Chesapeake Bay News

According to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, early March runoff into the Susquehanna River watershed from heavy rains and snowmelt has brought a flood of nutrients and sediment-laden freshwater flowing into the Chesapeake Bay. This heavy spring runoff has resulted in record low water clarity for the month of March in many areas of Maryland’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay.

Continued wet spring weather could extend these high flows which, in turn, could result in less underwater grasses and increased algal blooms. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is expected to continue its comprehensive Chesapeake Bay water quality habitat and living resources monitoring to assess any short- or long-term storm-related impacts.

On March 12, 2011, two days after a very heavy rain event (2+ inches) across the region, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) recorded a peak “flow” of 485,000 cubic feet/second (cfs) from the Susquehanna River at Conowingo Dam. Average monthly flows at that site in March are about 75,000 cfs. This is the highest average daily flow rate observed at the dam since floodwaters from Tropical Storm Ivan passed in September 2004.

A review of 26 years of water clarity data collected by the State shows that depth measurements in the Chesapeake Bay and many tributaries in March 2011 are below historic measures or set new historic lows.

A high amount of freshwater flowing into the Chesapeake Bay erodes sediments and transports polluted runoff (including nutrients and sediments) downstream towards the Bay.

The early spring season is a critical period for underwater grasses, which are beginning to grow. Also affected are saltwater and anadromous fish such as striped bass, yellow perch, river herring and American shad, all of which spawn in the Chesapeake during the Spring.

The Marylanders Plant Trees Program offers instant savings when you purchase a new tree from a participating nursery. The state program from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources offers a $25 coupon to purchase any native tree that costs more than $50. There is no limit on how many coupons you use and you can download it from the Marylanders Plant Trees web site.

When you register your new tree at www.trees.maryland.gov you join fellow Marylanders who have already planted and registered over 40,000 trees. Check out other tools on the website where you can calculate the environmental and economic benefits of your new trees and learn how to plant and care for them.  Be sure to use the interactive maps and charts to see how you are part of a larger community planting trees throughout the state.

Residents that are not able to plant at tree in their own yard can give the gift of trees with Tree-Mendous Maryland.  See: www.dnr.state.md.us/forests/Treemendous

PLANT and BE COUNTED is a call to all Marylanders and businesses to plant and register trees. The goal is 50,000 trees a year. It’s something every Marylander can do to create a smarter, greener future for our families for generations to come.

The following list includes benefits of planting trees:

Conserve energy (Up to 50%) and save money
Purify the air
Soak up polluted rainwater runoff and protect our waterways
Create wildlife habitat
Increase home value by as much 30%
Replace snow damaged trees

For more information visit www.trees.maryland.gov
or contact: Scott Hymes 410-260-8746

The State of Maryland is now accepting proposals for the 2012 fiscal year, for projects to curb polluted runoff and move the State toward its 2-year milestones. The deadline is 5:00 p.m., May 28, 2010. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will hold two workshops in March, to cover specific information on what will be in the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund Request for Proposal (RFP), what has changed from the first round, what a great proposal should include and an overview of technical resources available.

“This approach differs significantly from our traditional way of doing business related to Bay restoration,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “For the past 25 years, we’ve spread money and projects around the state with limited success. This new approach recognizes that we do not have the resources to do everything, everywhere, and instead targets the Trust Fund dollars in areas and ways that the science tells us will have the greatest results.”

The local government and non-governmental organizations (NGO) applying must pitch projects located in the most effective areas to improve the health of the Chesapeake Bay, Atlantic Coastal Bays and focus on local water quality.

As a part of Maryland’s plan to clean up the Chesapeake Bay, the first 2-year milestone consists of a suite of 27 actions to reduce harmful runoff by 3.75 million pounds of nitrogen and 193,000 pounds of phosphorus. Governor O’Malley announced the 2-year milestones last May to accelerate Maryland’s on the ground efforts to reach its current nutrient reduction goals by a newly established end date of 2020. The Governor made the announcement at the 26th meeting of the Chesapeake Executive Council, the multi-jurisdictional partnership that coordinates regional Bay restoration programming.

Through this competitive RFP, applicants may apply for funding for projects that improve water quality by reducing nitrogen, phosphorus and/or sediment pollution and that help to achieve the 2-Year Milestone.  Expected annual funding amounts range from $1 million to $5 million annually per proposal.  Multi-year proposals up to three years are welcomed.  These grants provide an opportunity for locally driven initiatives to improve water quality close to home and the Bay.

The workshops will be held on March 19 at the 4-H Center in College Park, and on March 23 at the Wye Research Center in Queenstown.  Both workshops start at 10 a.m. and run to 12 p.m.  Registration is open and a webinar registration is available for those who cannot attend in person.

For more information regarding the trust fund, Workshops and/or a copy of the RFP, please visit http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/ccp/funding/trust_fund.asp, or contact Jennifer Raulin at 410.260.8745

source: DNR press release

The State of Maryland will change the way it requires developers to prevent pollution at construction sites from running into local rivers and streams.

The changes were call for by a coalition of environmental groups represented by the University of Maryland Environmental Law Clinic.

The coalition, which includes Potomac Riverkeeper as well as 11 other Maryland Waterkeeper organizations and the Waterkeeper Alliance, announced today that it has reached an agreement with Maryland’s Department of the Environment over its challenge to Maryland’s general stormwater permit for construction sites.

Ed Merrifield, the Potomac Riverkeeper, says the settlement proves that ordinary citizens—and groups like Potomac Riverkeeper that represent them—can take a stand and improve their local water quality.

“These types of improvements don’t just happen” Merrifield said. “Ordinary citizens hold governments accountable—it’s the best way to make a difference.”

The settlement will mitigate polluted runoff (known as “stormwater”) at construction sites in three ways:

* it requires MDE to update the measures that must be taken on construction sites to prevent water pollution

* it requires MDE to ensure expanded opportunities for the public to review and comment upon planning documents for construction sites

* it improves protections for water bodies that are already overwhelmed by polluted runoff

Polluted runoff usually leaves construction sites in the form of mud and sludge during periods of heavy rain and runs into storm drains or directly into water bodies. In some locations, such as Cumberland and Washington DC, the mud and sludge drains into combined sewers (that hold both rainwater and raw sewage) and, if it rains (in some areas more than 1/10 of 1”), overwhelm the combined sewers and flow directly into the Potomac River and its tributaries without first being treated.

Scientists estimate that runoff adds 80 million tons of sediment to waterways each year.  In Maryland alone, 90 rivers and streams have been officially designated as “impaired” due to excessive sediment.

“Polluted runoff is one of the biggest threats to the Potomac River and the Chesapeake Bay,” Merrifield added. “This settlement today is one more step toward restoring these national treasures.”