Nanticoke SPRING | 2020 currents
CONSERVING THE NATUR AL, CULTURAL, AND RECREATIONAL RESOURCES OF THE NANTICOKE RI V E R W ATERSHED Churches History of Nanticoke, MD Ticks 101
Get tips on avoiding ticks, We are presently looking for The village of Nanticoke, MD, preventing them from churches in Western Sussex to has a rich and interesting biting, and what to do if partner with to do native tree or history dating back to the they do bite you or your plant projects. Learn more early nineteenth century. pet. See pages 14-15. about this project on page 4. Read more about it on pages 6-8.
Volunteer Opportunities
• Become a Creekwatcher with the Nanticoke Watershed Alliance, see page 3 for more information.
• Nanticoke River Grass Watchers— Learn about aquatic grasses, why they are important, and how you can help us find and ID them. Learn more on page 5.
Nanticoke River Run 5K Run & Walk
Take a jog through lovely vineyards in a beautiful part of rural Dorchester County. The Nanticoke Watershed Alliance is hosting a 5K run/walk at Layton’s Chance Winery in Vienna, MD. There is ample parking at the venue, so bring your family and friends to cheer you on! After the race, stay and enjoy the festivities. As the race takes runners through a tour of the vineyards, the rest of the family can enjoy the “View of the Vineyard” festival, including local and environmental vendors, hayrides, and tours. Runners 21 and older will get a ticket for a complimentary glass of wine or tasting to enjoy after the race. You can register for the 5k online before the event at a reduced rate, or on the morning of the race at full price.
What: Nanticoke River Run 5K run/walk When: April 18, 2020, at 10am (registration begins at 8am) Where: Layton’s Chance Winery 4225 New Bridge Rd Vienna, MD 21869
How: Register Online (or sign up the day of). Creekwatchers
Churches, Join Hands with the Nanticoke Watershed Alliance to provide your churchyard with beautiful flowers, upgraded stormwater management, and a fun chance for community bonding. The Native vegetation that we use can clean groundwater runoff to help our waterways and improve the health of the Nanticoke River. There is a growing trend referred to as “creation care,” which incorporates responsibility for the earth as part of religion.
We are looking for more churches in RELIGIOUS Western Sussex to partner on native tree or plant projects. Not only can trees or plants ORGANIZATIONS make your church livelier, but they can also reduce ponding on your property or shade the church in the summer.
In Spring 2020, we are funding the construction of a rain garden along the Thirds-Day Nature Trail/ Prayer Walk at Community Crossroads Church in Georgetown, DE. We are also working with St. Luke’s Church in Seaford, DE. We will be installing downspout planers that will help them improve how they manage stormwater coming off of their roof.
Funding is provided by DNREC and projects are only available to churches within the Delaware portion of the Nanticoke Watershed. Check your watershed address at DelawareWatersheds.org.
Past & Present: The Village of Nanticoke, Maryland
If you find yourself in the small, rural community of Nanticoke, MD, it may seem like the modern world passed it by. Of course, this hasn’t always been the case. Nanticoke was once bustling with life and has a rich and interesting history dating back to the early nineteenth century. The picturesque community is located along the Nanticoke River between Ragged Point and Roaring Point in Wicomico County, MD. Although the population peaked between 1890 and 1930, Nanticoke continues to be known for its connection to the river; however, today the focus is more on recreation than commercial enterprise.
As you may have guessed, Nanticoke, MD, is closely tied to the river that shares its name.
The exact date Nanticoke was settled is not known, but by 1877, it was an established community that spanned several miles. At the time, the town had over four dozen dwellings and a few general stores. The economy of Nanticoke in these early years was mixed between agriculture and shellfish harvests. Though, the seafood industry would soon grow into a flourishing industry due to the town’s close proximity to the Nanticoke River. In the first half of the twentieth century, tourism became integral to Nanticoke’s economy. The community prospered between 1880 and 1930, as oyster yields peaked during these years. A large part of the area’s success was due to the work of H.B. Kennerly, who ran a seafood packing company in Nanticoke with his sons. The H.B. Kennerly Company also helped to establish an early aquaculture industry in the area. During the first decade of the twentieth century the Kennerly Company helped pass the 1906 Hamen Oyster Culture Law. The law would allow individuals from Maryland to lease up to 30 acres of barren bottom in county waters. Kennerly urged local watermen to obtain leases and many of them did. The H.B. Kennerly Company supplied the growers with shells from their shucking operation to use as cultch to stabilize the ground and attract young spat. When the oysters reached market size and were ready to be harvested, Kennerly purchased them from the growers. This model of doing business was beneficial to both the growers and the Kennerly Company. Many of the growers, who were watermen, would wait until after the public oyster season ended and before the crabbing season started to harvest their leases. This provided them with income that sustained them between oyster and crab season that was previously not Aerial view of Nanticoke Marina and Harbor, Photo Credit: 4 available . Edward H. Nabb Research Center at Salisbury University
In turn, it allowed the Kennerly Company to become a major supplier of quality oysters year-round which they marketed and shipped across the United States. Unfortunately, by the mid-1980s, two diseases, MSX and Dermo, decimated the shellfish population throughout the Chesapeake. Watermen and growers no longer had shellfish for the Kennerly Company to buy and the seafood business was no longer viable in the area. In addition to a once-thriving seafood industry, Nanticoke was formerly a popular resort destination. Vacationers were attracted to the charming riverside town to unwind and relax in quaint hotels which had access to well-kept beaches. However, as Ocean City, Maryland became more accessible to tourists, Nanticoke was unable to compete. By 1940, Nanticoke was no longer a travel destination. That is, until 1967, when the sleepy Waterview Hotel was able to put out their “No Vacancy” sign once again. The Soviet Embassy leased the hotel as a summer home for its employees and their children, propelling the small village of Nanticoke onto the international stage. Some of the local residents were less than thrilled about their new summer neighbors, especially given the Cold War climate at the time. A Baltimore Sun article reported some of the citizen’s concerns, stating, “Country store gossip up the road in Bivalve and church supper gossip in Nanticoke say the Russians are bringing a 9-foot high fence, guards, and police dogs with them to the ramshackle hotel they have leased for the summer.”4 The normally quiet town, whose concerns were usually centered around the weather or fishing, quickly expanded to include diplomatic immunity and espionage.
Today, people still populate the small community. The Kennerly packing house still stands, though empty, along the Nanticoke River in what is now the Nanticoke Harbor. The Waterview Hotel was torn down in 1970, so it can no longer be visited. Though, visitors to the area can pitch a tent at the nearby Roaring Point Waterfront Campground and escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Directly adjacent to the campground is Roaring Point
Park, which has a quiet beach that’s lined by woodlands. The beach overlooks the lower
Nanticoke River where it widens to meet the Tangier Sound and Chesapeake Bay. It is the perfect place to relax and keep cool in the calm, shallow waters of the river on a hot summer day. Roaring Point is also a great spot for fishing and crabbing due to its great location on the river and a long, rocky jetty.
The Waterview Hotel, Photo Credit: O.V. Wooten
1-2 Kennedy et al., (1983). Sixteen decades of political management of the oyster fishery in maryland’s chesapeake bay. Journal of Environmental Management. 164, p. 162.
3 Webster, D. (2007, Nov). Maryland oyster culture: A brief history. University of Maryland. p. 4-5.
4 Polak, J. (1967, Mar 25). The russians worry waterview: Eastern shore town is uncertain about new neighbors. The Sun.
Delaware Residents: A plastic bag ban is going into effect in 2021.
The ban will prohibit the distribution of single-use grocery bags in retail stores.
OH, NO! HOW WILL I CARRY MY GROCERIES? Don’t worry. Stores will be selling study, reusable bags and offering paper bags for a small fee (stores will be able to determine the price of the paper bags they provide). Besides, you don’t often forget your wallet when you go to the store. Remembering to bring your reusable bags is just another habit to make.
WHAT TYPES OF PLASTIC BAGS WILL THIS AFFECT?
• Garbage bags
• Dog waste bags
• Plastic bags to carry meat, seafood, and unwrapped or frozen foods
• Dry-cleaning bags for clothes on a hanger
• Plastic bags for carrying small animals sold at pet stores, like fish
• Plastic bags to hold harmful chemicals, like pesticides
• Plastic bags to hold potted plants
• Newspaper delivery bags
Marylanders, a Plastic Bag ban is in the works for your state. Lawmakers and retailers in Maryland are still working to pass legislation called The Plastics and Packaging Reduction Act that would prohibit stores from providing any plastic bags at all. Stores would also be required to charge a minimum of 10 cents for paper bags or other alternatives. The idea of the per-bag fee is that it will encourage consumers to bring reusable bags instead of just opting for another disposable option (the paper bags).
WHY ARE WE GETTING RID OF PLASTIC BAGS? The North Atlantic Garbage Patch (NAGP) is exactly what it sounds like: a giant area of garbage swirling somewhere in the North Atlantic. Most of this garbage is made of plastic, and most of this plastic started as litter on land. When it rains, garbage washes off the land, into rivers, and eventually the ocean, where strong currents carry the garbage to the NAGP. Once trapped in the NAGP, most of the trash will never leave, left to swirl forever in the Northern Atlantic. We mean forever too. Unfortunately, plastic doesn’t break down through biodegradation like an apple might. Instead, it goes through photodegradation, meaning that sunlight makes the plastic brittle and causes it to break into infinitely smaller and smaller pieces. This is where microplastics come from. Some even get smaller than the ones in the photo.
Humans should be concerned about the effects of plastic on their health. If you use salt or eat fish you could be ingesting plastic or harmful chemicals. As plastics break into small bits, fish and other marine animals eat the plastics thinking they are food. As the smaller fish are eaten by bigger ones, the largest fish (the ones we eat) begin to collect a lot of plastic from eating small fish. Chemicals from the plastic can be released into the fish’s body and be transferred to humans when we eat seafood. Some chemicals in particular harm to humans by disrupting the normal function of their hormones. The chemicals to blame are PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyl) and PAHs (Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons). During the Ocean Conservancy’s international coastal clean-up in 2019, plastic grocery bags were the fourth most common type of garbage found on beaches. Reducing how many plastic bags we produce and consume will help limit how much plastic waste accidentally makes its way to the NAGP.
“Less than 10 percent of single-use plastic bags are recycled or reused. [Most] end up in the environment … or the landfill unnecessarily.” - Dee Durham, co-founder of Plastic Free Delaware.
Have lots of leftover t-shirts? Put them to good use by creating your own upcycled grocery bag. Click Here to get instructions on how to make your own tote bag.
Did You Know? Many large retail stores in Delaware are required to have an onsite recycling bin so customers can dispose of their plastic bags responsibly? However, it’s unclear how they get used.
Say No to Poo-llution
Imagine stepping in dog poop—gross, right? Now, imagine swimming in it!
Dog waste left on the ground can get washed into our streams, ditches, and rivers, causing health problems for humans, our pets, and aquatic animals. Storm drains don’t treat the water before it flows into local streams or rivers, meaning pet waste could be washing into your outdoor swimming spots.
The EPA estimates that in two to three days a population of 100 dogs could produce enough waste and bacteria to temporarily shut down a bay and the surrounding area within 20 miles! That means no fishing, swimming, or shell- fishing!
Dog waste contains nasty bacteria called fecal coliform that can cause illness in humans. Maintaining a healthy habitat is hard with so much dog waste being washed into our waterways, so try to remember the three P’s next time you take your pooch out for a stroll:
Prepare: Bring a plastic bag along with you. Pick Up: Always clean up after your pet. Make sure to follow community laws to avoid fines. Place: Make sure your dog's waste bags get placed into a trashcan or waste receptacle.
Ticks 101:
Ticks are the actual worst. Let’s learn how to avoid ticks, prevent them from biting, and discuss what to do if they do attach to you or your pet.
Ticks are tiny parasites that feed on the blood of mammals and are generally too small to notice without looking carefully. Because these tiny arachnids (yes, they are related to spiders) feed on blood, they can carry many diseases that are harmful to both humans and our pets. Some tick-borne illnesses can be very severe, so it’s always important to check yourself and your pets for ticks if you spend anytime outside during the spring, summer, and fall, especially if you spend time in the woods. Avoiding Tick Bites:
Unfortunately, ticks prefer environments with sandy soil, hardwood trees, rivers, and the presence of deer, all of which we have on Delmarva. Your first line of defense is avoiding wooded areas and high grass. If you do go out to one of your local State Parks, walk in the middle of trails. If you want to use insect repellant, the CDC recommends treating your clothing with 0.5% permethrin or using EPA-certified repellants with DEET, Lemon Eucalyptus Oil, or picaridin. If you have pets that go outside, use a topical insecticide, flea-and-tick shampoo, or tick collar to keep them safe. Preventing Ticks from Biting:
Often, you can prevent a tick from latching onto you and biting by removing them promptly. Check yourself and your pets immediately after coming inside during warm weather. Ticks often search for their favorite spots to latch on, so be sure to check under the arms, between the legs, under your waistband, behind your knees, in your belly button and even around your ears. Make sure to look slowly and carefully, some ticks can be as small as freckles! Removing ticks is important in preventing disease, but remember that tick bites don’t often result in illness if they are removed within 24 hours. Removing Ticks: To remove a tick properly you should always check to see if the tick has bitten you or not. If the tick is still crawling around simply remove it with tweezers. If the tick has latched on, use your tweezers to grab the tick by the head, getting close to the skin as possible. Pull up gently to make sure that the whole tick is removed. Don’t worry if the head or mouthparts are left inside your skin, as these will fall out shortly and can no longer transmit disease. Wash the area with soap and water. To dispose of the tick, wash it down a drain or put it in the trash, but make sure it is fully dead before trying to dispose of it. Tick Keys are special tools that can help you remove ticks more effectively. They are inexpensive and can be found online. Identifying common ticks:
These four ticks can be found on Delmarva and are all capable of transmitting disease. To identify a tick, look at their shape, color, and pattern of the plate (scutum) behind their head.
Deer Tick (black-legged tick): This tick is the primary carrier of Lyme Disease. These ticks are generally smaller and very dark-colored. They have a round, dark-brown/black scutum. American Dog Tick (wood tick): This tick can spread Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. This tick has an oval-shaped scutum with lots of distinct white markings. Brown Dog Tick: These ticks can also spread Rock Mountain Spotted Fever. Brown Dog ticks have a darker body with a very rough texture when compared to the American Dog Tick. Their scutums are oval-shaped and brown. Lone Star Tick: This tick is known for its ability to cause meat allergies. You can identify this tick by the obvious white marking and triangular-shaped scutum.
2020 Reclaim Our River
BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2020 PARTNERS IN CONSERVATION
Richard Ball, President Avery Hall Insurance Layton’s Chance Vineyard & Dorchester Citizens for Planned Company Winery Growth Bank of Delmarva Mid Atlantic Farm Credit Bill Giese, President Elect Bath Fitter Nanticoke River Arts Council Dorchester Soil Conservation Dis- trict
Chesapeake Bay NRG Joe Layton, Past President Foundation Procino Enterprises Dorchester Co. Farm Bureau Crystal Steel Fabricators, Inc. Ridge to Reefs Stephen L. Marsh, Secretary Chesapeake Utilities George, Miles & Buhr, Trap Pond Partners Corporation Alan Girard, Treasurer Trap Pond State Park Chesapeake Bay Foundation Chicone Ruritan Club Tri-Gas & Oil Christina Darby Commissioners of Bridgeville Friends of the Nanticoke River Salisbury University
Delmarva Poultry Industry, JoJo Wingrove Inc. University of Maryland, Center Envirocorp Labs for Environmental Science
DNREC Brittney Sturgis Weisner Real Estate, Inc. Dorchester Citizens for Delaware Department of Natural Planned Growth Resources William Russ, CPA
Tami Ransom Dorchester Soil Conservation Salisbury University District
Russ Brinsfield Doug Stephens, Coldwell Town of Vienna Banker Real Estate Agent
Richard E. Hall Envirocorp Labs New Castle County
First Shore Federal Saving & Doug Marshall Loans
Marshall Auction Company The Forestland Group Now, more than ever, The Franklin P. and Arthur W. your donation is urgently Perdue Foundation needed. STAFF Friends of Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge Lisa Wool Executive Director Friends of the Nanticoke To donate to the NWA Beth Wasden River please visit: Volunteer & Outreach Coordinator George, Miles, and Buhr, LLC www.NanticokeRiver.org Evan Deckers Education Coordinator Hebron Savings Bank or go to our Facebook Sydney Williams AmeriCorps Member Laurel Redevelopment Corp. and click “Donate.”
CONSERVING THE NATUR AL, CULTURAL, AND RECREATIONAL RESOURCES OF THE NANTICOKE RI VER WATERSHED