Nanticoke October 2017 currents CONSERVING THE NATUR AL, CULTURAL, AND RECREATIONAL RESOURCES OF THE NANTICOKE RI VER Save the Date Magical Nanticoke Nights Laurel Tree Planting

Join the Nanticoke What glows at night in the A tree planting took place in Watershed Alliance to Nanticoke? Learn about the Laurel, DE on October 7th. celebrate the Ten Year amazing bioluminescent Over twenty volunteers Nanticoke River Report Card creatures living in and along planted 300 trees and shrubs with programs, food vendors, our waterways. along Broad Creek. nonprofit vendors, and more! See pages 2 & 3. See page 8. See page 8.

Pet Waste Campaign in Delaware

Pet waste is a major source of bacterial pollution in waterways. It’s presence can shutdown local swimming and fishing areas, lead to a decline in fish populations, destroy aquatic habitat, and pollute drinking water. The NWA launched a pet waste campaign in Sussex County and distributed brochures, pet waste dispensers, and four pet waste stations to veterinarian offices, pet stores, and animal hospitals in the area to raise awareness.

See page 5. Magical Nights on the Nanticoke

Written by Robert Bachand The magic begins under a darkened summer sky. Watching next to a stand of trees, near water, the sky erupts with tiny sparks of yellow and greenish light. The aerial show is produced by one- half inch or slightly longer winged beetles—fireflies. As kids, we would carefully capture a few of the insects and put them into a jar. What a sight as they lit up a spot on our picnic table! However, a short time later, at the urging of our mom, we removed the jar’s lid and watched them fly away. If lucky, one of the fireflies crawled up a finger and flashed its biological light before escaping into the night.

The fireflies’ (or lightning bugs’) fluorescent glow (bioluminescence) is created by a chemical reaction between an enzyme (luciferase) and a compound called luciferin. As their larvae develop, most, if not all, of the different species also Male fireflies light up in a specific pattern to attract a produce a glow. However, mate and females light up in response. unlike adults that use their gift to attract a mate, the larvae’s glow is thought to serve as a warning to any predator. Their bodies apparently contain a toxic or distasteful chemical.

Where are all of the fireflies of our youth? Some researchers have attributed their decline on the loss of habitat; the majority of fireflies depend on rotting wood and forest litter for their developing larvae. Pesticides, landscaped lawns and light pollution may also contribute to their decline. Auto headlights can disorient the insects as do street lights and outdoor lights from homes. All have been implicated, but the jury is still out.

On land, fireflies are not the only source of bioluminescence. At least one type of snail is known to produce a glow as well as some species of millipedes, glow worms, and certain mushrooms. The phenomenon is all but absent in freshwater creatures.

Some of the greatest bioluminescent magic shows are reserved for the world’s deep ocean Magical Nights on the Nanticoke waters, shorelines, bays, and estuaries. After dark, walking along the Nanticoke River’s shoreline or cruising its waters in a slow-moving boat, you may witness sparkling lights emitted by comb jellies – ctenophores (c-silent, pronounced “ten O fours”). Two species of comb jellies are common to Chesapeake Bay and the Nanticoke River, the sea walnut comb jelly, Mnemiopsis leidyi and the pink comb jelly, Beroe ovata. The more brackish water-tolerant sea walnut is said to be found in the Bay as far north as Baltimore. Most common in the spring and summer, they spawn under the cloak of dark, in water temperatures ranging from 66-73 degrees. The pink comb jelly penetrates the Bay’s waters up to about Annapolis.

These transparent, jelly-like marine animals are equipped with eight rows of combs (comb jellies). Beating constantly, the combs propel the creature through the water. As they beat, a changing rainbow of reflected light spreads along the rows. Their bioluminescent light, however, can only be seen at night.

Worldwide, there are some 100 to 150 different species of comb jellies. Some live near the surface while others are found at great ocean depths. But they represent only a small minority of sea creatures that emit biological light. Certain squids, deep-sea fishes, jellyfishes, sea stars, shrimps, worms, bacteria, and tiny single-cell dinoflagellates are among many others that “light up” the darkened seas. The glow from the huge number of dinoflagellates, estimated at 700,000 per single gallon of water in Puerto Rico’s Mosquito Bay, lights up its nighttime waters in a spectacular display for The comb jelly has eight rows of cilia that light kayakers and other boaters. up when touched to distract predators.

Why do these sea creatures produce a biological light? Some use the glow to attract a mate or a potential prey, while others display a bright flash to startle predators. Whether on land or aboard a boat on the Nanticoke, spend an evening searching for some of the local creatures. You will be rewarded by witnessing the magic of their bioluminescent lights! Creek Freaks Educator Workshop

Every summer, the Nanticoke Watershed Alliance offers a free educators’ workshop to provide teachers with resources they can use in their classrooms. On July 20-21, Education Coordinator Mary Poudel led a two-day Creek Freaks Teachers’ Workshop at the Laurel Public Library. Sixteen educators learned about Izaak Walton League’s stream ecology and monitoring curriculum. They received copies of the Creek Freaks curriculum, as well as other educational supplies.

The first day of the workshop, educators became familiar with the curriculum by actively participating in the activities instructed. A favorite activity amongst workshop attendees was called “Putting on the Brakes” where groups were challenged to design the slowest-moving stream using modeling clay and other craft supplies. This activity highlighted the importance of stream shape in slowing down stream flow and reducing erosion along the river banks. Each group’s current was tested by rolling a marble from the beginning to the end of their stream and timing its’ journey. The group with the longest journey won the competition.

The second day of the workshop focused on creating physical, biological, and chemical stream monitoring programs. NWA’s Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator, Beth Wasden, gave a presentation on our award-winning water quality monitoring program, Nanticoke Creekwatchers, and highlighted the components of physical and chemical monitoring.

Participants spent the afternoon at Trussum Pond State Park where they used dip nets to search and identify animal life, known as macroinvertebrates, found. Water quality testing techniques were also used to practice determining water health. Record-Breaking Catfish Caught in the Nanticoke

Jordan Walker of Harrington set a new Delaware state record for blue catfish, reeling in a 36 pound, 3.2 ounce monster on the upper Nanticoke River near Seaford. The fish measured 38.5 inches, with a girth of 27.5 inches. He pulled in the fish during the Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament on June 20, luring it with a bunker chunk.

Photo courtesy of DNREC

Get the Scoop on (Dog) Poop

Many families in Sussex County have four-legged friends who are important members of their households. Every day, dog owners walk their dogs around neighborhoods and parks to do their business before settling in for the evening. The NWA has partnered with DNREC to bring awareness to dog owners in Sussex County, DE, by providing them with free pet waste bag dispensers and pet waste tips. We want to encourage owners to pick up after their pet, if they are not already doing so.

When it rains, pet waste is washed into the local waterway, adding excess nutrients, bacteria, and diseases. Excess nitrogen can cause algal blooms, which prevent sunlight from reaching the plants on the river bottom. When the algae decay, the bacteria absorb the oxygen in the water, releasing ammonia and killing fish and other animals present in the water. Pet waste in water can shut down local swimming and fishing areas, lead to a decline in fish populations, destroy aquatic habitat, and pollute drinking water.

Copies of the “Does Your Dog Love the Nanticoke?” brochure, pet waste bag dispensers, and four dogipot stations have been distributed to animal hospitals, veterinary clinics, and animal supply stores in the area. You can read NWA’s publication “Does your Dog Love the Nanticoke? Let’s Keep it Clean!” here. For more information on Delaware’s pet waste campaign, please visit http://delawarewatersheds.org/getting-the-scoop-on-your-pets/. Town Profile: Mardela Springs

Written by Alexis Klosek

Snuggled against a background of farmland, a small town sits on the west side of Route 50 on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Mardela Springs is a quiet town, a blip in the road for many heading to Ocean City in the summer. Visitors may take a break at the rest area, visit one of its farm stands like Pop-Pops Market, or go fishing or paddling via the Mardela Springs Boat Ramp. Long before Mardela Springs became a stop-over for tourists, however, it was a settlement for the indigenous Nanticoke people and an attraction for visitors.

Spring House where mineral water was bottled when sold.

The Puckamee, who belonged to the Nanticoke tribe, were the first people to live in what is now known as Mardela Springs. They lived in long houses and survived on farming, fishing, hunting, and trapping. Barren Creek served as a rich resource, providing the Puckamee with game, fish, and fur. English fur traders arrived in the mid-1600s, seeking to trade with the Pukamees living there. The colonial assembly declared the area around what is now known as Mardela Springs as a reservation for the Pukamees from 1678 to 1698. However, most Pukamees moved from Mardela Spring by the early 1700s.

Town Profile: Mardela Springs

As trade between fur trappers and the Pukamees diminished, white settlers began to populate the area. Settlers developed a small village named Barren Creek (later changed to Russum, Barren Creek Springs, and finally Mardela Springs). Although a few other factors contributed to Mardela Springs’ growth, the presence of the mineral spring water in town fueled the town’s tourist trade. In the 1600s, the Puckamee used the spring as a watering hole. From the time of the Revolutionary War, it became the first spring house in the area. In the 1840s, the town grew because of the health benefits provided by the spring. Visitors from throughout the mid-Atlantic sought the healing powers of the waters of the mineral spring, much as many of them now seek the de-stressing healing powers of the Atlantic Ocean.

Many visitors passing through town stayed at the Barren Creek Hotel and filled up with spring water before they continued their trip. Businessmen took advantage of the resources by bottling and selling this water worldwide known as Mardela Springs Mineral Water. (These businessmen changed the name to Mardela Springs because they thought “Barren Creek” gave the wrong impression of the water’s healing powers.) Doctors prescribed and recommended the water to fix things they could not, such as aiding kidney, blood, liver, neurological, and stomach diseases. Doctors also touted it as a remedy for rheumatism, gout, and uterine troubles that surgery could not fix. People also used it to cure headaches and indigestion.

As the landscape of Delmarva changed and spring-goers became ocean-goers, Mardela Spring’s population and businesses declined. Although you can’t buy a bottle of Mardela Springs Mineral Water, but the spring is still active. So, next time you have a headache, go visit Mardela Springs and grab some mineral water!

2018 Wade In: Save the Date!

Saturday, June 9, 2018 10AM-4PM Trap Pond State Park

Join the NWA for our FREE 2018 Wade In, where we’ll launch the Ten Year Nanticoke River Report Card and discover the 2018 sneaker index. Learn more about the power of water at a water rocket launch or find out how you can integrate native plants into your home landscape (and take home a free plant or shrub). The event will include other nonprofit vendors, food vendors, and more.

Stay tuned for a full program agenda as the date approaches, and thanks to our partners below for their support of the Nanticoke Creekwatchers program and the Wade In event.

Laurel Tree Planting

The Nanticoke Watershed Alliance hosted a volunteer tree planting on Saturday, October 7th in Laurel, Delaware. The event was a huge success with over twenty volunteers assisting to plant 300 trees and shrubs along Broad Creek. The project was funded through Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. The NWA partnered with the Town of Laurel, Laurel Redevelopment Corporation, University of Delaware, and Delaware Sea Grant to maintain and complete the project. Gardens for the Bay

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Midshore Riverkeepers, and the Nanticoke Watershed Alliance are working with homeowners in Cambridge to capture rain water on their properties, slow it down, and allow it to soak back in to replenish ground water. To that end, these partners have held workshops in Cambridge to teach homeowners about all the different ways they can help keep the Bay clean. By handling rain water differently, people can significantly improve the water that runs off their rooftops and driveways before it enters waterways. As water moves across the land and into storm drains, ditches, or directly into waterways, it picks up a lot of things in its path, including

Litter, Loose soil and mulch, Excess fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides, WadeDog In waste, Results and Leaky motor fluids. All workshop attendees received free rain barrels, which allow them to capture rainwater and reuse it to water plants or wash their cars later. Rain barrels, if used with other methods such as rain gardens, can help reduce flooding issues. A handful of workshop attendees applied to receive rain gardens on their properties. A rain garden is a specially-designed garden, put in a well-draining area . The garden is dug out a bit and rain water is directed toward it. The garden collects the rain water and filters out the pollutants as the water gets absorbed by the soil and plants. They are designed to absorb the water within two days, so no mosquitoes! When many communities began, builders designed houses to quickly remove water from properties. As towns grew, local creeks began to suffer from flash floods after rains. By slowing down rain water, we not only prevent pollution from being picked up and carried to our waterways, we also reduce the sheer volume, which can cause erosion and flooding. Find out when more workshops will be happening at www.NanticokeRiver.org Creekwatcher Update

With only one sampling period left, the tenth season of Creekwatching will soon be in the books. As we wind down the season, we’d like to thank former AmeriCorps Member Alexis Klocek and Summer Intern Amber West for their work with the program. Both Alexis (in AmeriCorps gear) and Amber (in front) at the June 10 Wade In. of them performed data entry, worked with volunteers, helped distribute report cards, and delivered samples to our partner labs. In addition, Amber helped set up bacteria samples for analysis at Envirocorp Labs and Alexis assisted with training all the way back in March. We’ve been missing them this autumn and wish them all the best!

Chlorophyll a sampling (which provides us data about the amount of algae present) wrapped up at the end of September. Algae are natural and are expected to grow in our waterways. Too many algae, however, indicate unhealthy amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus, the two major nutrients. In addition, as algae decompose, bacteria consume oxygen and create low oxygen or no oxygen conditions. These waterways are unable to support fish and other aquatic animals and create dead zones and kill fish. In addition, algae prevent light from reaching the river or creek bottom, which impacts aquatic grasses and bottom-dwelling critters such as oysters and freshwater mussels.

Algal blooms indicate unhealthy amounts of nutrients in our waterways.

Board of Directors 2017 Partners in Conservation

Mike Pretl, President Chesapeake Bay Foundation Trap Pond State Park Wicomico Environmental Trust Chesapeake Bay Trust Sea Grant Maryland

Chicone Ruritan Club University of Maryland, Center for Joe Layton, Past President Environmental Science Dorchester County Farm Bureau Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc. Vision Forestry, LLC. DNREC Richard Ball, President Elect Weisner Real Estate, Inc. Nanticoke Creekwatchers (MD) Delaware Technical Community College William A. Russ, CPA

Alan Girard, Treasurer Dorchester Citizens for Planned Wicomico County Farm Bureau Chesapeake Bay Foundation Growth Wicomico Environmental Trust

Dorchester County Farm Bureau Charles Wright, Secretary Wicomico County Farm Bureau Dorchester Soil Conservation District

Doug Stephens, Coldwell Banker Christina Darby Real Estate Agent Friends of the Nanticoke River Eastern Shore Land Conservancy

Sandi Dew Envirocorp Labs Nanticoke Creekwatchers (DE) The Forestland Group

Joe Gannon The Franklin P. and Arthur W. Special Thanks Envirocorp Labs Perdue Foundation

Friends of Blackwater National Bill Giese to our New Wildlife Refuge Dorchester Soil Conservation District Friends of the Nanticoke River Partners in Tami Ransom Georgetown Public Library Salisbury University Hebron Savings Bank Conservation!

John Schneider Invista Delaware Department of Natural Re- Laurel Public Library sources and Environmental Control Laurel Redevelopment Corp. Martin Stewart Layton’s Chance Vineyard & Winery Perdue Farms Nanticoke River Marine Park

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Staff NRG Lisa Wool Rommel’s ACE Hardware Executive Director Salisbury University

Beth Wasden Seaford District Library Volunteer & Outreach Coordinator Town Creek Foundation

Mary Poudel Trap Pond Partners Education Coordinator

CONSERVING THE NATUR AL, CULTURAL, AND RECREATIONAL RESOURCES OF THE NANTICOKE RI VER