Chesapeake Bay News

Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (CBNERR) recently completed a five-year management plan that sets goals to expand the boundaries of Maryland’s three reserves, develop an environmental education center, and increase environmental stewardship and sustainable living through scientific research, environmental literacy and coastal management training for local decision-makers and stakeholders.

“The Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve’s updated plan represents a commitment to research, education and stewardship that is exceptionally valuable to protecting and restoring Maryland’s, and the nation’s estuaries,” said Frank Dawson, Maryland Department of Natural Resources Assistant Secretary. “Our coastal training program plays a crucial role in providing scientific information to Chesapeake Bay decision-makers as we work to best address and better plan for population growth, land development and climate change.”

The Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Maryland has three sites —Otter Point Creek in Harford County, Jug Bay in Prince George’s and Anne Arundel Counties, and Monie Bay in Somerset County. Partnering with local governments and non-profit conservation organizations, CBNERR hopes to add 1,345 acres Jug Bay Estuarine Research Reserve by incorporating the Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary in Anne Arundel and Prince George’s County, as well as adding 32 acres to Otter Point Creek in Harford County.

CBNERR’s top priority at the Monie Bay Reserve is to increase opportunities for public access and environmental education by purchasing property for an environmental education center. Currently students in Somerset County, where Monie Bay is located, have no access to any private or public environmental education center. In addition to creating a new environmental education facility, CBNERR aims to increase effective environmental education to underserved populations so that more Marylanders change their personal behavior and serve as leaders to promote sound, informed, science-based decision-making throughout the community. CBNERR will also continue to work to increase environmental literacy with teachers, students, and communities to increase their connection to nature so that they will take action better its protection and restoration.

Many aspects of the 1990 management plan have been realized, most notably, the completion of the Anita C. Leight Center in Harford County, which provides classrooms, lab space, exhibit space and office space, and has allowed the implementation of research, education and volunteer activity at the Otter Point Creek component of the Reserve.

One of 27 National Estuarine Research Reserves around the nation, CBNERR protects and restores approximately 5,000 acres of forest, farm and wetlands; conducts research and monitoring; educates visitors; runs coastal training programs for decision-makers; and enables affordable public recreation opportunities. The Reserve’s mission is to improve coastal resource management by increasing scientific understanding of estuarine systems and making estuarine research relevant, meaningful, and accessible to managers and stakeholders.

Cutting edge research performed at the Reserves helps to protect and restore the Chesapeake Bay. Recent research includes exploring methods for reducing excess nutrient pollution from agricultural waste and investigating the environmental impacts and potential mitigation of sea level rise.

CBNERR is a Federal-State-Local partnership program, and receives funds annually from NOAA, DNR and Harford County. Operation of the Reserve would not be possible without local partners who assist by providing land, facilities, staff and volunteers, including Anne Arundel County (Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary), Maryland-National Park and Planning Commission (Jug Bay Natural Area), Friends of Jug Bay, Harford County (Anita C. Leight Estuary Center), and the Harford County Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America (Bosely Conservancy).

For more information visit http://www.dnr.state.md.us/bay/cbnerr/.

On April 24, 2008, Governor Martin O’Malley joined Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr., House Speaker Michael E. Busch, Lieutenant Governor Anthony G. Brown, to sign legislation to protect Maryland’s environment and the health of the Chesapeake Bay, and help secure Maryland’s energy future.

“We must do all that we can to preserve our natural resources and secure Maryland’s energy future,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “I want to thank the General Assembly in working together this session to pass legislation that continues to make Maryland a national leader in protecting the environment. With today’s bills, we are creating a sustainable energy policy, securing relief for thousands of Maryland ratepayers through a global settlement with Constellation energy, protecting our environment and helping to restore the Chesapeake Bay for future generations.”

“Maryland ratepayers will see over one billion in liability relief as a result of the hard work during the 2008 legislative session,” said Speaker Michael E. Busch. “The legislation that we are signing today is good for the environment, good for the economy and good for the consumer: protecting the Chesapeake Bay, promoting green technology and reducing energy consumption.”

Governor O’Malley signed into law legislation that updates and strengthens Maryland’s critical areas law to ensure more adequate protection of the most environmentally sensitive and significant lands within Maryland’s Chesapeake and Coastal Bays watersheds.  The Critical Areas law will restore the Critical Area Commission’s regulatory authority to operate with the same authority as every other agency of State government; significantly strengthen enforcement; provide stronger protection of water quality and wildlife habitats; establish new procedures for processing variances; and require updating of the Critical Area boundary — which has not been adjusted since 1972.  The 1984 critical areas law designated all land within 1,000 feet of the edge of tidal waters and wetlands as “critical area.”  Sixty-four local jurisdictions including 16 counties and 48 municipalities comprise land within the critical area.

“Governor O’Malley continues to showcase the leadership that will save our Bay and make our growth sustainable for future generations, “said Lt. Governor Anthony Brown.  “The legislation being signed today will serve as a national example of what states can do to improve the health and sustainability of our environment.”

Among the bills signed today was legislation that secures a nearly $2 billion global settlement with Constellation Energy Group for Maryland ratepayers and families and ends Maryland ratepayers’ obligations for decommissioning nuclear power facilities at Calvert Cliffs, saving Maryland ratepayers $1.5 billion in future costs.  Ratepayers were projected to begin payments of $33 million annually from 2016 through 2036.  As a result of this settlement, Constellation Energy Group will be liable for these costs.  Under the terms of the agreement, Baltimore Gas & Electric residential ratepayers will receive a one-time “rate rebate” of approximately $170 by the end of the year.  This refund amounts to $187 million in rate relief for Maryland’s families and represents a more than 10% reduction in this year’s total bill for more than 50% of all BGE customers – over 580,000 ratepayers.

“Today is a big win for the Governor. He delivered on his promise to the BGE ratepayers and he has laid the groundwork for years of future savings for all citizens through energy efficiency. No one state Governor can stop global energy prices from going up,” said Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr. “But Governor O’Malley has done more than any of us thought was possible. I was very pleased that he accomplished all of this while also making great strides in protecting and restoring the Chesapeake Bay.”

In addition, Governor O’Malley signed into law legislation that helps secure our energy future including bills that:

Establish the Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Fund and the Maryland Strategic Investment Program to promote affordable, reliable, and clean energy;

Invest in sustainable energy by increasing the percentage of requirements of the Renwable Energy Portfolio Standard (RPS) to 20% in 2022 and beyond;

Encourages Marylanders to invest in clean energy systems for their homes by increasing specified grant limits under the Solar Energy and Geothermal Heat Pump grant programs, and creating tax incentives for solar energy geothermal equipment, etc.;

Establishes green building standards for new and renovated State buildings and new school buildings;

Establishes the State goal of achieving a 15% reduction in per capita electricity consumption and peak demand by the end of 2015 through the EmPOWER Maryland Energy Efficiency initiative.

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

The Aquaculture Technical Advisory Committee will meet from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the following dates

March 18, 2008

Northampton County Former Circuit Court Room
16404 Courthouse Road
Eastville, VA 23347

April 24, 2008

Shore Bank Headquarters
25020 Shore Parkway, Onley, VA 23418

Patuxent River Commissioner and Riverkeeper, Fred Tutman, was honored with the prestigious 2007 Bernie Fowler Award at Maryland’s 12th Annual Tributary Team meeting on February 9. The so-called “White Sneaker Award” is named for Senator Fowler, who initiated the annual Patuxent River wade-ins 20 years ago to test water turbidity and bring attention to declining water quality. The award is given annually to recognize outstanding contributions to Bay health and habitat of a tributary team member.

“From growing up on a farm in Prince George’s County to traveling the world as a journalist, Fred’s life experience has made him uniquely sensitive to the fact that where we come from has a huge impact on how we view and care for our natural resources,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “By communicating and collaborating on both social justice and environmental justice issues, Fred has an extraordinary ability to bring people together – no matter what their background – to act toward our common goal of improving the Bay.”

“We’re fighting collectively not just for the Chesapeake Bay, but for a way for a way of life,” said Tutman upon receiving the award. “We become empowered when we contact our legislators and we are never going to give up.”

In addition to his current Patuxent River responsibilities, for the past two decades Tutman has served as the President of the Conservation Federation of Maryland, President of the Patuxent River Civic Association and a member of DNR’s Outdoor Caucus. He also co-founded the Environmental Fund for Maryland.