. During the LESHC Annual Meeting, held at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in Princess Anne, MD, representatives of the program gratefully accepted the award in front of an audience of over 100 attendees.

The award recognizes programs, events, or products that represent new initiatives achieved in the last year by an individual or organization that educate the public by expanding understanding of, or access to, the area's rich heritage.

Coastal Stewards is a Summer Youth Employment Program partnership which, in 2009, was funded by President Obama's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), the National Park Service, and the Ocean City-Berlin Optimist Club.

During the summer of 2009, 11 local students were hired – for green jobs – and trained to work as interpreters at Assateague and other local parks and museums. Throughout the summer, these 11 Coastal Stewards engaged over 6,000 visitors to and residents of the Eastern Shore, providing powerful connections to local nature and heritage. Jay Parker, Executive Director of the Heritage Council, thanked Maryland Coastal Bays Education Coordinator Carrie Samis and Delmarva Low-Impact Tourism Experiences Director Jim Rapp for their efforts to inspire and lead this next generation of stewards.

Throughout the summer of 2009, Coastal Stewards shared information about coastal nature and heritage, and encouraged tourists to visit our parks and museums. Coastal Stewards were educating and involving the community through public outreach and education efforts at parks, local festivals, and official meetings of local and state elected leaders.

Teams were outfitted with mobile exhibits featuring information, literature, games, and live animal displays, designed to highlight efforts that local citizens and tourists can make to conserve and restore our land and water. Coastal Stewards assisted interpretation staff at Assateague with conducting public programs. During programs and events, Coastal Stewards promoted the variety of nature-based and heritage tourism experiences that exist in the region. Public outreach programs were conducted at several locations at Assateague Island National Seashore, Assateague State Park, Berlin, and Ocean City.

Joriee’ Dorman said, “being a Coastal Steward opened my eyes to the diversity of the Lower Eastern Shore, my home. I grasped so much and learned about my own heritage, in a way that no classroom or lecture could teach me.”

Coastal Stewards is managed by the Maryland Coastal Bays Program and Delmarva Low-Impact Tourism Experiences. Partner organizations include the Lower Shore Workforce Alliance, Assateague Island National Seashore, Assateague State Park, the Maryland Conservation Corps, and Worcester County Tourism.

Thanks to an expanded partnership with the Maryland Park Service’s Civic Justice Corps program, 24 Coastal Stewards will be hired in 2010! Summer job openings will be advertised through the MD Department of Natural Resources.

Pictured Aabove (left to right): Carrie Samis, Maryland Coastal Bays Program, Joiree’ Dorman, Nick Clemons, Assateague Island National Seashore, Janae Dorman, Angela Baldwin, Assateague State Park, Joe Dorman, Hoa Nguyen, Jim Rapp, Delmarva Low-Impact Tourism Experiences

We Need You for our Citizens Advisory Committee

2010-01-18T06:42:00.000-08:00

Citizen involvement is a vital component to a successful non-profit organization, and the Maryland Coastal Bays Program has certainly been blessed to have so many people step up to the plate and volunteer their time to help protect and preserve our watershed.

The Coastal Bays Citizen’s Advisory Committee was formed when the MCBP came into being more than a decade ago. The committee included representation from the farming, business, recreational and commercial fishing interests. This diverse group of people brought together to solicit opinions from a broad spectrum of resource groups for the purpose of participating in the development and review of the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) for the bays behind Ocean City and Assateague. This plan, aimed at preserving this precious coastal resource, represents a consensus of the best means needed to preserve the economic and ecological prosperity of the coastal bays in the next century.

The Coastal Bays Program is part of the National Estuary Program, which is administered by the Environmental Protection Agency. However, program decisions and activities are carried out by committees made up of relevant stakeholders to identify and prioritize the problems in the estuary. Most NEPs choose a management framework that includes a Citizens Advisory Committee to represent the interests of estuary user-groups and the public.

The CAC membership should be broad-based and provide a non-governmental perspective on how policies affect citizens who live and work in the coastal bays watershed. The CAC should address a whole range of environmental problems facing the estuary.

Over the years, the Coastal Bays Program CAC has evolved to include a speaker series, in which experts from a variety of subjects regarding watershed issues present information at a public meeting. This has been well-received, but the committee’s work to help guide management in the coastal bays is far from over. It is our hope to again form a CAC that meets on a quarterly basis with the goal to provide ongoing advice to the Program on implementing the CCMP for the restoration and protection of the coastal bays.

Community support created the CCMP and will drive it in the future and ultimately it is the residents of this estuary who will benefit. Balancing growth with natural resource protection is the ultimate challenge this estuary faces in the next millennium. When citizen involvement is strong issues remain on the radar screen, raising awareness levels and changing attitudes.

The Coastal Bays Program is a partnership among the towns of Ocean City and Berlin, National Park Service, Worcester County, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the Maryland Departments of Natural Resources, Agriculture, Environment, and Planning. This coalition is strong, but there is no substitute for broader public involvement.

With the goal of broader public involvement, we hope to reinvigorate the original concept of the CAC and will be holding a public meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 27 at 7 pm at the Ocean Pines Library, with the goal to form a committee of stakeholders that will meet quarterly for the longer betterment of our bays.

Ultimately, the responsibility to protect the Maryland Coastal Bays rests with those who live in the watershed. Only by becoming stewards of the Maryland Coastal Bays, caring for them consistently and managing their resources responsibly, can we preserve them for generations to come.

Shifting Sands Authors at the Ocean City Library Jan. 26

2010-01-11T06:10:00.000-08:00

In June the staff of the Maryland Coastal Bays Program was proud to release one of our most important accomplishments – a book focusing on the environmental and cultural changes in the watershed. This month we are just as pleased to have the opportunity to discuss the book directly with the community.

Shifting Sands - Environmental and Cultural Change in Maryland’s Coastal Bays was a collaborative effort from the Coastal Bays Program, the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Coastal Bays Executive Director David Wilson Jr. and staff scientists Dr. Roman Jesien and Carol Cain are among the 80 authors from 24 different organizations and agencies who contributed to the book.

Copies of the book are available at each of Worcester County’s public libraries, and on Tuesday, Jan. 26 at 1 pm, the public will have the unique opportunity to talk directly to authors Wilson, Jesien and Cain at the Ocean City branch on 100th Street. Through their unique approach of weaving together the region’s scientific exploration and history, cutting-edge science and peer-reviewed analysis synthesizing decades of work, the authors will give a holistic view of the bays behind Assateague and Ocean City.

Shifting Sands is a unique effort that provides a comprehensive look at the coastal lagoons and barrier islands making up Maryland’s Atlantic coastline. The book leads the reader through the history, setting, context and ecology of these waterways, their islands and mainland watershed, as well as management activities, history, setting, context and ecology of these fragile lagoons.

Shifting Sands is appropriately named considering the dynamic nature of the watershed. The name also refers to the changing perceptions regarding Maryland’s Coastal Bays, which differ among groups and individuals and have transformed over the years. The ongoing ecological transitions and rediscovery of the watershed inspired the book’s subtitle.

The book provides vital information relevant to our six sub watersheds – the St. Martin’s River and Assawoman, Chincoteague, Newport, Isle of Wight and Sinepuxent bays – with discussions on overall management issues, geologic and hydrologic information, and water quality and habitats concerns. Also contained in Shifting Sands is a rich history of the area, as well as insight on the watershed in a national and international context.

Our coastal bays are a unique and dynamic ecosystem, with a variety of wildlife and habitats. These factors are the very foundation for the success of our agriculture, recreation and tourism industries that support the local and state economies. Moreover, the very legacy we will leave future generations depends on the health of our watershed, but nutrient pollution and habitat destruction have put more pressure on this already vulnerable ecosystem.

As Sen. Paul Sarbanes wrote in the preface of Shifting Sands, “the continued economic prosperity and the quality of life that the citizens of Worcester County, and indeed, citizens throughout the region, enjoy will depend in large part on our ability to manage the Coastal Bays in a sustainable manner.”

We are grateful to Worcester County Public Libraries for providing the perfect venue to discuss this book. We hope the public will take this opportunity to learn directly from the authors just how relevant the Senator’s words are when it comes to the health of the watershed and economic vitality of our community.

Our Accomplishments in 2009

2010-01-04T06:22:00.000-08:00

As we embark on the first week of a new year, it’s a good time to review a few of our accomplishments from last year.

In 2009 we continued to study horseshoe crabs, which thanks in large part to our efforts now have the highest population numbers to date in Maryland, according to a 2002-2009 report recently completed by MCBP staffer Carol Cain and Steve Doctor of the Maryland Fisheries Service. Data from this survey will be used to develop estimates of relative abundance, determine timing of spawning activity used to direct regulations, and make comparisons with horseshoe crab spawning behavior in the Delaware Bay.

In June we released the first Coastal Bays Report Card, revealing an overall grade C+ grade for our bays in 2008. Each of the six sub-watersheds received individual grades, with marks ranging from a B for the Sinepuxent Bay to a D+ for the St. Martin River and the Newport Bay. The grades were determined based on the current water quality and its relation to the quality needed for aquatic life to grow and thrive. The report provided a clear, concise and timely assessment of the health of our bays to help guide future efforts.

Also in June we released the book, Shifting Sand-Environmental and Cultural Change in Maryland’s Coastal Bays, a collaborative effort with the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. This was a major undertaking with MCBP Executive Director David Wilson Jr. and staff scientists Dr. Roman Jesien and Carol Cain among the 80 authors from 24 different organizations and agencies who contributed to the book. This team assessed the condition of the Coastal Bays ecosystem, reviewed the history of the area, current management strategies and upcoming concerns for the watershed.

In October, Dr. Roman Jesien oversaw the completion of a wetland habitat restoration at an 89-acre conservation easement in Showell that showcases some of the techniques that can be used to restore streams and wetlands. This once damaged and neglected property now provides habitat for forest dwelling birds, and serves as a site to teach youngsters about trees, wetlands, vegetation and wildlife.

Last summer 11 area high school and college students learned how to be Coastal Stewards as part of a new program that trains youth to conduct education, outreach, and stewardship activities. Managed by the Maryland Coastal Bays Program and Delmarva Low-Impact Tourism Experiences, partnered with the Lower Shore Workforce Alliance, Assateague Island National Seashore, and Assateague State Park, the Coastal Stewards program was funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The program is expected to expand in 2010.

Also in 2009 we completely revised and updated our website, helped launch Grow Berlin Green, raised a record amount of money from our Osprey Triathlon and continued work on conservation projects totaling 547 acres.

Part of the National Estuary Program, the Maryland Coastal Bays Program is a partnership with the towns of Ocean City and Berlin, National Park Service, Worcester County, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the Maryland Departments of Natural Resources, Agriculture, Environment, and Planning.

Through education and outreach programs, restoration projects and involvement with the business community, builders, residents, visitors and government leaders, the Maryland Coastal Bays Program works to improve water quality, protect habitat and enhance forests and wetlands. With the help of our partners and the community, we vow to continue this important work in 2010.

New Year's Resolutions for 2010

2009-12-28T07:29:00.000-08:00

As we begin a new decade, we can all resolve to make our planet a healthier place. Below are a few small changes that can result in big dividends for the earth – as well as our checking accounts – in 2010 and beyond:

• Reduce phantom energy loss – Many of us don’t know that energy is wasted by electronics and power chargers that are plugged in but not in use. That cell phone charger and laptop suck energy from the outlet continuously, so try to use a power strip and flip the switch to off when the items are not in use.

• Use reusable shopping bags – Twelve million barrels of oil were used to make the 88.5 billion plastic bags consumed in the United States last year. These petroleum-based plastic bags never biodegrade and often end up in our oceans. Keep reusable shopping bags in your car and try to remember to use them.

• Buy local foods when possible – Support local agriculture and purchase foods from sources as close to home as possible. Consider how many miles your food has traveled, how many chemicals are used, and how much pollution and waste have been generated in the production of the food you buy and your family consumes.

• Drink tap water instead of bottled water – Instead of buying bottled H2o, pour tap water into reusable water bottles made from stainless steel or aluminum. Tap water is just as safe as bottled water, and no plastic is needed.

• Wash laundry in cold water –Ninety percent of the energy used to wash a load of clothing comes from heating the water, but most clothes will get just as clean in cooler temperatures. For heavily soiled clothing, use warm instead of hot water.

• Use the dryer more efficiently – This appliance is second only to the refrigerator in terms of energy usage. To help it do its job more efficiently, clean the lint filter after each load and dry only full loads, drying heavy fabrics separately. Of course, hanging clothes outside in the sun or inside on a drying rack whenever possible is always a good option.

• Check toilets for leaks – A leaky toilet can waste between 30 and 500 gallons of water every day, but often such leaks go unnoticed. To find a leak, put a few drops of food coloring in the toilet tank and wait about 15 minutes to see if the dye ends up in the bowl. Leaking is usually caused by an old or poorly fitting flapper valve, which can inexpensively and easily be replaced without a plumber.

• Use the dishwasher – Forego pre-rinsing and simply scrape off large pieces of food from plates before putting them in the dishwasher. Running a fully loaded dishwasher (without pre-rinsing) can use a third less water than washing the dishes by hand, saving up to 10 to 20 gallons of water a day. Save even more by using the air dry setting, which consumes half the amount of electricity than the heated dry.

• Adjust the thermostat – In the winter months set your thermostat to 68 degrees or less during the day, and lower it even more at bedtime or while out of the house. In the summer set thermostat to 78 degrees or higher. For a small investment, a programmable thermostat will change the settings automatically.

• Maintain the correct tire pressure – According the U.S. Department of Transportation, more than a quarter of all cars and nearly one-third of all SUVs, vans and pickups have underinflated tires, which leads to lower gas mileage. Keeping tires properly inflated can save 2.8 billion gallons of gasoline a year in the U. S alone.

Christmas Bird Count Dec. 28

2009-12-23T01:17:00.000-08:00

The Christmas Bird Count is now underway. A yearly tradition in which groups of North American bird-lovers pick a day around the winter solstice and search their designated areas to count every bird they see is more popular than ever.

Sponsored by the National Audubon Society, this is held every year between Dec. 14 and Jan. 5. This year the coastal bays watershed count is scheduled for Dec. 28. Volunteers armed with binoculars, bird guides and checklists brave the cold weather on a mission to assess the health and record changes in resident populations and ranges, before spring migrants return.

The data collected is used to help guide conservation action, and when combined with other surveys, provides a vital look at how the continent's bird populations have been altered in the past hundred years. This long term perspective makes it possible to develop strategies to protect birds and their habitat and help identify environmental issues that can affect humans as well. Local trends can reveal habitat fragmentation or provide a warning of an immediate environmental threat, such as groundwater contamination.

As Audubon president John Flicker put it, birds are “the canary in the coal mine — a sign that something is going on” in terms of environmental issues. The Christmas Bird Count not only helps identify birds in need of conservation action but also reveals conservation success stories, documenting the resurgence of the once endangered Bald Eagle and Brown Pelican, as well as significant increases in waterfowl populations.

The Christmas Bird Count started in 1900 when the National Audubon Society proposed it as an alternative to the then popular holiday activity called the Side Hunt, a yuletide bird shooting competition. Conservation was a budding concept at the time, and many scientists and naturalists were becoming concerned about declining bird populations.

Ornithologist Frank Chapman, an early officer in the Audubon Society, proposed a new a Christmas Bird Census idea that would count birds in the holidays rather than hunt and kill them. The first count was held on Christmas day in 1900 with just 27 participants finding 90 species of birds.

Flicker calls the inception of the Christmas Bird Count a “visionary act” because no one could have predicted how important it would become as a resource and tool for conservation. Flicker says it allows birds to “send us a wake-up call about the importance of addressing the warming of our climate and the loss of vital habitat through action at every level.”

Today the count is the longest-running “citizen science” project in the world, with tens of thousands of Americans participating in the Christmas Bird Count, spotting more than 2,000 species last year. Volunteer birders participate for conservation efforts, but it’s also a good way to connect with nature, despite the cold temperatures, and has become an annual holiday tradition for many families.

In April the MD-DC Audubon designated the Coastal Bays as an Important Bird Area – a global effort to identify and conserve areas that are vital to birds and other biodiversity. The Coastal Bays geographical area has the highest species total of any Maryland Christmas Bird Count and is also typically the highest species total for any Christmas Bird Count at this latitude in the United States, averaging 150 each year.

For more information about the Christmas Bird Count, go to www.audubon.org.

The Lorax

2009-12-16T01:53:00.000-08:00

This holiday season when shopping for the little ones in your life consider a classic book with creative illustrations, unique characters and clever rhymes that also includes a strong message about the importance of being good environmental stewards.

The book is the Lorax written by classic children’s author Dr. Seuss. Although it was released in 1971, the point of the tale is even more valid today.

The story is narrated is classic Seuss fashion by a character called the Once-ler, a businessman whose quest for profits literally kept him from seeing the forest for the trees. It begins with the Once-ler telling a young boy how many years ago he came upon a beautiful forest of Truffula Trees at a time when “the grass was still green and the pond was still wet and the clouds were still clean”.

The Once-ler is awed by the colorful and beautiful Truffula Trees, which have tufts softer than silk, and decides to chop down a tree to make a “Thneed”, a frivolous item that he believes “everyone needs.”

Emerging from within the stump of the first chopped down tree is a mossy creature called the Lorax. “I speak for the trees for the trees have no tongues,” the Lorax tells the Once-ler. But with profits growing, the Once-ler is unmoved by the Lorax’s repeated warnings.

“I meant no harm. I most truly did not,” the Once-ler says.” But I had to grow bigger. So bigger I got. I went right on biggering, selling more Thneeds. And I biggered my money, which everyone needs.”

As the trees disappeared, the creatures that depended on the forest for food, shelter, and fresh air were forced to leave in order to survive. After the last tree is chopped down the Lorax himself also abandons the now desolate landscape, leaving behind a rock engraved with one word – ”UNLESS.”

With all the trees gone, the Once-ler goes out of business. For years afterwards he sat atop his abandoned factory and pondered what he had done. “That was long, long ago. But each day since that day I’ve sat here and worried and worried away. Through they years, while my buildings have fallen apart, I’ve worried about it with all of my heart.”

He tells the boy that he finally understands the meaning the word that the Lorax left behind on the rocks, and gives the boy the very last Truffula Tree seed. “You are in charge of the last Truffula seeds. And Truffula Trees are what everyone needs. Plant a new Truffula. Treat it with care. Give it clean water. And feed it fresh air. Grow a forest. Protect it from axes that hack. Then the Lorax and all of his friends may come back.”

The Lorax was reportedly Dr. Seuss’s personal favorite. Nearly 40 years later the book has become a timeless cautionary tale of excess and neglect. Without sounding too didactic, it warns children – and adults – that we must all be concerned about unchecked growth on our natural resources or suffer the consequences.

As the remorseful Once-ler tells the boy, “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”

Green Gift Ideas

2009-12-14T14:05:00.001-08:00

Finding holiday gift ideas that please the recipient and are also consistent with being kind to our environment can be a challenge, but there are options that will satisfy both criteria that are also economical and original.

All manufactured items require material and energy to be produced, and production and transportation of merchandise translates to some level of pollution, so this year consider shopping for presents at thrift and resale shops. Buying secondhand items is also easy on your bank account, and you can often find new items with the tags still on them at a fraction of the original cost.

There are several thrift shops nearby where you can find great bargains. Check out the Church Mouse in Berlin, the Sheppard’s Nook in Ocean Pines and Used to be Mine in West Ocean City. All three are run by non-profit organizations and profits often go back into the community.

Although this next practice has been frowned upon in the past, don’t be afraid to shop in your own home for things that you no longer need but that are still useful and can be passed along to someone else. That great book you read last summer or that decorative bowl that doesn’t fit in with your new décor might make great presents for friends. And don’t be ashamed to re-gift. That two sizes too small sweater that your old boyfriend’s aunt gave you that has been sitting in your drawer since Christmas 2007 might still be in style and fit your niece perfectly.

Food makes for a great gift any time of year, but delicious treats are particularly festive during the holidays. Although not inexpensive, filling a basket with organic coffees and chocolates is a great idea for someone who might not typically buy organic items. It’s also a great way to reuse that basket you’ve had in your closet since last Easter. For a more personal touch, add some homemade goodies such as cookies, quick breads and cookies, or buy some at a local bakery.

Consider giving services instead of merchandise this year. Pay to get your mom’s house cleaned, or your sister’s haircut, or purchase tickets to movies, plays or concerts for your friends. Buy some local artwork or give gift cards for dance, cooking, martial arts or yoga classes, or pay for a meal at a local restaurant.

Donating to a non-profit charity or organization, such as the Maryland Coastal Bays Program, can be a great gift idea for the person who already has everything. A donation to the MCBP will benefit many and the recipient will know that they are making a difference, helping to ensure that our wonderful natural resources will continue to provide joy for future generations.

Donations are gifts that endure and continue giving long after the holiday season is over. To give a monetary gift from yourself or in someone else’s name, go to the Coastal Bays Program website at www.mdcoastalbays.org and click on the donate button.

In-keeping with the donations theme, this is a good opportunity to thank Ocean City’s Vera McCullough – our Queen of the Bays – who recently gave a generous monetary gift to the Coastal Bays Program. Thanks to Vera and others like her we will be able to continue working toward preserving and protecting our watershed.

Delmarva BioBlitz Award Winners Announced at Tally Rally

2009-11-30T09:02:00.000-08:00

Delmarva Low-Impact Tourism Experiences (DLITE) announced the winners of the Second Annual Delmarva BioBlitz at the BioBlitz Tally Rally on November 19. The event was hosted at the Hazel Outdoor Discovery Center in Eden, Maryland.

The Delmarva BioBlitz connected kids and families to nature through fun, semi-competitive nature exploration, while raising funds for non-profit organizations working on the Delmarva Peninsula. The BioBlitz helped adult and youth teams of up to 10 citizen-scientists conduct inventories of plants and animals in their local parks, watersheds, and throughout the region during the week of October 10 - 19, 2009. All proceeds were shared 50/50 between DLITE and the designated partner charitable organizations.

Thanks to event sponsors, the Hazel Outdoor Discovery Center and Jolly Roger Amusement Park, four prizes of $500 each were awarded to local non-profit organizations. Prizes were awarded to the youth team that inventoried the most total species, and one to the youth team that raised the most money. Prizes were also awarded to adult teams in each category.

The adult team award for most species inventoried went to the Maryland Coastal Bays Program. The Coastal Bays team counted 403 species during an eight-hour block on October 18. The team averaged one species every 71 seconds.

The adult team award for most funds raised also went to the Maryland Coastal Bays Program. The Coastal Bays team raised $2,114.15 by soliciting pledges for species inventoried. The team raised $5.25 for every species inventoried.

“The Delmarva BioBlitz is a great fund raising event for us,” said Dave Wilson, Jr., Executive Director of the Maryland Coastal Bays Program. “Not only do we receive contributions that benefit our own programs, we also get a chance to showcase the incredible diversity of wildlife that lives in the land and water of our coastal bays.”

The youth team award for most species inventoried went to the Coast Kids, a program of the Assateague Coastal Trust. The Coast Kids team counted 274 species during a four-hour block on October 10. The team averaged one species every 52 seconds.

The youth team award for most funds raised also went to the Coast Kids. The Coast Kids team raised $1,221.00 by soliciting pledges for species inventoried. The team raised $4.46 for every species inventoried.

"The BioBlitz is such a great opportunity for children to learn about biodiversity in a fun and semi-competitive way,” said Verena Chase, Coast Kids Program Director. “I am so proud of our Coast Kids BioBlitz team members. Some of the kids are talented naturalists already. For instance, they know a lot more about bugs and snakes than most adults do. The children were very focused searching the beach, marsh, meadow, forest, and garden habitats for species. Some animals, such as white-tailed deer and red fox, were identified by their tracks, some birds by their call, and the kids even dug up a termite nest. The Delmarva BioBlitz is undoubtedly the most fun fund raiser."

The Delmarva BioBlitz was sponsored by the Hazel Outdoor Discovery Center and Jolly Roger Amusement Park. The Delmarva BioBlitz is supported by the Delmarva Environmental Educators Network (DEEN) and the No Child Left Inside Coalition.

For more information, please contact Jim Rapp at dlitedirector@comcast.net or 443-614-0261.

Grow Berlin Green Explores Green Initiatives on the Shore

2009-11-30T06:03:00.000-08:00

By Kate Patton

The public is invited to an informal work session in Berlin on Dec. 10 featuring guest speaker Briggs Cunningham, the coordinator of the Chestertown Goes Green initiative.

The event is hosted by Grow Berlin Green (GBG), the campaign to establish Berlin as a model community for participatory environmental protection, conservation, and smart growth policy and practice. Cunningham – who is also Chestertown’s climate action coordinator - will speak on Thursday, Dec. 10, from 3 – 5 pm at Berlin’s Town Hall. The public will have an opportunity to learn about the Chestertown initiative in the afternoon work session and also later that evening at the Lower Shore Land Trust Annual Dinner.

The issues related to environmental protection, conservation and smart growth are not unique to Berlin. Towns throughout Maryland are wrestling with how to reduce waste and conserve resources, and sharing information is a key to identifying best practices and lessons learned. Priority issues such as stormwater and wastewater management, energy, water and land conservation, and waste reduction and recycling are being discussed across the state. The green initiative in Chestertown, active since 2007, is a useful case study to build upon.

In the spring of 2007, Chestertown Mayor Margo Bailey approached the Center for Environment & Society (CES) at Washington College for assistance in implementing the Mayors Climate Protection Agreement (MCPA). A Chestertown Climate Action Committee was formed, ultimately producing a formal relationship with CES and Washington College. With grant support from the Town Creek Foundation and the Shared Earth Foundation, Cunningham was hired as the full-time Climate Action Coordinator for Chestertown.

Cunningham will share an overview of projects he manages, including the Chestertown Goes Green effort, how the initiative is taking shape, challenges to the project and the future of the work. Cunningham also coordinates the Urban Greening Initiative and Washington College’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as part of the American College and University Presidents’ commitment to climate change.

The Chestertown initiative is one example within Maryland of citizens, schools, residents and businesses working together to create a more sustainable community. Going Green Downtown: A Sustainability Guide for Maryland’s Main Streets, developed by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources is a resource for Main Street communities across the state. The document provides an overview of the Clean, Safe and Green strategy to increase sustainability within Maryland’s Main Street communities, examples of projects already implemented in Maryland, as well as resources for funding and technical support. It can be found online at www.mdhousing.org.

Cunningham will also speak at the Lower Shore Land Trust dinner at the Atlantic Hotel at pm on Dec. 10. The cost is $35.00 and includes a three course dinner and live entertainment by Berlin musicians Katherine Munson and Raquel Orsini. The Lower Shore Land Trust, a Grow Berlin Green partner, will present a brief overview of its land protection accomplishments in 2009, as well as goals for the upcoming year.

For information about the work session or to attend the dinner, call 410-641-4467 or email lslt@intercom.net by Dec. 7.

Kate Patton is the Executive Director of the LSLT. She received the Aileen Hughes Award for Outstanding Leadership in Land Conservation from the Maryland Environmental Trust in 2009.

Thanksgiving and Thoughts on Food

2009-11-24T12:46:00.000-08:00

By Anita Ferguson

As you sit down to enjoy your Thanksgiving meal take a moment to consider where the food you are about to eat originated long before it got on your plate.

Most of us are disconnected from where our food comes from, how the food is packaged and how far it traveled to get there. It’s not easy to track, considering the majority of grocery store packaging and restaurant menus do not reveal a name of a farmer or farm where the produce was grown or the livestock was raised, what fertilizer, pesticides or herbicides were used to grow the produce, or the conservation practices the farmer used.

Today there is a growing national movement encouraging consumers to start buying local foods – foods that are produced as close to home as possible. Why? Protecting our environment, saving family farms and concern over food quality and food safety are just a few reasons to buy local.

Measuring the full environmental impact of food production, transportation, sale and consumption is a complex task, but we know that produce in the U.S. on average travels thousands of miles from farm to consumer, which translates to an increase in carbon dioxide emissions. Moreover, industrial food production depends on fossil fuels, which when refined and burned creates greenhouse gases.

In addition to helping protect our natural resources, buying local food is a great way to support farmers and our community in general. Farmers receive an average of less than 10 cents of every dollar spent on food, with the rest of the money going to processing, packing, and distribution. At farmers markets, however, nearly all of the money goes straight to the farmers. Helping farmers make a living also helps the local economy by ensuring the money we spend on food circulates within our own community.

Another added benefit of local foods is that knowing where your food comes from enables you to make more informed decisions, allowing you to choose food from farmers who avoid or reduce their use of chemicals, pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, or genetically modified seed.

Try to eat local foods for one meal each a week, or incorporate local foods for part of one meal several days a week. Start with a vegetable – squash, potatoes, cabbage, broccoli, turnips, beets and scallions are currently in season. Meat, eggs and dairy products are also currently available from local farmers.
An all local diet can be a challenge, even in a rich agricultural area such as ours, but keep in mind that local means as close to home as possible, so this may mean purchasing lemons from Florida rather than Chile.

For information where to find local foods, check out Delmarva’s Eastern Shore Farm Market Guide at skipjack.net/homegrown/farms_table.html. More information is available from the Maryland Online Farmers Market at www.foodtrader.org, and from Buy Local Challenge at www.buy-local-challenge.com. A local resource list from the Local Eastern Shore Sustainable Organic Network is available on the publications page of our website at www.mdcoastalbays.org.

The ability to preserve farming, protect our natural resources stimulating the local economy at the same time are truly reasons to be thankful this Thanksgiving.

New Website Coming Soon!

2009-11-19T13:33:00.001-08:00

After months of editing, writing, revising, removing and renovating, the staff of the Coastal Bays Program is proud to announce the launching of our new and improved website.
Thanks to the generosity, hard work, and wizardry of those at D3 Corp, the new site is bigger, better and more comprehensive than ever before. Our web address remains the same www.mdcoastalbays.org, but our site is now easier to use, with an interactive map, videos, photo galleries, an up to the minute calendar, and historical as well current information on the Coastal Bays. The new site should be live by early next week.
In terms of content, our site is rather voluminous and was quite a task to organize, but it had to be undertaken so that we can continue to get the message out about the importance of the Coastal Bays watershed. Good websites have become vital to the success of most organizations, non-profit and for profit alike, and we are no exception. As a non-profit, we need to get our message out as much as possible and as clearly as we can.
Our website must make it easy for users to learn more about our cause, to donate money, and to become more involved. It must also be easy for users to find the information they need and the contact information of key personnel. And it must accomplish all this in a way that’s inviting to the organization’s targeted donors and volunteers. We are happy to report that our new site does all that and more.
Of course, there will surely be a few kinks that must be worked out in the coming months, so please keep that in mind when browsing the new site. Feedback from the public is important to us, so don’t hesitate to contact us if the site can be improved. We are always looking for ways to communicate directly with the public, and we hope the new website will provide another avenue to do so effectively.
We would not have been able to update our site to this professional level without help. Thanks to D3 Corp’s generous in-kind work, we were able to afford the company’s technical and graphic expertise and search engine marketing skills.
This kind of community outreach and generosity did not start with us. D3 Corp has also contributed or donated in-kind work for several organizations within the Worcester County and Maryland. Moreover, D3 staff members actively contribute their time, energy and money to various non-profits, including the American Cancer Society of Worcester County, the Blood Bank of Delmarva, Women Supporting Women, Special Olympics, the Ocean City Paramedics Foundation and the Worcester County Humane Society.
Without exception, every person at D3 Corp who worked with us was professional, knowledgeable, courteous and patient. To John, Tanja, Natalee, Nikki, Mike, Nick and David and everyone who helped with this project at D3, thank you so much for making this project possible.
The new website can be previewed on Nov. 19 at 5:30 pm at D3’s West Ocean City office at the Berlin Chamber of Commerce November Business After Hours co-hosted by D3 and the Coastal Bays Program.
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Conservation Easement Walk on Friday

2009-10-28T11:15:00.000-07:00

On the afternoon of November 6th, the Lower Shore Land Trust and the Maryland Coastal Bays Program will lead a short walking tour around a conservation easement property along Pitts Road. The property is owned by the Coastal Bays Program and the conservation easement is co-held by the Lower Shore Land Trust and the Maryland Environmental Trust.

Recently, wetland restoration work has been completed along Middle Branch, and the Land Trust and the Coastal Bays Program are excited to share this work with you. The habitat restoration work will enhance an already productive riparian corridor, while maintaining critical flood control functions. The Maryland Coastal Bays Program acquired this 79 acre conservation easement property, near Showell, in 2008. In addition to the habitat restoration work, the Coastal Bays Program has used the property for various educational trips, including previous Great Worcester Herp Search outings.

A conservation easement is a written agreement between a landowner and a conservation agency, or land trust, which ensures that a property will not be developed beyond an agreed upon limit. The land remains in private ownership while the Lower Shore Land Trust assures that the terms of the agreement are forever met. Easements are a tool for property owner to control the future use, appearance and character of the land. Landowners can continue to farm, harvest timber, and hunt, as well as reserve building rights for future use.

Contact the Lower Shore Land Trust to sign up for this field trip which will take place on Friday, November 6th from 2 – 4 PM.

The Maryland Coastal Bays Program and the Lower Shore Land Trust hope you will consider joining us for a fun and educational tour of a unique conservation easement property.

Rezoning Takes a Step Back

2009-10-26T06:46:00.000-07:00

The Worcester County comprehensive rezoning process took a step backwards last week when the commissioners decided to overstep staff and planning commission recommendations and look at rezoning requests on a parcel-by-parcel basis.

While the majority of commissioners seemed to favor following proper procedure, the group conceded to the move after debate stalled on commercial zoning on MD 589 and higher density residential on MD 611 and South Point.

Good reasons exist to discuss these areas, but to re-open the entire rezoning process after professional planning staff and the Worcester County Planning Commission have strenuously reviewed the over 100 requests for zoning changes is without merit.

Comprehensive planning and zoning is about the long-term well-being of the community, not what’s most lucrative for individual property owners. For the past four years, the public and planning staff have taken great pains to make sure transportation, wildlife, bay health, and public safety were top priorities in the county’s comprehensive plan and rezoning.

The award-winning Worcester County Comprehensive Plan was written to keep new growth out of forests, wetlands, flood-prone areas, and around existing infrastructure. This protects the public, water quality, tourism, and keeps taxes low. Upzoning requests that do not adhere to the comprehensive plan or to these principles should be disregarded.

Elected officials should serve to do what’s best for their community, not certain individuals or other special interests. Randomly spot zoning individual parcels has nothing to do with the greater good. Arbitrary zoning decisions that abandon the notion of planning should be rigorously questioned. Moreover, any decision about changes on individual parcels should be subject to a hearing and further debate from all Worcester County citizens.

If certain commissioners have issues with zoning change requests that were denied, they should bring those to the fore. But going over ever request parcel by parcel has already been done ad nauseum and will take months of work sessions.

The dismantling of the Worcester County Comprehensive Planning Department earlier this year makes this latest maneuver all the more troubling. By now most know that residential development doesn’t pay for itself. Examples of the effects of unchecked development on taxes abound from Glenn Burnie to Wicomico County.

We are confident that the majority of commissioners will take an ethical stance on this issue and side with the planning commission, county staff, and the public which created the comprehensive plan that the zoning should mirror.

The silver lining on re-opening this debate could be that it will allow communities to address certain parcels that are not consistent with the comp plan, such as the ones zoned A-2 along MD611/Sinepuxent Rd., all of the estate zoning (most of which is in flood-prone areas and should be zoned for Resource Protection), the large proposed commercial site across from Stephen Decatur High School, Gumpoint Road, the expanded village district near Stockton, the commercial zoning both along US 50 and to the south and east on the MD 376/611 junction etc., etc.

Planning and zoning are the key factors in determining the future economic and environmental health of towns and counties.
The comprehensive plan and the zoning that follows it were created by citizens, property owners, and professional planners who worked hard to reach consensus.

But however much quick profits and individual property owners come into play, the Worcester County Commissioners have a moral and political obligation to stick to the core planning principles in the comprehensive rezoning for the common good and future health of their community.

Worcester County’s Comprehensive Plan won numerous awards and was held up as a model for counties to emulate nationwide. The commissioners should be sure the zoning regulations do the same.

Ayres Creek Project Stalled

2009-10-19T06:54:00.000-07:00

A group of non-profit organizations, the town of Ocean City and Worcester County have a chance to transform an old, unused landfill into a recreational site, creating another great opportunity for residents and visitors to enjoy our beautiful natural resources.

The West Ocean City property is located along Lewis Rd. Although it is beyond town limits, the property is owned by the town of Ocean City. It was used as landfill from the 1950s until 1980, and in 2007 it was declared a safe area by state officials.

The proposed recreational project called the Ayers Creek Water Trail would be on the 37-acre site, which includes 450 feet of shoreline. The site would also have an entry gate, a parking area and a 120-foot long wooden walkway and could possibly become a kayak launch in the future. Work for the project would be paid for by a $47,000 State Highway Administration grant.

The idea originated from local kayaker Spencer Rowe, who worked with non-profit and government entities – the Coastal Bays Program, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, DLITE and Worcester County Tourism officials – interested in establishing local water trails with the hope that the site would develop into an interpretation program to educate tourists and local residents about the rich nature and heritage of our coastal bays. With the funding in place, all that remained was to get approval from the town.

Unfortunately, the Ocean City Council decided last week that due to liability concerns they will not sign off on the project, suggesting that either the Coastal Bays Program or Worcester County government be responsible for liability insurance.

In hundreds of municipalities throughout the country, local, state and county officials have united with citizens to turn brownfields into safe and productive parks and tourism attractions. These transformed landfills are ideal for parks because of their size, location, and low cost. One such park is the very popular Mount Trashmore in Virginia Beach. The park spans 165 acres with hills more than 60 feet high and 800 feet long. Facilities include picnic shelters, playground areas, a basketball court, four volleyball areas, parking, vending machines and restrooms, multiple walking trails and two fishing.

Obviously, the Ayres Creek project would not be nearly as complex, but will simply create water access that provides a route for paddlers to travel along the picturesque creek and Newport, Chincoteague and Sinepuxent Bays. The water trail flows about six miles to the Worcester County public boat ramp at South Point on Chincoteague Bay. From there, paddlers can go to the canoe launches at Ferry Landing Road and Bayside Drive on Assateague Island National Seashore or they can travel along Sinepuxent Bay roughly four miles to the Assateague State Park boat ramp at the Verrazano Bridge. It could be a potential location for kayak regattas, which are increasing in popularity throughout the country.

The development of the Ayres Creek Water Trail would also be an important tool to promote tourism by providing the only public water access in upper Ayers Creek that would connect to established areas. Expanding water trails enhances water based recreational opportunities in the area. In addition, it will also help local environmental organizations protect the water quality of Newport, Chincoteague and Sinepuxent bays.

The non-profit Coastal Bays Program has simply been a facilitator in this process and stands no economic gain. We have worked with county and state officials to get this project up and running and we are almost there. It would a shame to let it go now. We are hopeful that resort officials will have a change of heart, or that perhaps Worcester County will step up to the plate and make this project a model for what is achievable through cooperative partnerships.

Rezoning Work Session Oct. 20

2009-10-12T07:34:00.000-07:00

The Maryland Coastal Bays Program often calls upon the public to get involved with local issues to ensure citizen voices are being heard and that all sides are considered before decisions are made. This is certainly true with rezoning issues that are vital to preserving and protecting Worcester County’s natural resources.

We encourage everyone to attend a work session Oct. 20 at 1:30 pm at the Worcester County Government Center. The session will focus on zoning maps as part of the comprehensive rezoning plan, which will serve as a guide for determining where growth takes place within the next two decades.

Although initially unhappy with parts of the proposal, we are pleased county staffers and the planning commission have worked together to form compromises that address both property rights and conservation Their recommendations have made the rezoning more consistent with the 2006 Worcester County Comprehensive Plan. Keeping strong agricultural zoning free of non agricultural uses, not allowing upzoning random parcels outside designated growth areas, and removing higher density residential zoning from South Point are all issues that are in-keeping with the 2006 award winning plan.

It is often said that compromise is usually necessary to accomplish major goals, and this process is certainly no exception. By no means did the Coastal Bays Program get everything that we wanted – we would have preferred that a transfer of development rights program for large lot estate zoning and for the excess commercial zoning on Route 50 from Ocean City to Berlin be included in the plan, as well as mandatory conservation subdivision design, not allowing off-site septic, and removal of the more permissive A-2 zoning down MD 611 and east of Berlin.

As pleased as we are with the compromises made, we still must be vigilant. Nevertheless, we remain optimistic that the Worcester County Commissioners will continue to listen to their staff, the planning commission, and the voices of the public to continue to reach a middle ground for all concerned regarding the principal issues on the county's rezoning. It is for this reason that we encourage everyone to attend the Oct. 20 work session.

On a side note, we’d like to take this opportunity to bid a fond farewell and best wishes to Sandy Coyman, who for 10 years was head of the county’s now defunct Comprehensive Planning Department, which was dissolved in May in a department consolidation. As head of that department, Sandy worked to make Worcester County a leader in planning and helped Worcester County win a 2006 award for its nationally recognized comprehensive plan.

He also oversaw the implementation of land protection programs such as the Coastal Bays Rural Legacy Area program, the county’s Agricultural Land Preservation Program, and the Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program. These programs have permanently protected over 8,000 acres of farms and forests in the county since 2000.

Sandy’s job also included tracking trends and anticipating future community needs, educating citizens and getting them involved in community stewardship, supplementing local monies with grants and managing the county-wide Geographic Information System, among other duties.

Sandy’s work protecting natural resources for future generations will continue in Talbot County, where he will head that county’s planning and zoning department beginning later this month. Worcester County’s loss is Talbot County’s gain. We wish him all the best in his new position.

Vote for Grow Berlin Green for Tom's of Maine Award!

2009-10-07T05:15:00.000-07:00

Grow Berlin Green’s Neighborhood Green Teams project has been selected as one of 50 finalists for a $20,000 Tom’s of Maine Community Sponsorship award and we can all have a say in the outcome by voting online.

Grow Berlin Green’s Green Team Project is competing against nonprofit organizations from dozens of other states for the Tom’s of Maine award. GBG’s ultimate goal is grow the town “green from the grassroots up”, educating and engaging the community to meet pressing environmental and conservation challenges, leading to establishing it as a model community for environmental protection and conservation.

The Green Teams project will mobilize neighborhood teams to take practical steps to conserve energy and water, increase recycling, reduce solid waste, and build a more sustainable community. Results will include lower energy and water usage, improved water quality and a reduced waste stream. The project will spur neighborhoods and the community as a whole to improve the town’s environmental health and protect the surrounding fragile landscape and hopefully sow the seeds of a citizens’ movement to establish and sustain environmentally sound policies and practices.

Rarely do we have a chance to influence a company’s decisions on where their donated money should be allocated, but here we have a chance to do just that. To vote for Grow Berlin Green go to www.tomsofmaine.com, click on Community Involvement, then click the Project Sponsorship tab for the list of contenders. You can also find a link to the Tom’s website at www.growberlingreen.org. Winners will be based on the total number of votes cast on the Tom’s of Maine website. You can vote once a day through Oct. 30. Tom’s of Maine will announce the five winners in November and award each $20,000.

Grow Berlin Green is a three year campaign managed by the Maryland Coastal Bays Program, the Lower Shore Land Trust and Assateague Coastal Trust. It’s funded by a $125,000 grant from the Town Creek Foundation, a private, philanthropic organization dedicated to encouraging a sustainable environment. The GBF campaign includes events and activities designed to involve citizens, business owners and government officials to better build a foundation for citizen and policymaker participation. A community information meeting held in February attracted a standing room only crowd at Berlin Town Hall where citizens offered numerous ideas and suggestions for programs and activities.

In less than one year, GBG has made great strides to meet its goal, including installing a rain garden in town, purchasing and installing rain barrels at several Berlin eateries and distributing thousands of free, reusable shopping bags to area merchants and shoppers. GBG also awarded scholarships to four local teachers to attend the Maryland Association of Environmental and Outdoor Education Conference held in Ocean City earlier this year. Still, there is more to be done and winning the $20,000 Tom’s of Maine award will help keep the momentum going.

Tom’s of Maine manufactures personal care products in Sanford, Maine, in an environmentally sensitive manufacturing facility using natural ingredients derived from plants and minerals and biodegradable, earth-friendly recycled and recyclable packaging, according to the company’s website. Ten percent of the company’s profits are donated to charitable organizations and Tom’s employees are encouraged to use 5-percent of their paid time doing volunteer work for the organization of their choice.

10th Annual Osprey Triathlon Raises $43K

2009-10-05T07:02:00.000-07:00

More than 400 athletes from across the region competed in the 10th Annual Osprey Sprint Triathlon at Public Landing Saturday, Oct. 3 to benefit the Maryland Coastal Bays Foundation.

The $75 entrance fee and generous local sponsorships helped raise more than $43,000, which will be used for restoration, monitoring, and education in the coastal bays watershed. Despite the cloudy and threatening weather, hundreds of spectators gathered to cheer on racers during the half-mile swim in Chincoteague Bay, the 15.2-mile bike course and the 3.1-mile run on the roads surrounding the rural countryside of southern Worcester County.

This year’s winners included 42 year old Kent Buckson of Rehoboth Beach, who finished first with a time of 1:10:01. Patrick Serfass, 31 of Washington, DC finished second 1:10:28 , followed by Steve Meininger, 40, of Clarksville, Md with a time of 1:11:14.

In the women’s category, Krista Schultz, 31, finished first with a time of 1:20:26, followed by second place winner Rebecca Durivage-jac, 25, of Baltimore, with a time of 1:26:16. Melissa Denault of Berlin, 42, took third place, crossing the finish line with a time of 1:28:12.

Our youngest competitors were Vivian Killian, 11, of Kensington, MD, who finished with a time of 2:33:21, Jason Wuertz, 12, of Chesapeake, Va, who finished at 2:12:11 and Joshua Wuertz, 13, also of Chesapeake, Va who crossed the finish line with a time of 2:22:46.

Our oldest competitors were 70-year-old John Mulflur of Easton, who came in at 1:48:04; 73-year-old Robert Healy of Stevensville, Md who finished at 1:48:37; Joe Marhoefer, 73, of Reston, Va, who crossed the finish line at 2:00:33 and Huston Bud Schlosser, 77, of Dover, Pa who finished with a time of 2:54:30.

The 10th annual Osprey Sprint Triathlon was sponsored by Seacrets, M & T Bank, Bahia Marina, Thrasher’s Fries, Gismondi Insurance, Taylor Bank, Francis Scott Key Motel, OC Wasabi, Sun Signs, Delmarva Power, Barcoding Inc., Ocean City Chiropractic Clinic, Halls Restaurant, the Original Greene Turtle, Bike Sports, Pepsi, Home Depot, Coastal Builders, Atlantic General Hospital, Mike Truitt of Merrill Lynch and Worcester County Tourism.

Thanks also to Hi-Tide Marine, Todd Burbage and Kool Ice and Seafood for donating goods and services and to local artist Kirk McBride who donated the logo design for our 10th anniversary race. T-shirts sporting the new logo will be sold during the race and at the pre-race dinner Friday night at Sunset Grille in West Ocean City. A final thanks to the Worcester County Public Works Department and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

For complete race results visit www.compuscore.com.

Sponsors & Volunteers make Annual Osprey Triathlon a Success

2009-09-29T08:22:00.000-07:00

Hundreds of athletes will descend on Public Landing Saturday morning for the10th Annual Maryland Coastal Bays Program Osprey Sprint Triathlon, our biggest fundraiser of the year.

The sprint distance triathlon includes a half-mile swim in Chincoteague Bay, a 15-mile bike course and a 3-mile run on the roads surrounding the area. Proceeds from entrance fees and sponsorships raise money to support the bays behind Ocean City and Assateague Island. The magnificent setting of Public Landing is a natural fit for the triathlon since it showcases our estuary so well and provides the perfect course for swimming, running and biking. Thanks to the work of Coastal Bays Program partners, a 230-acre farm was permanently protected on the north side of Public Landing Road this year.

Our first race 10 years ago was the brainchild of former Coastal Bays Program Director David Blazer. With planning help from triathlon organizers from the American Cancer Society in Salisbury, Blazer, his staff and a great group of 90 volunteers made the event a success, with 138 athletes and $18,000 raised for the Program.

The response from racers was overwhelmingly positive, with competitors proclaiming it to be one of the best settings available in the region, providing a challenging, safe and fun course and helpful volunteers. Last year was our most successful triathlon to date, with 450 athletes participating bringing in more than $25,000. In addition to attracting additional racers each year, the annual race has become a spectator attraction, with more than 1,000 gathering along the route and at the finish line to cheer on the racers.

Coastal Bays staffer Kate Diffenderfer, who took over from Blazer as the event’s organizer, has made some changes this year that will help make the race more environmentally friendly. Instead of mailing 3,000 brochures, she used the internet and email to promote the triathlon. More recycling bins will be on site the day of the race and any leftover food will be donated to a local charity. Our winners will receive medals made from recycled bike chains, which can be converted to a keychain.

It is no small task to prepare for such a large outdoor athletic event, so we count on the help of volunteers to make the day run smoothly. We utilize the services of more than 100 volunteers who help ensure the success of the event. Volunteers are needed to help with course preparation on Friday afternoon, as well as Saturday morning. They are stationed at areas along the transition area, and along the swim, bike and run routes to cheer on racers. They also help to close down the event, including removing the finish line, disassembling the bike racks, helping to corral trash and recyclables and packing up race materials.

We also couldn’t make this event a success without the help of sponsors. This year we’d like to thank the following businesses for their financial support: Seacrets, M & T Bank, Bahia Marina, Thrasher’s Fries, Gismondi Insurance, Taylor Bank, Francis Scott Key Motel, OC Wasabi, Sun Signs, Delmarva Power, Barcoding Inc., Ocean City Chiropractic Clinic, Halls Restaurant, the Original Greene Turtle, Bike Sports, Pepsi, Home Depot, Coastal Builders, Atlantic General Hospital, Mike Truitt of Merrill Lynch and Worcester County Tourism.

Thanks also to Hi-Tide Marine, Todd Burbage and Kool Ice and Seafood for donating goods and services and to local artist Kirk McBride who donated the logo design for our 10th anniversary race. T-shirts sporting the new logo will be sold during the race and at the pre-race dinner Friday night at Sunset Grille in West Ocean City. A final thanks to the Worcester County Public Works Department and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

To volunteer, contact Kate Diffenderfer at 410-213-2297 ext.106 or kdiffenderfer@mdcoastalbays.org. For race information go to www.mdcoastalbays.org/osprey/info.php.

Volunteers needed for the 10th Annual Osprey Triathlon Oct. 3

2009-09-23T05:28:00.000-07:00

We need volunteers to help with the 10th Annual Osprey Sprint Triathlon held Oct. 3 at 9 am at Public Landing. This is the biggest fundraising event for the Maryland Coastal Bays Program, which works to protect the back bays of Ocean City and Assateague Island.
Last year, more than 450 athletes participated, making it our most successful triathlon to date. Volunteers are what make this event work and function smoothly and they are needed for a variety of duties, including hanging banners and registration in the morning. Volunteers will also be stationed at areas along the transition area, and along the swim, bike and run routes to cheer on racers. Kayak owners are needed to assist racers who may need help during the swim and they are needed at the site.
Volunteers are also needed to help break down the event, including removing the finish line, disassembling the bike racks, helping to corral trash and recyclables and packing up race materials. Everyone who helps will get a special thank you gift.
The 10th Annual Osprey Triathlon is sponsored by Seacrets, M & T Bank, Bahia Marina, Thrasher’s Fries, Gismondi Insurance, Taylor Bank, Francis Scott Key Motel, OC Wasabi, Sun Signs, Delmarva Power, Bar Coding, Inc., Ocean City Chiropractic Clinic, Halls Restaurant, the Original Greene Turtle, Bike Sports, Pepsi, Walmart, Home Depot, Coastal Builders, Atlantic General Hospital, Mike Truitt of Merrill Lynch and Worcester County Tourism.
To volunteer or for more information, contact race organizer Kate Diffenderfer at 410-213-2297 ext.106 or send an email to kdiffenderfer@mdcoastalbays.org.

Coast Day a Great Success

2009-09-22T05:33:00.000-07:00

State Explores Offshore Wind Possibility

2009-09-21T06:13:00.000-07:00

State officials are now taking steps to explore the potential for developing wind energy off Maryland’s coast, which could result in inexpensive, clean and renewable energy for hundreds of thousands of homes in the future.

The Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) last week asked those in the wind power industry whether they’d be inclined to submit proposals to build a wind park off the state's 31-mile coastline about 12 miles out to sea. Offshore wind power is especially useful in densely populated coastal regions, where demand for energy is high and land availability is low. A 1000 megawatt wind park could provide the amount of energy for more than 200,000 homes statewide year.

In a Sept. 15 statement MEA Director Malcolm Woolf said offshore wind has the potential to supply more renewable energy than any other resource in the region. If Maryland is able to successfully harness these resources in a cost-effective way, he said, the state will be able to satisfy its renewable portfolio standard of 20 percent by the year 2022.

According to the US Energy Department, Maryland has “outstanding” wind resources that compare favorably or better than Midwestern land based wind resources.” MEA’s offshore wind initiative will include outreach to potential offshore wind developers, a technical evaluation of the wind resources off of Maryland’s Atlantic coast and Outer Continental Shelf, and will include community engagement.

“Offshore wind energy offers vast potential to create jobs for our workers and to help stabilize electric costs for our families while also increasing grid stability,” Governor Martin O’Malley said. “As we continue our commitment to promote a Smart, Green and Growing Maryland, the benefits of the clean energy generated from offshore wind may prove to be vital for our state’s energy and environmental future.”

Wind is a renewable resource that can be widely distributed. It’s also an inexpensive and clean form of energy that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions when it displaces fossil-fuel-derived electricity. This technology is well established in Europe but is new to the United States and has had a difficult time becoming a reality. Opponents cite the high initial construction costs while others complain that wind farms are eyesores. Advocates agree that the initial price tag can be high, but say the long term savings more than make up for the start-up costs. They add that wind farms are built so far offshore that visual concerns are minimal.

Cape Wind, a 130 turbine project in Nantucket Sound could supply the electricity needs of more than 300,000 homes, but it has been delayed for eight years due to concerns regarding its effects on marine life, tourism and property values. It has been the subject of endless studies, public hearings and reviews by federal, state and local agencies and lawsuits. Its fate now rests with the Department of the Interior and a decision is expected as early as this winter.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources along with the Nature Conservancy will study how birds, bats, fish and marine animals might be affected by turbine use. In the long run, the benefits likely outweigh the risks but proper study of marine mammal, bird and bat migration should take place before plans are finalized. Some species may be impacted, but the need for clean energy to offset climate change will have a much larger impact on birds and marine mammals if nothing is done.

Yes, there are serious aesthetic, economic, and technical questions that must be answered and concerns about the impact on wildlife that must be addressed. If the measure leads to an offshore wind park off our coast it will likely change the energy paradigm in our state for the better.

International Cleanup Day and Coast Day on Saturday

2009-09-14T05:57:00.000-07:00

A rescued loggerhead turtle will be released into the ocean on Sept. 19, a day that will include two important events each designed to enlighten, educate and engage people from all backgrounds and ages about the health and importance of our coastal region.

The first event begins at 9 am at the Assateague Island National Seashore for the 24th International Beach Cleanup Day. This local coastal cleanup organized by the Assateague Coastal Trust is part of the Ocean Conservancy's International Coastal Cleanup designed to engage people to “remove trash and debris from the world's beaches and waterways, identify the sources of debris, and change the behaviors that cause marine debris in the first place.”

Participating in Coastal Cleanup Day is a great way for families, students, service groups, and neighbors to join together to remove trash from our coastlines, show community support for our shared natural resources and learn about the impacts discarded trash on our fragile marine environment.

Last year more than 260 volunteers collected 3,269 pounds of trash off of Assateague National Park – trash that if not removed is bad for our tourism economy, hurts our seafood industries, harms species and entire ecosystems essential for marine life to survive. Participating in the Cleanup makes a big impact, empowering people to become involved in supporting a healthy coastline. Registration for the cleanup at Assateague National Seashore begins at 8 am at the Ranger Station. Participants should supply their own bug spray, sunscreen and work gloves.

The 13th annual Maryland Coast Day begins at 11 am at Assateague State Park. This free, family-oriented festival of wildlife, entertainment and environmental education is a fun day of coastal ecology awareness, children’s activities, live music and great local food. The event will kick off when officials from the National Aquarium release a rescued loggerhead turtle back into its ocean home.

This popular festival that attracts about 3,000 visitors is held each year to celebrate the wildlife, culture and natural resources of Maryland’s coastal region. The event includes exhibits from more than 30 organizations, including the National Aquarium, the Salisbury Zoo, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Scales and Tales and Coast Kids. There’s more fun to be had with arts and crafts, a touch tank, live animal exhibits, live music by the Knuckleheads, and activities and demos, such as sand castle building, marine mammal rescue drills, surf-casting demos and Native American dancing.

This year will include a new exhibit by local musician and artist Charlie Flagiello. Flagiello’s Other Than Footprints display is a grouping of jars that contain sand along with litter – cigarette butts, bottle caps, wrappers – he collected during his off-season jogs on the beach. This simple yet powerful and innovative display was recently featured in USA Today and was showcased at the Ocean Pines and Berlin libraries over the summer.

Coast Day is co-hosted by the Maryland Coastal Bays Program, Friends of Assateague State Park, Assateague State Park, Delmarva Low Impact Tourism Experiences, Assateague National Seashore and Assateague Coastal Trust.

Coast Day is sponsored by Jolly Roger Amusement Park, Town of Ocean City, Choptank Electric, Red Sun Apparel, Sun Signs and artist Kirk McBride. For more information about both events call 410-629-1538.

Maryland Coast Day Coming Soon

2009-09-09T15:44:00.001-07:00

The grounds of Assateague State Park will turn into a world of wildlife, entertainment and environmental education when visitors flock to the barrier island park for the 13th Annual Maryland Coast Day on Sept. 19 from 11 am to 4 pm. In addition to fabulous Eastern Shore eats, live music, arts and crafts and animal exhibits, this year’s event include the release of a rescued loggerhead turtle.

This popular festival is held annually to celebrate the wildlife, culture and natural resources of Maryland’s coastal region. The event attracts about 3,000 visitors each year with informative and attractive exhibits presented by more than 30 organizations, including the National Aquarium, the Salisbury Zoo, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Scales and Tales, Assateague Coastal Trust Coast Kids and the Assateague COASTKEEPER. In addition to the exhibits, Coast Day also features live music, activities for the kids and demos, such as sand castle building, marine mammal rescue drills, surf casting demos, and Native American dance.

This free, family-oriented event takes place at the Assateague State Park after the International Coastal Cleanup which begins at 9 am by the National Seashore entrance. This fun day of coastal ecology awareness, children’s activities, music and great local food is co-hosted by Assateague Coastal Trust, Friends of Assateague State Park, the Maryland Coastal Bays Program, Assateague State Park, Delmarva Low Impact Tourism Experiences and Assateague National Seashore.

Coast Day is sponsored by Jolly Roger Amusement Park, Town of Ocean City, Choptank Electric, Red Sun Apparel, Sun Signs and artist Kirk McBride. For more information about Maryland Coast Day contact the Assateague Coastal Trust at 410-629-1538.

Coastal Stewards Program Makes Big Impact

2009-09-07T07:00:00.000-07:00

By Carrie Samis

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, stimulus funding – we hear about it and read about it often, but what do those dollars look like when spent? Are they making a difference? How do they help our community? How do they benefit our coastal bays? And, perhaps most importantly, how do they impact lives?
Through its partnership with Delmarva Low-Impact Tourism Experiences, the Maryland Coastal Bays Program was able to hire eleven area young men and women to be Coastal Stewards, a summer youth employment program partnership funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

As a Coastal Steward, Joriee’ Dorman learned “to love it, live it, and breathe it. It was a rewarding and enriching experience that I was blessed to have. Seeing a little child’s face light up when they touch a comb jelly, a family crabbing in the marsh, eager visitors anxiously listening to learn more about our beaches and bays. Being a Coastal Steward opened my eyes to the diversity of the Lower Eastern Shore, my home. I grasped so much and learned about my own heritage, in a way that no classroom or lecture could teach me.”

Consider the broad smile of Joshua Moore, as he received his first paycheck – ever. And Todd Nock, who noted in his journal, “I’m seeing growth in myself and in others. When we first met Danielle, she was very quiet and did not say much but now, she has bloomed before our eyes,”

For the first time, Joe and Janae Dorman, siblings, found themselves gliding atop the Sinepuxent Bay in sleek kayaks. Arien Perry derived great satisfaction assisting with debris removal at Isle of Wight and Grey’s Creek – and talking to hundreds of residents and visitors about how they, too, could become better stewards of our environment.

Hoa Nguyen’s methodical approach in searching for sea beach amaranth, an endangered plant found on Assateague Island, was a contribution to scientific research welcomed by the National Park Service. Kedena Thompson was thrilled for the opportunity to meet with so many community leaders, elected officials, and agency representatives, exploring future career opportunities as she prepared to leave for graduate school.

Carlos Thompson is now excited to bring his own young daughter to test the water – and dip her toes in our coastal bays, something he had never done prior to this summer. Moved by the passion of others, Stephen Castaneda found himself “motivated to care about the well-being of our environment.” “This job gave me a chance to shine and make a difference,” Danielle Miller said proudly.

The Maryland Coastal Bays Program feels privileged to have spent the summer with such incredible young people – the next generation of stewards protecting our bays. Thanks to the ARRA funding, our Coastal Stewards left a little richer – with money in their pockets. But thanks to the strength of our partnerships and the dedication of our Stewards, our lives and theirs were enriched beyond measure.

Collaboration with Assateague National Park, Assateague State Park, Worcester County and many local parks, museums, and towns ensured that our Coastal Stewards were working on meaningful programs and projects throughout the region. They helped to educate thousands of residents and visitors about our local natural and cultural history, and assisted with a variety of stewardship projects, for the benefit of our bays.

Funding was also provided by the Lower Shore Workforce Alliance, the National Park Service, and the Ocean City-Berlin Optimists.

Samis is the education coordinator for the Maryland Coastal Bays Program. She can be reached at csamis@mdcoastalbays.org.

8th Annual Horseshow Crab Spawning Survey Results

2009-09-04T09:47:00.000-07:00

The 8th annual Maryland coastal spawning survey resulted in the highest number of horseshoe crabs ever counted in this local assessment of population abundance and critical habitat availability in the Coastal Bays. Thanks to the generosity of volunteers who provided their time, 63 surveys were collected from 5 beach sites, and reveal a sum total of 21,846 crabs. The study was coordinated by Maryland Coastal Bays Program Technical Coordinator Carol Cain and Steve Doctor from the Fisheries Division of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

The Maryland Coastal Bays survey was initially set up to mirror the same time frame as the Delaware Bay horseshoe crab spawning surveys (May and June) to allow for comparisons. Since the noticeable temporal range of spawning seemed longer than we were initially sampling, the 2009 survey was again conducted throughout July as it as in 2008 (with MCBP & DNR continuing into August). Future surveys will begin in late May and continue throughout July to better capture peak spawning activity.

Spawning in the Maryland coastal bays typically peaks in June, and often continues into July. This pattern was repeated in 2009, with the greatest spawning concentrations again found in June. In May only ten horseshoe crabs were found in all of the surveys.

Far fewer dead (3) and stranded (2) crabs were recorded this year. The total number of swimming crabs was determined to be 462, increased a bit from 2008 findings of 457. The vast majority of crabs, 19,842 (92%), were spawning at or within one meter of the high tide line.

The survey numbers over the last eight years indicate a gradual increase in male to female ratios. In 2009, we find that there are approximately 4 males available to mate with every female crab. This is an important for maintaining genetic diversity. Conservationists and ecologists know from experience in managing other economically important species that the higher the genetic diversity, the healthier the population.

Recent harvest regulations in Delaware Bay, Maryland, and Virginia have capped the number of female horseshoe crabs that can be harvested. This data indicates that male biased harvest in recent years has not had an effect on the local spawning population’s sex ratio.

While it is widely recognized that temperature, wind direction and wave energy influence where crabs will spawn, we can only speculate at how and why some areas experience heavy spawning while other equally available areas do not. It is noteworthy that on June 9, 2009 approximately 170 crabs were spawning adjacent to the sample area at Gudelsky Park which was recorded as having 56 crabs. Previous surveys have indicated that horseshoe crabs often move to new areas of spawning along beaches from year to year, which tends to complicate monitoring.

The southern tip of Skimmer Island held the most surprises and number of crabs this year with a noticed shift in areas of greatest spawning activity from the northeastern and southern beaches to the most southern beach on the Island over the past three years. Fifteen tagged crabs were found along Skimmer Island this year. The tag numbers were forwarded to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Science who informed us of when and where the crabs were captured and released. Two tags were attached by the USGS in upper Delaware Bay in 2004, three tags were too faded to determine the numbers, and the remaining 10 tags were attached by Virginia Tech and were the crabs were released in Tom’s Cove, VA.

The past three years water temperature has been monitored to determine the temperatures effect on the commencement of horseshoe crab spawning behavior. Early analysis indicates that spawning activity commences around 15 degrees C in the Maryland coastal bays. Comparison with Delaware Bay surveys indicate that horseshoe crabs spawn earlier and at a colder temperature than the horseshoe crabs spawning in the Maryland coastal bays.

Special thanks to 2009 volunteers Bill and Joleen Killinger, Frank and Andrea Watkins, Bruce and Nancy Jarvis, Jim and Janet Kerner, Dave and Salley Kohler, Bob and Diane McGraw, Clark and Betty Prichard, Roman and Mary Ellen Jesien, Janet Morse, Sharyn O’Hare, Larry Points and Carolyn Beatty.

Volunteers Needed to Help with 10th Annual Osprey Triathlon

2009-09-03T06:30:00.000-07:00

We need volunteers to help us as we prepare for the 10th Annual Osprey Sprint Triathlon. Volunteers are what make this event work and function smoothly! The race is scheduled for Saturday, October 3, 2009 at 9:00 a.m. in Public Landing, MD.

All volunteers receive a special THANK YOU gift. Time slots and duties that we need help with:

6:30/8:00 a.m. - set up breakfast items, water/drinks; help with racer registration from 6:30 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.; hang banners near the finish line and along the transition area, etc.

8:30 a.m. –volunteers will be stationed at areas along the transition area, and along the swim, bike and run routes to cheer on racers.

10:00-11:30 a.m. – Pass out lunch to racers, Pass out THANK YOU gift to volunteers, etc.

11:30 a.m. - Breakdown event (tearing down the finish line, disassembling the bike racks, helping to corral trash and recyclables, packing up other race materials).

Own a kayak? We need your help to assist racers who may need help during the swim. We ask that volunteers show up at 8 am for this activity.

Pre-race dinner will be held at Sunset Grille, West Ocean City from 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. on Friday, October 2, 2009. It’s a pasta buffet with salad and bread for $15 and all of our racers, family, friends and volunteers are welcome to join!

For details contact Kate Diffenderfer at 410-213-2297 ext.106 or kdiffenderfer@mdcoastalbays.org. Check out our race website at www.osprey-sprint.com.

Management of the Coastal Bays and Watershed

2009-08-31T09:39:00.000-07:00

By Peter Andes

With the green movement now more than ever a highly visible effort, it is widely realized that steps must be taken to reverse the detrimental effects of pollution and increase the health of the environment. The book Shifting Sands, written in part by three Coastal Bays staffers, is an excellent resource for this, detailing the effective application of environmentally-friendly practices and laying out an overall plan that addresses the major problem areas.

The chapter of the book entitled “Management of the Coastal Bays and Watershed” calls for the reduction of air and water pollution, supporting local agriculture while decreasing fertilizer and pesticide use, and facilitating community restoration efforts. The particular details for each of these initiatives are extensively highlighted within the text as a comprehensive way to reach the overall goal of a healthy watershed.

The book begins by emphasizing the connection between a community and its environment before moving to cover different aspects that need to be addressed. An area is only as healthy as its air, land, and water, and due to over-fishing, pollution, and inadvertent neglect the health of the Coastal Bays has suffered. The text makes clear improvement will not be immediate but gradual as problems are remedied over time. It is crucial for the general public to be involved and aware of this effort to ensure its success.

The issue the book covers first is that of the watershed-wide Nutrient Reduction Action Strategy that is currently being developed in order to identify specific areas that require work. This involves implementing the county’s comprehensive plan and zoning code, as well as strengthening the enforcement of existing laws and many other steps elaborated on by the text. Regional collaboration is imperative for the effective undertaking of these activities.

Air quality, land management, and water quality are also covered in depth. A section is devoted to each, explaining their current status and recommending changes that would lead to improvements in their health. Of all the nitrogen inputs to the Coastal Bays 30 percent are atmospheric, formed by pollution from power plants, vehicles, industry, and other sources.

Energy conservation, alternative energy, and public transit are just some of the suggestions offered in Shifting Sands to address this situation. Land use is another major factor in watershed health as variations in use determine the amount of runoff as well as available habitat.

The text emphasizes development practices that will minimize land consumption through well planned environmentally sensitive practices, such as better planning with impervious surfaces to control runoff and reducing the number of septic systems that are put in place. Also provided is insight into actions that homeowners can take to improve water quality, such as encouraging marsh growth through the use of living shorelines and replacing lawns with native plants.

Shifting Sands makes highly evident the strong ties between the Coastal Bays community and its natural resources. Boating and many other aquatic entertainments are a favorite activity of both residents and visitors in the area. Worcester County depends on this revenue from tourism, an income that would be harmed considerably if those visitors no longer found our waterways a healthy and pleasant place for recreation.

A great multitude of other informative resources can be found in this chapter, outlining the steps that need to be taken to improve the health of our local ecosystem. Such in-depth analysis of the situation of our local area is priceless in the struggle for an environmentally sound watershed.

To purchase a copy of Shifting Sands call the Maryland Coastal Bays Program office at 41-213-BAYS.

Peter Andes just completed his second summer as an intern with the Maryland Coastal Bays Program. He left last week to begin his freshman year at the University of Maryland Baltimore County.

Viable Compromise Reached with Planning & Zoning

2009-08-27T05:08:00.000-07:00

The road to consensus on planning and zoning matters can be a bumpy one but the past two month’s work with the Worcester County comprehensive rezoning has proven that when people work together harmony is possible.
While there are several issues that were not resolved to the liking of all in the conservation community, the middle ground reached so far in the principal issues surrounding the county’s rezoning represent a viable compromise.
The Worcester County Department of Development Review and Permitting have met several times with the county planning commission to hash out the details of issues in the revamped code ranging from commercial zoning to conservation of agricultural land. In general, the recommendations from staff and the planning commission have made the comprehensive rezoning more in step with the award winning Worcester County Comprehensive Plan passed in 2006.
Specifically, the group agreed to draft language to
• No longer zone South Point for higher density
• Scale back the more permissive agricultural zoning (A-2) and limit development from certain soil types in the district while protecting parcels for farming and forestry
• Keep true agricultural zoning (A-1) free of golf courses, campgrounds and other non-agricultural uses
• Not permit upzoning of random parcels that property owners requested outside designated growth areas

Although the Coastal Bays Program would have also liked to see (1) a transfer of development rights program for the excess commercial zoning on Route 50 from Ocean City to Berlin and for large lot estate zoning, (2) mandatory conservation subdivision design, (3) and addressing of TMDLs (maximum allowable nutrient load) for subwatersheds, we understand the process is one compromise.
Along with the comprehensive rezoning, the planning commission should take steps to make sure an ill-conceived service road through a forested wetland complex south of US 50 from Holly Grove Road to Flower Street is either rerouted or nixed for the original State Highway-approved road that avoids the heavily wooded area.
The county’s reorganization of planning and zoning staff should also include a Comprehensive Planning Department which was dismantled in the move to “streamline” county government. Currently the county has no organized comprehensive planning but will need it to protect the long-term ecological and economic viability of Worcester County and keep pace with national trends in professional planning.
It’s now up to the Worcester County Commissioners to make sure the re-zoning and the road are consistent with the comprehensive plan. We are hopeful that they will continue to listen to their experienced planning staff, the county planning commission, and the citizens of Worcester County.

Goodbye and Thanks to our Summer Interns

2009-08-25T07:07:00.000-07:00

Maryland Coastal Bays Program summer interns worked in Bishopville last week surveying the fish population of Bunting Branch stream. From left to right, Salisbury University senior Robert Causey of Delmar; Kenney Olukoga of Nigeria, a junior at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore; Peter Andes of Berlin, soon to be a freshman at University of Maryland Baltimore County; and Renee Laffite of Honduras, a junior at Loyola University. The group is finishing their work with the MCBP this week.

Thanks to Local Businesses!

2009-08-17T07:13:00.000-07:00

The economic climate is a tough one right now for everyone, particularly for small businesses. We are all struggling and non-profits are no exception. We couldn’t hope to accomplish our goal to protect and enhance our bays without the help of others, which is why we’d like to publicly thank those businesses and organizations who have provided us with opportunities to raise money even as our economy is in the midst of major challenges.
In the past year or so there have been several events designed solely to raise money for the Coastal Bays Program.
• In October the 707 Bar and Grille sponsored a golf tournament at Eagles Landing Golf Club to benefit the MCBP. It was their concept, and for a first time event it was quite successful.
• The Original Greene Turtle Sports Bar & Grille in North Ocean City made us the recipient of their December Funds for Friends program for the second consecutive year.
• Last month Seacrets allowed us to collect all cover charges between 5 and 9 pm on a busy Thursday night.
• More than 55 participants competed in the first annual catch and release White Clam Open at Macky’s Bayside Bar & Grill on Aug. 9. All proceeds from competition entry were donated to the MCBP.
• The Ocean City Development Corporation allowed us to host its Free Music Tuesday concert at Sunset Park in Ocean City Aug. 11, with guest artist Randy Lee Ashcraft and the Saltwater Cowboys.
Businesses have helped in other ways as well. In March we made our first foray into the Delmarva Irish-American annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Thanks to the help of Denny Sharp of High Tide Marine, Su Lane of Sun Signs Ryan Murphy and Shane Murphy of Go Green Painting & Home Improvements we were able to create a fabulous float that went on to win first prize. We should also thank D3 Corp for helping us rebuild our very expansive website at a vastly reduced price.
And although they are technically not business owners, we must also thank Jim and Bonnie Griffin who last month donated one adult and one child’s bike to our canoe and bike rental stand. The couple work for the stand, which is located at Assateague Island National Seashore, and decided to help us out with the donation, valued at $425.
As in previous years, the town of Ocean City, as well as Jolly Rogers owner Buddy Jenkins, will donate items or services for Coast Day on Sept. 19. On October 3 we will hold our 10th annual Osprey Triathlon. We already have many sponsors, which we will publicly thank in a separate column as the event gets closer.
We thank those businesses, groups and individuals (we hope we haven’t forgotten anyone) helping us continue our mission to preserve and protect the bays behind Ocean City and Assateague through research, education and outreach programs. We hope and believe that such generosity is also good for business. We know it’s good for our bays.

If you’d like to help, please contact our new development coordinator Sandi Smith at sandis@mdcoastalbays.org.

Coastal Bays Program Awards $30,000 for Local Environmental Projects

2009-08-13T05:41:00.000-07:00

The Maryland Coastal Bays Program Community Stewardship Mini-Grant Program awarded $30,000 to local community groups for projects designed to help protect wildlife and water quality. A total of 17 local groups applied for available money from the 2009-2010min-grant fund. The following 13 projects were awarded:

• $1,000 – Assateague Coastal Trust for its annual Coast Day event.
• $690 – Worcester County 4-H for a shrinking habitat course and another bay pollutants.
• $1,000 – Ocean City Power Squadron for materials for safe boating training.
• $3,000 – Worcester County Government for a reprint of its rain garden how to manual.
• $1,500 – Town of Berlin to construct a demonstration rain garden at Stephen Decatur Park.
• $2,500 – Assateague Coastal Trust/Coast Kids for educational materials.
• $1,750 – Green Team of the Community Church of Ocean Pines for a rain barrel workshop.
• $920 – Worcester County Government for materials for a land stewardship conference.
• $4,540 – Delmarva Flying WILD Across the Maryland Coastal Bays training, activities and educational materials.
• $5,000 – Delmarva Low-Impact tourism Experiences for the Coastal Stewards Program.
• $1,600 – Ocean Pines Environment and Natural Assets Advisory Committee for an educational campaign regarding the pond at the South Gate area.
• $2,500 – Lower Shore Land Trust for outreach materials.
• $4,000 – Lower Eastern Shore Sustainable Organic Network for outreach materials and website enhancement.

The goal of the Mini-Grants Program is to increase public awareness and public involvement in restoring and protecting Maryland's Coastal Bays and its tributaries. This program is made possible through private contributions made to MCBP and the Chesapeake Bay Trust.
To guide its grant-making decisions, MCBP and CBT use the goals in the management plan for the Coastal Bays, which seeks to improve water quality, restore and improve fish and wildlife populations and habitat, improve navigation and recreation, and insure sound development and planning for our community. Priority is given to those proposals that adhere to the plan, offer match monies or in-kind services, and show committed partnerships.

Free Concert Tonight in Ocean City

2009-08-11T05:43:00.000-07:00

Visit Sunset Park in Ocean City on Tuesday, Aug. 11 from 7:30 - 9 pm for a free concert featuring Randy Lee Ashcraft and the Saltwater Cowboys and help support our bays at the same time.

Sponsored by the Ocean City Development Corporation, Free Music Tuesdays at Sunset Park Aug. 11 will be hosted by the Maryland Coastal Bays Program. Bring your own lawn chair and enjoy the concert at this scenic park located on S. Division Street and the bayside in downtown Ocean City.

Randy Lee Ashcraft has been entertaining people all over the country for more than 15years and has opened for several national acts such as Lonestar, Toby Keith, Travis Tritt, and Sawyer Brown.

The mission of the Ocean City Development Corporation is to create and foster a safe and attractive environment in which innovative public and private sector partnerships will collaborate to maximize available resources and opportunities, and eliminate barriers to revitalization in downtown Ocean City.

For more information call the OCDC at 410-289-7739 or the Coastal Bays Program at 410-213-BAYS.

First Annual White Clam Open a Success!

2009-08-10T11:32:00.000-07:00

More than 55 participants competed in the first annual catch and release White Clam Open at Macky’s Bayside Bar & Grill on Sunday afternoon. Macky’s owners Pam and Macky Stansell donated all proceeds from competition entry fees – totaling about $400 – to the Maryland Coastal Bays Program.

Berlin Couple's Yard is Wildlife Habitat

2009-08-10T05:12:00.000-07:00

We devote much time talking about issues and policies that affect the health of natural resources – as well we should – but it’s also important to recognize those in the community who strive to make our watershed even better.

Two such people are Mike and Helen Wiley of Berlin. Mike, a retired lieutenant from the Anne Arundel Fire Department and Helen, a former sign language interpretater, moved to Berlin a few years ago. Always nature lovers, they have taken the time to landscape their backyard in such a way that it has now become a place where bunnies, butterflies, and all kinds of birds can call home. In fact, their Buttercup Road yard is now an official Certified Wildlife Habitat through the National Wildlife Foundation.

The Wileys created this haven because they deeply believe that wildlife must have places to feel safe from predators, people and inclement weather. Increasing development has taken away that space, so a backyard habitat provides a wonderful sanctuary to help wildlife to thrive, the couple says.

These fourth generation naturalists still own the Wildlife Foundation book Mike’s mother gave the couple at Christmas in 1974. Mike says his mom was environmentalist before the word was coined and was involved in the grassroots effort to bring recycling to Annapolis. Helen’s father was avid gardener and she has always loved nature. Together the couple encouraged their two daughters, and now six grandchildren, to respect and care for natural resources and wildlife.

Their Cape Saint Clair half-acre lot home in Annapolis had also been designated as a Certified Wildlife Habitat that included 500 square foot of woods and wildflowers which became a refuge for box turtles, woodpeckers, and a screech owl. Their Berlin yard includes several bird houses, two bird baths, three bird feeders plus a suet cake area, a wet sandy area, a small rock pile, an above ground pond, a brush pile, and a row of Leyland Cyprus and a small rain garden of sorts. This yard is now a habitat that attracts a variety of birds, including hummingbirds, toads, rabbits, butterflies, and the occasional fox just to name a few.

When the Wiley’s received certification for their Annapolis home in the early 1990s it was certificate number 10,788. Their Berlin certification is 117,508. The NWF began the Wildlife Habitat certification program in 1973 and has certified more than 150,000 habitats nationwide. According to the NWF website the majority of these sites represent these home habitats, the organization has also certified more than thousands of schools and hundreds of businesses and other sites.

A wildlife sanctuary can be accomplished on a small apartment balcony or on a multi-acre farm, outside a business or at a community center. By providing food, water, cover and a place for wildlife to raise their young, and by incorporating sustainable gardening practices, these areas can restore lost habitat for wildlife.

The Wiley’s concern for our natural resources continues beyond the confines of their yard. Mike is a member of the Berlin Parks Commission and in charge of the recycling program for St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Helen volunteers to run the church’s thrift shop, where donated items, recycled, renewed and reused.

The Wiley’s believe their habitat is a small way to improve the natural resources in our community. As Mike puts it, local governments don’t have extra money these days to put toward improving parks, so creating a haven for wildlife in their backyard is one small and inexpensive, but significant way to mitigate that loss.

For more information on how to create a certified wildlife habitat, go to the National Wildlife Federation website at nwf.org.

Thanks to Jim and Bonnie Griffin

2009-08-07T05:32:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Maryland Coastal Bays Program Canoe and Bike Stand staffers Jim and Bonnie Griffin who donated two bikes to the stand last month. The adult bike is a 26-inch Jamis Earthcruiser and a child’s Mongoose 20”-inch. Together the bikes are valued at a total of $425. The canoe and bike rental stand is located at Assateague Island National Seashore. The stand rents canoes, kayaks, adult cruiser bikes, child size bikes and clam rakes. Proceeds go to help fund the Maryland Coastal Bays Program.

The First Annual White Clam Open this Sunday at Macky's

2009-08-05T05:29:00.000-07:00

Don’t Miss the First Annual
White Clam Open
A catch and release
sporting alternative to the world famous
White Marlin Open
at Macky’s Bayside Bar & Grill
54th Street on the Bay
Sunday, August 9, 2009
11am – 2pm

Catch clams from the clear and shallow waters off of Macky’s Bayside Beach to compete to win trophies awarded for: “Most Clams Caught” and “Biggest Bivalve Bucketed”

The 5 Clams ($5) entry fee benefits the Maryland Coastal Bays Program, and entitles the Clammer to a complimentary Clamamato Bloody Mary

If you can walk in water, use a rake, or feel with your toes, this is the tourney for you. The clams are waiting, because that’s what they do!

For more information call Macky’s Bayside Bar & Grill at 410-723-5565

MCBP Remains a Consensus Building Organization

2009-08-03T07:34:00.000-07:00

by Dave Wilson Jr.

In recent weeks, many champions of the environment have asked why the Maryland Coastal Bays Program has not been more vocal about the Worcester County planning reorganization and some parts of the zoning code.

While the program was disappointed with the process used in the reorganization and the result, and while we provided numerous comments about ways to improve the comprehensive rezoning, we do not take advocacy positions.

As part of the National Estuary Program, we work with partners to reach consensus on issues related to conservation in the bays behind Ocean City and Assteague. Ocean City, Berlin, Worcester County, the state of Maryland and the US Environmental Protection agency are all partners who work hard to fulfill the goals in the Coastal Bays Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan,--created by local farmers, developers, scientists, recreational and commercial fishermen, tourism professionals and local business owners.

Since 1996 our focus has been to protect and enhance the health of the bays behind Assateague and Ocean City, and our method to accomplish these goals has always been to reach common ground through listening and learning. Our work represents a consensus of the best means needed to preserve the economic and ecological prosperity of the coastal bays in the next century.

Unlike advocacy groups, consensus building groups seek to achieve overwhelming agreement after sincere efforts are made to meet the interests of all stakeholders. It should be noted, however, that consensus building does not have a goal of unanimity. Rather it is successful when everyone involved can live with the final agreement and that every effort has been made to address stakeholders’ priority interests.

To be sure, when our partners eschew their commitments or when they act in a manner that gives priority to special interests rather than the community as a whole, we will work to get them back on track.

Advocacy groups like Assateague Coastal Trust (ACT) work differently. According to its mission statement, ACT works to “protect and enhance the natural resources of the Atlantic coastal bays watershed through advocacy, conservation, and education.” ACT has a long history of environmental advocacy in the coastal bays, beginning with efforts in the early 1970s to preserve Assateague Island, which is now protected as a National Seashore. Such groups attempt to influence political decisions by trying to persuade public officials to act or vote according to the organization’s position. These groups seek to influence the political and regulatory process through lobbying efforts. There is an important place for this, but it is not with the National Estuary Program.

We often agree with ACT and often we also disagree. True, we share a common goal with ACT to preserve and protect the watershed, but our methods to accomplish these goals are quite different. That said, no matter what we do or don’t do, there will always be some who think the Coastal Bays Program goes too far to protect the watershed, while there will be others who believe we don’t go far enough.
Despite angering a few on the extremes, we will continue to build a consensus to provide a forum for stakeholder interests for mutually acceptable solutions.

Dave Wilson Jr. is the Executive Director of the Maryland Coastal Bays Program.

Thanks to Seacrets for a Fun and Profitable Night!

2009-07-31T13:44:00.001-07:00

Thanks to Seacrets for donatnig all cover charges collected between 5 and 9 pm to the Coastal Bays Program! We raised nearly $4,000 last night that will go toward protecting and enhancing our watershed.

Reminder - Join us at Seacrets Tonight!

2009-07-30T10:02:00.000-07:00

Join us at Seacrets in Ocean City tonight from 5 - 9 pm.

The cover charge is just $5 and all money collected during that time will be donated to the Maryland Coastal Bays Program!

Help fund efforts to improve the health of our bays and enjoy a fun night at Seacrets at the same time!

Coastal Bays night at Seacrets this Thursday!

2009-07-29T05:23:00.000-07:00

Join us at Seacrets in Ocean City Thursday, July 30 from 5 - 9 pm. All cover charges collected during that time will be donated to the Maryland Coastal Bays Program!

Royal Tern Bird Banding Experience

2009-07-27T06:20:00.000-07:00

As an international student from Honduras, interning for Maryland Coastal Bays Program has presented several opportunities to further my knowledge of the area’s abundant wildlife. A few weeks ago under a clear blue sky at 9:15 or so, I boarded one of two boats headed from the West Ocean City Marina to a small Island near the Route 90- bridge in Ocean City with the goal to band juvenile Royal Terns that inhabit the island.
About a dozen people from the Maryland Coastal Bays Program and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, as well as several volunteers, traveled to the small island. As the boats approached the island, colored in shades of white and black feathers, hundreds Laughing gulls and Royal Terns, as well as a single Sandwich Tern, took wing above.
Banding is an indispensable technique for studying movement, survival and behavior of birds. It consists of placing a uniquely numbered metal band around the bird’s leg then releasing it. The bander records where and when each bird is banded along with any other information (age, sex) and sends the data to the Bird Banding Laboratory at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Maryland. The Laboratory is jointly administered by the US Department of the Interior and the Canadian Wildlife Service and issues permits that allow people and organizations to band birds and maintains the data collected by the banders.
Royal Terns are gull-like, mostly white birds which often also have some black on the tips of their wings. They have slender orange beaks and short forked tails with black feathers on the back of the head that if I didn’t know better looked a lot like human hair. They can be readily seen during summer flying over water with their bills pointing down as they plunge into the water to catch fish.
They can be found along shorelines in North, Central and South America. Nesting occurs on the ground of low-lying islands in colder area during summer - from the coast of North Carolina to New England in North America and the coast of Argentina in South America. . They spend their winters in the warmer climates from North Carolina and California southward to the Caribbean and Brazil. They prefer saltwater habitats such as coastal areas, beaches, bays and don’t usually travel inland.
It is believed that their population is generally stable. However, since their only known nesting area in Maryland is in the coastal bays, scientists are concerned about their status.
Human interference could affect the breeding birds in the coastal bays. Jet skiers are often seen riding by the island near the young birds. In order to avoid any interference with the Royal Tern’s breeding cycle it is important to minimize disturbances. As amazing as it sounds, chicks may leave the nest one day after hatching, but it is important not to disturb adults sitting on eggs, or young birds before they are able to fly.
Placing the bands on these tiny creatures, I could feel their heart pounding through their thin coat of feathers while they pecked constantly trying to free themselves from my unfamiliar hands. Their parents hovered above closely watching what we were doing, chirping constantly. It was priceless to see the moment when the young ones were released and they made their way back to their nests.

Renee Marie Laffite is a summer intern with the Maryland Coastal Bays Program. She is from the Caribbean Coast of Honduras and will start her junior year at Loyola University in the fall.

New Informative Panel at Macky's Bayside Bar & Grill

2009-07-24T05:43:00.000-07:00

Roman Jesien, science coordinator Maryland Coastal Bays Program, stands beside a new informative panel describing the living shoreline at Macky’s Bayside Bar and Grill in Ocean City. The living shoreline was installed to protect the shoreline and stop migrating sand threatening a valuable tidal pool that houses terrapin, horseshoe crabs, terns and other wildlife. The project was designed by Spencer Rowe, Inc of Ocean City with Joe Kincaid, MD Department of Environment. Planting began in April 2006. The sign was funded by Macky’s owner, Macky Stansell, and is an example of how businesses can enhance natural habitat for the betterment of both. Come to the restaurant, check out the poster, but tread lightly, marshes are fragile.

Coastal Stewards Program in Full Swing

2009-07-22T06:24:00.000-07:00

Eleven area high school and college students are learning how to be Coastal Stewards as part of a new program that trains youth to conduct education, outreach, & stewardship activities. Coastal Stewards is managed by the Maryland Coastal Bays Program and Delmarva Low-Impact Tourism Experiences, partnered with the Lower Shore Workforce Alliance, Assateague Island National Seashore, and Assateague State Park. Additional partners include area museums, tourism offices, parks, and conservation groups. This program is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the National Park Service, and the Ocean City-Berlin Optimist Club.

History and Future of the Coastal Bays found in Shifting Sands Book

2009-07-20T09:21:00.000-07:00

While many are aware of the environmental challenges that the Coastal Bays watershed currently faces, the remarkable history of the area is not as often examined. Shifting Sands - Environmental and Coastal Change in Maryland's Coastal Bays not only covers in depth the obstacles that stand in the way of the health of the bays, but also provides intriguing insight into the area’s past and also its future direction. This look over time provides a unique socio-cultural perspective and rare local history which complements the scientific analysis to create a comprehensive view of the state of the watershed.
Shifting Sands begins its chronological examination in the depths of prehistory, at the close of the last ice age when the Delmarva peninsula finished its formation after being carved by glaciers. The Coastal Bays followed around 4,500 years ago when the rising sea inundated the area, and the barrier islands were formed when a subsequent fall in sea level occurred. Just as these islands and bays owe their geological origin to the sea, they owe their continued existence to it as well. Tides, sediment texture, and shoreline sediment transportation are responsible for much of both the islands’ change and constancy, though this natural process is often interrupted by modern human involvement. The early natural history of the bays is just one instance where the book combines historical and scientific information to provide a look at the relationship between the past and the promise of a healthy future.
The book moves on to cover the initial human interaction with the landscape which is now the Coastal Bays watershed. The area was first utilized as an intermittent hunting ground by Native Americans around 10,000 years ago, with permanent settlement beginning around AD 900 when maize agriculture gained prevalence. Native American tribes built small villages along the bays’ tributaries where they caught fish and gathered shellfish along the shore. Their presence is still seen in names like Assateague Island and Assawoman bay, and many artifacts have been found or remain to be found by archeological excavation. Europeans first came in contact with the area through the explorations of seafarers like Giovanni da Verrazzano and Henry Norwood, while later infamous pirates would find it a haven and asset to their exploits. The text describes how early colonists found themselves in a wilderness teeming with a great abundance of animals, from black bear and bison to wolves and cougars. This early human settlement left very little impact on the surrounding land, a trend which would be gradually reversed throughout the next centuries.
Also covered in Shifting Sands are aspects of Assateague and Ocean City that reveal the developing character and culture of the area in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including information on the many new inlets that formed frequently and on the once thriving Oyster industry. With increasing development due to rapid population growth the health of the area saw much decline which would not be addressed until the early environmental initiative in the wake of the Clean Water Act. Due to efforts local and national, the Coastal Bays were able to recover from harmful algal blooms and support a rebound in seagrass growth, making great headway with the ban on DDT and the bays’ membership in the National Estuary Program. The book chronicles this struggle to improve the bays which began more than thirty years ago and is still an ongoing and crucial endeavor.
Through its utilization of detailed yet clear scientific analysis and historical insight the text provides a comprehensive perspective in which to view the past and future of our relationship with the Coastal Bays watershed. Going beyond just objective and highly edifying science, the book also explores the character of the area and its noteworthy past. Shifting Sands is the quintessential guide to these once-forgotten bays and a fascinating look at their natural and cultural identity.

The above was written by Peter Andes, an intern at the Maryland Coastal Bays Program and a 2009 graduate of Stephen Decatur High School, class of 2009. He will be attending the University of Maryland Baltimore County in the fall.

Clotheslines Making a Comeback

2009-07-15T09:15:00.000-07:00

Have you heard about the solar clothes dryer? It harnesses the heat of the sun to dry your clothes. But that’s not all. It can remove bacteria from fabric, while also leaving your clothes smelling fresh and clean. Its available today at no cost to you.
No, this is not an advertisement for a new solar powered clothes dryer but a simple reminder that hanging clothes on a line to dry naturally from the warmth of the sun is a cost and energy saving alternative.
Electric and gas dryers are second only to refrigerators and air conditioners as the top energy consumers in most homes. In fact, dryers use ten to fifteen percent of domestic energy in the United States, and you’d be hard pressed to find any home without one.
Clotheslines were once commonplace, dotting lawns in suburbia and rural areas and hanging from windows and balconies in cities nationwide. Over time, however, clotheslines are often considered unsightly signs of poverty that devalue property. Nationwide, about 60 million people live in about 300,000 community associations, most of which restrict or prohibit outdoor laundry hanging.
Despite restrictive covenants and outdated thinking, clothesline are making a comeback, thanks in part to grassroots organizations such as Project Laundry List (Projectlaundrylist.org), a non-profit group that promotes sun drying (or indoor air-drying) as an “acceptable, desirable, simple and effective” way to save energy.
According to Project Laundry List, legislation in Colorado was passed last year allowing thousands of families to use clothesline in communities where they were formerly banned. So far this year clothesline legislation has been debated in several states, including Maryland, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, New Hampshire, Nebraska, Oregon, Virginia, and Vermont.
To further that effort, Right2Dry.org has launched a viral petition drive to encourage America’s First Family to hang their laundry on the White House lawn for just one day. The idea is to create a photo op to promote line drying as a “symbol of patriotism and intelligence and environmental activism, rescuing it from the symbol of poverty and despair it seems to represent today.”
With an estimated savings of about 15 percent on your energy bill, money and energy conservation are compelling reasons to limit clothes dryer use, but there are other benefits as well. Line drying helps clothes stay newer longer because they aren’t tumbling against the inside walls of a dryer – check the lint filter for proof of such damage. Being exposed to fresh air and sunshine adds a natural fragrance without the use of chemicals. The rays of the sun act as a natural disinfect for clothes, also without chemicals. Reducing dryer use also has safety benefits, since dryer fires account for several deaths, hundreds of injuries and millions in property damage each year. One added bonus – youngsters will learn a “new” meaning for the word clothesline that has nothing to do with professional wrestling.
For most people eliminating dryer use entirely would be difficult. Certainly there are those who may not want to hang their unmentionables on the line for all the neighbors to see and rain and humidity can make outside drying impossible. However, the less you run your dryer, the more money and energy you save, so every little bit helps. It may take a bit more effort, but this is one of those small steps that nearly everyone can take to help our planet be healthier, one t-shirt, bathing suit, washcloth and several clothes pins at a time.

Shifting Sands now for sale!

2009-07-07T11:12:00.000-07:00

To purchase a copy call the MCBP office at 410-213-BAYS. Books are $20 plus tax.

Coastal Bays Report Card C+ Average Grade

2009-07-07T07:38:00.000-07:00

Click here to read the Report Card

Commercial Recycling Efforts in Berlin

2009-06-29T07:07:00.001-07:00

As part of its Clean, Safe and Green component, the Berlin Main Street Program recently donated $2,000 to Grow Berlin Green to research commercial recycling methods.
The measure is timely as several Berlin restaurants have recently expressed an interest in making recycling a simpler task. Currently, Berlin businesses that choose to recycle must use the small drop off location on William Street, or travel to the Recycling Center on Flower Street. The first option is at the center of town, but the containers there are not made to hold commercial volume, and the second option requires a considerable amount of effort to transport the items. Neither option is easy, which does little to encourage the practice.
Contrast that to the nearby town of Ocean City, which provides collection services to businesses that recycle office paper, cardboard, glass and aluminum. A town ordinance there makes it mandatory for businesses with on-site liquor consumption licenses to recycle glass and aluminum.
Berlin restaurateurs looking for help with recycling program should be commended, but it will take time until a plan is in place. In the meantime they can take small steps to limit what goes in the landfill. Disposable napkins, utensils or placemats should be changed to reusable items whenever possible, and products should be bought in bulk to reduce package waste.
Still, restaurants often generate significant quantities of glass, aluminum, steel, plastics and corrugated cardboard, which should all be recycled. Consider just these few statistics:
• Every glass bottle recycled saves enough energy to burn a 100 watt light bulb for four hours.
• It takes 95 percent less energy to make aluminum by recycling it than by producing it from its natural ore.
• Recycling and reusing the material in tin cans alone reduces energy use by 74 percent, air pollution by 85 percent, and solid waste by 95 percent and water pollution by 76 percent.
Finally, business owners (and all of us) should buy recycled products whenever possible. The recycling loop is complete only when materials that have been separated for recycling are processed and remanufactured into new products, which are then sold to consumers. Often referred to as “closing the loop”, buying recycled products is what makes recycling a success.
Even a first grader knows that recycling conserves both raw materials and energy as well as reduces the amount of waste we produce. Recycling has been proven to reduce air and water pollution, lower energy consumption and decrease greenhouse gases emissions linked to global warming.
What proprietors should also keep in mind is that recycling can also be good for the bottom line. Becoming stewards of the environment can attract the growing market of conservation-minded patrons who prefer to spend their money at like-minded establishments. Restaurants that recycle, for example, should promote this on their menus to appeal to customers who recognize and appreciate such an environmentally responsible effort. After all, in today’s challenging economic climate businesses should use every tool available to attract customers which translates to more money in the cash register.

Better zoning can lead to healthier children

2009-06-22T07:33:00.000-07:00

Throughout the month of May as proposed zoning regulations were being reviewed and a public hearing on the plan was looming this column focused on several issues related to growth and planning. A few of those issues were the importance of requiring a higher percentage of passive open space in all residential subdivisions, limiting sprawl and encouraging mixed land use and higher residential density.

Now these same concepts have been taken up by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Citing statistics that show roughly 32 percent of American children are overweight, the AAP released a policy statement June 6 urging federal and local governments to take proactive action for the health of our nation’s children.

In its policy statement, the Built Environment: Designing Communities to Promote Physical Activity in Children – the APA states that government policies must support the effort to encourage physical activity through land use design. In its statement the AAP makes the following recommendations for federal and local governments:
• Pass and promote laws and regulations to create new, or expand existing efforts to promote active living.
• Federal programs can incentivize states to incorporate these principles into planning and zoning standards.
• State and local governments should examine planning and zoning efforts to ensure that children's ability to walk, play, and get to school safely are a top priority.
• Create and maintain playgrounds, parks, and green spaces within communities as well as the means to access them safely.

The AAP states emphatically that the physical environment of a community can support opportunities for play and physical activity. Of course the addition of neighborhood parks does not guarantee children will become more active, but there is research to support that providing the opportunity makes a big difference. In fact, the AAP references an experimental study that shows that as the percentage of park area within a child's neighborhood increases, so does the physical activity among children 4 to 7 years of age and non overweight children 8 to 12 years of age.

In addition, higher land-use mix and proximity of neighborhood shops to residences promotes walking and bicycling and providing areas for activity. As cities have expanded into rural areas, expansive land areas are often transformed into low-density developments and the result is urban sprawl, making walking to destinations difficult.

There are a host of issues that influence the level of activity for children as well as adults, but the AAP policy statement is clear that the physical design of the community is a factor that cannot be ignored. Statistics reveal that the percentage of overweight children in our country is growing at an alarming rate, with one out of three kids considered overweight or obese. While we can’t stop this national trend, through our local zoning regulations we can provide the children of Worcester County with more chances to run, walk, bike and play, leading to improved overall physical activity.

The mission AAP is to attain optimal physical, mental, and social health and well-being for all infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. To read the APA statement online go to http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/.

Growing Berlin Green Begins

2009-06-19T07:11:00.000-07:00

by Kate Patton

Currently, the Town of Berlin is nearing the final stages of developing an updated Comprehensive Plan, and the document will be sent to Worcester County and the State Department of Planning before returning with recommendations. Grow Berlin Green (GBG), a collaborative project of the Assateague Coastal Trust, the Maryland Coastal Bays Program and the Lower Shore Land Trust, has been following the process which allows for public input and has worked to understand the changes and share that information with the public.

The town conducted a survey in 2008, and the majority of residents who responded indicated that limiting growth was important. Additionally, many indicated that they would like to see more walking and biking paths, parks and connectivity to these areas around town. A greenbelt can help provide these functions, while also supporting the other functions.

A greenbelt, incorporated with greenways through the town, could provide recreational opportunities, stormwater management, preserve agricultural lands and natural habitat, protect water quality in our creeks, bays and groundwater, and offer sound buffers to traffic along Routes 50 and 113. By incorporating a greenbelt into our plans now, we can help create a natural definition for where we want Berlin to grow, and provide important environmental and economic benefits for all, improving the overall quality of life in our small town.

Berlin's elected officials, planning commission, staff and residents recognize the need to accommodate additional growth for the County over the next 20 years. While we may not realize state predictions dating from several years ago, there will, without a doubt, continue to be pressure from additional residential and commercial growth to our county. We must, however, work together to make decisions as to how we want to look and what services are necessary to enhance the rural village setting, without compromising the qualities that draw visitors and residents to our town in the first place.

Aside from helping to visually define the boundaries of the town, another important function that the green belt could help provide, would be a scenic buffer along the entrances. The best opportunity at the present time would be to recognize Route 346 as a gateway to town, and see that any future development proceeds with scenic buffers. Additionally, there are sensitive lands along the east side of Berlin, serving as the headwaters of Trappe Creek. These areas should be recognized for their important resource protection opportunities.

There are still details to be worked out as to how to what methods would be best to implement the plan, and we encourage the town to fully explore the use of Transfer of Development Rights (TDRs), possibly as new parcels are annexed into the town. Additionally, while there are some great components in Berlin's Draft Comprehensive Plan, we will all want to review the final draft before the Town adopts a guiding vision for the next couple of decades.

A great deal of work has gone into planning for the future of the town. Staff, Mayor and Council Members, planning commission members, and the consultant have worked to develop a plan that will serve the town over the next 20 years. It will be critical to the end result that the public remain involved in the process. By working together, we can realize our vision for our growth and still preserve the qualities that make Berlin a great place to live and a jewel of Worcester County for tourism, arts and culture, and a model for a more sustainable community.

Kate Patton serves as the Executive Director of the Lower Shore Land Trust, and assists with the coordination of the Grow Berlin Green project.

Coastal Bays Report Card Grades Released

2009-06-17T13:15:00.000-07:00

Maryland's coastal bays received a grade of C+ in the first Coastal Bays Report Card, with Newport Bay and the St. Martin River receiving the lowest individual marks.

"This is a real treasure here in the state of Maryland," said Dave Wilson, executive director of the Maryland Coastal Bays Program,"It's not a total disaster, but there's also a lot of room for improvement."

Each of the six sub-watersheds were graded, with marks ranging from a B for the Sinepuxent Bay to a D+ for the St. Martin River and the Newport Bay.

The report measured four water quality indicators — total nitrogen, total phosphorus, chlorophyll and dissolved oxygen — as well as the amount of sea grasses and hard clams found in each area. The grades were determined based on the current water quality and its relation to the quality needed for aquatic life to grow and thrive.

The Sinepuxent Bay received the best grade, with high indicators in all areas except for clams. But since the bay only represents 5 percent of the total bay area, it had a small effect on the overall grade.

The largest bay, Chincoteague Bay, received the second highest grade of B-. Water quality scores were high but sparse sea grasses and clams brought the grade down.

The Assawoman Bay received a grade of C because of moderate water quality but very few sea grasses and clams, while the Isle of Wight Bay received a C-plus because of poor levels of sea grasses and clams and slightly lower water quality.

Coming Soon - Coastal Bays Book & Report Card

2009-05-20T05:47:00.000-07:00

In a few weeks the Maryland Coastal Bays Program will host an event to celebrate the release of two important and long awaited projects – A book focusing on the environmental and cultural changes in the watershed and the first ever report card grading the health of the coastal bays.

The book, Shifting Sands, is a collaborative effort from the Coastal Bays Program, the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Coastal Bays Executive Director David Wilson Jr. and staff scientists Dr. Roman Jesien and Carol Cain are among the 80 authors from 24 different organizations and agencies who contributed to the book. This team assessed the condition of the Coastal Bays ecosystem, reviewed the history of the area, current management strategies and upcoming concerns for the watershed and documented their findings in this 225-page book.

Shifting Sands is aptly named considering the dynamic nature of the watershed, but it also refers to the “sands of time, both the geologic and recent history of this region,” and to the changing perceptions regarding Maryland’s Coastal Bays, which differ among groups and individuals and have transformed over the years. The ongoing ecological transitions and rediscovery of the watershed inspired the book’s subtitle, Environmental and Cultural Change in Maryland’s Coastal Bays.

The book provides vital information relevant to our six sub watersheds – the St. Martin’s River and Assawoman, Chincoteague, Newport, Isle of Wight and Sinepuxent bays – with discussions on overall management issues, geologic and hydrologic information, and water quality and habitats concerns. Also contained in Shifting Sands is a rich history of the area, as well as insight on the watershed in a national and international context.

Along with the release of the book will be the release of the first-ever Coastal Bays Report Card. Also a collaborative effort, it is a scientifically and geographically detailed assessment of the health of the ecosystem.

The Report Card assigns scores for seven indicators that reflect water or habitat quality, and uses those indicators to formulate an overall Habitat Health Index that is then used to assign a grade. The document will provide a clear, concise and timely assessment of the health of the Coastal Bays, but the details and grade will be kept under wraps until the June 8 release.

Our coastal bays are a unique and dynamic ecosystem, with a variety of wildlife and habitats. These factors are the very foundation for the success of our agriculture, recreation and tourism industries that support the local and state economies. Moreover, the very legacy we will leave future generations depends on the health of our watershed, but nutrient pollution and habitat destruction have put more pressure on this already vulnerable ecosystem.

The early June release of the book and the report card is timely considering county officials have proposed zoning regulations that could compromise water quality and sound land management practices. These two important documents will serve as additional resources for officials as well as the public to ponder before such changes are cemented.

As Sen. Paul Sarbanes wrote in the preface of Shifting Sands, “the continued economic prosperity and the quality of life that the citizens of Worcester County, and indeed, citizens throughout the region, enjoy will depend in large part on our ability to manage the Coastal Bays in a sustainable manner.”

Saturday's Herp Search a Big Success!

2009-05-18T09:54:00.000-07:00

Children and adults alike had a great time searching for reptiles and amphibians with help from the Maryland Coastal Bays Program, Maryland DNR, Salisbury University, Salisbury Zoo, and DLITE.

Sixty participants at the Pocomoke River State Park/Shad Landing tallied 19 species for the day: Fowler's toad, spring peeper, green frog, bullfrog, Southern leopard frog, Cope's grey treefrog, green treefrog, four-toed salamander, redbacked salamander, five-lined skink, fence lizard, broad-headed skink, black racer, black rat snake, worm snake, Northern water snake, Eastern box turtle, painted turtle, snapping turtle.

Thanks to Jim Rapp of DLITE for the great photos!

Request For Community Stewardship Mini-Grant Proposals

2009-05-08T07:40:00.001-07:00

The Maryland Coastal Bays Program, working in partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Trust, is pleased to announce that we are currently accepting Community Stewardship Mini-Grant proposals.

The goal of the Community Stewardship Mini-Grants Program is to increase public awareness and public involvement in restoring and protecting Maryland's Coastal Bays and its tributaries. This program is made possible through private contributions made to MCBP and CBT.

To guide its grant making, MCBP and CBT aligned its priorities with the goals set forth in the management plan for the Coastal Bays. This plan works to improve water quality, restore and improve fish and wildlife populations and habitat, improve navigation and recreation, and insure sound development and planning for our community.

MCBP welcomes requests from the following organizations:
501(c)3 Private Nonprofit Organizations
Faith-based organizations
Community Associations
Service, Youth, and Civic Groups
Municipal, County, Regional, State, Federal Public Agencies
Public and Independent Higher Educational Institutions
Individuals
Examples of projects include, but are not limited to, rain gardens and rain barrels, wetland and tree buffer plantings, oyster and fish habitat creation, stream clean-ups, storm drain stenciling, workshops promoting restoration or best management practices, teacher trainings, forums, projects, training programs, and materials that expand the dialogue between leaders in minority and environmental communities, outdoor field experiences, materials promoting Coastal Bays awareness, schoolyard habitats, stream assessments and water quality monitoring that lead to community-based restoration.

Priority will be given to those proposals which adhere to the management plan for Maryland's Coastal Bays, which offer match monies or in-kind services, and show committed partnerships.

The deadline for submission is July 1, 2009. Applicants may request up to $5,000 and will be notified of the Program's decision by letter in early August. All selected projects should begin immediately and must be completed by August 6, 2010.

Contact Kate Diffenderfer at MCBP for more information 410-213-BAYS.

Herp Search May 16

2009-05-05T09:14:00.000-07:00

The ninth annual Great Worcester Herp Search will take place Saturday, May 16 when volunteers scour county lands for reptiles and amphibians.

Sponsored by the Coastal Bays Program, Delmarva Low Impact Tourism (DLITE), Salisbury Zoo, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, and Salisbury University, the search kicks off at 9 a.m. at the pavilion at the Pocomoke State Park Shad Landing Area. Participants should park in the lot by the dock next to the concession area. A brief pre-hunt training session will feature live turtles, snakes, frogs, and salamanders and explain ways to identify them in the wild. It is free to the public and will be held to prep volunteers for searching four Worcester County sites in the morning and afternoon.

Last year 99 reptiles and amphibians representing 15 species were the result of the search held in Worcester County. Finds included black racers, worm snakes, ringneck snakes, and common watersnakes. Box and snapping turtles were found along with red-backed salamanders, five-lined skinks, ground skinks, and fence lizards. Frogs and toads included Fowlers toads and green, S. Leopard, and spring peepers. Calling Cope’s grey treefrogs were also part of the mix.

In Worcester, there are approximately 19 species of snakes, 15 species of frogs and toads, eight species of salamanders, 13 species of turtles and four species of lizards. Worcester County and the coastal bays watershed have more reptile species than any other county in Maryland. The search will provide data to help scientists better understand population trends in this declining group of vertebrates. No animals are harmed or removed from the wild during the search.

This year’s sites include a 166-acre parcel on the south side of Public Landing Road, and the state-owned 4,300-acre Foster tract which will be broken into three segments. The tract, west of Route 12, is largely unexplored by science. After the morning trips, volunteers will return to the pavilion for lunch and a slide show of the a.m. findings. Participants should bring a sack lunch and drinks. Groups will return to the field around 2 p.m. until approximately 5 p.m. The trips are not recommended for kids under 8 years and all children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult. Sunscreen, mosquito and tick repellant, and boots are a must.

To view photos and the results of last year’s search go to www.delmarvalite.org/events or www.mdcoastalbays.org. For more information call Jim Rapp at the DLITE office at 443-944-8097 or Dave Wilson at the Coastal Bays office at 410-213-2297.

Zoning Must Be Consistent with Comprehensive Plan

2009-05-02T06:24:00.000-07:00

“They paved paradise to put up a parking lot,” Joni Mitchell famously wrote in 1970. This lyric is even more relevant today because we know with certainty that land use decisions have an enormous effect on the natural environment the quality of life within a community. This is why it is imperative for residents to carefully consider Worcester County’s proposed zoning changes and then let their voices be heard before these proposed regulations are adopted.

Those who have reviewed the zoning maps on the county’s website (www.co.worcester.md.us) and perhaps attended a public workshop have taken the first steps, but there is more work to be done before the public hearing tentatively set for early June. So what is the main question that must be answered?

As we review the maps we must question whether the proposed changes to the zoning code are consistent with Worcester County Comprehensive Plan adopted in 2006. The comprehensive plan sets the goals our community wants to achieve as our county grows. Good planning is the key to long-term economic and environmental health. The comprehensive plan is essentially the backbone for zoning regulations, but typically zoning regulations define the “best and highest” use for the land but do not consider the environmental consequences.

For example, how land is developed has a direct impact on the quality of stormwater runoff, the unfiltered water that reaches streams, lakes, bays and oceans by means of flowing across impervious surfaces such as roofs, shopping malls and parking lots. If existing forests are replaced impervious surfaces, which do not allow for the natural filtration that results from penetrating the earth, then the flowing rain picks up pollutants along the way and deposits it directly into our bays.

Our zoning regulations should preserve and enhance the quality of life in developing areas.
There must be a careful consideration so the result is zoning regulations that serve the general welfare of the community. What should we expect from zoning regulations? Better site design, habitat protection and nutrient reduction for starters. New growth areas should avoid forests and wetlands and be kept away from floodplains. A Transfer of Development Rights program should be included to help eliminate commercial strip zoning and large lot estate zoning. A provision for conservation subdivision designs should be included and land use plans should be designed and growth concentrated in a way to meet total maximum daily loads (TMDLs).

We have a choice. If we get these zoning regulations right then the negative effects on our environment will be reduced. If done wrong, however, the effects of growth on the watershed will worsen. Three years ago county officials created a comprehensive plan to guide development, land use and growth policies for the next several years. This plan was held up as a model for counties to emulate nationwide. Citizens should be sure the zoning regulations mirror what the comprehensive plan calls for. This is our paradise, and we must use every avenue we have to protect it before it’s gone.

Coastal Bays Important Bird Area

2009-05-01T06:26:00.000-07:00

Dave Wilson, Executive Director of the Maryland Coastal Bays Program, accepts a plaque April 25 from the MD-DC Audubon designating the Coastal Bays as an Important Bird Area. The Important Bird Areas Program is a global effort to identify and conserve areas that are vital to birds and other biodiversity. This Audubon Bird Conservation designation was awarded during the Delmarva Birding Weekend.

Earth Day Planting a Success

2009-04-30T03:29:00.000-07:00

Citizens and government worked together April 23 as volunteers joined staff from the Maryland Coastal Bays Program and the Worcester County Department of Comprehensive Planning for an Earth Day planting and clean up at the Gum Point Road boat ramp, the site of a living shoreline restoration project.

Maryland Still at the Forefront of Environmental Protection

2009-04-30T03:23:00.001-07:00

The Maryland General Assembly recently adjourned with a balanced budget, but not at the expense of our natural resources as lawmakers passed several landmark environmental bills, including a measure designed to impact climate change.

The biggest victory was the passage of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act, which requires the state to reduce its global warming pollution to 25 percent below 2006 levels by 2020. Maryland is now a national leader in climate change with this measure, becoming one of only seven states to pass a strong global warming bill. A similar bill failed last year after business and labor organizations decried that it would hurt manufacturing jobs, but this version was changed to ensure no these jobs were not threatened. The Maryland Department of the Environment must finalize the new regulations by 2012.

State lawmakers also deserve high praise for passing a bill that help with water quality protection by requiring advanced nitrogen removal technology for new and replacement septic systems built in the critical areas, and also requiring the removal of nitrogen from septic systems installed on properties along tidal waterways. Though it was narrowly approved in the senate with a one vote margin, it is now considered one of the strongest septic bills in the country.

Program Open Space, which as recently as last week seemed headed for major cuts, remains largely intact for the next fiscal year. A last-minute grassroots campaign effort was mobilized after the Senate proposed drastic cuts to the Program. Most of the funds were converted into bonds to be used to buy land instead of cash. The nationally recognized and highly regarded program uses part of the state's real estate transfer tax to buy land for preservation and recreation. Established in 1969 under the Department of Natural Resources, Program Open Space has provided for more than 5,000 individual county and municipal parks and conservation areas, including Worcester County. Nearly all of the land bought by the DNR in Maryland in the past 40 years was funded, at least in part, by Program Open Space.

Other environmental victories include a bill that will strengthen building codes to make them more energy efficient, as well as another bill mandating that all public schools and state facilities recycle paper, aluminum, glass and plastic. An innovative pilot program that uses federal funds to encourage organic farming practices was also passed in this session.

Of course, it wasn’t all good news, particularly in the area of growth. Lawmakers failed to pass a bill that would have required counties to gear future development to priority growth areas. It had passed the House as an amendment to another bill, but did not come to a vote in the Senate Committee. Such a measure could have had an impact in Worcester County as officials propose zoning changes regarding growth areas here. However, one important growth bill did pass that clarifies the importance of local growth plans as legal documents to ensure development proposals are consistent with plans.

In the end, the Maryland General Assembly gave final approval to the state's $13.8 billion operating budget without significant cuts to environmental programs. Environmentalists did not get everything they wanted, but it could have been a lot worse. State lawmakers have proven that our state can remain an environmental leader and tackle major issues such as climate change even in a tough economic climate.

Transfer Development Rights

2009-04-27T07:12:00.000-07:00

Environmentalists are often viewed as anti-growth. True, conserving sensitive land is a serious concern. But informed environmentalists know that not all development is bad and that growth just needs to be steered in the right direction.

One innovative method to accomplish this goal is through Transfer Development Rights, which promotes responsible growth, while at the same time encouraging conservation. Simply put, TDR is the exchange of zoning rights from sparsely populated or sensitive areas, to more densely populated areas. These transfers allow for the preservation of open spaces and historic landmarks, while encouraging growth where growth makes sense.

TDRs should be used in the new Worcester County zoning code to eliminate existing commercial and estate zoning by allowing those property owners to sell their development rights to a designated receiving area for growth. Much of the commercial strip zoning on US 50 between Herring Creek and Stephen Decatur High School, and some of the remnant residential zoning along MD 611, Turville Creek and St. Martins River could serve as sending areas to places more appropriate for growth, such as parcels west of Ocean Pines. Land currently zoned for such estate zoning is in some of the most sensitive and flood-prone areas in the county.

Some form of transfer development rights is already in use in 10 Maryland counties. This voluntary program is set up through a given county which designates "sending" and "receiving" areas within its boundaries. Based on a county-set formula, landowners in sending areas can sell their development rights to developers who are generally permitted to build at higher density or on agriculturally-zoned land in designated receiving areas. Most counties place receiving areas in developing areas or on least productive soils. In turn, a permanent easement is placed on the sender’s land which is restricted from future development.

TDRs are voluntary, do not use tax dollars for land preservation, provide compensation for downzoning and allow for direct growth away from environmentally sensitive areas that should be protected. Additionally, a clear and concise TDR plan can allow for flexibility that would not otherwise be allowed with traditional zoning policies.

Zoning changes are on the horizon, and a public hearing on the proposed county zoning regulations is planned for early June. Now is the time to consider TDRs as a good way to direct growth away from areas that should be conserved while also compensating land owners. As has been proven in other counties, TDR’s are a successful way to preserve land in perpetuity while also stimulating development. We hope the public and county officials will remember this approach, which allows for more flexibility in achieving balanced growth, conservation and development.

The Maryland Department of Planning has a publication available that offers advice to local governments considering use of transferable development rights, describes existing TDR programs in Maryland and other states, and provides guidelines for preparing TDR ordinances and model zoning codes. For more information log onto http://www.mdp.state.md.us/.

Environmental Legislative Wrap-Up

2009-04-24T07:13:00.000-07:00

The Maryland General Assembly adjourned April 13 with a balanced budget, but not at the expense of our natural resources as lawmakers passed several landmark environmental bills, including a measure designed to impact climate change.

The biggest victory was the passage of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act, which requires the state to reduce its global warming pollution to 25 percent below 2006 levels by 2020. Maryland is now a national leader in climate change with this measure, becoming one of only seven states to pass a strong global warming bill. A similar bill failed last year after business and labor organizations decried that it would hurt manufacturing jobs, but this version was changed to ensure no these jobs were not threatened. The Maryland Department of the Environment must finalize the new regulations by 2012.

State lawmakers also deserve high praise for passing a bill that help with water quality protection by requiring advanced nitrogen removal technology for new and replacement septic systems built in the critical areas, and also requiring the removal of nitrogen from septic systems installed on properties along tidal waterways. Though it was narrowly approved in the senate with a one vote margin, it is now considered one of the strongest septic bills in the country.

Program Open Space, which as recently as last week seemed headed for major cuts, remains largely intact for the next fiscal year. A last-minute grassroots campaign effort was mobilized after the Senate proposed drastic cuts to the Program. Most of the funds were converted into bonds to be used to buy land instead of cash. The nationally recognized and highly regarded program uses part of the state's real estate transfer tax to buy land for preservation and recreation. Established in 1969 under the Department of Natural Resources, Program Open Space has provided for more than 5,000 individual county and municipal parks and conservation areas, including Worcester County. Nearly all of the land bought by the DNR in Maryland in the past 40 years was funded, at least in part, by Program Open Space.

Other environmental victories include a bill that will strengthen building codes to make them more energy efficient, as well as another bill mandating that all public schools and state facilities recycle paper, aluminum, glass and plastic. An innovative pilot program that uses federal funds to encourage organic farming practices was also passed in this session.

Of course, it wasn’t all good news, particularly in the area of growth. Lawmakers failed to pass a bill that would have required counties to gear future development to priority growth areas. It had passed the House as an amendment to another bill, but did not come to a vote in the Senate Committee. Such a measure could have had an impact in Worcester County as officials propose zoning changes regarding growth areas here. However, one important growth bill did pass that clarifies the importance of local growth plans as legal documents to ensure development proposals are consistent with plans.

In the end, the Maryland General Assembly gave final approval to the state's $13.8 billion operating budget without significant cuts to environmental programs. Environmentalists did not get everything they wanted, but it could have been a lot worse. State lawmakers have proven that our state can remain an environmental leader and tackle major issues such as climate change even in a tough economic climate.

Conservation Subdivision Design

2009-04-22T15:11:00.000-07:00

One of the best things about living in Worcester County is its abundance of beautiful natural resources. There is little doubt that it is these environmental treasures that have played a significant role in why so many people have moved here in the last several years, and is a major reason why the population is expected to increase by 50 percent within the next decade.

As the population grows and more residential developments are built in designated growth areas, it is essential that these subdivisions are designed to coexist with forests, wetlands and farms. It certainly can and is being done through conservation-subdivision design (CSD), an environmentally friendly development strategy that helps preserve open space within residential housing developments. This approach strategically concentrates home construction on a development site in a way that is designed to protect sensitive and valuable open space, habitat, and other environmental resources.

Often described as golf course communities without the golf courses, CSD’s typically identify a significant natural feature of a site that will then be preserved in large contiguous blocks. The homes are often clustered together on smaller lots to allow for better use of the open space, which results in an average overall density similar to a conventional subdivision.

The use of these designs has grown in popularity in the last few decades and is now required in planning and zoning regulations in many counties and municipalities throughout the country. Unfortunately, outdated or inflexible zoning ordinances have kept some local governments from requiring conservation subdivision design. Such is the case with Worcester County’s recent proposed zoning code, which merely encourages, but does not require, that these innovative design plans be used.

Conservation subdivision design is a win-win for all. These designs strategically arrange the development on each parcel so that half of the buildable land is set aside as open space. The developed sections are in areas best suited for development, such as farmland uplands or areas with well-drained soils. The same number of homes can be built using less land, thereby balancing conservation and development needs. Besides protecting open space, CSD’s also minimize disturbance to streams and helps habitats to flourish. Water quality is protected and its quantity is managed by slowing and filtering stormwater runoff through wetlands.

For the developer, CSD offers lower development costs with the end result being a marketable residential development. Also, having homes clustered on smaller lots reduces development costs since there are fewer trees to clear, less land to grade, and less road, water, and sewer infrastructure needed to serve the development. Incorporating a natural feature into design plans makes good sense because communities can preserve natural spaces and also achieve development goals.

Balancing growth with protecting natural resources will always be a challenge in Worcester County, as it is throughout the country. Worcester County officials should encourage conservation and require open-space development design for both minor and major subdivisions. It is good planning that can ensure the area’s natural resources are maintained, thus helping to ensure the future economic and environmental health of our towns. Workshops on the proposed county regulations are scheduled for later this month and a public hearing is planned for early June. Go online to www.co.worcester.md.us for more information.

Earth Day Marsh Planting April 22

2009-04-09T10:30:00.000-07:00

Celebrate Earth Day and learn about living shorelines by planting marsh grasses at a living shoreline restoration site on Gum Point Road on April 22. The planting, as well as trash cleanup, is a joint venture among Worcester County Department of Natural Resources and the Coastal Bays Program in an effort to show what living shorelines can be.

Volunteers are needed to plant smooth cordgrass, saltmeadow cordgrass and switchgrass plugs and help with trash pick-up. Equipment will be provided, but volunteers should bring their own gloves and boots or waders.

The Earth Day planting and cleanup is part of a living shoreline restoration project at the Gum Point Road boat ramp. Living shorelines is a management option that provides erosion control benefits, while also enhancing the natural shoreline habitat. These shorelines are designed to allow for natural coastal processes to remain through the strategic placement of plants, stone, sand fill and nonstructural organic materials. The concept is to maintain and preserve marshes along the shoreline, yet protect against erosion. Marshes provide water quality benefits and provide habitat and food for a variety of birds, crabs and fishes that live in the coastal bays.

Restoration of 110 feet of shoreline is underway, funded by Worcester County’s Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area Mitigation fund and in-kind work provided by county staff. Last October Worcester County and Department of Natural Resources employees, Maryland Coastal Bays Program staff, and volunteers, moved rock and placed sand to replace rip rap at the boat ramp, which is heavily used by residents and visitors. Planting the area with marsh grasses was put off until spring when the grasses come out of dormancy to begin life anew.

The Coastal Bays Program recently awarded Worcester County a $1,200 implementation grant for an interpretative panel that will be placed at the site. The sign will be designed to inform and strengthen public understanding of the benefits and techniques used in living shorelines.

Date: April 22, rain or shine (in event of severe weather, will be postponed to April 23)
Time: 12 PM – 3 PM
Location: Gum Point Rd Boat Ramp; Gum Point Rd.
Directions: from Route 50 turn onto Route 589/Racetrack Rd; after about a mile turn right onto Gum Point Rd; the boat ramp is on the right, about a mile from the turn.
Contact: Katherine Munson, Worcester Co Dept of Comprehensive Planning, 410-632-5651 for more information.

Implementation Grants Awarded

2009-04-06T07:11:00.001-07:00

The Maryland Coastal Bays Program announces the funding of $100,000 in implementation grants to program partners for projects concerning issues threatening our watershed.
These grants are offered to assist in the implementation of actions in the Maryland Coastal Bays Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan, which represents a consensus of the best means needed to preserve the economic and ecological prosperity of the coastal bays for the future.
Grants funded in the 2008-2009 cycle have been awarded to the following projects:
· $1,200 – Worcester County Department of Comprehensive Planning for Gum Point Road boat ramp restoration and interpretive panel.
· $20,000 – University of Maryland Center for Environmental Sciences to assess the causes of recent widespread increases in nitrogen in the coastal bays.
· $15,000 – University of Maryland Center for Environmental Sciences to print the book Shifting Sands: Environmental and Cultural changes in Maryland’s Coastal Bays.
· $20,000 – Maryland Department of Natural Resources for Isle of Wight and E.A. Vaughn WMA Saltmarsh Restoration.
· $7,000 – Town of Ocean City for Robin Drive shoreline restoration.
· $2,500 – Assateague Coastal Trust for Grow Berlin Green.
· $14,500 – Lower Shore Land Trust for terrestrial monitoring for habitat conservation prioritization.
· $4,000 – Worcester County Tourism for phase one of Ayres Creek water trail on Lewis Road.
· $15,988 – Maryland Dept of Environment to study how much time it takes ground water and its nutrients to move from under crop fields to nearby waters.

The responsibilities of the Implementation Committee includes communicating and collaboration among its members to build consensus for recommended actions, representing water quality, resource management, and other important environmental perspectives. The committee is also responsible for finding and implements solutions, defining and ranking estuary problems, overseeing annual work plans, and approving all resource and funding allocations.

Since 1999, the Coastal Bays Program as given more than $850,000 for projects in the watershed. This summer the program will award “minigrants” to local community groups for more projects designed to help protect wildlife and water quality.

Public Workshops

2009-04-03T08:27:00.000-07:00

Worcester County will be hosting several public workshops on the DRAFT Zoning and Subdivision Control Article, Zoning Maps, and Design Guidelines and Standards for Commercial Uses

During the week of April 20th through the 24th
Monday – Thursday 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, Friday 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
Training Room A, Third Floor of Worcester County Government Center
One West Market Street, Snow Hill, Maryland
Monday, April 27th, 5:00pm to 8:00pm
Worcester County Recreation Center
6030 Public Landing Road, Snow Hill Maryland
Wednesday, April 29th, 5:00pm to 8:00pm
Stephen Decatur High School Cafeteria
9913 Seahawk Road, Berlin, Maryland

These land use documents and tools are important to Worcester County’s future. Please take advantage of at least one of the opportunities to review the information, meet with the staff, ask questions and voice concerns in an informal setting prior to the County Commissioners’ Public Hearing on the documents and maps, tentatively scheduled for June 2, 2009.
These documents can be found on the County’s website at www.co.worcester.md.us. A CD containing these documents is also available from the Department of Development, Review and Permitting at no cost. In addition, each public library in Worcester County has a CD available for viewing.
Please contact us at zoning@co.worcester.md.us with any questions.

Pay Attention to Proposed Zoning Regulations

2009-03-30T06:59:00.000-07:00

Planning and zoning are the key factors in determining the future economic and environmental health of towns and counties.
That’s why Worcester County citizens should carefully study the proposed county zoning regulations and maps before the public hearings later this spring. A key question is whether the new zoning matches the Worcester County Comprehensive Plan which the county commissioners, citizens, and planners created together by consensus and approved in 2006.
The code and maps were just released on the county’s website (http://www.co.worcester.md.us) two weeks ago. Aside from matching up the comprehensive plan map with the new zoning map, residents should be mindful of some of the core principles adopted by the county in the comprehensive plan: Do the new growth areas avoid forests and wetlands? Are these areas away from floodplains? Is there a Transfer of Development Rights program to help eliminate commercial strip zoning and large lot estate zoning? Is there a provision for conservation subdivision designs in the plan, and do the new growth areas allow for the county to meet its TMDLs, the maximum allowable nutrient load permitted for certain water bodies?
There are also new provisions in the plan that allow for more lots, if clustered, on agriculturally zoned land, and a new agricultural zoning district (A-2) that consumes more than 3,000 acres of land along MD 589, Sinepuxent Road, MD 611, Mary Road east of Berlin and around Stockton. The more permissive A-2 district would allow for transferring lots from numerous parcels to make one larger development and the district would permit a variety of other uses like correctional facilities, effluent storage, race tracks, hospitals, water craft storage/construction yards, farm labor camps, and veterinary facilities.
Some of the areas upzoned for residential subdivisions include parts of South Point, Libertytown Road west of Berlin, MD 611 just south of Assateague Road, Gumpoint Road, and most of Shingle Landing and Bishopville prongs. A large area next to Stephen Decatur Middle School is also proposed for big box commercial development.
Along the shore of Assawoman Bay across from Ocean City much of the larger lot zoning has been rezoned for more conservation purposes as has parts of Assateague Road.
No doubt county planners are tasked with tough decisions on thousands of parcels. Few brews are more toxic than those that bring together politics, property owners, and planning, and few souls are braver than those who have to navigate them.
But however much politics and individual property owners come into play, when it comes to a vote on the zoning regulations in June, the Worcester County Commissioners must stick to the comprehensive plan and its core planning principles for the common good and future health of their community.
Residents can peruse those regulations and maps April 20-23 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and April 24 from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. on the 3rd floor of the Worcester County Government Center in Snow Hill. The county will also hold workshops April 27 from 5-8 p.m. at the Rec. Center on Public Landing Road and April 29 at the same time at Stephen Decatur High School.
Worcester County’s Comprehensive Plan won numerous awards and was held up as a model for counties to emulate nationwide. Citizens should be sure the zoning regulations do the same.

A Special Thanks to our Volunteers

2009-03-23T08:00:00.000-07:00

At the risk of appearing too self-congratulatory, we at the Coastal Bays Program are truly thrilled about our win for best overall float in last Saturday’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Sure, it’s a bit silly that a group of adults could be positively exuberant over a parade float, but frankly such recognition means a lot to those of us who work in a non-profit sector as well as for the volunteers who help the cause.
A lot of time and effort went into our float, and we couldn’t have done it without the help of the many volunteers who donated items, services, money and energy of time to the project. A great group worked long hours to make our very first entry into the annual Delmarva Irish-American Club 29th St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 14 a success.
We started out with big plans, but quickly realized that not one of the staff or volunteers had ever worked on a parade float before, and the task seemed a bit daunting. Somehow what we envisioned was realized, and after hours of sawing, painting, nailing, gluing, stapling and whatever else needed to be done, we pulled it off. The result was a family oriented ocean and bay themed float, complete with larger than life size homemade starfish, horseshoe crab and octopus costumes.
The staff did our share, of course. Programs Manager Kate Diffenderfer, who wholeheartedly coordinated the project, worked tirelessly and never complained, but we truly couldn’t have done it without the help of a dedicated group of volunteers. A special thank you is in order for our queen of the bays, Ocean City’s own Vera McCullough, who was radiant in her homemade royal dress, seashell crown and clamshell “throne”. Mike Brian of Ocean City’s Surfrider Foundation, Morgan Kaumeyer of AmeriCorp, and Denny Sharp and Jamie Montgomery of High Tide Marine and Su Lane of Sun Signs – you really came through for us. Just as important to our success were Ryan Murphy and Shane Murphy of Go Green Painting & Home Improvements, Victor Bunting, Brian Tinkler, Karen Lukacs, Phyllis Brian, Christopher Johnson, Krystal Wilson, Ben Cheseldine, Morgan Squicciarini, Carolyn Cummins, Genie Blake, Maria Valdez, Malakhi Lucas, Keota Silaphone, Heather, Harley, Asher and Lucas Layton and little Ella Samis, our toddler mermaid.
A nonprofit organization cannot succeed without a strong core of volunteers, particularly in tough economic times. Those who selflessly commit their time and resources should be recognized because they are an integral part of the fuel that powers our engine and helps us keep going. It’s not a Nobel Prize, of course, but in some small way this recognition can serve as a reminder to residents and visitors that the Coastal Bays Program is always here, working to keep our bays healthy.
The trophy is proudly displayed it in our front office. It reminds us that together with our volunteers we can take on the next new project and make it a success.

St. Patrick's Day Float Award

2009-03-18T12:07:00.000-07:00

From L - R

MCBP Technical Coorinator Carol Cain, Executive Director Dave Wilson, Programs Manager Kate Diffenderfer and Outreach Coordinator Anita Ferguson.

Coastal Bays Float Wins Best in Show!

2009-03-16T10:51:00.000-07:00

The Maryland Coastal Bays Program won Best in Show for its Under the Sea themed float in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Ocean City on Saturday. The float was the first ever entrance in the parade from the Coastal Bays Program.

Assateague Coastal Trust Coast Kids Activity

2009-03-12T08:09:00.000-07:00

Coast Kids will learn about bird watching at the Ward Museum Sunday, March 15th 2009 from 1 PM to 3 PM.

The event will start with a quick tour through the Ward Museum, and then go outside to identify the birds living around the pond. Lastly participants will hear a story about the physical and behavioral adaptations of birds to the environment, and create our own birds in a craft project.

There is no limit to the number of spaces available. Please sign up by calling the Assateague Coastal Trust office at 410-629-1538. The event is free for members and their parents. Non-members pay $5.00 per child.

The Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art is located in Salisbury. Turn South from Rt. 50 onto Beaglin Park Drive. Proceed 1.2 miles to S. Schumaker Drive and turn left (at the traffic signal just before Parkside High School). The Ward Museum is located on the left. Meet in the lobby.

Questions?
mail@actforbays.org

Conserve While You Serve Trade Expo

2009-03-10T08:24:00.000-07:00

The Maryland Coastal Bays Program would like to applaud the Ocean City Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Association, which has chosen to not only embrace but also encourage environmental responsibility by focusing on conservation at its annual trade expo last weekend.
Conserve While You Serve was the theme at the 35th Spring Trade Expo, an annual event designed exclusively for the hospitality industry. This year the event featured innovative goods and services, from solar energy to biodegradable flatware.
The OCHMRA realizes that in today’s challenging economic climate, businesses owners must use every tool available to maximize value for expenses and return on investment. And while going green to save some green is not a new concept, this event took that idea a step further with Green is the New Gold, a conservation-minded training and educational clinic, presented by EcoVentures International, Women Entrepreneurs of Baltimore, and Delmarva Low Impact Tourism Experience. Additional funding came from the Maryland and Delaware USDA Rural Development Office with additional support from Delaware Sea Grant and University of Maryland Eastern Shore.
Experts from a variety of hospitality sectors provided information and insight on what going green means in the hospitality world. The National Restaurant Association and the American Hotel and Lodging Association discussed conservation efforts adopted by restaurants and hotels around the nation and offered tools and resources for small and large businesses to save money but at the same time have positive environmental impacts.
Jim Rapp of Delmarva Low Impact Tourism Experiences, along with Helen Arthur of Boardwalk Hotel Group and Worcester County Tourism Director Lisa Challenger, partnered to discuss how to increase visitation through eco tourism – a concept that promotes recycling, energy efficiency, water conservation and the creation of economic opportunities for local communities.
Other issues included the benefits of solar energy; as well rebates, incentives and financial strategies available for those want to use a solar power system. Business owners who want to learn how to clean with non-toxic chemicals learned about low cost, common sense methods that can do the job as well as harmful chemical cleaners.
By now most in the hospitality industry are already aware of energy saving measures, such as using fluorescent bulbs, ceiling fans, linen cards and lights out cards, as well as how low flow showerheads and toilets can conserve water. It’s a no-brainer that using less energy and water will save on utility bills.
But with the Conserve While You Serve concept, the OCHMRA has recognized that going green also means responding to conservation-minded patrons who are actively looking for environmentally sensitive hotels and restaurants. Tapping into this growing group of consumers is good for business, yes, but it’s also good for the planet. And that serves all of us.

Clash of the Populations!

2009-03-04T07:00:00.000-08:00

This somewhat dramatic name sounds a bit like the title of a 1950s science fiction movie. The title in full, Clash of the Populations – Emerging Challenges for Coastal Lagoons, is actually the name of a conference taking place in Ocean City this week. The subject of looming problems with lagoons may not sound as dramatic as a sci-fi thriller, but lagoon health is a serious issue.
Managing these vulnerable waterways will be the main focus for members of the Atlantic Estuarine Research Society (AERS), comprised of students, scientists, managers and educators from Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington, DC. The group this week will take an in-depth look at the problems facing coastal lagoons with a goal to form science-based solutions.
The Clash o f the Populations conference is hosted by the Maryland Coastal Bays Program Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee. The waters behind Assateague and Ocean City are coastal lagoons, which have their own set of circumstances that make them especially vulnerable to human impact, says Dr. Roman Jesien, staff scientist with the MCBP. Coastal lagoons typically have small watersheds, with small rivers and creeks, with the chief freshwater input coming through rain and groundwater. Flushing is low, so as a result, what goes into the bays stays in the bays.
Since there are tremendous pressures from living and playing in the watershed, conflicts can arise between humans and animal and plant populations that inhabit these lagoons. These are highly productive areas that contribute to the overall productivity of coastal waters by supporting a variety of habitats, including salt marshes and seagrasses. They also provide essential habitat for many fish and shellfish species. Lagoons can be found throughout the world and represent nearly 13 percent of the shoreline. On the Atlantic coast, salt marshes are one of the most prevalent habitats in lagoons and are one of the most productive natural plant communities in the world, so managing them well is vital.
The AERS conference includes a trip to the north end of Assateague Island National Seashore as well as visit to two habitat restoration projects in the Isle of Wight Management Area. The first Isle of Wight location is an area of shoreline that at one time housed deteriorating bulkhead but has been replaced with 10 acres of tidal marsh and is now a county park, while the second is a site with ongoing marsh restoration.
The Maryland Coastal Bays Program Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee was established to provide advice and guidance to research, data management, and sampling and monitoring efforts that affect the scientific adequacy of program activities. The committee is also responsible for suggesting specific scientific activities that will help meet program objectives, as well as conduct peer review of studies and reports on the status and trends in the estuary.

AERS was formed to discuss problems and explore solutions on issues pertaining to estuarine and coastal environments and policies with the common goal of encouraging environmental interest and public awareness. The group is one of seven affiliated societies centered along the East, Gulf and West coasts of North America. The seven societies, independently operated, collaborate with the national Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation to sponsor biennial conferences on topics of national and international interest and to produce a highly regarded quarterly journal, Estuaries and Coasts.

Stop Using Plastic Bags!

2009-03-02T07:13:00.000-08:00

The comedienne Lily Tomlin once joked that there is so much plastic in our lives that vinyl leopard skin is becoming an endangered synthetic.
A funny joke, yes, but the point is well taken. Just consider for example all the plastic shopping bags now used routinely at grocery stores, pharmacies, and practically anywhere purchases are made. These sturdy polyethylene bags do a good job toting our apples or frozen dinners to the car, but they are also endangering our marine environment.
Researchers say more than 80 percent of debris found in the middle of the ocean initially came from the land after being blown off of garbage trucks or out of landfills, spilled from railroad shipping containers or washed down storm drains. Plastic is a durable, buoyant and nearly indestructible material and can remain in the sea for hundreds of years, breaking up into tiny particles that often find their way inside plankton, the basis of the marine food chain
The plastics problem is so severe that a section of the Pacific Ocean twice the size of the continental United States has been dubbed the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. This enormous floating island of flotsam contains 100 million tons of plastic particles. These particles end up in the stomachs of marine birds and mammals killing millions each year.
Plastic shopping bags that once held a carton of eggs and pound of butter end up clogging gullets of sea turtles that mistake them for jellyfish, but replacing these bags with cloth totes is simple and inexpensive. Reusable and washable, they are available for about a buck in most places we routinely shop.
Still, what should we do with the bags we already have at home? The answer is the oft repeated mantra – renew, reuse and recycle. Many grocery stores provide a recycling container right outside the store where you can drop your old bags, or simply use them again the next time you shop. At home use them as small trashcan liners, as a pooper scooper on walks with the dog, or as a lunch tote, although probably not in that order.
There are actually creative and decorative ways to use these bags. Because the polyethylene material is quite durable they can be cut into strips and tied together to make a plastic yarn. This yarn can then be used to knit area rugs, braided dog leashes, even purses and hats.
Eliminating these bags from our lives may seem like a small step toward mitigating the effects of plastic on our environment. But such small steps can do a lot to prevent another massive plastic garbage patch from forming in our oceans. And that’s no joke.

Environmental Volunteers Plant Thousands of Beach Grasses

2009-02-27T08:00:00.000-08:00

Scores of educators and students from across the state attending the Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE) Conference in Ocean City will brave cold winds next Sunday morning to plant 2,500 American beach grasses in Assateaque State Park.

The native beach grass culms, donated by the Sussex County Department of Corrections, will help stabilize and restore the fragile sand dune habitats of this treasured barrier island which further protect inland properties from the ravages of strong winds, waves and flooding during storm events.

When: Sunday, March 1, 2009
9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Where: Assateague State Park - Day Use Parking Lot
Participants will carpool to the planting site.

Who: Maryland Association of Outdoor and Environmental Education
members and their families;
Federal/State Agencies, non-profit Educational Organizations;
Teachers, students and environmental educators from across Maryland

The Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE) seeks to develop a Maryland citizenry that understands and is engaged in responsible environmental behavior and stewardship through the promotion of excellence in environmental education by training and supporting Maryland educators. The MAEOE Conference is the largest statewide conference of its kind in North America. More information is available at www.maeoe.org.

Assateague Coastal Trust Spring Fling Extravaganza

2009-02-25T07:23:00.000-08:00

This year the Assateague Coastal Trust Annual Dinner and Fundraiser will be held on Saturday, March 7 in Ocean City, at the Golden Sands Club Condominium, 109th Street & Coastal Highway. Everyone is welcome, even if you are not an ACT member.

The guest speaker this year is David Andrews, who will talk about sustainable agriculture: a return to conventional farming, keeping our rural areas economically viable while environmentally healthy. He is Senior Representative for Food and Water Watch in Washington, D.C., spent 30 years in sustainable agricultural development work and was Executive Director for 13 years at the National Catholic Rural Life Conference. He is a Brother in the Catholic Church and has been a consultant for the Roman Catholic Church in the U.S., and at the Vatican, on globalization and agriculture. Br. Andrews also served on the Pew Charitable Trust Commission on Industrial Farm Animal Production and wrote the technical report on community impacts for the Commission.

It will be a wonderful evening of camaraderie, musical entertainment by the renowned Stephen Decatur High School Jazz Ensemble, excellent speakers and fine dining. The evening will also feature former U.S. Congressman, Wayne Gilchrest who will speak to our guests about a very exciting coming event.

The Silent Auction table will be packed this year with art, boat tours of the Coastal Bays, birding tours, lunch & kayaking on Ayers Creek, dinner certificates, and even tickets to a show for national stand-up political comedian Lewis Black.

Mark your calendars now for the evening of March 7. Dinner ticket sales and information will be available on the ACT website at http://www.actforbays.org/.

Green Diversity Explored

2009-02-23T07:30:00.000-08:00

How to encourage “green” diversity will be the theme of the Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education at its conference in Ocean City Feb. 27 - March 1, sponsored in part by the Maryland Coastal Bays Program.

Despite President Barack Obama having just appointed the first ever African American to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, racial diversity in the environmental field is uncommon. MAEOE organizers say this phenomenon is reflected in their annual conference, with only a handful of people of color attending each year.

As part of the North American Association of Environmental Educators, MAEOE will address this issue head on in this year’s conference – Shades of Green: Exploring Diversity in Our Environment.

This nonprofit group’s goals include encouraging, educating, supporting, and inspiring Maryland educators to “build a citizenry that understands and is responsibly engaged in advancing sustainability to address human needs and to conserve the earth's natural resources.” This year’s theme is an important component of that goal.

Maryland boasts the largest state environmental educator’s conference in the nation, with more than 500 participating each year. The state numbers are impressive, but locally only a few staffers from nonprofit groups and government agencies will attend. (As of this writing no Worcester County teachers had registered for the conference, held in the Maryland coastal bays watershed, ironically the most ecologically diverse area in the state.)

In addition to racial diversity, the conference will also address diversity in teaching methods. Great effort was made to invite presenters to share ways to teach about the environment that go beyond the way traditional science has been taught in the classroom.

According to Maryland Coastal Bays Program Education Coordinator Carrie Samis, the MAEOE conference is also a great place for non formal educators such as herself, to share ideas with traditional classroom teachers. This networking provides extensive resources and professional development opportunities. Moreover, it is an opportunity for teachers and environmental educators to work together for the benefit of students – enhancing classroom instruction and, ultimately, improving environmental literacy.

Our environment is a resource we must all share, but to have any meaningful change the entire population must be included in the effort. We applaud this organization’s effort to encourage diversity in the environmental field today, which will ultimately benefit us all tomorrow.

Plant a Tree this Spring

2009-02-19T10:46:00.000-08:00

“The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The second best time is now.” This anonymous quote speaks volumes as to why planting a tree today is one of the most important actions we can take to ensure the future health of our natural environment.
Because trees are one of our most important natural resources, protecting water quality, cleaning our air and providing a natural habitat for wildlife, planting a tree is actually an investment in the future health of our land and water.
To encourage residents to plant more trees, state agencies have joined with businesses for Marylanders Grow Trees, an initiative under the Smart, Green and Growing program, designed to encourage citizen involvement with forest restoration. The short term goal is to inspire enough residents to plant 50,000 new trees by 2010, with a long term target of 1 million plantings by 2011. Marylanders can register the trees they plant and calculate their benefits on the state’s website www.DNR.Maryland.gov/GrowTrees where there is an interactive map, as well as discount coupons and incentives for planting trees this spring.
And there’s more than one way to ensure more trees take root by having a tree planted in the name of a loved one through Tree-Mendous Maryland. This program will arrange for a tree to be planted as a gift and will be placed in the county in which the recipient lives. All trees purchased through Tree-Mendous Maryland are planted on public land throughout the state, within our towns and cities, in parks and schoolyards, and along streams & creeks. Such a gift is not just for the recipient, but it is also a gift to the environment as well as something for future generations to enjoy.
Of course trees beautify our landscape and communities, but they also attract birds, improve air and water quality, act as a noise or privacy barrier, and overall contribute to our quality of life. Trees also control and filter stormwater and reduce soil erosion. Just one large tree can eliminate 5,000 gallons of stormwater runoff each year.
Trees can also help us financially. A well planted and maintained landscape with mature trees can increase residential property values up to 25 percent. Good tree cover can actually cut air conditioning costs. In fact, a city lot with 30 percent plant cover provides the equivalent cooling necessary to air condition two small houses 12 hours a day.
There are many practical reasons to plant, but just gazing at a beautiful tree, even in the dead of winter, can simply remind us of the living, magnificent beauty that surrounds us all. As Martin Luther once said, “For in the true nature of things, if we rightly consider, every green tree is far more glorious than if it were made of gold and silver.”

2009-02-11T07:27:00.000-08:00

Anita Ferguson, right, outreach director fo the MCBP, spoke to members of the Kiwanis Club of Greater Ocean Pines-Ocean City at a meeting last week. Besider her is Kiwanis President, Corky Widerman.

BATS!

2009-02-09T07:40:00.000-08:00

A recent survey of bats conducted and published by researchers from University of Maryland indicate that the loblolly pine-dominated forests at Assateague Island National Seashore provide suitable roosting and foraging habitat mostly for eastern red bats, which concentrate their activity in vegetated areas and at freshwater pools.

The freshwater pools are an important part of the ecosystem at Assateague Island National Seashore that supply bats and other organisms with freshwater on an island surrounded by saltwater.

Although eastern red bats are the predominant bat species at the national park, hoary bats, silver-haired bats and eastern pipistrelles occur there in limited numbers during summer or during spring and autumn migration.

Evidence of bats using Assateague Island National Seashore as a migratory pathway or stopover site may have implications for future offshore wind-energy developments and warrants further investigation.

Thrift Shop Donates to the MCBP

2009-02-06T07:20:00.001-08:00

From left - Helen Wiley of the Church Mouse and Anita Ferguson, Outreach Director for the MCBP.

The Church Mouse Thrift Shop made a donation to the Maryland Coastal Bays Program to help us keep the bays healthy. The shop, operated by St. Paul's Episicopal Church in Berlin, also donated money to Habitat for Humanity. MCBP staff and everyone who lives in the coastal bays says thanks!

Community Meeting for Grow Berlin Green Feb. 10

2009-02-04T08:15:00.000-08:00

Engaging the public is the first order of business for Grow Berlin Green, a new program designed to help Berlin become a model town for environmental protection by connecting the community to conservation, but the public must be part of the process in order for the program to be a success.

The three-year project will be managed by a coalition of the Assateague Coastal Trust (ACT), Lower Shore Land Trust and Maryland Coastal Bays Program. However, central to its success will be community involvement.

An open dialogue is vital to ensure the program’s goals of stimulating significant progress toward conservation, water quality and land use challenges facing Berlin, ultimately making the town an archetype for participatory environmental action. To encourage public participation GBG organizers will hold a public meeting Feb. 10 to provide an opportunity for residents, business owners and town officials to voice their opinions as well as learn more about the program.

The Grow Berlin Green Program is part of an ongoing effort to revitalize the town, which was designated a Main Street Community by Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley last year. The Main Street approach encourages economic development within the context of historic preservation designed to also help spur economic growth by rebuilding traditional commercial districts. Community self-reliance, a pedestrian-friendly environment, local ownership and a sense of community are also vital to the concept of a Main Street Community, which is managed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Both Main Street and GBG rely on public opinion and feedback for their success. To promote this involvement, events and activities will be designed to include citizens, business owners and government officials to better build a foundation for citizen and policymaker participation. Engagement and activism among citizens and policymakers is needed to ensure success in hopes to revitalize downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts.

Next week’s meeting will be first formal effort to hear from a broad cross section of the community, including residents, business owners, public officials and educators. It is the energy and commitment of these stakeholders that will fuel the effort to build a movement for positive change in the town.

The meeting is set for Feb. 10 at 7 p.m. at Berlin Town Hall. We urge all those who care about the town of Berlin and its future to attend and have their voices heard. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to have a direct impact on where this program is headed.

Birding Workshop Tonight

2009-02-02T08:12:00.000-08:00

Tonight, 6 - 7 PM
BERLIN PUBLIC LIBRARY

This exciting, free workshop hosted by the Lower Shore Land Trust will explain how to be part of the Great Backyard Bird Count.

Count for fun, count for the future, count on February 13 - 16 for as little as 15 minutes!

CITIZEN SCIENCE ~ BEGINNING BIRDERS WELCOME ~ PHOTO CONTEST

Reminder - Free Rain Gardens Seminar Tonight!

2009-01-28T08:00:00.000-08:00

Environmental Engineer Gail Blazer will be the featured guest speaker at the next Maryland Coastal Bays Program Citizens Advisory Committee tonight at 7 p.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on 3 Church Street in Berlin. The public is invited and encouraged to attend.

Rain Gardens featured at MCBP Citizen's Advisory Committe Meeting

2009-01-23T07:35:00.000-08:00

Environmental Engineer Gail Blazer will be the featured guest speaker at the next Maryland Coastal Bays Program Citizens Advisory Committee meeting on Wednesday, Jan 28 at 7 p.m. The meeting will be held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on 3 Church Street in Berlin. The public is invited and encouraged to attend.
A rain garden is a landscape technique that uses a strategically placed depression in the ground designed to capture runoff from hard surfaces such as rooftops, driveways and sidewalks.

A typical rain garden consists of native plants, loose soil, mulch, and sometimes gravel. Together, these elements collect, absorb, and clean runoff. The surface layer of mulch or gravel spreads water throughout the garden so that plant roots and soil mixture can absorb the water. As the runoff passes through the mixture, chemical and biological processes breakdown the pollutants before they can enter the bays.

Blazer has been the environmental engineer for the town of Ocean City for 10 years. Her education, training and enthusiasm for her profession have led her to promote and teach innovative methods to improve water quality and maintain the area’s natural beauty.

The CAC meeting will also include information about the Great American Backyard Bird Count coming Feb. 13 – 16. The annual four-day event is designed to get everyone involved in an effort to collect important information about birds for science and conservation.The Citizens Advisory Committee is comprised of recreational and commercial fishermen, developers, farmers, and other local business owners and citizens who meet monthly to discuss the goals and direction of the Maryland Coastal Bays Program.

Sunday's Sock Hop Cancelled

2009-01-23T06:30:00.000-08:00

Sock Hop at 707 to raise money for MCBP

2009-01-20T07:44:00.000-08:00

Break out your poodle skirt or blue suede shoes, and go back in time for a musical blast from the past to raise money for the Coastal Bays Program at the 707 Sports Bar and Grille Sock Hop on Sunday, Jan. 25 at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets are $20 and include a buffet, happy hour drink prices and entertainment by DJ Hey Mick. Twist and shout the night away to the sounds of Elvis Presley, Chuck Barry and Jerry Lee Lewis and at the same time help ensure the health of our bays.

Bill Rados, proprietor of 707, which also held a golf tournament to benefit the Coastal Bays Program last fall that raised more than $3,000, said he believes raising money to help keep our watershed clean is vital to us all.

“It is investment in the future,” Rados said. “If we don’t protect our natural resources and the beauty of this area, then we’ll all be out of business. The sock hop is a really fun way to do that. Everyone has a good time, and we can all give something to help protect the bays.”

The 707 Sports Bar & Grille is located at 12702 Old Bridge Road in West Ocean City. For tickets call 707 at 410 213-9507 or the Coastal Bays Program at 410-213-BAYS. Tickets will also be sold at the door.

The 12th Annual Great Backyard Bird Count is Coming!

2009-01-16T06:20:00.000-08:00

The Great Backyard Bird Count is an annual four-day event, this year scheduled for Feb. 13 - 16, that engages bird watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of where the birds are across the continent. Anyone can participate, from beginning bird watchers to experts. It takes as little as 15 minutes on one day, or you can count for as long as you like each day of the event. It’s free, fun, and easy—and it helps the birds. We'll be adding updated 2009 GBBC materials as they become available.

Participants count birds anywhere for as little or as long as they wish during the four-day period. They tally the highest number of birds of each species seen together at any one time. To report their counts, they fill out an online checklist at the Great Backyard Bird Count web site.As the count progresses, anyone with Internet access can explore what is being reported from their own towns or anywhere in the United States and Canada. They can also see how this year's numbers compare with those from previous years. Participants may also send in photographs of the birds they see. A selection of images is posted in the online photo gallery.In 2008, participants reported more than 9.8 million birds of 635 species. They submitted more than 85,000 checklists, an all-time record for the count.

Scientists and bird enthusiasts can learn a lot by knowing where the birds are. Bird populations are dynamic; they are constantly in flux. No single scientist or team of scientists could hope to document the complex distribution and movements of so many species in such a short time.We need your help. Make sure the birds from your community are well represented in the count. It doesn't matter whether you report the 5 species coming to your backyard feeder or the 75 species you see during a day's outing to a wildlife refuge.

Your counts can help us answer many questions:
How will this winter's snow and cold temperatures influence bird populations?
Where are winter finches and other “irruptive” species that appear in large numbers during some years but not others?
How will the timing of birds’ migrations compare with past years?
How are bird diseases, such as West Nile virus, affecting birds in different regions?
What kinds of differences in bird diversity are apparent in cities versus suburban, rural, and natural areas?
Are any birds undergoing worrisome declines that point to the need for conservation attention?

Scientists use the counts, along with observations from other citizen-science projects, such as the Christmas Bird Count, Project FeederWatch, and eBird, to give us an immense picture of our winter birds. Each year that these data are collected makes them more meaningful and allows scientists to investigate far-reaching questions.

The above information comes from the Great Backyard Bird Count website at http://www.birdcount.org/

Save Money and Stay Warm this Winter

2009-01-07T13:23:00.001-08:00

As the temperature drops and the economy continues to falter, it’s a good time to think about low cost and even no cost ways to save energy this winter. Individually, these changes may seem insignificant, but even small adjustments can make a big difference both economically and ecologically.
Before you turn up the thermostat, consider how well the heat you’re paying for is staying inside your home. Heat can escape through windows that are not properly sealed. A simple and inexpensive solution is to attach heavy-duty, clear plastic sheeting to the inside of your window frames. Add caulk or weather stripping to seal air leaks around leaky doors and windows. Hanging insulating drapes or shades can also help keep heat inside.
At bedtime or while at work, lower your thermostat about 10 degrees and save about 10 percent annually on your heating bill. For a one-time cost as low as $35, consider purchasing a programmable thermostat that will automatically change the temperature based on your specifications.
A roaring fire is warm and cozy, but don’t forget to close the damper when it is not being used. Keeping the damper open when there is no fire in the fireplace is tantamount to opening a window allowing heat (and the dollars you pay for it) to go right up the chimney. Consider adding tempered glass doors to your fireplace and a heat-air exchange system that blows warmed air back into the room. If you never use your fireplace, plug and seal the chimney flue.
Another simple money saver is as easy as turning down the temperature on your water heater. Heating your water can account for up to 25 percent of the energy consumed in your home. Lowering the water temperature will also protect small children’s little hands from getting scalded.
Ok, these are just a few ways to help save energy, but there are numerous resources available on the internet designed to help lower fuel bills and also slow the growth of greenhouse gas emissions.
For example, the U.S. Department of Energy recently launched the Stay Warm, Save Money campaign (energysavers.gov) to help consumers be more energy efficient and thereby save on energy costs.
Another resource is EnergyStar.gov, a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. The site is also designed to provide cost-saving ways to protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices.
The Weatherization Assistance Program helps low-income families to reduce their energy bills by making their homes more energy efficient. These families save an average of $413 or more each year on their energy bills after their homes have been weatherized. Check their website waptac.org to see if you qualify for assistance.
It’s cold out now, but in a few months we can enjoy the mild spring weather. Until then, live green and save some green.

Resolve to Recycle in 2009

2008-12-31T13:31:00.000-08:00

Recycling may not be on your mind right now, but it's a great way to help save our bays. Here's a few tips to help you get started:

Buy products made from renewable or recycled materials, such as recycled paper or motor oil. Every 115 pounds of recycled paper saves one tree.
Purchase products that are recycled and products that can be recycled. Buy fewer products and purchase quality goods that will last longer.
Avoid throwaway cups, plates, utensils, napkins, and dishcloths. Using 1,000 throwaway plastic teaspoons consumes over 10 times more energy and natural resources than making one stainless steel teaspoon and washing it 1,000 times.
Donate unwanted items to charity and shop at antique, salvation army, or any store selling second-hand items. Don’t throw them out. In turn, purchase items at yard sales, antique, thrift and consignment stores, and pawn shops.
Recycle paper, cardboard, aluminum and tin cans, glass and plastic to help preserve natural resources. Newspapers are recycled for insulation, folders, and more newspapers. Glass is recycled for new jars and bottles; aluminum for more aluminum. Plastics dumped in landfills take 200-400 years to decompose.

If you don't have curbside recycling in your town, here is a partial list of places to drop your recyclables:

Whaleyville Park - Whaleyville Road & Shepards Crossing Road
Bishopville Park -Route 367 and Bishopville Road
Ocean Pines - Adjacent to South gate Fire House
Wal-Mart - Ocean Gateway Berlin
Public Landing - Route 365 and Public Landing Road
Pocomoke City Transfer Station - Byrd Road
Snow Hill Transfer Station - Holly Road
Berlin Transfer Station - Flower Street