Chesapeake Bay News

The Chesapeake Book Company has just published a significant new book by local author and environmental scientist Ned Tillman. The Chesapeake Watershed: A Sense of Place and a Call to Action is a must read for anyone living in the 6 state region that drains into the Chesapeake Bay. The book illustrates how we all have a very important role to play in restoring our environment so future generations will not have to suffer from our mismanagement.

Tillman, who is Chairman of the Howard County Environmental Sustainability Board and is past chair of the Howard County Conservancy, says he wrote the book to engage, inform, and offer suggestions to all of us on how we can help restore a healthy balance between mankind and the rest of the earth. I wrote the book so it would be of interest to everyone. It should help us all develop a greater sense of place for this wonderful region where we live. The more we appreciate what we have, the better stewards we will become.

The book is receiving great reviews and is being used in high schools and colleges, and by land trusts, nature centers, and other non-profits. Tillman is particularly pleased to see industry and the government sectors also responding to the message. “We are all in this together and I am hoping this book becomes a good tool to help inform and stimulate us all to take the actions we need to restore the bay and the ecosystems that we have come to rely upon.”

For more information, visit www.thechesapeakewatershed.com.

Online Christmas shopping is up for 2009 and shoppers are buying much earlier than normal. Popular Chesapeake Bay gifts include books, t-shirts, golf shirts, sweatshirts, tank tops, coffee mugs, window and bumper stickers, calendars and more. Another favorite gift idea for fishermen is the purchase of fish identification posters. These attractive gifts are educational tools as well as works of art.

These are a few holiday gift ideas for Chesapeake Bay enthusiasts, boaters and anglers:

Chesapeake Bay Books

Chesapeake Bay T-Shirts and Gifts

Chesapeake Bay Calendar

Saltwater Fish T-Shirts and Gifts

Fish Posters

On October 9, 2009, the Maryland Task Force on Fishery Management presented the findings of its 2-year study of the State’s fishery management process at the Maryland Legislative Sportsmen’s Foundation’s  Summit in Annapolis. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Fisheries Service has already implemented several of the Task Force’s recommendations and is in the process of adopting others.

“I want to congratulate all the members of the Task Force on their success, with special thanks to Chairman Tom Lewis for leading the effort,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “This is important work that will have a significant impact on the management of our State’s fisheries, now and in the future.”

Governor O’Malley worked with the Maryland General Assembly to create the Task Force during the 2007 legislative session, and the group began its work the following November. The Task Force’s recommended changes to policy and regulation included a spending plan for priority areas such habitat protection, stock assessment and enforcement, and mechanisms to engage stakeholders. The spending plan is linked directly to the increased revenue from the license fee bill of 2007.

“This was a hugely challenging undertaking that required unprecedented collaboration between our Fisheries staff and our valued stakeholders,” said Secretary Griffin.  “We couldn’t be more pleased with the results and are grateful to the stakeholders who dedicated their time and expertise to the effort.”

“Our continued pursuit and implementation of the Task Force’s recommendations will surely lead us towards an improved management process and sustainable fisheries resources that will be enjoyed by today and future generations,” added Fisheries Service Director Tom O’Connell.

DNR is in the process of implementing additional recommendations and will be working with the Governor and the 2010 legislature to move changes forward.

source: DNR press release

“The Task Force was important for reasons that don’t appear in the headlines; for the fundamentals of gathering data, evaluating data and incorporating that data into fishery management plans,” said Chairman Thomas B. Lewis. “Our work went to the fundamentals of fisheries planning, management and enforcement rather than the hot issues of the day.“

DNR’s Fisheries Service will continue to refine and put into place the findings and recommendations with the help of the Sport Fisheries and Tidal Fisheries Advisory Commissions.

For a complete list of the Task Force Members and their affiliations go to: http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/taskforce/membership.html

source: DNR press release

One of the gems of Virginia’s Eastern Shore is Bloxom Winery, a small winery just off the highway near Bloxom, Virginia. The winery is owned and operated by Robert and Francesca Giardina. The couple grow 6 acres of Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon grapevines, producing several fine estate bottled wines. Robert Giardina is of Italian and Spanish descent. He was born in Casablanca where the French Colonial culture influenced his passion for wine making. Mrs. Giardina, also from Casablanca, oversees the kitchen as well as helping with the wine making operation. Among her specialties are chocolate candy, unique crackers, ciabatta bread and Italian cuisine.

Mr. Giardina explained some of the basics of Virginia’s unique viticulture as well as challenges to the industry. Virginia winemakers face a variety of threats including disease, deer and birds. Choosing the correct vine stock is critical for grape production. Other factors such as damage from wildlife vary with the location, season and size of the facility. The vintner went on to explain that wildlife has its place in wine making and some loss of crops is inevitable. Nature can also be useful. For example, grapes are tested in for sugar content and while testing is the final indicator, the arrival of birds is a sure sign that a harvest will soon be here.

Grapes are harvested by hand in early fall and fermented in large vessels. The process takes about 9 months from harvest to the finished product. Bloxom winery produces around 900 cases of high quality wines per year. The winery, open since 2004, offers limited quantities of classic Merlot, Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc wines. They also offer a semi dry wine entitled “Red Kiss” and a sweet wine named “Some Like It Blush”.

In addition to offering wines, cheeses and snacks, the couple serves dinners on weekends. Their authentic Italian cuisine includes family style pasta as well as wood fired Artisan pizza. The winery also hosts a summer festival that includes music, artists, wine stomping and other family activities.

Much of the wine is sold on premises during the summer season, wine tastings, Bloxom Festival and at weekend dinners. Wines are also available at selected shops on the Eastern Shore from Chincoteague Island south to Cape Charles Virginia. Wine enthusiasts may want to purchases wines early in the year as quantities are limited and some wines may sell out during the season.

Contact Information

Bloxom Winery
www.bloxomwinery.com
26130 Mason Rd
Bloxom, VA 23308
(757) 665-5670

Directions – from Route 13, Take Rte. 681 WEST (Mason Road) by the grape cluster sign. Go straight for 1 1/2 miles, Make left at vineyard sign and follow road to winery.

The Maryland Chapter Trout Unlimited is hosting Larry Coburn, co-author of “Guide to Maryland Trout Fishing” who will give a presentation on steelhead fishing in New York State.  The meeting is Wednesday, October 21, 2009.  It starts at 7:30 P.M. in the Odd Fellows Hall at 511 York Road, next door to Set’s Sport Shop.

Larry is a landowner on Trout Brook, a tributary to the Salmon River in New York.  Larry will share his knowledge of the area and tips on how catch these magnificent fish.

The Salmon River, a half day’s drive from Baltimore, flows through the old town of Pulaski. The Salmon River is a tailwater and flows are controlled by Mohawk Power Company. There are two main tributaries to the Salmon below the dam, Trout Brook and Orwell Brook.

Upstate New York/Salmon River is a fishing mecca. There are miles of rivers and streams to fish and plenty of fish to fish for.  Steelhead fishing is great in late fall and early spring.

The public is invited to attend a presentation about a new publication and resource for county-level data, “A Socioeconomic Atlas for the Chesapeake Bay Watershed and its Region.”

The purposes of the presentation are to:

(1) provide an overview to the Chesapeake Bay watershed atlas

(2) demonstrate how to work with the specific maps and datasets

(3) describe how the atlas can contribute to planning and management in the region. Questions and discussion will be encouraged and attendees will receive copies of the atlas, maps, and datasets on a CD.

The presentation will be offered live on October 30th at 10 am at the Chesapeake Bay Program Office’s Fish Shack, 410 Severn Avenue, Annapolis, MD, and as a webinar on November 2nd at 2pm.  Each presentation will last about an hour.

Please RSVP with your preferred presentation to Suzanne Copping at suzanne_copping@nps.gov, 410-260-2476.  Webinar participants will receive
follow-up information on how to call and log on to the webinar. Register early, as space is limited.

About the Chesapeake Socioeconomic Atlas

The Chesapeake Bay watershed atlas presents information about population, economy and commerce, social and cultural characteristics, recreation and tourism, administration and government, and land use for counties within the Bay watershed. Over 30 color maps are included, along with data tables, descriptive information, and a list of data sources. The atlases and associated graphics and data files are available on a CD and will soon be available at www.chesapeakebay.net/bayresourcelibrary.aspx

The atlas provides managers, planners, organizations and community leaders with a better understanding of changing human activities and socioeconomic conditions in the region surrounding the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail, Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail, and broader Chesapeake Bay Watershed. The atlas can be used as a tool in management, education, outreach, and planning efforts.

About the Presenter: Jean McKendry is a Principal Scientist with the University of Idaho College of Natural Resources. Dr. McKendry serves as project manager for the atlas series under a cooperative agreement with the NPS. She received her M.A. and Ph.D. in Geography from Clark University.

On October 8, 2009 Governor Martin O’Malley announced that Maryland has returned nearly 750 million hatchery-reared oysters to the Bay this year, marking a new record in the State’s Chesapeake Bay oyster restoration efforts. The Governor also announced the State’s achievement of a new landmark in its citizen-oyster growing program, crediting the State’s strong public-private partnerships with the successes.

“Through their close collaboration, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science and the Oyster Recovery Partnership are changing the face of oyster restoration in Maryland,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “At a time when we are escalating all of our efforts to restore the Bay, this record planting – along with record involvement by citizen stewards in oyster restoration — gives us tremendous confidence for increasing the Bay’s oyster population.”

The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES) Horn Point Laboratory and the non-profit Oyster Recovery Partnership (ORP) produced nearly 750 million oyster spat for Chesapeake Bay restoration in 2009, the most ever grown in one year at the laboratory’s Eastern Shore facility.   Record production levels and an expanded partnership with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) have fueled the growth of the State’s oyster restoration programs, resulting in the revitalization of nearly 350 acres of oyster reefs, planted on 26 sites across the Bay and its rivers. The 2009 growing season eclipsed the previous record of nearly 600 million oyster spat set in 2008.

“Since the hatchery expanded in 2004, we have been able to improve the efficiency of our spat production by taking advantage of new technologies and a better understanding of oyster husbandry practices that have benefited from the sound science approach employed in our hatchery program,” said Dr. Donald “Mutt” Meritt, who oversees the Horn Point hatchery for UMCES. “This year, the combination of better Choptank River water quality along with our experienced and dedicated hatchery, field and planting teams, allowed us to bring large-scale restoration to a new level.”

In other exciting news, Marylanders Grow Oysters – a citizen stewardship program that complements Maryland’s large-scale oyster restoration efforts, also expanded this year.  Waterfront property owners are now growing oyster spat in more than 5,000 cages in 12 Bay tributaries this fall. The program, which was launched by Governor O’Malley last year in the Tred Avon River, uses cages built by Maryland inmates.  Next summer the 1-year old oysters will be planted in local sanctuaries.

Oyster reefs are critical to the Bay’s recovery. A healthy oyster reef not only filters the Bay’s dirty waters, but also provides crucial substrate for an underwater community that furnishes valuable life support for fish and crabs.

“Whether it’s 1,000 oysters or hundreds of millions of oysters planted back into our Bay, the oyster’s ability to help revitalize the Bay’s health and preserve our cultural heritage cannot be overemphasized,” said Stephan Abel, Executive Director for the Oyster Recovery Partnership.  “Through the steady leadership provided by Governor Martin O’Malley, Maryland Senator Barbara Mikulski, and Department of Natural Resources Secretary John Griffin — as well as the growing environmental stewardship of Marylanders — we are witnessing historically significant growth in our capacity to improve Chesapeake Bay waters.”

The oyster restoration process is complex. Adult oysters collected by Maryland watermen as part of the restoration program are spawned at the UMCES Horn Point Laboratory oyster hatchery. The oyster larvae produced by these spawns are fed cultured algae and allowed to develop under controlled conditions until they are ready to set – the process whereby oyster larvae permanently attach themselves to shell.  The larvae are placed into specially constructed tanks at Horn Point that have been filled by ORP with aged, cleaned oyster shells.

The resulting shells with the newly created oyster spat (spat on shell) are loaded onto vessels for deployment and then planted on pretreated restoration sites throughout the Bay by the Oyster Recovery Partnership, and monitored by the University of Maryland and DNR for growth and health.

Restoration sites are selected by DNR through a consensus-based coalition that includes ORP, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), UMCES, the Maryland Waterman’s Association and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Major financial support for these efforts comes from NOAA, DNR, UMCES and ORP.

“Recent investments by the state have set the stage for UMCES to more than double hatchery production over the next few years,” said UMCES President Dr. Donald F. Boesch. “Once construction of the new oyster setting facility is completed next year, we hope to be able to produce up to two billion oyster spat a year.”

The Cambridge-based oyster hatchery will be open for tours on October 10 as part of the Horn Point Laboratory’s annual Open House. For more information about the event, please visit http://hpl.umces.edu/openhouse/index.htm

source: DNR press release

This year’s guest of honor and recipient of the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay 2009 Environment Leadership award is G. Steele Phillips, a long-time leader and pioneer of preservation and conservation of farm lands, will be presented with the award at the Alliance’s fundraiser. The presentation will take place at the annual Taste of the Chesapeake on the evening of Friday, October 2, 2009, at the Baltimore Museum of Industry on the Inner Harbor south.

Recipients of the Environmental Leadership award are chosen for their dedication to the cause of conservation and preservation of natural resources in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Past recipients have included volunteers and public servants, some who have focused on particular issues and areas, and others whose service has been broad and watershed-wide.

Alliance Board Chair, William Matuszeski congratulated Steele and noted, Steele has been a life-long fighter for the Bay and an outspoken leader in the farm community on the Eastern Shore, as well as a dedicated member of the Bay Programs Citizens Advisory Committee. I cannot think of anyone who has devoted more volunteer hours to the effort to restore the Chesapeake. He is truly deserving of the 2009 Environmental Leadership Award.

For more than 50 years, and prior to his retirement, he and his wife, Doris, have operated more than 762 acres in farmland, forest, and wetlands in Dorchester County on Marylands Eastern Shore. Steele Phillips has continuously applied new knowledge, techniques and strategies in order to achieve success in farming with minimal impact on the environment.

An early participant in the Integrated Pest Management program, he also was one of the first to apply no-till farming practices, and was the first to plant no-till corn in Dorchester County where he remains a supporter of the practice today. Mr. Phillips has always opened his farms to tours of agricultural and environmental groups to show farming practices and techniques that do not cause an adverse impact on the environment.

Mr. Phillips has demonstrated leadership in farming and agricultural areas. He has served as the first chairman of the Agricultural Land Preservation Board in Dorchester County, and served as chairman of the Dorchester County Soil Conservation District for several terms. He also served as a member of the Board of the Directors of Agri-Corn, a cooperative effort of several farmers for sorting, handling, and marketing corn. Phillips served on the Critical Areas Commission and Farm for the Futures Board, co-sponsored by the Farmland Trust and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, to delineate prime agricultural land for future agricultural use. He has also served on Congressman Gilchrests Ag Advisory Committee.

Recently, Mr. Phillips retired his membership in the Citizens Advisory Committee, which reports directly to the Bay Program Executive Council, and is comprised of the Governors from Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, District of Columbia and the Environmental Protection Agency. He also served as the liaison to the Bay Program Nutrient Sub-committee.

The Alliance is honored to recognize G. Steele Phillips as its 2009 Environment Leadership Award recipient for his tireless dedication to the preservation and conservation of agricultural lands.

We hope you can attend the dinner where the Alliance will honor G. Steele Phillips and his dedication and innovation to the Maryland farming industry. Please contact the Alliances offices at 410-377-6270. Tickets are $120 per person and all proceeds benefit the Alliance and its mission to protect and restore the Bay.

Sponsors of this fun-filled evening of wining, dining and entertainment include Dominion, Met-Pro, Kinsley Construction, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Susquehanna Real Estate, Glatfelter Paper, Constellation Energy, Perdue Foundation, Utz Quality Foods, Inc., Shipley Energy, Aqua America, York Water Company, Smithfield Foods, R.H. Sheppard Company, and Rifkin, Livingston, Levitan & Silver, LLC.

The Taste of the Chesapeake will be held from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m., Members and friends of Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay are encouraged to join the organization at this festive event to celebrate a mutual passion for the Chesapeake Bay.

source: Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay press release

Are you ready for local sweet fat crabs, succulent oysters and tender, flaky rockfish?  Autumn is the perfect time for Maryland seafood because the best of the best is in season at the same time! Governor Martin O’Malley is promoting October as “Maryland Seafood Month,” to celebrate Maryland’s delicious and desirable seafood.

“Seafood is one of Maryland’s greatest family traditions and part of our identity. Generations of watermen make their living from the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries and people come from far and wide to enjoy the delicious finfish and shellfish they catch,” said Governor O’Malley. “Maryland Seafood Month’ is as much a tribute to Maryland’s seafood ‘family’ as it is a celebration of our greatest natural resource.”

Seafood quality and safety has been, and continues to be, another Maryland tradition.  Maryland seafood is monitored by several state agencies, local health departments and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.  These agencies conduct regular product and plant inspections and water tests ensuring that Maryland seafood is wholesome.  In addition, Maryland crab meat undergoes a voluntary quality control and sanitation inspection.  Maryland is the only state that has this extra level of inspection for crab meat.  Such rigorous standards are another reason that Maryland crab meat is superior to all other crab meat in the world!

Maryland seafood is more than delicious. An excellent source of high quality protein, seafood is easily digested, generally low in fat, sodium and calories and high in important vitamins and minerals.  In addition, seafood contains Omega-3 fatty acids, believed to be effective in lowering cholesterol and the risk of heart disease.

“Eating Maryland seafood is a delicious part of a healthy diet,” says Agriculture Secretary Buddy Hance.  “October signals the harvest of savory, plump oysters, and is also the best time for crabs, which have been fattening up all summer.  Our world-famous state fish, striped bass, known locally as rockfish, is a tasty and popular fall dish as well.  So, ‘Make A Splash With Maryland Seafood.’ Jump in and enjoy the best the season has to offer.”

When purchasing fish, look for signs of freshness and quality: bright, clear eyes, scales that adhere tightly to the skin, skin that springs back when lightly pressed, bright pink or red gills and a mild sea breeze scent.  Crabs and oysters should be purchased live.  Crabs should be lively and you should discard any dead crabs before cooking.  Oysters purchased in the shell should have tightly-closed shells or should close when touched.  Both types of shellfish should be cooked the same day as purchased.  Always rinse finfish and shellfish with cold water before cooking.  Cooked seafood, as with all cooked food, should not come into contact with or be stored in the same container as raw food.  This is to protect from cross-contamination of bacteria that is normally found on raw food products.  As with beef, poultry and pork, proper cooking kills bacteria in seafood.  Careful clean up of preparation area and utensils is always important with all raw food products.

For your free “Make A Splash With Maryland Seafood” brochure containing seven recipes for October Maryland Seafood Month, log onto www.marylandseafood.org or send a self-addressed and stamped envelope to:   Make A Splash With Maryland Seafood, 50 Harry S Truman Parkway, Annapolis,  MD 21401 or e-mail: ecclesjo@mda.state.md.us.

Try this tempting new recipe in October: Rockfish with Lemon and Caper Dressing.

ROCKFISH WITH LEMON AND CAPER DRESSING

MARYLAND ROCKFISH:

4    fillets, 6 to 8 ounces each, about 1 inch thick
extra virgin olive oil

DRESSING:

2    medium lemons (or 1 tablespoons lemon juice)
4    tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
1    tablespoon capers, drained
1    tablespoon finely chopped fresh chives
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

SEASONINGS:

1    teaspoon onion powder
1    teaspoon finely chopped fresh dill
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Prepare the dressing: Cut a 1/2-inch slice off both ends of each lemon. Cut each lemon in half lengthwise.  Lightly brush or spray the cut sides of the lemons with 1 teaspoon of the oil.  In a non-stick skillet, sauté the lemons on high heat until nicely browned, 4 to 6 minutes, turning once.  Remove the lemons from the pan and cool.  Squeeze the lemons through a sieve into a small bowl.  Discard the rinds and seeds. You should have about 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. Add the capers, then whisk in the 3 tablespoons oil to form a dressing. Whisk in the rest of the dressing ingredients.

In a small bowl, mix the seasonings together. Generously brush or spray the rockfish on both sides with remaining oil and seasonings.  Place fillets, skin side down on clean, slightly oiled pan.  Bake at 450?F until the rockfish just begins to flake when you poke it with the tip of a knife about 10 minutes. Whisk the dressing one last time. Serve the fish with the dressing poured over the top. Serves four.

source: marylandseafood.org news release

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will host an Open House for anyone interested in learning about the latest restoration efforts and research on native oysters in the Severn River. The event will be held on Wednesday, October 7th from 2 until 7 p.m. at the Annapolis Maritime Museum in Annapolis.

“The Open House is designed as a series of educational exhibits that the public can view at any time during open hours for as long as they wish to stay,” said Assistant Director of DNR’s Shellfish Program Mike Naylor. “The primary focus of the Open House is a major oyster restoration project that is slated to begin this fall under the direction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.”

A representative from the Corps, as well as representatives from other project partners, will be on hand to explain all facets of the work. This includes information pertaining to the project timeline, planned site locations, restoration strategies and materials, potential impacts, and intended results and benefits to the community and fishery resource.

Other major participants in the project include the Oyster Recovery Partnership and the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, which will have displays pertaining to oyster larvae and spat-on-shell produced at the Horn Point Laboratory Oyster Hatchery in Cambridge.

Additional exhibitors will include the U.S. Naval Academy, Maryland Geological Survey, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Maryland Artificial Reef Initiative, Severn River Association, and the Severn Riverkeeper, each of whom will display information about past and ongoing oyster-related restoration and research projects in the Severn. Visitors will also have the opportunity to learn more about the Marylanders Grow Oysters program, which links private pier owners with oyster reef enhancement.

The Maritime Museum is located 723 Second Street in Eastport neighborhood of Annapolis. A map and directions can be found on their website at www.amaritime.org or by calling 410-295-0104 between the hours of noon and 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Ample street parking is available free of charge in the surrounding neighborhood and light refreshments will be provided. Their current exhibit, “Legacy to the Bay: The Hartge Family & the Chesapeake 20,” will also be open for viewing. For more information on the event, call the DNR Shellfish Program at 410-260-8652.

source: DNR press release