Chesapeake Bay News

The Magothy River Association will hold its eighth annual “State of the Magothy River” presentation on Wednesday, February 17, 2010, starting at 6:30 PM. The meeting will feature the annual Magothy River Index.

“This year, I am disappointed to report that the aquatic health of the Magothy River dropped again, to 28% – we are giving letter grades for the first time and it got a “D” grade. As a result of this poor water quality, the MRA has suspended our efforts to grow and restore underwater grasses in the Magothy, which we have done every year since 2003. I believe a “D” grade doesn’t mean that the Magothy River is “Doomed.” If we implement a strategy that builds on personal stewardship and community restoration, and demands legal and political actions to enforce environmental regulations and control development, we can clean up our river.” – MRA President Paul Spadaro

Scheduled speakers:

1) 2009 Magothy River Index. Prepared by Dr. Peter Bergstrom, NOAA and MRA. (Produced each year since 2003)
2) MRA and the World Bank: Working Together to Support Community Science, by Dr. Carolyn Winter
3) MRA Committees: Education/Action; Stormwater/Runoff; Zoning/Enforcement

Displays:

1. MRA kayak raffle
2. Watershed Stewards Academy
3. Bayland Consultants, Mill Creek and North Cyprus Branch Restoration
4. Friends of Dobbins Island
5. Magothy River Land Trust – Conservation Easements in the Magothy Watershed
6. Magothy SAV Surveys – How you can help
7. Magothy River Day

Doors and displays open at 6:30. Program to start at 7:00. Following the presentations, there will be refreshments and time to visit the displays and chat with watershed residents and the experts. Are you interested in clean water, healthy fish, living oyster reefs, and limiting suburban effects on the Magothy?  Come and see how you can help!

Date:    Wednesday February 17, 2010
Place:   Anne Arundel Community College, Arnold, East Campus
Humanities Building, (HUM on map), Room 112 (use Parking Lot A or B)
Map at:  http://www.aacc.edu/locationsandmaps/file/ArnoldCampusMapCMYK_10_09.pdf

The Magothy River Association, in conjunction with the state sponsored “Maryland Grows

Oysters” program, is recruiting oyster gardeners for the 2009-2010 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 late in the summer of 2010. We ask that you consider

taking a new batch of oysters at that time to start the process over again.

To sign up, send an e-mail to magothyriversavers@yahoo.com with your name, address, phone,

e-mail, and preferred number of cages (4 minimum).

The oyster 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

Maryland’s citizen oyster growing program has invited 12 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to coordinate oyster growing efforts in their local tributaries in 2009. Launched by Governor Martin O’Malley in September 2008, Marylanders Grow Oysters fosters stewardship of the Chesapeake Bay among citizens, and creates living oyster reef populations in protected sanctuaries to help restore the iconic species.

“We are thrilled that these organizations have been selected and will help expand this exciting program,” said Governor O’Malley. “By becoming leaders in their tributaries for Maryland’s oyster growing efforts, they will inspire others to become stewards of our waterways and promote healthy, plentiful oyster populations for many years to come.”

These 12 NGOs, located in 11 different tributaries in Maryland, will act as local project coordinators who will identify waterfront property owners willing to become oyster growers and deliver oyster cages and oysters to growers in the tributary.

NGOs include:

Magothy River Association

Severn River Association

South River Association

Coastal Conservation Association and Southern MD Oyster Cultivation Society

Wicomico Scenic River Commission

St. Mary’s River Watershed Association

Corsica River Conservancy

San Domingo Environmental Concern

La Trappe Environmental Concern

ORP and Nanticoke River Watershed Association

Annemessex Ridge Property Owners Association

Through the program, citizen volunteers tend to young oysters growing in wire mesh cages suspended from private piers for their first year of life. The oyster spat and cages are provided by DNR and other program partners at no charge to the volunteers. The oysters require minimal care – mostly rinsing the cages every two weeks.

Citizen oyster growers enjoy the personal rewards of stewardship and learn about oysters while contributing to the enhancement of an oyster reef in their local tributary. The year-old oysters are then collected and planted in a local oyster sanctuary, and a new group of young oysters are distributed to participating growers to start the process again.

The program still welcomes interested NGOs to apply for 2009. Visit http://www.oysters.maryland.gov/pdfs/Oyster_App_Doc.pdf to obtain an application, and contact Chris Judy at 410-260-8259 or cjudy@dnr.state.md.us for any additional information.

The Marylanders Grow Oysters Program is being managed by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources in conjunction with the Oyster Recovery Partnership, the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science and the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. For more information about Marylanders Grow Oysters visit www.dnr.maryland.gov/oysterproject.

The Magothy River Association will hold its seventh annual “State of the Magothy River” presentation on Wednesday, February 18, 2009, starting at 6:30 PM. The meeting will feature the annual Magothy River Index and a report on the Magothy Watershed Conference held in January.

Scheduled speakers:

1) 2008 Magothy River Index. Prepared by Dr. Peter Bergstrom, NOAA and MRA. (Produced each year since 2003)
2) The first Magothy River Watershed Conference. Presented by Dot Leonard, Ocean Equities
3) New MRA Committees – Education/Action; Stormwater Runoff; Zoning/Enforcement.

Displays:

1. Arlington Echo Watershed Academy
2. Bayland Consultants, Mill & Dividing Creek Study
3. Friends of Dobbins Island
4. Watershed Action Group (WAG) – Cypress Creek Stream Restoration
6. Magothy River Land Trust – Conservation Easements in the Magothy Watershed
7. MRA Team Science Diver
8. Magothy Aquatic Health
9. Seasonal Variation in Biodiverstiy on Oyster Reefs
And other displays or posters.

Doors and displays open at 6:30. Program to start at 7:00. Following the presentations, there will be refreshments and time to visit the displays and chat with watershed residents and the experts. Anyone interested in clean water, healthy fish, living oyster reefs and limiting suburban effects on the Magothy are urged to attend.

Date: Wednesday February 18, 2009
Place: Anne Arundel Community College, Arnold, West Campus
CALT 100 (Applied Learning & Technology)
(use Parking Lot G, F, or E closest to Ritchie)
directions at: http://www.aacc.cc.md.us/locationsandmaps/maps.cfm

Doors open 6:30 P.M., program 7:00-9:00 PM
Refreshments will be served
For Information call: Paul Spadaro, President of Magothy River Association, 410-647-8772, email: spadaro@cablespeed.com, or visit www.magothyriver.org

In case of inclement weather, if the college is closed, the program is postponed.
College closings are announced on WNAV radio (1430 AM) and on the college web site, http://www.aacc.edu/

The Magothy River Association will hold the first Magothy Watershed Conference to establish a watershed master plan on January 24-25, 2009.  An impressive list of speakers, with provocative topics to encourage discussion, will precede participant discussions.  Representatives of watershed communities and other interested parties are encouraged to register.

Topics include:

* Stormwater Pollution & Controls
* Living  Shorelines
* Critical Areas Program
* Septic Systems & the Bay Restoration Program
* Oyster Restoration
* AA Co Watershed Assessment & Planning Program

A $10.00 registration fee includes lunch on Saturday and the latest version of the Magothy River Map (suitable for framing).

See more information at www.magothyriver.org.

The Nautical Wheelers will perform at Dobbins Island Anchorage on June 14, 2008 from 6pm to 9 pm. The event will honor the historic event of Captain John Smith’s exploration of the Magothy River on June 12,1608.

The Magothy River Association has declared June 12 Magothy River Day! A celebration of Magothy River Day, will be hosted by The Magothy River Association on FLAG DAY, Saturday, June 14, 2008. Come join in for a number of family fun activities within the protected waters of the historic Dobbins Island anchorage.

The Nautical Wheelers will entertain boaters by performing on a boat anchored in the anchorage.

BYOB (Bring your own boat)

Activities Planned:

4pm Rendezvous at Dobbins island (Free parking)
5 pm Re-enactment of Captain John Smith landing on the Dobbins Island sand bar officially declaring “ the Dobbins Recreational Area as the LAND of Pleasant Living”
6 pm to 9 pm Band Concert featuring the Nautical Wheelers
9:30 pm Christmas light boat parade back to home ports Be patriotic, June 14 is flag day the color of the day is Red White and Blue the color of the night is up to you.

Details contact Friends of Dobbins at www.SaveDobbins.org

Do you, family, or friends enjoy spending time on the Magothy River? Would you like to find out how you can help to protect and restore this precious resource? Would you like to hear about all of the great things happening on your river?

The Magothy River Association will hold its sixth annual “State of the Magothy River” presentation on Wednesday, February 20, 2008, starting at 7:00 PM. The meeting will feature the annual Magothy River Index (with a new format this year) and a Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail overview.

Scheduled speakers:
1) 2007 Magothy River Index. Prepared by Dr. Peter Bergstrom, NOAA and MRA. (Produced each year since 2003)
2) Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail overview – Sarah Bransom, National Park Service

3) MRA Creek Watchers – Carl Treff, MRA Volunteer Coordinator

4) Update on the Magothy River Oyster Plan – Dick Carey, MRA Dive Coordinator/Dive Safety Officer

DISPLAYS:
1. Friends of Dobbins Island
2. Bayland Consultants, Mill & Dividing Creek Study
3. Severna Park Watershed Action Group display on North Cypress Branch
4. Department of Natural Resources-Natural Resources Police – Vessel Management Plan & Boating Safety
5. National Aquarium in Baltimore

6. Magothy River Land Trust – Conservation Easements in the Magothy Watershed

7. MRA Team Diver Poster: “Scientific Divers of the Magothy River for Boating and Diver Safety.”
8. MRA – Oyster Reefs in the Magothy River
9. Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail

Doors and displays open at 6:30. Program to start at 7:00. Following the presentations, there will be refreshments and time to visit the displays and chat with watershed residents and the experts. Are you interested in clean water, healthy fish, living oyster reefs and limiting suburban effects on the Magothy?  Come and see how you can help!

Date:    Wednesday February 20, 2008

Place:   Anne Arundel Community College, Arnold, West Campus

Cade (Fine Arts) 219 (use Parking Lot F, closest to Ritchie)

directions at: http://www.aacc.cc.md.us/locationsandmaps/maps.cfm

Doors open 6:30 P.M., program 7:00-9:00 PM

Refreshments will be served

For Information call: Paul Spadaro, President of Magothy River Association, 410-647-8772, email: spadaro@cablespeed.com, or visit our web page: www.magothyriver.org

In case of inclement weather, if the college is closed, the program is postponed.  College closings are announced on WNAV radio (1430 AM) and on the college web site, http://www.aacc.edu