Chesapeake Bay News

State, regional and University leaders dedicated a new $11 million Oyster Setting Facility at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES) Horn Point Laboratory. Once fully operational, this new facility will more than double the laboratory’s annual production of oyster spat for Chesapeake Bay restoration, setting the stage for a significant expansion of the State’s aquaculture and environmental restoration programs.

When fully operational, the new facility should allow the Horn Point Laboratory Shellfish Cultivation Program to produce up to two billion spat-on-shell for Chesapeake Bay restoration. In a decade’s time, scientific advancements and the adoption of new technologies have expanded annual production from 50 million to a record 750 million oyster spat in 2009. This new facility sets the stage for much greater advancements.

The new Oyster Setting Facility improves the efficiency of the oyster hatchery by allowing researchers to more easily “set” hatchery-reared larval oysters on oyster shells for transplanting in the Bay. By minimizing the number of times the spat on shell need to be handled, reducing pumping costs, and providing better quality water from the Choptank River to the tanks, production of seed oysters will improve and should result in more cost effective production.

“When combined with pioneering techniques that have increased the percentage of spat that successfully set, UMCES and its partners hope to bring oyster restoration efforts to the next level,” said Horn Point Laboratory Director Dr. Michael Roman. “By working with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the Oyster Recovery Partnership, Federal sponsors and others that share the goal of restoring healthy oyster populations to Chesapeake Bay, our work will lead to greater ecological and economic benefits to the State.”

Constructed by Cianbro Corporation under the direction of the Maryland Department of General Services, the pier measures approximately 300 feet long by 70 feet wide and utilizes reinforced concrete decking to hold fifty-two 12 feet diameter by 4.5 feet deep circular setting tanks. The mechanical area includes pumps capable of circulating 2,500 gallons of seawater per minute. This provides high quality water to support the growing oyster spat. A small wet lab allows scientists to monitor spat before they are deployed by vessels to restoration sites across Chesapeake Bay. The Shellfish Culture Facility at the Horn Point Laboratory contains the largest oyster hatchery on the East Coast and largest Eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) hatchery in the world.

The goals and objectives of the shellfish culture program at the Horn Point Laboratory have evolved over the years to meet the needs of the Center’s mission and the crisis with our troubled oyster populations. Early efforts aimed at identifying oyster culture techniques appropriate for use in the Mid-Atlantic region successfully demonstrated the possibility of using hatcheries for restoration. UMCES has used innovative approaches to incorporate its oyster culture program into its mission of research, education and outreach.

By incorporating the research and production capabilities into a coordinated program that follows the oysters from spat to adult, we can better develop guidelines that allow the State of Maryland and our partners to conduct not just oyster restoration but “smart restoration.” By incorporating the concept of smart restoration – and at the same time promoting active partnerships – UMCES is ushering into a new and exciting era of oyster restoration.

The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science is the University System of Maryland’s environmental research institution. UMCES researchers are helping improve our scientific understanding of Maryland, the region and the world through five research centers – Chesapeake Biological Laboratory in Solomons, Appalachian Laboratory in Frostburg, Horn Point Laboratory in Cambridge, Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology in Baltimore, and the Maryland Sea Grant College in College Park.

The Magothy River Association, in conjunction with the state sponsored “Marylanders Grow Oysters” program, is again recruiting oyster gardeners for the 2010-2011 season. If you have access to a pier on the Magothy River, and can spare a few minutes every week or so, you can do this!  The MGO program is free to all participants.

This is at least a one year commitment. The oysters you grow will be placed on restored oyster reefs in the Magothy River in the summer of 2011.  We ask that you consider taking a new batch of oysters at that time to start the process over again.

This year the logistics are slightly different.  Many of you still have cages ready for the new spat. Many of you participated last year but turned in your cages. Many of you will be starting fresh in the program. When signing up, please indicate the following scenarios that apply:
1. I have __ cages and would like to participate again.
2. I participated last year but do not have the cages. I would like __ cages.
3. Last year, the location where I picked up my cages was _______________.
4. I am new to the program and will take up to four cages.

To sign up, send an e-mail to magothyriversavers at yahoo.com with your name, street address, phone, e-mail, and above information. A picture of the cage can be found at the below web site. The cut-off for signing up is September 1, 2010.

The oyster-spat pickup is tentatively planned for a weekend in September. Details will be sent as the program evolves.

For more information please visit the following website: http://www.h2006.net/MRAOys01

On July 6th, a team of biologists from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) Monitoring and Non-tidal Assessment Division spotted several suspected zebra mussel adults for the first time in the lower Susquehanna River below the Conowingo Dam.

These recent findings indicate that a population of this non-native, invasive mussel is established in this part of the Susquehanna. The first-ever sightings of zebra mussels in Maryland occurred in the lower Susquehanna River upstream of the Conowingo in November 2008.

“Most of the specimens were the largest I’ve ever seen, ranging up to 38 mm (almost 1-1/2 inches) in shell length, and they were probably three to four years old,” said DNR Biologist Ron Klauda.

Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) have caused over five billion dollars in damages and economic losses in North America since they were introduced into the Great Lakes during the 1980s. Based on studies conducted in the Hudson River Estuary, New York, the potential impacts of zebra mussels on the freshwater to slightly brackish portions of Maryland’s aquatic ecosystem could be substantial, with effects on all aspects of the food web from plankton to fish by outcompeting native species, filtering all available plankton and rapidly colonizing large areas.

“The good news is that, at least for now, the density of zebra mussels appears to be low,” said DNR Natural Resource Biologist Jay Kilian.

Boaters, anglers and other recreational water users who enjoy the lower Susquehanna River can help stop the spread of harmful zebra mussels to other Maryland waters by taking these simple precautions before launching and before leaving:

(1) Remove all aquatic plants and mud from boats, motors, and trailers, and put the debris in the trash.

(2) Drain river water from boat motors, bilges, live wells, bait buckets and coolers before leaving to prevent aquatic hitchhikers from riding along.

(3) Dispose of unused live bait on shore far from the water body or in the trash.

(4) Rinse boats, motors, trailers, live wells, bait buckets, coolers and scuba gear with high pressure or hot water between trips to different water bodies.

(5) Dry everything at least two days (preferably five days) between outings.

DNR urges boaters to do their part to stop the introduction and spread of zebra mussels and other invasive species in Maryland. Citizens who find what look like zebra mussels should seal them in a zip lock bag, put the bag in the freezer, record where and when they were found and report the find to DNR at 410-260-8615.

For more information about zebra mussels and other invasive species in Maryland, call 1-877-620-8DNR or visit www.dnr.maryland.gov/invasives.

source: DNR press release

MASN, the television home of the Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals, has announced a partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation to launch a public service campaign to “Go to Bat for the Bay.”  The network will launch a series of television and online ads to increase awareness about the Chesapeake Bay and to encourage responsible use of nature’s resources.

The network will deploy its most valuable resources — an All-Star talent team as well as Nationals and Orioles players and coaches — to promote the year-long campaign on MASN.  Adam Dunn, Jeremy Guthrie and Adam Jones, Nationals manager Jim Riggleman, and MASN broadcaster Johnny Holliday have already recorded PSA’s, and other Nationals, Orioles and MASN personalities will join them in the months ahead.

The network’s television footprint closely mirrors the vast Chesapeake Bay watershed, the 64,000 square miles and 150 rivers and streams that drain into the Chesapeake.  This synergy enables the Chesapeake Bay Foundation to reach a target audience – the 17 million citizens who live within the watershed – who can make a difference in the long-term health of the Bay.

Viewers will be educated about the watershed and encouraged to take small but meaningful steps to “Go to Bat for the Bay.”  These steps can be as simple as buying locally-grown foods, reducing the use of lawn fertilizers and chemicals, planting trees and conserving water.  MASN is contributing a significant amount of on-air and online inventory to promote the campaign, to raise awareness of the fragile environmental treasure, and to encourage positive action.

In one of the PSAs, Nationals manager Jim Riggleman explains that the Chesapeake Bay has lost half of its forested shoreline, more than half its wetlands and 90 percent of its underwater grasses.  Riggleman urges viewers to Go to Bat for the Bay and to join the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

In another spot, Orioles pitcher Jeremy Guthrie describes the blue crabs, oysters, clams and rockfish that make up the 500 million pounds of seafood harvested from the Bay annually.  Guthrie reminds viewers that a cleaner Bay means better seafood and more jobs for those who bring the Bay’s bounty to our tables.

source: CBF

On May 27, 2010, Chesapeake Bay Foundation President Will Baker issued the following statement regarding President Barack Obama’s announcement that the federal government is cancelling sales of leases to drill for oil and natural gas off the Virginia coast.

“We applaud President Obama’s decision to cancel sales of oil and gas leasing off Virginia’s coast and thereby avoid a potentially catastrophic threat to the Chesapeake Bay.

“The events in the Gulf clearly demonstrate the risks of offshore drilling. Safeguards are never foolproof. And their effectiveness can be further mitigated by human error. The consequence of accidents can be devastating to the environment, the economy, and the people of waterfront communities.

“The risks posed by offshore drilling to the Chesapeake Bay outweigh any potential benefits. Moreover, clean, safe alternatives such as wind and solar power as well as energy conservation readily exist that will provide the energy and jobs needed without threatening our communities, our economy, the military, and the Bay. I hope the federal government and the Bay states will take this opportunity to aggressively pursue a more sustainable energy future, beginning today.”

Maryland has announced the launch of StreamHealth, a website to help Marylanders learn about the health of their streams and take action to improve them. The site provides resources for citizens, grassroots organizations, schools and scout groups to survey their streams, and receive technical guidance and funding opportunities to restore and protect them.

The project was developed by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, in cooperation with the Maryland Environmental Service, Towson University, and the Maryland Departments of the Environment and Information Technology.

Among the tools are an interactive map which provides information on individual stream health as well as the presence or absence of forested streamside buffers and impervious surfaces — two of the major factors influencing stream health.

“The health of the Bay is ultimately determined by what we do on the land — in our cities and towns, on our farms and forests, in our schools and backyards,” said Governor O’Malley.  “Through this website we are providing information that is real to people because they can see the status of the streams in their neighborhoods –- our lifelines to the Bay.”

Maryland’s governor also encouraged citizens to join the Stream Waders program, the volunteer arm of the Maryland Biological Stream Survey, an internationally acclaimed assessment program that provides data for the StreamHealth website as well as the Chesapeake Bay Health Report Card.

Maryland released its annual Chesapeake Bay Health Report Card on May 18, 2010. The Chesapeake Bay showed broad water quality improvements in 2009, receiving its highest mark since 2002 from the annual Chesapeake Bay Health Report Card. At the same time, the state launched StreamHealth, a website to help Marylanders learn about the health of their streams and take action to improve them.

The report card — an annual analysis conducted through the EcoCheck partnership between University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science and NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office — is based on data collected by state and federal agencies through the Chesapeake Bay Program. The 2009 report noted improved conditions in eight Bay regions and degraded conditions in two, earning the Bay a grade of “C” for overall health.

Grades for 14 reporting Bay regions varied, ranging from “B-minus” (moderate-good) to “F” (very poor). The highest ranked region, for the third year in a row, was the Upper Western Shore, which includes the Bush and Gunpowder Rivers. The lowest ranked region was the Patapsco and Back Rivers.

Scientists attribute the overall improvements to last year’s unique regional rainfall patterns, continued efforts to reduce nutrient pollution within the Chesapeake Bay watershed and the gradual rebound in Bay health since the historically poor conditions observed in 2003.  Over the report’s 24-year history, overall Bay health was rated at its highest in 1993 with a score of 57, and it lowest in 2003 with a score of 35. The 2009 rating of 46 falls in the top 25 percentile.

“Despite the record high rainfall in parts of Maryland and Virginia, the mainstem of the Chesapeake Bay improved last year,” said UMCES researcher and project leader Dr. William Dennison. “Normally, more precipitation means poorer Bay health. But last year, the Bay benefited from below average rainfall throughout Pennsylvania which appears to have reduced the amount of pollutants reaching the open waters of the mainstem Bay.”

The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) are asking the public to watch for and report any diseased, dying, or dead fish on the Monocacy River. Although no dead or dying fish have been reported so far this spring, the agencies are investigating springtime fish health and mortality.

“Public input is important in helping state agencies to respond quickly and gather meaningful data,” said DNR Fisheries Western Region Manager John Mullican.

Last May an angler reported a fish kill in the upper Monocacy involving mostly adult smallmouth bass and sunfish. It is uncertain if this mortality was related to other springtime fish kills in the Potomac River watershed since 2002.

A single cause for the fish kills has not been identified; however, investigations suggest that fish are subjected to multiple stressors including contaminants; damaged skin, gills and internal organs; parasites, spawning injuries and stress. DNR has also discovered a high prevalence of intersex in some species, most notably smallmouth bass. Environmental and contaminant factors may also lead to immune suppression, which may make fish more susceptible to bacterial infections. Possible causes of contamination include agricultural chemicals (pesticides and antibiotics), urban runoff, prescription medicines and personal care products.

If you find dead or dying fish in the Monocacy or Potomac River, please contact the Maryland Safety and Environmental Hotline (877) 224-7229 or the DNR-Fisheries Service at (301) 898-5443 with the time, date, location, fish species, and approximate number of affected fish. Photographs and a description of any unusual behavior or water conditions are also helpful.

This information is provided as a public service of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. www.dnr.maryland.gov

The Conservation Fund has released A Sustainable Chesapeake: Better Models for Conservation, a new book that provides a conservation resource for government agencies, community groups, businesses and others involved in the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay.

A Sustainable Chesapeake profiles promising conservation practices and technologies and describes the protection of critical land and water resources in a series of 31 case studies that feature the work of government and private organizations and conservation leaders throughout the Bay watershed. The book’s six chapters—Climate Change Solutions, Stream Restoration, Green Infrastructure, Incentive Driven Conservation, Watershed Protection, and Stewardship—are each introduced with a summary of the restoration principles learned from the projects.

The case studies show the many dimensions of land and water conservation through a standardized, user-friendly format that includes photos, diagrams, tables, facts and concepts that people and organizations can draw from to solve local conservation challenges.

The book was developed by David Burke, an experienced conservation planner and president of Burke Environmental Associates, and Joel Dunn, program coordinator of The Conservation Fund’s Sustainable Chesapeake initiative. The initiative builds on The Conservation Fund’s record of land and water conservation with tools that lead to smarter conservation and development, increases the capacity of regional groups and agencies to solve conservation issues, and demonstrates sustainable economies. The Fund has conserved more than 300,000 acres in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

A Sustainable Chesapeake is available in print and on The Conservation Fund’s website. The website (www.conservationfund.org/sustainable-chesapeake) allows users to download individual profiles, chapters or the entire publication as PDF files.

Until limited supplies are exhausted, a hard copy version of the publication can be obtained through Joe Wagner of Whitmore Group by emailing: joe [AT] whitmore.com with the name and address where a UPS shipment can be delivered.

Oxford Boatyard is the latest marine facility to join the ranks of Maryland’s Certified Clean Marinas. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) certified the facility March 30 following a site visit. Together with 25 smaller facilities designated as Clean Marina Partners, Maryland now boasts 141 certified facilities.

“Every new Clean Marina shows the commitment this industry has to protecting our natural resources,” said DNR Clean Marina Program Administrator Donna Morrow. “Nearly a quarter of the marine facilities in this State have come on board with this voluntary program. Clean Marina practices are not always easy but marinas and boatyards choose to implement them because they understand the importance of clean water. I hope others will follow this example and get involved.”

The full service boatyard is 144 years old and features a 75 ton travel lift to haul boats out for repairs and refits. The yard’s specialties include custom cabinetry, electronics, mechanical, painting and rigging services. They also have a ship’s store, two sewage pump-out stations, and large work sheds.

“We’re glad to be a Clean Marina,” said Oxford Boatyard Manager Graham Norbury. “Once I made up my mind to do it, it took a few months, but the facility is cleaner for the environment, which makes it better for our staff and customers too.”

Norbury sees to it that all hazardous materials are collected and removed by a licensed hauler for proper disposal. Used engine oil, antifreeze and batteries are recycled. Additionally, Norbury prepares emergency response plans and ensures key staff members are trained on those procedures. The boatyard also maintains a pump-out station to empty sewage from holding tanks on boats.

The Maryland Clean Marina Initiative is a voluntary program started in 1998 and administered by DNR. The program’s goal is to reduce non-point source pollution from marinas, boatyards and recreational boats. Marine facilities of any size can seek the Clean Marina Award.

The Clean Marina Guidebook, Award Checklist and Steps to Certification are all available at www.dnr.maryland.gov/boating. There is no cost to participate and benefits include recognition by the DNR, permission to use the Clean Marina logo, and a cleaner environment in and around the marina.

This information is provided as a public service of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. www.dnr.maryland.gov