Chesapeake Bay News

On October 26, 2010, Maryland’s Cliff Erosion Steering Committee presented its draft report to the Calvert County Board of Commissioners. The report is the result of an 8-month effort to evaluate properties most likely to be impacted by shoreline erosion along cliffs in Calvert County and identify potential solutions for landowners. The Cliff Erosion Steering Committee is composed of local, state and federal government agencies.

The Committee evaluated 234 houses located within 100 feet of the steep eroding cliffs along Calvert County’s Bay shoreline, 83 of which stand within 20 feet of the cliffs.  More than half of those — approximately 45 — are located on cliffs inhabited by the Puritan tiger beetle, a federally threatened and state endangered species.

After assessing the shoreline, aerial maps, soil and environmental conditions, as well as historic erosion activity, the Committee confirmed that there are no proven solutions to stabilize the top of the cliffs where the homes are located. Stabilizing the toe or bank may slow erosion, but will not stop it.

The committee’s report outlined short, medium and long term solutions including:

* conducting further site-specific investigation of houses within 20 feet of the cliffs to prioritize those that may be in immediate danger from the impact of erosion;

* seeking federal pre-disaster mitigation funds through the Maryland Emergency Management Agency to assist property owners with relocation;

* allowing incidental “take” of the Puritan tiger beetle within new guidelines currently being drafted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service;

* seeking federal assistance to identify comprehensive engineering solutions for cliff stabilization; and

* seeking state and federal funds to protect Puritan tiger beetle habitat.

Governor Martin O’Malley is working with Senator Barbara Mikulski and Congressman Steny H. Hoyer to explore federal assistance options for the impacted residents.  In a letter to the Senator and Congressman, Governor O’Malley supported Calvert County’s request for emergency funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help implement some of steering committee recommendations, and requested assistance in expediting the County’s application. Pre-disaster mitigation funds could be used to help property owners with the costs of relocating their homes farther away from the cliffs, and to acquire easements or property from landowners willing to sell.

The public is encouraged to review and comment on the committee’s draft report and presentation to the board, which are available online at www.co.cal.md.us.  The draft report also recommends that State and county elected officials appoint a citizens advisory committee to work with the existing steering committee.  An assessment will now be for undertaken Kent and Cecil Counties, which are facing similar issues.

source: MD DNR

Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) President Will Baker and Maryland Executive Director for CBF Kim Coble issued the following statements following the recent press call  by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency:

Will Baker said:

” Today, 30 years of failed, voluntary programs to save the Bay may be coming to an end. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)  appears ready to enforce the Clean Water Act, consistent with its settlement of our law suit.

EPA’s draft  TMDL is a pollution budget. If fully implemented, it will hold the states accountable to reduce pollution to scientifically defensible levels.

Here’s how EPA proposes to go forward: The states have until the end of November to improve their detailed plans to achieve the reductions articulated in today’s TMDL budget. By the end of the year, EPA will finalize the pollution reduction levels based on science. And then, EPA will hold the states accountable and impose consquences they fail.

The Clean Water Act requires EPA to exercise its authority, especially for multi-state systems like the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Clean Water Act now under consideration will ensure that today’s action and the process it sets in motion can survive the period of time required to, finally, save the Bay. Congress must pass this critical legislation.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation applauds EPA for putting a priority on clean water.”

Kim Coble said:

“CBF applauds Maryland for developing effective new strategies for cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay, presented in the state’s watershed implementation plan. Maryland got it right on paper. The state’s plan shows we can meet pollution reduction goals and achieve clean water.  However, what is missing from the plan are details of exactly how the state will meet the goals.  These details are critical and will help to ensure the plan is not only words on paper but actions on the ground all working to help restore the rivers and Bay. Fortunately, Maryland has the time and talent to get this done right.”

NOAA has awarded a team of researchers, led by the Smithsonian Institution, $634,047 as part of a planned five-year grant, estimated at nearly $1.6 million, to predict the impact of hypoxia on commercially and ecologically important finfish and oysters living in the shallow waters of the Chesapeake Bay.

Results of this study will help Bay area officials pinpoint key areas for habitat and fisheries restoration, and better protect shallow water habitat that serves a critical nursery function.

Hypoxia is a condition in which dissolved oxygen in the water becomes too low to support most life or compromises the growth, reproduction and immune responses of organisms. Although hypoxia can occur naturally, it is often worsened or caused by excess nutrients from human activities such as agriculture and the burning of fossil fuels.

The deep waters of the Chesapeake’s main stem, as well as some of its tributaries, experience hypoxia every summer. As oxygen monitoring has increased in shallower, near-shore areas of the estuary, it has also become apparent that many of these habitats experience day-night “swings” in oxygen concentrations that result in low oxygen during night and early morning hours.

The study will examine whether daily hypoxia can result in declines in fish production and biomass. The study will focus on species with significant commercial value for the region, including summer flounder, striped bass, white perch and the eastern oyster, as well as important prey fish such as weakfish and mummichog.

Researchers also plan to study acidification in the Chesapeake Bay, which is linked to hypoxia and may exacerbate its impact on fish and oysters.

“This research will enhance our efforts to accelerate the restoration of Chesapeake Bay and contribute to the re-establishment of fisheries that have suffered steep declines during the past decades. The Bay provides thousands of jobs to the region, and we have a responsibility to improve the health of this treasured resource for generations to come,” Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) said.

“Finding out when and where low oxygen ‘swings’ occur will help state and federal agencies make important management decisions related to the Bay’s coastal and marine ecosystems,” said Peyton Robertson, director of the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office and chair of the Chesapeake Bay Program’s Fisheries Goal Team. “I’m pleased that this research will draw on some of the top-notch scientists from academic institutions and federal and state governments to more clearly define the effects of hypoxia on finfish and oysters, enabling us to better protect and restore their habitats.”

The research team, led by Denise Breitburg, Ph.D., of the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, includes scientists from the University of Delaware and Louisiana State University who will collaborate closely with state and federal management agencies, including NOAA’s Chesapeake Bay Office, EPA’s Chesapeake Bay Program and Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources.

First-year funding has been awarded to the University of Delaware ($246,844), Louisiana State University ($74,834) and the Smithsonian Institution’s Environmental Research Center in Maryland ($312,369).

source: NOAA

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Clean Marina Program has certified Shamrock Marine at Pinehurst Landing Marina as the state’s 116th Clean Marina. Together with 25 smaller facilities designated as Clean Marina Partners, Maryland now boasts 141 certified facilities.

Pinehurst Landing Marina houses Shamrock Marine, which provides a full range of yacht repairs including engine and hull repairs. The marina also rents about 20 slips on Bodkin Creek, just north of Gibson Island. Owners Michael and Joanne Hohn purchased the property in 2005 and have cleaned up years of debris and improved overall organization of the business.

As part of the Clean Marina certification, the Hohns created up-to-date emergency response plans, organized the liquid waste from engine repairs (e.g., oil, gas, antifreeze) and instituted proper handling and recycling of these fluids. Just as importantly, they have also begun education and outreach to their customers so they can participate in keeping the marina and the waters clean.

“We feel like getting certified was the natural outcome of us cleaning up the property and improving things,” said Michael Hohn. “It’s nice to get recognized for doing the right thing.”

The Clean Marina Program is a voluntary program for marine facilities that want to reduce their impact on Maryland’s waterways by implementing “best management practices” outlined in the Maryland Clean Marina Guidebook. Certification also includes passing a site inspection by DNR staff for the initial certification, and again every three years to maintain certification. Approximately 23 percent of marinas in the state are now certified Clean Marinas.

source: MD DNR

The Potomac River in Washington, D.C. is showing multiple benefits from restoration efforts, newly published research suggests.  Reduced nutrients and improved water clarity have increased the abundance and diversity of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) in the Potomac, according to direct measurements taken during the 18-year field study.

Since 1990, the area covered by SAV in the lower Potomac has doubled, the area covered by native SAV has increased ten-fold, the diversity of plant species has increased, and the proportion of exotic species to native species has declined as nutrients have declined, according to the study by the U.S. Geological Survey and England’s National Oceanography Centre (NOC).

More than a dozen species of SAV, including the exotic hydrilla, co-exist in this reach of the Potomac that was almost barren in a 1978-1981 USGS study.

SAV are critical to the ecosystem in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. They provide oxygen, food, and shelter so that invertebrates, fish, crabs and waterfowl can survive.  High nutrient levels stimulate algal blooms in the water, decrease water clarity, and block light needed for SAV growth.

The authors analyzed measurements of aquatic plant species abundance, nutrient effluent from the wastewater treatment plant, and water quality from 1990 to 2007. The surveys included a 50-mile reach of the tidal Potomac downstream from Washington.

Key Findings on the Potomac River’s SAV:

- Native SAV cover increased tenfold from 288 to 3081 acres.

- The overall area covered by SAV in the Potomac more than doubled since 1990, increasing from 4207 to 8441 acres.

- The diversity of SAV has increased. In 1990 the exotic hydrilla was 10 times more abundant than any other species. In 2007 the abundance of the 7 most frequently occurring species are more evenly matched.

- In 1990, more than 80% of the total SAV was hydrilla; in 2007 hydrilla declined to 20%.

- Results suggest declining fitness of exotic species relative to native species during restoration.

These results are consistent with a multi-agency study released in July, which correlated nutrient reductions with gains in the abundance of SAV in some Chesapeake Bay tributaries, while noting a negative correlation within the bay between SAV and nitrogen.

The study was supported by USGS National Research Program; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore; the Metropolitan Washington Council of Government’s Aquatic Plant Management Program; and the Fisheries Division of the District of Columbia Department of Health.

The report, “Long-term reductions in anthropogenic nutrients link to improvements in Chesapeake Bay habitat is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science. http://www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.1003590107.

source: USGS

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.”