September 2018 Volume 28 Number 6

Washed away? Torrential rains threaten Bay Many restoration gains localities in ≈ Scientists are waiting to see Maryland if recent progress will help the are struggling Chesapeake more easily bounce with the back from July storms. daunting task By Jeremy Cox of curbing Up to her chest in muddy water, stormwater Cassie Gurbisz had a clear realization. runoff, a “When I just went down, it was source of pitch-black at the bottom,” said pollution that Gurbisz, a coastal ecologist with continues Maryland’s St. Mary’s College, as to grow she prepared for another dive into the across the Upper Bay. “I’ve never been in water Chesapeake this murky before.” Bay The chocolate-colored water was watershed caused by an unusual summertime even as deluge that dumped a foot or more of progress is rain in parts of Maryland and Pennsyl- being made vania over a five-day span beginning on other July 21. Just as water levels began fronts. falling, a smaller sequel roared into (Dave Harp) northern Pennsylvania and southern New York, adding another 2–6 inches of rainfall. The health of the Chesapeake has MD county took on runoff challenge, still fell short shown signs of improvement in recent ≈ Montgomery, a leader in since gotten similar marching orders, ity to struggle with the daunting task of years, with underwater grass beds addressing stormwater, could as did Baltimore city and the State curbing stormwater runoff, a source of reaching levels not seen in decades, Highway Administration. pollution that continues to grow across and dissolved oxygen levels ticking face penalty for missing goal. But in April, Montgomery County the Chesapeake Bay watershed even as upward in deepwater areas. The persis- By Timothy B. Wheeler signed a consent decree with the Mary- progress is being made on other fronts. tent storms could be a setback, at least There’s a price to be paid, some- land Department of the Environment MDE officials say that while Carroll in the short term, for recovery efforts, times, for being at the head of the acknowledging it had fallen far short of County, Baltimore city and the state though it will take weeks, if not pack. In the case of Montgomery the 20 percent goal. The county pledged highway system are “close” to comply- months, of monitoring for scientists to County MD, the price is $300,000. to catch up over the next two years. ing with the 20 percent requirement, fully assess the potential damage — or That’s the penalty the Washington, It also agreed to either pay a penalty the rest are lagging. even know the amount of water-fouling DC, suburb agreed earlier this year of $300,000 or spend that much on a “Stormwater [control] is not in the nutrients and sediment that were to pay for its failure to curb pollution pollution-reduction project that would place it needs to be,” acknowledged flushed into the Bay. sufficiently from its streets, side- go beyond what’s already required. Lee Currey, director of the MDE’s The pollution could spur late- walks, parking lots and buildings. “You can always tell the pioneers, water and science administration. As summer algae blooms, bury bottom Under a municipal stormwater because they have the arrows in state officials draw up plans for get- habitats in silt and contribute to permit issued by the state in 2010, their backs,” said Frank Dawson, ting the rest of the way to the 2025 oxygen-starved “dead zones,” advo- Montgomery was the first county in chief of watershed capital projects Bay cleanup goals set by the U.S. cates fear. It is one of the biggest tests Maryland required to capture or treat for Montgomery’s Department of Environmental Protection Agency, he the ecosystem has faced since the runoff from 20 percent of its pave- Environmental Protection. “We’re recently said that they’re looking at state-federal Bay Program partnership ment and buildings. Eight other coun- not the only jurisdiction, I think, how to keep making progress while kicked off a new 15-year restoration ties — Anne Arundel, Baltimore, that’s having trouble.” giving localities more leeway in effort in 2010. Carroll, Charles, Frederick, Harford, Montgomery may be the first held to “We hope the Bay has recovered Howard and Prince George’s have account, but it’s far from the only local- Struggle continues on page 26 Flood continues on page 18 2 Bay Journal • September 2018

Editor’s Note BAY JOURNAL is published by Bay Journal Media to inform the public about ecological, scientific, historic and cultural issues Many talked about a better Bay, Batiuk helped to make it happen and events related to the Chesapeake Bay. The Bay Journal, circulation 35,000, is published monthly except in midsummer No one is learning new things and figuring out and midwinter. It is distributed free of charge. Bundles are available irreplaceable, how to take cool new information and for distribution. Material may be reproduced, with permission or so they say, explain it in a story. Batiuk, though, used and attribution. Publication is made possible by grants through but some people that information to make a difference. the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Chesapeake Bay are raising that “It wasn’t science for science sake, it Program Office, the Campbell Foundation, the National Oceanic question when was translating it into policy,” said Jon and Atmospheric Administration’s Chesapeake Bay Office, the it comes to Rich Capacasa, former head of EPA Region 3’s Sumner T. McKnight Foundation, the Rauch Foundation, the Batiuk, who water protection division. Fair Play Foundation, the Shared Earth Foundation, the Virginia retired from the More than once, I remember talking Environmental Endowment, anonymous donors, and by reader U.S. Environ- to Batiuk about how a particular initiative contributions. Views expressed in the Bay Journal do not mental Protec- he was working on might pan out, and I’d necessarily represent those of any funding agency or organization. tion Agency’s Bay go away thinking, “That’s an interesting Program Office at the end of July. concept, but I’m not sure it’ll work in real- For mailing list additions/changes, please use the form on this For me and for others, he was a ity.” But he usually found a way. page or contact: Bay Journal, P.O. Box 222, Jacobus, PA 17407-0222 valued source of information and, if he Batiuk was a driving force behind E-mail: [email protected] didn’t know something, he’d direct you developing the Bay’s unique system of BAY JOURNAL MEDIA to someone who did. Even though he water quality standards and the cleanup worked legendary long hours, he always effort. He would take science and figure Bay Journal Media is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization with answered his phone if he was in, rather out how to mesh it into a policy frame- a mission to further public education and awareness of issues than letting it go to voice mail. work others hadn’t envisioned. affecting the Chesapeake Bay and the mid-Atlantic environment Though Batiuk announced his retire- That vision has left the Bay in a better by creating and distributing journalistic products. In addition ment plan a couple of years ago, I — like place than he found it and set a course to producing the Bay Journal, Bay Journal Media operates the many others — was more or less in to guide the region for years to come. Bay Journal News Service, which distributes Bay Journal denial until the months just before his articles and original op-eds about the Chesapeake Bay or regional departure. Although he never led the Thanks for your thoughts environmental issues to more than 400 newspapers in the region, Bay Program office, he was a fixture To the thousands of Bay Journal reaching several million readers each month. there since 1985 — starting work just readers who filled out and returned the a year after it opened. Ultimately, he survey we mailed this summer — thank Karl Blankenship, Executive Director became the most quoted person in Bay you! The response rate has far exceeded Andrew Nolan, CPA, Chief Financial Officer Journal history. (See Batiuk, the boy, our expectations — so much that it is STAFF knew Bay was his destiny; as a man, he going to take more time than we imag- helped change its fate, on page 12.) ined to tabulate all of them and read all Editor: Karl Blankenship ([email protected]) Batiuk was so thoroughly versed in of the comments. Managing Editor: Lara Lutz ([email protected]) the Bay, you might think he would bleed I know that readers are overwhelm- CONTACT US Associate Editor/Projects: Timothy B. Wheeler ([email protected]) its brackish water if cut. He worked his ingly positive about the Bay Journal, by mail: Bay Journal News Service Editor: Tim Sayles ([email protected]) way up from intern to associate director but we want to learn about your ideas The Bay Journal Copy/Design Editor: Kathleen A. Gaskell ([email protected]) for science, building solid relationships for fine-tuning our products as we plan 619 Oakwood Drive Staff Writer: Jeremy Cox ([email protected]) among a constantly changing array of for the future. I’ll keep you posted as we Seven Valleys, PA Staff Writer: Donna Morelli ([email protected]) state officials and stakeholder groups. analyze the information. 17360-9395 Staff Writer: Whitney Pipkin ([email protected]) I like going to science meetings, — Karl Blankenship Photographer: Dave Harp ([email protected]) by phone: ADVERTISING 717-428-2819 Sign Up for the Bay Journal or Change your Address Marketing & Advertising Director: Jacqui Caine ([email protected]) TheBay Journal is distributed FREE by Bay Journal Media, Inc. If you would like to BOARD OF DIRECTORS be added to its mailing list or need to change your present address, please fill out this form To inquire about Tom Lewis advertising, contact , President and mail it to Bay Journal, P.O. Box 222, Jacobus, PA 17407-0222. Mary Barber, Vice-President o o Jacqui Caine at Check One: New Subscription Change of Address Karl Blankenship, Secretary 540-903-9298 o Please remove my name from your mailing list Frank Felbaum, Treasurer Please note that it may take up to two issues for changes to become effective. Bill Eichbaum Name: Address: Correction City: State: In the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay column in the July-August 2018 issue, the captions for Matt Kofroth and Beau Breeden were reversed. The Bay Journal Zip: regrets the error. Optional: Enclosed is a donation to the Bay Journal Fund for $

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Clockwise, from left:

A roseate spoonbill delighted local birders with its rare visit. See article on page 39. (Matt Felperin / FelperinFoto)

A setting sun casts dramatic colors along the shoreline of the Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge, which was recently threatened with at least partial closure due to fund- ing cuts. See article on page 8. (Dave Harp)

The C&D Canal Museum reveals the mechanics that once controlled the water level in the canal connecting WHAT’S INSIDE 20 VA to monitor water quality at 3 controversial the Chesapeake chicken farms • Research will help document how much and Delaware 5 Chesapeake crab industry pinched by work visa water pollution is generated by large poultry operations bays. See article on • Processors’ inability to meet demand could send shortage 21 Manure management questions stall plans for MD page 24. (Wendy buyers to Gulf of Mexico, other nations Mitman Clarke) poultry farm • Rules that require outdoor enclosures raise 6 PA officials delay plan to shut largest hatchery in concerns about how runoff will be controlled watershed for shad • Research station on Juniata was 1 of 3 threatened with closing in budget dispute TRAVEL 7 Shad runs approach record highs in some rivers, lows 22 Pleasant Grove Park a connection to nature, the past in others • Rappahannock, Potomac runs strongest in years 24 C & D museum sure to float the boat of any canal lover while James, York and Susquehanna numbers are way down FEATURES 8 Eastern Neck refuge spared from closure, but 4 Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay • Turkey Hill Dairy funding crunch continues • Across the nation, refuges are leads way on Lancaster County, PA, farms cutting back or looking for ways to reduce spending under a shrinking budget 34 Bulletin Board • Volunteer Opportunities • Workshops • 9 Groups fighting for coal ash regulation balk at new Events • Programs • Resources rules • Environmentalists concerned that relaxed standards 38 Chesapeake Challenge • Sharp as a needle? This bald cypress for storage pits will allow contents to leak into groundwater, quiz is for you WE’RE JUST waterways 38 Bay Buddies • Bald Cypress! A CLICK AWAY 10 Virginia’s Piankatank River gets 15 new acres of 39 On the Wing • Local birders tickled pink when roseate visit us online: bayjournal.com oyster reef • Future for other restoration projects in VA, spoonbill showed up here MD unclear as funding dries up like us on FaceBook: 11 Invasive snakeheads found in Susquehanna tributary • 40 Bay Naturalist • Remnants of bald cypress swamps grace Chesapeake Bay Journal Octoraro fish quickly drew anglers but raise concerns for eels Chesapeake watershed or send us a Tweet: and Chesapeake logperch FORUM @ChesBayJournal Commentary • Letters • Perspectives 12 Batiuk, the boy, knew Bay was his destiny; as a man, he helped change its fate • Retired scientist orchestrated 30 Flood of 10 million trees could help offset impact of future PA plans to reverse Chesapeake’s ailing health during his 33 years deluges at the Bay Program Whether they’re coming or going, all 14 VA gets a year to comply with menhaden limits or 31 Chesapeake Born: Chesapeake islands have a tale to tell face moratorium • East Coast commission struggles to balance demands of conservationists, fishing industry 32 We can’t improve Bay’s water quality without addressing 15 MD tells 3 power plants to reduce toxic wastewater manure discharges • MDE opts to stick to strict rule that administration indicates it might roll back 16 Amid rising waters, Smith Island puts faith in jetties, God • $6.9 million project ‘not a cure-all,’ but a welcome sign to islanders that they haven’t been written off 19 FERC approves ‘Potomac pipeline’ that would carry www.bayjournal.com gas from PA to WV • Decision’s dissenters take issue with ignoring the impacts it would have on climate change 4 Bay Journal • September 2018 Turkey Hill Dairy leads way on Lancaster County, PA, farms By Jenna Mitchell providing their farmers with the best support Lancaster County, PA, is an aston- possible. This partner- ishing county. Of the 650,000 acres ship hit the ground that make up the county, 425,000 acres running in the winter are used agriculturally. The county is 2017–18, and started home to almost 6,000 farms, of which with strategizing how 99 percent are owned locally. to best inform and Lancaster is ranked No. 1 in the support Turkey Hill’s United States for productivity on non- farmers. Both Mary- irrigated soil and the value of market land Virginia field products sold annually is $1.5 billion. staff and the Penn- Farms in Lancaster County provide sylvania office of the pork, poultry, eggs and milk for mil- Alliance have met with lions of consumers. all of Turkey Hill’s 130 These great numbers do not come farmers to explain the without a cost, though. More than half new goal and discuss of Lancaster County’s 1,400 miles of options for assistance. streams are impaired. The goal is for all of Take a look at any pollutant-loading the farmers supported map and Lancaster is easy to find. by the NRCS grant Clearly outlined, without any politi- to have the required cal boundaries, the county shows up conservation plans in bright red for nitrogen, phosphorus and place by winter 2019. sediment. Lancaster County, alone, The Alliance is in the is responsible for 21 percent of the process of seeking nitrogen load in Pennsylvania’s Phase additional funding and III Watershed Implementation Plan. resources to support While it has been a state require- the farmers’ imple- ment for all farms to have an Agri- mentation of conserva- cultural Erosion and Sedimentation tion practices on these or Conservation plan since 1972, it is 130 farms. estimated that only about half of the The Alliance county’s 6,000 farms have a plan. believes that the most Increased pressure from the U.S. impactful results come Environmental Protection Agency and from diverse and Pennsylvania Department of Envi- collaborative partner- ronmental Protection has resulted in These Holstein heifers belong to an Amish dairy farm that supplies milk to the Maryland & Virginia Milk ships. We know that a greater focus on compliance efforts Producers Cooperative Association. As part of its contract with Turkey Hill Dairy, the cooperative must by working alongside from conservation districts in the ensure that its providers not only have conservation plans but implement the practices contained in plans. our partners, we can state. Lancaster County has the largest (Jenna Mackley / Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay) accomplish much more conservation district staff in the state. than we could alone. But at current capacity, it is estimated conservation plan, but would be imple- Providing farmers with the technical that it would take 30 years to support menting the practices written into the assistance and resources to establish every farmer in the county in obtain- plan. Once all farmers achieved this, and implement conservation plans sup- ing a conservation plan. Resources Turkey Hill would pay a premium for ports them in improving their farm’s for implementation continue to be a the higher quality product. The Mary- functionality while also improving the challenge, but new leadership rising in land & Virginia Milk Producers Coop- health of Lancaster County’s streams, the private sector could be the game erative Association, Inc., which has rivers and ecosystems. The Alliance is changer that is needed. Lancaster’s largest dairy distributor, members in Lancaster, PA, responded thrilled to be involved in this project, John Cox, the president of Turkey and that dairy has one of the largest positively to the idea, and was selected which is a holistic partnership between Hill Dairy, an ice cream distribu- footprints in Lancaster, it became clear as Turkey Hill’s dairy co-op. the public and private sector. tor founded and headquartered in that their focus needed to be on their Meanwhile, the Alliance for the Turkey Hill is leading by example Lancaster County, is stepping up. Cox farmers. Turkey Hill does not work Chesapeake Bay and Turkey Hill had and impacting a systems-level change has been passionate about Lancaster’s directly with its farmers, though, and partnered to receive a Conservation in how the dairy industry operates in waterways for quite some time, and receives its milk from a dairy coopera- Innovation Grant from the Natural Lancaster. Their leadership is going to serves as the chair of the Lancaster tive. A dairy cooperative or co-op, is Resource Conservation Service to catapult the county forward in achiev- Clean Water Partners, an organization a business comprised of a collective support the farmers who could not ing their conservation goals. When the that coordinates water quality restora- of farmers that market their milk afford the cost of a plan and subse- public and private sectors work together tion work along with many other together. quent implementation. Turkey Hill in partnership, our ability to scale partners in the county. Timing was on Cox’s side, because has prioritized helping and supporting up implementation is tremendously After attending an Alliance for the Turkey Hill’s reconsideration of its their farmers in achieving this goal enhanced. Leadership from within the Chesapeake Bay Businesses for the environmental footprint coincided together. private sector, like Turkey Hill’s, is the Bay Forum that urged companies to with the rebidding of its contract with This leadership led to the Turkey catalyst that Lancaster County, the State consider how they could change their dairy cooperatives. Hill Clean Water Partnership, which of Pennsylvania and the Chesapeake operations to improve water qual- During their contract negotiations, includes the Turkey Hill team working Bay have been waiting for. ity, Cox was inspired to think about Cox and his team added requirements alongside the Maryland & Virginia Jenna Mitchell is the Alliance for Turkey Hill’s direct impact. that all farmers providing milk to co-op and the Alliance for the the Chesapeake Bay’s Pennsylvania Knowing that Turkey Hill is Turkey Hill would not only have a Chesapeake Bay, and has as its goal state director. Bay Journal • September 2018 5 Chesapeake crab industry pinched by work visa shortage ≈ Processors’ inability to meet through September. Under pressure from demand could send buyers to affected industries, federal immigration officials released another 15,000 visas in Gulf of Mexico, other nations. the summer. By Jeremy Cox But only one additional Dorchester At Lindy’s Seafood, workers receive crab processor got its share of visas — $4.50 per pound of crab meat they pick. A.E. Phillips & Son. Four are still missing That adds up to roughly $12–$16 per their workers, leaving the industry with a hour — about the same pay as a home 35 percent labor shortfall, Seiling said. health aide or preschool teacher. Without enough workers picking Dorchester County may have one crabs, the industry faces a bottleneck in of the highest unemployment rates in a supply chain that stretches from crab Maryland, but Lindy’s and other crab pots on the Bay to plastic tubs of crab processors in the remote southern half meat sold to grocery stores and restau- of the county still struggle to find local rants. Buyers will simply get their crab takers for their jobs. If the repetitive meat from the Gulf of Mexico or other nature of the work doesn’t repel them, the countries if the Chesapeake region can’t seasonal schedule usually does, said sales supply it, Seiling said. manager Aubrey Vincent. If the problem isn’t fixed soon, Seiling “They can’t afford to move here for fears it could be the death knell for some seasonal work,” she said. Maryland seafood companies. So the iconic Chesapeake Bay industry “These are all small, family busi- depends almost exclusively on temporary nesses,” he said. “They don’t have huge foreign workers, mostly from Mexico. A worker with a temporary visa checks crab meat for cartilage. (Dave Harp) stores of money. Most of these companies Crab processors have grown accustomed can probably survive this year. But if to impromptu labor shortages caused by ship and Immigration Services awards workers in seafood, landscaping, con- this happens again next year, you would shifting economic and political winds, but applicants either the full number of struction and other seasonal fields. To be probably see a lot of companies going out nothing could have prepared them for this requested visas, or none. eligible, employers must prove there aren’t of business.” year’s gale, they say. That led to a shortage of about 40 enough domestic workers willing or able Jack Brooks, co-owner of J. M. Clay- In Dorchester, home to 90 percent of percent of the workforce, said Bill Seiling, to fill the positions. ton Company in Cambridge, was one of Maryland’s crab meat production, three executive director of the Chesapeake Bay This year, the federal government the lucky ones. The processor got its 95 crab-picking houses this year received Seafood Industries Association. received requests for more than 81,000 visas early in the season, which began in their full quota of temporary work visas, The temporary visas, known as H-2B visas nationwide, far surpassing the cap and the other five got none. U.S. Citizen- visas, are made available annually to of 33,000 for jobs extending from April Visas continues on page 6

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Greenvest provides solutions that establish sustainable environments while creating economically viable opportunities. This combination creates an environmental restoration company that works. Put Greenvest to work for you today. GreenVestUS.com | 410.987.5500 6 Bay Journal • September 2018 Visas from page 5 PA officials delay plan April. But Brooks wasn’t celebrating. “It’s a catastrophe,” said Brooks, to shut largest hatchery president of the American Seafood Jobs Alliance. in watershed for shad What made this year’s visa process ≈ Research station on Juniata so troublesome, crab processors say, was was 1 of 3 threatened with the Trump administration’s shift from closing amid budget dispute. a system that awarded visas based on a first-come, first-serve process to one By Karl Blankenship that placed all employers into a lottery, Pennsylvania fishery officials have regardless of when they applied. put on hold, at least for now, plans to “The company that did the worst job close the Chesapeake Bay region’s and filed on the last day got visas, and you largest remaining shad hatchery as didn’t,” Seiling said. “We thought that part of a budget-cutting move. was very unfair, but what can you do?” The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat In Dorchester, where Trump carried Commission at its July meeting nearly 56 percent of the vote in 2016, the deferred the decision it made last year policy has soured some supporters on the to cut $2 million from its budget for president, Brooks said. this year. “I don’t know if it’s helping him That cut would have closed three much,” he added. “Hell, this is something hatcheries, including its Van Dyke that could be fixed so damn easily.” Research Station along the Juniata An official with the U.S. Citizen- River, which has reared more than 281 ship and Immigration Services said the million American shad and released agency is committed to helping fix a them in the Susquehanna River over broken system. Jesse Diaz Soto weighs picked crab meat at Lindy’s Seafood processing facility on the last 42 years. “USCIS is focused on ensuring the Hooper’s Island, MD. (Dave Harp) The reversal came after leaders of integrity of the immigration system and the House and Senate Game and Fish- protecting the interests of U.S. workers,” Ironically, the seafood industry’s hadn’t hurt him much “because the prices eries Committee said they would seek spokesman Michael Bars said in a state- breaking point on the Chesapeake could have been good, and there hasn’t been an additional funding for the commission ment. “We are committed to reform- be triggered by a bountiful crab harvest. abundance of crabs in our area.” next year. ing employment-based immigration Through the end of July, processors “But,” Dize warned, “it’s picking Although the Fish and Boat Com- programs, so they benefit the American hadn’t been “overwhelmed” by picking up now.” mission is an independent state agency, people to the greatest extent possible.” crabs, said Vincent, whose picking house Brooks agreed: “I fear things are it cannot unilaterally approve a hike in But the road to reform will have to has been operating with 30 workers starting to tip. I’ve been turning down its primary source of revenue: general travel through Capitol Hill. instead of the usual 100. “But I’m wor- offers for crabs left and right the last six, fishing licenses. Those increases must Crab processors are pushing for a ried they’ll come in late because every- eight days.” be approved by the General Assembly, permanent increase in the cap on guest thing has been coming late this year.” One recent morning at Lindy’s, which has not done so since 2005. workers, but they admit that will be an An unusually long and cold winter hairnet-clad workers picked meat out of But legislative leaders were angered uphill battle with an administration and kept watermen from filling their boats crab shells on either side of a long line of last year when the commission pro- Republican-controlled Congress that for the first few months of the season. stainless-steel tables. Mexican pop music posed budget cuts that would close the have shown virtually no appetite for lib- The cold killed 16 percent of adult crabs played over a speaker as pickers filled tub three hatcheries, including two trout eralizing immigration policies. Instead, in Maryland and 8 percent in Virginia, after tub with succulent lump meat. hatcheries. Some introduced legislation they pin their hopes on alternatives, such according to last winter’s dredge survey. Vincent said she has 18 foreign to limit the term of the commission’s as carving out the seafood industry for its Overall, it estimated that the Bay workers because their visas from last executive director to eight years, which own pool of visas or renewing a measure contained 371 million crabs of all sizes, fall are still valid. But she’s without would have put current director John that expired last year that exempted down from 455 million last year. more than two-thirds of her needed Arway out of a job. returning workers from the cap. Catches are likely to pick up as labor force. So she has been doling out Prior to the commission’s July Supporters say such measures would younger crabs grow large enough to be overtime and hoping that she can keep meeting, though, the chairs of the create jobs for U.S. workers, pointing to harvested, fishery managers say. pace with the catch. House and Senate committees issued a a 2008 Maryland Sea Grant analysis sug- Larger crabs caught in the fresher Meantime, Vincent is looking to the statement pledging they would pursue gesting that each arrival of a temporary water north of the Chesapeake Bay future. She has applied for her share of a fee increase early next year. worker generates 2.5 jobs for Americans. Bridge are sold whole in Baltimore, New the 33,000 visas set to become available In the meantime, the commission For example, a cut in a crab processor’s York and other large cities. Crab proces- in October and installed pasteurization said it would help plug its budget workforce would reduce the workload sors typically buy smaller crustaceans, equipment so any excess crab meat that shortfall by raising the price on a among companies that support the which are found in the saltier waters arrives in the summer can be processed variety of fees and permits over which industry, such as commercial refrigera- south of the bridge. in the fall. That extends the shelf life from it has direct control, which would raise tion firms, the analysis said. So crabbers based on Tangier Island four months to 6–18 months, she said. about $1.2 million. In June, Rep. Bob Goodlatte, a in Virginia’s waters have been watching The larger immigration debate has Because the commission operates Virginia Republican, sponsored a bill the visa controversy closely. At least 75 muddied the waters surrounding the need on a July-through-June fiscal year, the that would, among other things, create percent of the fleet’s crabs are purchased for temporary visas, she said. She has delay ensures that the Van Dyke facility a returning worker exemption, but the by a boat from Lindy’s Seafood, said Dan heard people criticize crab processors would be funded through next spring’s party’s right wing quashed it. Dize, a Tangier waterman. Since that for hiring foreign workers instead of spawning season, though its fate for The situation is less dire in Good- company didn’t get its foreign workers, Americans. To them, she has a message: future years could change based on latte’s home state. The labor force was 90 he finds himself in the strange position of “Send them my way.” whether the General Assembly acts. percent staffed after two out of the three rooting against full crab baskets. “If we don’t solve the problem in the Meanwhile, Arway, announced that processors received all of their guest “A Bay full of crabs is not what we’re future,” Vincent added, “people will stop he would retire in November, after workers, said Johnny Graham, owner of after” because such a supply glut would buying Maryland product because they serving 38 years with the commis- the Graham & Rollins seafood plant in depress prices, Dize said. As of the end can’t depend on the consistency and the sion, including eight as its executive Hampton, which got its visas. of July, he added, the worker shortage availability.” director. Bay Journal • September 2018 7 Shad runs approach record highs in some rivers, lows in others ≈ Rappahannock, Potomac runs strongest in Tens of shad were stocked throughout the Bay watershed. This years, while James, York and Susquehanna millions was the first year in more than two decades that none of dol- were placed in the James River. numbers are way down. Stocking in the Susquehanna was hurt by high flows, By Karl Blankenship lars have been Tryninewski said. Biologists had hoped to stock more This year’s shad run was a study in contrasts for spent on than 3 million this year, but frequent high water levels, Chesapeake Bay tributaries, as some saw the strongest shad res- which can be lethal to the larval fish, forced them to keep spawning migrations in recent decades while others hit toration. the fish in the hatchery longer than planned, where some or approached record lows. (Dave died. As a result, just 2.74 million were stocked. Scientists at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science Harp) “It’s a roll of the dice,” he said. “We were holding were surprised by the unusual disparity in the three them while waiting for river conditions to improve. But rivers they monitor, with the Rappahannock producing since a multimillion-dollar fish lift went into operation in I’d rather hold onto them than just put them out if the the strongest shad run since its monitoring began in 1997, and well below the peak of 193,574 in 2001. river is up and hope for the best.” 1998, while the runs at the James and York were among Josh Tryninewski, a fisheries biologist who oversees On the Nanticoke River, biologists released 360,000 their worst. shad restoration for the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat shad this year, well below the record 1.4 million a year “It is not uncommon to have some good high years, Commission, said cool spring temperatures delayed the ago. “This was one of the lowest stockings, ever,” said but usually that’s seen among all three rivers at once,” migration and, by the time shad started working their way Johnny Moore, a fisheries biologist with the Delaware said Patrick McGrath, a VIMS marine scientist who upstream, river flows had increased, which often hurts the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental works on the annual shad index. “This is really a first spawning run and fish passage performance. Control. “It was very disappointing, to say the least.” where one river is doing so drastically well compared Shad spend most of their lives in the ocean, but Although plenty of shad seemed to be in the river, with the others.” return to their native rivers to spawn. Historically, tens Moore said the survival rate of the eggs was poor, and was “That’s the perplexing part,” he added. “Why would of millions thronged East Coast rivers, supporting likely the result of rapidly fluctuating water temperatures. one river do so well?” fisheries hundreds of miles upstream. But overfishing, In Maryland, stocking efforts were close to their The disparity wasn’t limited to Virginia. The Potomac the construction of dams that blocked access to historic targets. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources River, which neighbors the Rappahannock, also contin- spawning grounds, pollution and other factors have placed 260,000 larvae and 75,000 larger juvenile shad in ued its strong recovery. It’s home to one of the strongest reduced their numbers in recent decades to all-time lows. the Patapsco River, hitting their marks. remaining East Coast shad runs in recent decades, when To counter that trend, utilities and states in the Bay On the Choptank, biologists stocked 1.55 million most other rivers have been mired near record lows. region have poured tens of millions of dollars into efforts larvae — below their goal of 2.75 million — and 460,000 Monitoring by the Potomac River Fisheries Commission to improve fish passage past dams and bolster popula- early juveniles, which was higher than average. showed that the river’s shad run continued to increase tions with hatchery-reared fish. “We didn’t get as many larvae stocked as what we try this year. This year, though, shad stocking hit its lowest level to every year,” said Chuck Stence of the DNR’s anadro- In the Susquehanna River, which has had a series of in recent history, with fewer than 9 million released in mous fish program. “But we are toying with the idea of poor years, only 6,992 shad passed over the Conowingo various Bay tributaries, primarily because of budget cuts. allocating more juvenile fish than larvae. Survival is so Dam near the mouth of the river, the worst performance As recently as 2000, about 36 million hatchery-reared much better with juveniles.”

Celebrating Nature, Art and Heritage

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Marshlands National Wildlife Birding at The refuge, located in Maryland on Refuge Complex, a branch of the East- the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake the service that oversees the ern Neck Bay, was left without a full-time region’s refuges, will have National manager in September 2017 when that to reallocate funds it had Wildlife official took a job elsewhere in the Fish reserved for other causes, said Refuge is and Wildlife Service. Lacking funds Terri Edwards, a Fish and especially to hire a replacement, agency officials Wildlife spokeswoman. So far, rewarding began warning Eastern Neck supporters no time frame has been set for during this summer that public access to the making the new hire. migration refuge was in jeopardy. In July, Marcia Pradines, season. Although the agency hasn’t received the Chesapeake Marshlands’ (Dave any additional money, it announced in project leader, told the Bay Harp) August that Eastern Neck will remain Journal there was a possibility open to the public. That decision came of a full shutdown at Eastern Neck and a beloved refuge open. They lined up a seven positions. about three weeks after the Bay Journal gate turning back visitors at the entrance. growing list of allies in the fight, includ- “It’s a nationwide system problem. reported on the potential closure and the “It’s not something we want to happen,” ing the Kent County commissioners, the What’s happening in Eastern Neck is hap- growing outcry from user groups and she said at the time. “In the end, it’s a Patuxent Bird Club and the Friends of pening all across the United States,” said elected officials. budget reality.” Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. Desiree Sorenson-Groves, vice president The refuge consists of a 2,285-acre The staffing decisions wouldn’t have The movement attracted the help of of government affairs with the National island at the confluence of the Chester affected access to the county road that Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, Wildlife Refuge Association. “You can River and Chesapeake Bay. According traverses the island, Pradines said. It among others. In December, he wrote a limp along for a few years, tightening your to the Fish and Wildlife Service, about would have remained open to Bogles letter to Fish and Wildlife’s parent agency, belt and no travel and, whenever some- 70,000 people visit each year to catch Wharf, home to a county-maintained the Interior Department, calling for the body retires, you don’t fill the position. But glimpses of tundra swans and more than boat ramp and small pier. position to be filled in light of Eastern at a point, you can’t do any more.” 200 other bird species; hunt deer and By early August, Fish and Wildlife Neck’s importance to Kent’s economy. Over the last 15 years, national turkeys; and hike among the island’s pine officials softened the potential blow. The Van Hollen applauded the move to refuges across the country have been trees and saltwater marsh. entrance gate would remain open, allow- keep the refuge open. But like Baile, he forced to shut down visitor centers or cut “We’re very excited [about the deci- ing hunting, fishing, birdwatching and counseled vigilance. back on the number of days they’re open. sion],” said Melissa Baile, president of “other wildlife-dependent uses,” regard- “Filling this position will help the The popular J. N. Ding Darling National the Friends of Eastern Neck, a support less of staffing decisions, they said in a Refuge better serve visitors, the local Wildlife Refuge in Florida, for example, group for the refuge. “I think they did not message posted to the refuge’s website. community and area wildlife. I will was forced to close its visitor center two realize how much the refuge meant to the The fate of the visitor center, along continue working to ensure our state has days a week after it lost two park rangers constituency and the country in general.” with the five walking trails, two the federal resources necessary to sup- to budget cuts. boardwalks and maintenance activities, port our economy and our environment,” In Rhode Island, the Sachuest Point remained in limbo. Van Hollen said. National Wildlife Refuge visitor center As the agency pondered its next Eastern Neck’s supporters also looked was closed for three consecutive winters. Eastern Neck NWR step, employees from the Marshlands to Rep. Andy Harris, who represents the Supporters raised money to install solar ≈ Established: 1962 complex’s headquarters in Dorchester Eastern Shore. He is a member of the panels, cutting costs enough to allow it to ≈ Where: An island at the County shared the refuge’s administra- powerful House Appropriations Commit- open for the winter of 2008–09. mouth of the Chester River, 15 tive work — and the four-hour roundtrip tee and belongs to the controlling party. The Trump administration requested minutes south of Rock Hall, MD, drive that accompanies it. Harris said in a statement that earmark- $473 million in funding for the refuge on Eastern Neck Road. The all-volunteer Friends of Eastern ing funding specifically for Eastern system in fiscal 2019, a 2.7 percent ≈ Size: 2,285 acres Neck has stepped in to complete other Neck would violate congressional rules, decrease from current spending. An ≈ Activities: Hiking, birding, chores. In addition to their longtime but that he was actively seeking other Interior Department appropriations bill wildlife viewing, hunting deer responsibility of managing the visitor solutions. approved by the Republican-controlled and turkey, paddling, fishing, center, members are helping to conduct Eastern Neck is not alone in its budget House along party lines in July sets crabbing special events and performing countless challenge. aside nearly $489 million, an increase ≈ Notable wildlife: Tundra swans hours of repairs and upkeep across the Accounting for inflation and fixed of less than 1 percent. The Senate between November and March, island. costs, the nation’s network of more passed its own version, sending the bald eagles, Delmarva fox squirrels, At times, the island is devoid of than 560 refuges receives nearly $100 legislation to a conference committee Canada geese, diamondback ter- paid or volunteer staff, save for a lone million less funding today than in 2010, to hash out the differences. rapins, white-tailed deer, beavers. To volunteer clerk manning the front desk, according to the Cooperative Alliance “You have to understand that you view a list of recent bird sightings, visit said Phil Cicconi, vice president of the for Refuge Enhancement, a coalition can berate the administration as much ebird.org/places/usfws and search Friends group. of wildlife, sporting and conservation as you want, but ultimately it comes for Eastern Neck National Wildlife The Friends group, Baile said, wrote groups. The funding crunch has led the down to the legislative branch — Con- Refuge. letters and emails to elected officials Fish and Wildlife Service to leave 488 gress — to appropriate the money,” and Fish and Wildlife staff to keep their refuge jobs unfilled, a loss of one out of Sorenson-Groves said. Bay Journal • September 2018 9 Groups fighting for coal ash regulation balk at new rules ≈ Environmentalists concerned not reach an aquifer. that relaxed standards for storage In Maryland, companies were already prohibited from pits will allow contents to leak storing coal ash in the watery into groundwater, waterways. pits that were the focal point By Whitney Pipkin of the 2015 regulations. But Power companies could soon have at least 31 landfills and mine more flexibility in how they handle fills containing ash still exist the ash that remains from a legacy in the state, many of them in of burning coal for power, but not if Allegany County, according environmental groups have any say in to records maintained by the matter. Several facilities located the environmental group, near Chesapeake Bay rivers are in the EarthJustice. The organiza- process of closing pits where coal ash tion considers many of Mary- and water have comingled for decades land’s regulations regarding amid changing regulations at the groundwater monitoring to federal and state level. be “purely discretionary” and The U.S. Environmental Protection in need of reform. Agency in July finalized its first batch The Trump administra- of significant changes to standards tion drafted changes to the imposed in 2015 by the Obama admin- coal ash rules in the spring istration that required companies to under former EPA adminis- begin closing certain inactive coal ash An ash pit at Dominion Energy’s Possum Point Power Plant near the Potomac River in Virginia was trator Scott Pruitt. Although storage facilities. The rollback of those among the first in the state drained and excavated under the new coal ash regulations. The state has some groups hoped the rules will take effect at the end of put a moratorium on new permits for draining and closing certain types of ash pits until legislators agency’s new leader, August, though they are likely to face and the utility can agree on best practices for closure. (Whitney Pipkin) Andrew Wheeler, might legal challenges. change course on coal ash, This summer’s revisions incorpo- both at public meetings about envi- where the removal process is under the final changes take a similar tack, rate “alternative performance stan- ronmental permits and in the General way or completed, however, may finish emphasizing the need to incorporate dards” that the EPA or a state could Assembly. Legislators passed a bill this the closure process. “flexibility” into the regulations. use to approve a coal ash permit, such year that requires companies with coal Dominion officials say they sup- “This is the first major rule as those required to release ash-tainted ash pits in the Chesapeake watershed port the measure and will work with signed during Andrew Wheeler’s water into nearby waterways. to take another step toward recycling legislators to further investigate the time running the EPA, and his true The agency also raised allowable their contents rather than allowing the possibility of recycling long-stored colors are shining through. Wheeler levels of contaminants in groundwater. ash to be permanently stored in place. coal ash from the sites. The com- is ignoring the serious health threats Boron, an element that is considered a Though the bill stops short of pany’s own report at the end of 2017 to hundreds of communities at risk leading indicator of the presence of other requiring recycling, it does force concluded that recycling would be too from contaminated drinking water,” contaminants, was removed from the list. companies such as Dominion Energy, expensive at most of the sites in the Earthjustice attorney Lisa Evans “With this rule, EPA continues its which maintains nearly a dozen coal Bay watershed. It favored an option, said in a statement that represented pattern of rolling back environmental ash pits in the state, to seek propos- opposed by environmentalists, to store six organizations vowing to fight the protections,” said Lisa Feldt, the als from recycling contractors who millions of tons of coal ash in mostly changes. Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s vice integrate the ash into concrete and unlined pits, many of them located Many of those groups spent more president for environmental protection construction materials. The companies next to the Potomac and James rivers. than a decade lobbying for the 2015 and restoration, in a statement. “There must compile the proposed costs in a There has also been much debate in coal ash rule and the incremental are many documented cases where report for lawmakers to consider by Virginia about how much groundwater improvements they believe will help groundwater has been contaminated by the end of the year. monitoring should be required — and protect waterways and drinking water coal ash storage facilities, damaging The measure also extended until for how long — if coal ash is stored from potential contamination. waterways and potentially, drinking July 1, 2019, a prohibition on new state underground at sites near local rivers. Groups opposing the administra- water.” permits that would allow facilities to The new federal rule would suspend tion’s new rule have until the end of Coal ash storage has been the close coal ash pits by permanently groundwater monitoring altogether if October to file legal challenges. The subject of heated debate in Virginia, storing their contents in place. Pits evidence shows contamination would changes took effect on Aug. 29. 10 Bay Journal • September 2018 Virginia’s Piankatank River gets 15 new acres of oyster reef ≈ Future for other restoration groups, the Chesapeake Bay projects in VA, MD unclear as Foundation and Elizabeth River Project, are to seed 5 funding dries up. acres of newly built reef with By Timothy B. Wheeler hatchery-bred spat on shell Oysters are getting another new home planning later this summer. in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, as the That is expected to complete construction on 15 acres of artificial reef the 80-acre goal for that made of crushed granite began in July in waterway. Virginia’s Piankatank River. Reef construction is Under mostly sunny skies, the already complete in Mary- Capt. Ellery, a boat owned by the land’s Harris Creek — the W. E. Kellum seafood company in largest restoration effort in Weems, cruised slowly back and forth the Bay, with 350 acres of at a designated spot in the river while reef constructed — and in the water cannons in its stern sprayed Little Choptank River, where heaping mound of golf ball-size stones the state Department of Natu- overboard. They will provide a fresh ral Resources scaled back the substrate, or hard surface, on the river restoration plan and limited bottom where newly hatched oyster the need for more reefs. spat can settle and grow. But work in the Tred The 24-mile long Piankatank, Avon River, which had been tucked between the Rappahannock and federally funded, has ground York rivers, is one of five Bay tributar- to a halt, because there has ies in Virginia that the state, federal been no new funding for Bay agencies and others have targeted Water cannons aboard the Capt. Ellery, a boat owned by the W. E. Kellum seafood company, oyster restoration approved for large-scale efforts to restore the spray crushed granite into the Piankatank River. The golf ball-size stones were being placed in the Corps’ budget for Chesapeake’s once-bountiful oyster in a 6– to 8-inch layer over 15 acres of river bottom to provide artificial substrate on which three years. The Army Corps population. Five of Maryland’s oyster spat may settle and grow. (Timothy B. Wheeler) leadership also declined tributaries also have been selected for pleas to allocate some of its similar efforts, but federal funding for to disease, overharvesting and natural reefs as part of restoration efforts in discretionary funding to the effort. reef construction there has dried up. degradation. Today, it has about 250 Maryland’s Harris Creek and the Tred That could affect the completion of Oyster restoration continues in acres, including 50 acres restored since Avon River. The state’s watermen oyster restoration planned for at least one Virginia, though, with money from 2014 by the Corps and the conser- have asserted that oyster shells are the of the other two Maryland tributaries a variety of sources. The Virginia vancy, and other reefs restored even only suitable substrate for Bay reefs, recently selected by the state — Breton Marine Resources Commission, which earlier by the state. With the amount but a review by the National Oceanic Bay, which DNR officials had hoped this year received state funding for res- of viable oyster bottom left much and Atmospheric Administration would be handled by the Baltimore toration for the first time, has teamed reduced, the goal is to add another 175 Chesapeake Bay Office concluded that, District of the Corps. up with The Nature Conservancy to acres of reef, Lacatell said. in most cases, granite does as well as With federal oyster restoration build these 15 acres. But the Army Corps has run out of oyster shells — and often better — in funding in doubt, the outlook for The new reefs, to be built in four sites, funds to continue reef construction in the getting spat to settle and grow. completing work in Virginia’s other are upriver of a 25-acre reef constructed Piankatank, so for now, at least, the effort “What I’ve seen of those reefs is targeted tributaries — the Piankatank, last year by the U.S. Army Corps of will have to be carried on by others. stunning,” said NOAA’s Stephanie Lynnhaven, lower York and Great Engineers, Norfolk District. That reef “We have 175 acres to go,” Lacatell Westby of the granite reefs built earlier Wicomico rivers — is similarly cloudy was built with large granite boulders, noted. “We want to be as cost-effective in the Piankatank. “The stone mate- at the moment. shipped in by barge and offloaded by a as we can.” rial...really works.” But in one bright spot, at least some crane, at a cost of $2 million. If left alone, oysters would build The Piankatank, like several of federally funded reef work is on tap The latest construction with much their own reefs, as newly hatched spat Virginia’s Bay tributaries, generally for the Lynnhaven in Virginia Beach, smaller stone is estimated to cost a settle and grow on the shells of their experiences decent natural oyster though for a slightly different purpose. fraction of last year’s project — about predecessors. Centuries of harvesting reproduction, so restored reefs can usu- The Army Corps headquarters $200,000, with the state and conser- shellfish and disease mortality, though, ally count on getting spat to settle on recently allocated $10 million under vancy splitting the tab. have undercut that natural regeneration. them from spawning oysters elsewhere its fiscal 2018 work plan to carry out “It’s a lot less expensive than some The seafood industry and the state in the river. a broader ecological restoration plan projects we’ve done,” said Andy do what they can to replenish the The reefs begun in July are getting for the Lynnhaven, which includes the Lacatell, conservation specialist with supply of substrate by using the shells a kick-start, though, with about 300 restoration of wetlands and submerged The Nature Conservancy. of at least some oysters harvested bushels of spat set in tanks on oyster vegetation, as well as reef habitat. That These reefs are being built farther for consumption and by dredging up shells, part of an effort run by Virginia represents a down payment on a project upriver in a less “dynamic” area, Lacatell buried shell from ancient reefs. But to Commonwealth University to recycle expected to cost $38 million — but it explained, where currents are not as date, there hasn’t been enough shell shells for return to the Bay. The first should be enough to build 8 acres of strong, so there’s no need for such heavy- from those sources to replenish all installment — about a dozen bushels reefs, along with 9 acres of wetlands and duty oyster habitat. Plans are to deposit a of the reefs being actively harvested, of spat-seeded shells — got dumped 7 acres of underwater grass meadow. 6– to 8-inch layer over the bottom. The much less supply material to build new overboard Tuesday from a boat carrying “Ecosystem restoration isn’t 100 tons deposited that day in July are just reefs that would restore lost habitat. state and federal officials, representatives necessarily the top priority for fund- the first installment of what is to be a total So, for several years now, Virginia of the conservancy and VCU, as well as ing right now,” said Susan L. Conner, of 3,750 tons of granite. has been using granite and even crushed a bevy of reporters and photographers. chief of the Norfolk District’s planning Once home to about 7,000 acres of concrete to build reefs, mainly in sanctu- Oyster restoration work is near- and policy branch. “To get new-start oyster reefs in the 1890s, the Pianka- ary areas where no harvest is permitted, ing completion in another Virginia construction funding is a big deal.” tank — like the rest of the Bay — lost as is the case in the Piankatank. tributary, the Lafayette River in Work should begin there “within the all but a fraction of its shellfish habitat Granite has also been used to build Norfolk, where two conservation next year or two,” she said. Bay Journal • September 2018 11 Invasive snakeheads found in Susquehanna tributary ≈ Octoraro fish quickly drew been mostly limited to the Schuylkill and anglers but raise concerns for Delaware rivers and small ponds and lakes near Philadelphia. The fish living eels and Chesapeake logperch. there, and in random ponds and lakes in By Donna Morelli the state, have been introduced by people, Pennsylvania angler Mark Mabry knew Kaufmann said. he had something big on his line while The Octoraro snakeheads appear to fishing the Lancaster County section of have traveled north on their own and were Octoraro Creek this summer. caught below the Octoraro Reservoir. The He didn’t expect to reel in a 25-inch threatened Chesapeake logperch and the northern snakehead — a notorious American eel, which biologists are trying invasive species with a big appetite and the protect and propagate, have been found ability to shuffle short distances on land. near the reservoir’s dam. “I was a little shocked,” he said. “We are concerned, besides the usual “They’re fun to catch, but it’s not what I concerns about all invasive species, that want to see.” this is the general location where eels are Mabry’s catch was the first snakehead trapped and transferred,” Kaufmann said. confirmed in the Pennsylvania portion “They gather there.” of the Octoraro Creek, a tributary of the So far, the presence of snakeheads in Susquehanna River. According to Michael A snakehead, center, can breathe out of water as long as it stays wet, and use its other Bay tributaries has not wreaked Kauffmann, the Southeastern Area Fisher- fins to travel short distances on land. (Dave Harp) environmental havoc. ies Manager for the Pennsylvania Fish and Snakeheads now swim in many Boat Commission, it was soon followed by caused a great deal of concern in the snakeheads might have on American eels Maryland rivers that drain into the Bay, others. Chesapeake Bay region in 2002, when and Chesapeake logperch. including on the Eastern Shore. They “One of the first anglers that contacted they first appeared in a suburban Maryland Snakeheads are toothy, slimy and were noted in the lower Potomac River me said, ‘I caught one, but a friend of mine pond. Scientists and anglers worried about huge, weighing up to 20 pounds. They can by 2004 and have since become well- caught two the other day,’ ” Kaufmann the potentially widespread impact of their also breathe out of water as long as they established in most, if not all, of that said. “And then we got a message that voracious appetite on the ecosystem as stay wet, and use their fins to travel short river’s tributaries in Virginia, Maryland there were five of them lying on the bank. they competed with native fish for food. distances on land. They mostly eat fish, and the District of Columbia. One was We kept getting calls or emails indicating Fifteen years later, with snakeheads frogs, small minnows, crawfish and eels, found in Opequon Creek, a West Virginia they caught single fish but friends caught living in many of the Bay’s creeks and but have also been known to bring down tributary to the Potomac, in April. multiple fish. This went on for about three rivers, such fears have generally been put ducks and small mammals. In 2012, snakeheads moved into the weeks before it started dying down.” to rest, at least for now. But there is concern Until this summer, known Pennsyl- Snakeheads, a fish native to Asia, about the localized effect the Octoraro vania populations of snakeheads have Snakehead continues on page 13

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www.ecotoneinc.com 410.420.2600 12 Bay Journal • September 2018 Batiuk, the boy, knew Bay was his destiny; as a man he helped change its fate ≈ Retired scientist orchestrated “When I left in the evening, at 5:30 or plans to reverse Chesapeake’s 6 o’clock, Rich’s car was always there. I started to think he just parked his car ailing health during his 33 years there and rode his bicycle back and forth at the Bay Program. to work.” By Karl Blankenship Batiuk’s path to the Bay Program When he was a teenager packing for a started at American University in family vacation in the Maine woods, Rich Washington, DC, while he was pursu- Batiuk brought along some light reading. ing a master’s degree in environmental Among the stack were William Many toxicology. While there, he attended Warner’s epic blue crab story, Beautiful wonder how a lecture about the Bay and met Kent Swimmers; Rachel Carson’s wake-up call the cleanup Mountford, a biologist working with the about pesticides, Silent Spring; and James effort will EPA’s newly created Chesapeake Bay Michener’s classic, Chesapeake — nearly fare with- Office. Mountford encouraged him to 2,000 pages of reading in all, mostly out Rich apply for an internship there. Batiuk won describing a waterbody hundreds of miles Batiuk’s the Annapolis-based position in spring from his home in Massachusetts. Nonethe- ability to 1985 and never left, working his way up less, during rainy days, he would perch in organize and from intern to EPA staffer to the office’s the cabin’s loft, flipping pages. explain the associate director for science, a position Batiuk, who was born in Abington, science, and he held since 1996. PA, and grew up in New York, Colorado, find solu- Early in his career, he began working Alabama and finally Massachusetts, tions that with other scientists to identify habitat settled on his career goal early in high all parties requirements for living resources in the school. can buy into. Bay — the water quality conditions that “It bugged the heck out of my sisters,” “Nobody is various fish, shellfish and aquatic grasses he recalled. “They said, ‘You already irreplace- need to survive. know what you want to do.’ I wanted able except Over the years, Batiuk continued to to come down and work on the Chesa- for Rich,” press scientists for more precise defini- peake.” said Roy tions of those conditions. That eventually By the time he retired at the end of Hoagland, produced a remarkably detailed plan that July, Batiuk had helped transform a vague former divided the Bay into 92 segments and, notion that the Chesapeake needed to Chesapeake for each, set out the different oxygen be cleaned up into a scientifically based Bay Founda- needs for species living near both the understanding of what a “clean Bay” tion vice surface and the bottom; the amount of would look like — and he helped orches- president. light needed to sustain underwater plants; trate a pollution control plan to make that (Dave Harp) and the amount of algae (chlorophyll a) vision a reality. needed to both provide food for fish, crabs Still, as Batiuk wrapped up his 33-year His work ethic was phenomenal,” said waters,” he said. “I liked the edge of the and oysters yet curtail harmful blooms. career with the Environmental Protec- Bill Dennison, vice president for science tide where you could see the bottom.” Once adopted by states, those stan- tion Agency’s Chesapeake Bay Program applications with the University of Mary- That he would have laid out his life’s dards became the basis for limiting the Office, he acknowledged that the Bay’s land Center for Environmental Science. work while still a teenager wouldn’t amount of nutrient pollution that could restoration is far from complete. But, he “But more importantly, he pushed all of seem unlikely to those who know him. reach the Bay. It was a plan unlike one for added, the legally tested framework he us, and we kept working harder. It was A workaholic and meticulous organizer, any other coastal water body, and many helped to develop has put the region on a sort of a motivator.” Batiuk was known for making detailed, didn’t like it at first. EPA headquarters, trajectory few other major water bodies Batiuk racked up tens of thousands of long-range plans — often stretching years Batiuk said, “thought we were crazy.” can boast: measurable progress toward a miles driving across the Bay watershed into the future. Environmentalists were initially cleaner future. to meet with state and federal officials, Ann Swanson, executive director of opposed, too. Traditional water qual- “The Gulf of Mexico is heading in the as well as environmental and industry the Chesapeake Bay Commission, an ity standards were typically based on wrong direction, and Lake Erie is repeat- groups, to explain the research behind the advisory panel of state legislators, recalled concentrations of pollutants in the water. ing itself back into the 1970s,” Batiuk cleanup and to persuade them to buy into a trip to France where she and Batiuk Batiuk argued that wasn’t realistic said. “Our dead zone is shrinking, our the often-daunting goals that resulted. were making presentations at a confer- because concentrations of the pollutants underwater grasses are coming back, our “This program was built from the ence. She thought they’d chat during a in this case — the nutrients nitrogen and rivers are running cleaner.” ground up with the states at the table, two-hour train ride. phosphorus — naturally fluctuate widely. Batiuk spent his entire career in the and keeping that program together Instead, she recalled, “Rich has two Unlike pollutants such as toxic chemicals, EPA’s Bay office. Most of that time he takes exactly what Rich did,” said Jeff notebooks out, and his calendar out, and it wasn’t their concentration in the water headed its science programs, where he Corbin, who often worked with Batiuk then another calendar out. One of his cal- at a given time that was important, but coordinated work among the region’s sci- while holding various positions with the endars was a to-do calendar. He was not rather the total amount that entered the entists to support management decisions Chesapeake Bay Foundation, state of just writing a to-do list, but cataloging it system over a period of time. Under made by the multitude of Bay partners. Virginia and the EPA. “And it is not easy. by days when he would look up informa- the Bay system, these standards would In coffee– and donut-fueled meetings Not all the information that EPA ends up tion and get answers back to people. At become the tool to limit the annual loads — federal agencies are prohibited from delivering is a present inside of a box. … the same time, he is systematically taking of water-fouling nutrients and, in turn, buying food, so he bought it himself — he Rich was able to carry that message, not care of emails,” she said. “I never saw support aquatic life. would press scientists to focus their work just the public message, but the scientific anything like it.” After months of meetings, Batiuk’s and reach consensus on issues such as message, better than anybody.” He was known for putting in long concept won. how much light underwater grasses need Batiuk’s interest in the Bay stemmed days. Nick DiPasquale, former director of “Rich is a skillful advocate, but an to grow, how much oxygen fish need from reading related articles in National the Bay Program Office, usually showed honest advocate,” said Roy Hoagland, to survive and how much fertilizer and Geographic and a general fascination up for work at 7:30 a.m. “Rich was who was serving as vice president with manure crops actually need. with shallow waters. “I always wanted to invariably already there and probably had “Rich pushed himself really hard. be Jacques Cousteau, but in the shallow been there for about an hour,” he recalled. Batiuk continues on page 13 Bay Journal • September 2018 13

Batiuk from page 12 Snakehead from page 11 the Chesapeake Bay Foundation at the Rappahannock River and reached the time and initially opposed the idea. “You James River this year, said John Odenkirk, don’t get false information from him, and fisheries biologist with the Virginia you get his rationale and you get his big Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. picture. And then he also listens.” Odenkirk said that snakeheads in Wastewater treatment plant operators the Potomac tributaries have reached an came on board, too. Batiuk’s approach equilibrium with their surroundings and allowed more flexibility in their operations. their growth has plateaued. His surveys “You can’t build a regulatory program of snakeheads and bass showed that, on on a standard that people can never meet,” average, 10 snakeheads were caught every said Chris Pomeroy, who represented hour and largemouth bass were counted at wastewater utilities in Virginia and Mary- 25 fish per hour. Both fish occupy similar land. “Rich brought an honest scientific niches and seem to be coexisting for now. approach to the problem and he was Like the nonnative blue and flathead always careful to listen and to understand catfishes, snakeheads have become what people’s questions and concerns popular sportfish — and fishery managers were. He deserves a lot of credit for holding in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia the partnership together and making as encourage the catch to help keep its much progress as has been made.” population in check. There are no limits Indeed, Corbin said, if the region had as to when or how to catch them, nor how adopted standards based on nitrogen and many an angler can take. Anglers work phosphorus concentrations rather than from shore and by kayak. They are caught total loads, “we would still be fighting Rich Batiuk was known for putting in long hours at his office. “His work ethic even by bowfishing, in which a rig that over those numbers after 20 years.” was phenomenal,” said Bill Dennison, vice president for science applications with the combines a casting line with the structure “Extrapolating back into how much University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. “But more importantly, he of a bow and arrow is used. oxygen fish need or how much grass a pushed all of us, and we kept working harder. It was sort of a motivator.” (Dave Harp) “Anglers love them, especially the bow crab needs, it makes perfect sense now. hunters,” Odenkirk said. “Snakeheads But that path was not laid out for Rich or home. “I was sitting there editing line by behind the Conowingo Dam. The assess- like shallow water so they are vulnerable anyone to grab and implement. They had line, parts of the TMDL.” Then, barely ment showed that the restoration effort to being attacked from above.” to develop that.” able to talk, he would get on the phone has made progress, but it’s not on track Some anglers get paid for their After those standards were in place, with colleagues in Philadelphia to give to deliver the clean Bay he spent years catch. Maryland and Virginia allow the Batiuk turned his attention to crafting a them his edits. working to define. commercial sale of snakehead, which has cleanup plan. Less than two weeks after it was Still, Batiuk points to hopeful signs. become a specialty dish in some Wash- Working with others in state and adopted, the plan was challenged in court He wrote his master’s thesis about under- ington, DC, and Baltimore restaurants. federal agencies, they created the by agricultural groups, homebuilders and water grasses, and the Chesapeake today According to the Maryland Department Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily others who feared it could lead to similar has three times as much of that critical of Natural Resources, a cumulative Load — often referred to as the Bay’s TMDLs elsewhere. But the years of habitat than it did then. “I never thought total of 17,151 pounds of snakeheads “pollution diet” — which identifies stakeholder outreach ultimately paid off. I’d see 100,000 acres of underwater were commercially harvested from the the maximum amount of nitrogen and All four judges who heard the case grasses,” he said. Potomac River between 2011 and 2017. phosphorus the Bay can receive and still at the district and appeals court level Many openly wonder how the cleanup Virginia passed a law this year allow- meet water quality goals. backed the TMDL, praising it as a model effort will fare without Batiuk’s ability to ing commercial harvest of the fish. The Bay TMDL is driving the cleanup of “cooperative federalism” between the organize and explain the science, as well Fishing for snakeheads has become so plans that are now under way. While EPA and states. In 2016, the U.S. Supreme as find solutions that all parties can buy popular that some anglers are calling for thousands of TMDLs are in place around Court declined to hear an appeal. into. “Nobody is irreplaceable except for catch-and-release to protect their num- the country, the Bay plan is dramatically “Looking back, it was actually healthy Rich,” Hoagland said. “I don’t know how bers. If anglers were to successfully lobby different. It not only defines maximum to go through the lawsuit and show that they will replace the talent and skill set he for the management of snakeheads as loads, but requires states to write detailed in fact, from a legal standpoint, from a has brought to the Bay Program.” sportfish, limits on the catch could further plans about how they will be achieved, technical standpoint, and from a scientific Batiuk still plans to be involved. But, strengthen their hold in the Bay region. establishes two-year check-ins to monitor standpoint, it was robust,” he said. “Yes, it at least for a while, he’ll use his hands That’s the last thing that Joseph Love, progress and includes “consequences” that dragged out a long time, but it closed that rather than his head. The avid hiker and a fisheries biologist with the Maryland the EPA can impose if progress is lacking. door. It was sort of like, ‘We’re all over angler plans to work as a volunteer with Department of Natural Resources, wants Forging the plan was a grueling, that. Let’s focus on implementation.’” Trout Unlimited and the Appalachian to see. multi-year process among states and Afterward, Batiuk continued to bring Mountain Club. “We’ve had sea lamprey in the Great stakeholders. Batiuk and Robert Koroncai science to bear on the implementation of He and a colleague, Holly Greening, lakes area for 40 or 50 years and they of the EPA’s Region III largely led the the TMDL. After a 2011 report by the former executive director of the Tampa didn’t become a problem until a certain effort and made extensive trips through- National Academy of Sciences raised Bay Estuary Program, are launching set of conditions happened, and now, out the region to explain the plan to often questions about the Bay Program’s ability a consulting service called CoastWise boom, they are a problem,” Love said. skeptical groups. to track whether reported cleanup actions Partners. Their stipulated fee: “We’ll work “We’ve had blue cats in the Potomac for a The crush to meet an end-of-2010 were actually in place and working, he led for (good) food!” while now, but it’s only recently where the deadline for finishing the TMDL, com- a multi-year effort to develop protocols for But after decades of long days, Batiuk population has surged to the point where pleting internal documentation, tweaking verification. Starting this year, cleanup also hopes to find more time for fishing people are worried about crab fisheries in state water quality standards and respond- actions will not be counted toward TMDL (he calls it “resource monitoring”) and the Bay.” ing to thousands of comments led Batiuk goals unless states use that process to traveling. He doesn’t plan to walk away Heavy rains, like those in the Bay and others to work nearly round-the-clock verify them. from the Chesapeake, though. “It’s been region this summer, help snakeheads that December. Batiuk became seriously Batiuk also oversaw the Bay Pro- in my life’s blood since I was a teenager,” move into new areas, Love said. They ill. His voice remained rough for months. gram’s “midpoint assessment” of the 2025 he said. As he wrapped up final days tend to travel on freshets — a flow of “I remember being in my pajamas on cleanup goals — an effort that incorpo- in the office, he still had a collection of freshwater from storms or melting snow. Christmas Eve in front of a fire, feeling rated new science into updated computer National Geographic magazines on his “I was surprised to see how fast they like crap,” Batiuk said, working away models and put a new focus on climate shelf with the Bay-related articles that have spread,” Love said. “Fifteen years on a card table in the family room of his change and the release of nutrients from helped lead him to the Chesapeake. isn’t a whole heck of a lot of time.” 14 Bay Journal • September 2018 VA gets a year to comply with menhaden limits or face moratorium ≈ East Coast commission not going to be an Atlantic States Marine struggles to balance demands of Fisheries Commission with the ability to make decisions about how fisheries are conservationists, fishing industry. managed up and down the East Coast.” By Karl Blankenship Winning support from the Commerce East Coast fishery managers have Department could be an issue. Chip decided to give Virginia until next year Lynch, an attorney with the National to adopt regulations that limit catches Marine Fisheries Service — which is part of menhaden in the Chesapeake Bay of the department — told board members rather than seek an immediate morato- that the law requires the federal review to rium on harvests. focus on the conservation of the fishery Conservation groups and the fishing and whether any noncompliance jeopar- industry have been engaged in a long- dizes the stock. running battle over how many menhaden He said the commission’s own data can be caught without ecological conse- raised questions about whether menhaden quences. are in jeopardy. The ASMFC’s latest Humans don’t eat menhaden, but the review found that menhaden are not small, oily fish are a critical food for a overfished, and the commission itself host of marine life from whales to striped agreed last fall to increase the coastwide bass. While the overall stock is consid- catch by 8 percent. ered healthy, conservationists have argued “This would be the first time ever,” that such evaluations do not account for Lynch said, “that the federal government its role as forage for fish, birds and marine would receive a noncompliance referral mammals. for a fishery that is not overfished, [and Last fall, forage fish advocates where] overfishing is not occurring.” persuaded the Atlantic States Marine Recreational fishermen and conserva- Fisheries Commission to slash the tion groups have long argued that the Bay maximum allowable harvest in the is an important nursery area for menha- Bay — where much of the East Coast den, and they contend that the species harvest takes place — from 87,216 may suffer “localized depletion” because metric tons to 51,000 metric tons a year, of heavy fishing pressure and therefore even as it increased the total allowable warrants extra protection. coastwide catch. But the management plan the ASMFC But the action angered Omega Protein, adopted last year stated there was little which operates a facility in Reedville, evidence to support that concern. It VA, that “reduces” large amounts of men- noted that a multi-year research program haden caught by its fishing fleet into other Menhaden from a pound net are offloaded at Kool Ice Seafood in Cambridge, MD. found that menhaden are highly mobile products, such as fish oil supplements and The fish will be used as crab pot bait. (Dave Harp) and local depletion would occur only on animal feed. Omega is by far the largest a “relatively small scale for a relatively harvester of menhaden in the Chesapeake At their August meeting, members Several members argued that Virginia short time.” Nonetheless, the commission and the entire East Coast. The company of the commission’s menhaden board was getting a break because the commis- has supported a cap on Omega’s catch has not exceeded the new limit for Bay struggled over whether to take sion was worried that the U.S. Depart- in the Bay since 2005, saying it “does waters in years because it has drawn more action — and whether the federal gov- ment of Commerce would not back up its provide a greater level of protection.” of its catch from the Atlantic, but officials ernment would back it up if they did. decision. Ultimately, members of the menhaden said the lower number restricts their Bob Ballou, of the Rhode Island If the commission finds a state failed board voted to table the issue of Virginia’s future options and has no scientific basis. Department of Fish and Wildlife, said to comply with its actions, it sends a compliance until next year, giving the States are required to adopt harvest failure to act could set a precedent of recommendation to the Department of General Assembly another chance to act. limits set by the ASMFC. But in Vir- allowing a state to not enact the commis- Commerce requesting that it impose a After the meeting, environmental ginia, where the General Assembly sets sion’s regulations, instead saying “trust moratorium on all catches of that species groups criticized Omega for working menhaden regulations, Omega opposed us, we’re not going to go over.” within the offending state. against the adoption of the lower limits. the change, and the legislation was not “I worry that it tears at the fabric of That’s happened about two-dozen “Omega Protein continues to undertake a brought to a vote. what this commission has always been times since 1993 when Congress gave the risky gamble with the health of the Bay’s In May, the ASMFC’s menhaden about,” he said. “We take, for better or Commerce secretary the power to enforce menhaden population, undermining board considered acting against Virginia, for worse, what this board adopts, and the commission’s actions. ASMFC’s efforts to ensure vibrant fish but decided to give the state more time to then we implement it. If we don’t or we But last year, for the first time, Sec- populations and healthy fisheries all along come into compliance. can’t, there needs to be some level of retary Wilbur Ross rejected a request by the Atlantic Coast,” said Chris Moore, That didn’t happen, though. In a June accountability.” the commission to find New Jersey out of regional ecosystem scientist for the letter to the commission, Virginia Gov. On the other hand, Jim Gilmore, direc- compliance for its failure to adopt a new Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Ralph Northam said that he and his staff tor of the New York Division of Marine catch limit for summer flounder, a move Omega, meanwhile, said it believed sought to get lawmakers to adopt the new Resources, said the Virginia situation many viewed as political. the extra time granted by the menhaden regulations, but “unfortunately, we were was only a “technical noncompliance” “If all of us believed that our action board would allow time for it to work with not successful.” because Omega’s menhaden harvests in here would be supported by the secretary the state and other stakeholders to find an The governor said he remained “hope- the Bay appeared likely to stay within the of Commerce there would not be a “equitable solution” for the Bay and that, ful” he would ultimately resolve the issue commission-approved limit. discussion around the table right now,” in the meantime, menhaden were being with the General Assembly and asked “I know it is not following our process, said Andy Shiels, a commission member sustainable managed. the commission to not formally find the but when you start looking at all those from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Omega spokesman Ben Landry said state out of compliance unless it actually other factors, folding in noncompliance at Commission. “there is nothing in the current opera- exceeds the new catch limits, which this point in time may do more damage Shiels said if the commission did not tions of the menhaden fishery that would seems unlikely. than it is going to do good,” he said. exert its authority, “at some point there is justify a noncompliance finding.” Bay Journal • September 2018 15 MD tells 3 power plants to reduce toxic wastewater discharges ≈ MDE opts to stick to strict they’d have to curtail the discharges under ments, the MDE said it never intended to profit. But he said he could accept it as an rule that administration “effluent limitations guidelines” from the delay implementation of an active regula- incentive to get the plants to reduce pollu- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. tion. While the EPA rule did allow for tion even more, and noted that the plants indicates it might roll back The EPA finalized those limits in 2015, granting more time beyond Nov. 1, 2020, would be required to report their progress By Timothy B. Wheeler making them the first federal limits on the MDE said it had received no proposal every six months, so the public could tell Maryland regulators have decided toxic metals and other harmful pollutants from the company specifically arguing that if they are trying to evade compliance. to make three power plants in the state discharged to rivers and streams by coal- it needed more time to comply. Indeed, the Still, Russ said in a statement that his reduce toxic wastewater discharges by burning power plants. Citing technology MDE noted that at the Morgantown plant, group was pleased to see that the MDE 2020 under a federal regulation that the improvements over the last three decades, for instance, the company has already “is following the law and stepping up to Trump administration has delayed and the agency required coal plants to install installed an advanced biological treatment protect the environment at a time when indicated it may roll back. or upgrade wastewater treatment systems system to help it meet the new limits. the EPA is actively trying to undermine Heeding arguments made by or otherwise adjust the plant’s operations The MDE still gave the company an environmental protection.” environmental groups and some state to curtail such discharges. option to delay compliance until 2023 but, The MDE imposed additional require- lawmakers, the Maryland Department of The EPA decreed at that time that if it did so, it would have to meet even ments at two of the plants. For Dickerson, the Environment gave NRG Energy until the rule would be phased in starting this stricter discharge limits. upriver from the District’s water supply Nov. 1, 2020, to meet new limits on the year, with all plants to be in compliance An NRG spokesman referred questions intake, the state required monitoring the discharges of certain pollutants — includ- by 2023. But last year, responding to to GenOn, a one-time NRG subsidiary discharge for bromide, which is associ- ing toxic metals like arsenic, mercury and industry complaints about the rule’s cost, that owns the plants and has recently spun ated with cancer-causing byproducts in selenium — at its three plants. the EPA initially stayed the rule, and then off from the Princeton, NJ-based energy drinking water. The plant also is barred The affected generating stations are delayed its effective date to 2020 or beyond company. A GenOn spokeswoman did from using any bromine-containing Morgantown, on the lower Potomac while the agency considered revisions. not respond to requests for comment. The chemicals in its treatment process. River in Charles County; Chalk Point, Environmental groups sued, and the case is company had submitted comments to At Morgantown, where the Potomac on the Patuxent River in Prince George’s pending in federal appeals court. state regulators urging them to wait until Riverkeeper obtained aerial photographs County; and Dickerson, also on the In the face of such uncertainty, the the EPA rulemaking was complete before of a reddish plume coming from one Potomac north of the District of Colum- MDE had at first proposed giving the imposing any new standards, according to outfall last summer, the MDE said it had bia, in Montgomery County. The facilities plants the option of complying with the the MDE, but it also acknowledged that it been unable to verify any inappropriate discharge water that’s been used in federal rule by November 2020 or delay- had already done much to meet the rule. discharge. But state regulators are requir- their air pollution scrubbers and to flush ing until 2023 to await potential changes. Environmentalists welcomed the ing the plant staff to make a daily visual bottom ash out of their boilers. Environmental groups, some lawmakers MDE’s decision, though they said it did inspection of the outfalls emptying into the In making its final determination and others had submitted written com- not resolve all of their concerns. discharge canal where the plume was seen. on the renewal of the plants’ five-year ments urging the MDE not to wait, citing “I don’t like the flexibility in compli- “We’re happy that MDE adopted discharge permits, the MDE backed the impacts such discharges could be ance deadlines,” said Abel Russ, an many of the additional restrictions away from its earlier, tentative decision to having on fish and human health. attorney with the Environmental Integrity we pushed for,” Potomac Riverkeeper give the facilities up to five years before In a written response to those com- Project, a Washington, DC-based non- Dean Naujoks said in a statement. Restoring the native balance

ernstseed.com [email protected] 800-873-3321 16 Bay Journal • September 2018 Amid rising waters, Smith Island puts faith in jetties, God ≈ $6.9 million project ‘not a cure- seas, set aside $2 million all,’ but a welcome sign to islanders in federal relief money to buy out voluntary that they haven’t been written off. sellers. Plans called for By Jeremy Cox homes or businesses Only on Smith Island would someone acquired by the state to get choked up about a jetty, a constructed be torn down and that wall of stones that functions like a bul- future development wark against waves and water currents. to be banned on the Eddie Somers, a civic activist and properties. native of the island in the middle of the “The people didn’t Chesapeake Bay, delivered remarks at want to be bought out, a recent press conference called by the and they were sort of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to mark insulted by it,” said a milestone in the construction of two Randy Laird, president jetties off its western flank. He was close of the Board of County to finishing when he suddenly stopped, Commissioners in holding back tears — tears of joy. Somerset County, which “Those barrier islands were in danger includes Smith island. of breaching in a couple places, and when “They felt like they that happens, you’re one hurricane away (state officials) were from losing your home,” he said when trying to close down the asked later about the moment. “So, for a lot A boat motors its way past one of two jetties completed earlier this year to protect the low-lying island.” of people, it’s emotional — not just me.” community of Rhodes Point on Smith Island. (Dave Harp) The buyouts would On Smith Island, Maryland’s only have created a domino inhabited island with no bridge con- islands underwater. By 2100, the Bay is more urgency: To what lengths should effect, Mathias said. nection to the mainland, residents prize expected to rise by at least 3 more feet — society go to defend Smith Island and “Once it starts, it doesn’t stop,” he said. self-reliance. But for more than two bad news for a land that’s mostly less than other places believed to be highly vulner- “It goes from one parcel to another parcel. decades, Somers and his neighbors had 3 feet above current sea level. able to climate change? And another family falls on hard times, been pushing for outside help to save their Clad in fatigues, Col. Ed Chamber- Facing land losses of their own , and the state shows up with a check.” low-lying island properties from slipping layne, head of the Army Corps’ Baltimore coastal communities in Alaska and Enter Smith Island United. away into the surrounding Bay. District office, now retired, boarded Louisiana are getting ready to relocate to The archipelago has lost nearly half Now, they’ve gotten it. Since 2015, the Maryland Department of Natural new homes farther inland. of its population since 2000. Among the federal, state and local sources have Resources research boat, Kerhin, after A similar debate hit Tangier Island, fewer than 200 who remain, one-third are invested about $18.3 million in three sepa- the press conference to tour the new about 10 miles south of Smith Island age 65 or older. Most young people leave rate projects on and around Smith Island, jetties with an entourage of state and local in Virginia waters, after a 2015 Army after finishing high school for lack of jobs adding about 2 miles of reconstructed officials. He described the $6.9 million Corps study declared that its residents on the island. “We didn’t really have a shoreline, several acres of newly planted project, which also includes dredging a may be among the first “climate refu- voice in government,” Somers said. salt marshes and hundreds of feet of jetties. boat channel and using the fill to restore gees” in the continental United States. To push back against the buyouts, That money may buy a lot of jetty about 5 acres of nearby wetlands, as a In the wake of a CNN report about the residents formed a civic group and began stones and sprigs of cordgrass, but all it temporary fix. shrinking island last year, President hosting regular community meetings. can really buy is time, according to climate “How long this will last is an obvious Donald Trump, who has referred to Those talks turned into Smith Island researchers and Army Corps officials. question,” Chamberlayne said. “As far as global warming as a “hoax,” called its United. Somers, a part-time resident and Smith Island is an archipelago, with what this does to Smith Island long-term, mayor to assure him he has nothing to captain of a state icebreaker boat, was a population spread across three small this is not a cure-all.” worry about. installed as its president. communities: Ewell, Rhodes Point and Nor are any of the other projects. So, In a view shared by many on the Soon, the organization persuaded the Tylerton. Since 1850, erosion and rising with each inch of sea level rise and dollar boat, State Sen. Jim Mathias expressed state to drop its buyout offer in favor of a sea levels have put about one-third of the spent fighting it, an old question gains confidence that Smith Island would be “visioning” study. The report, finalized around for a long while. “It’s man’s hand in 2016, outlined several possible actions intervening,” said Mathias, a Democrat for reversing the downward course, who represents the lower Eastern Shore. ranging from creating a seafood industry “We have the top engineers working for apprenticeship program to providing us. We’ll figure it out.” more public restrooms for island visitors. When the final phase of the jetty That same year, Maryland named project is completed this fall — channel Smith Island a “sustainable community,” dredging and marsh restoration remain giving the community access to a suite — it will mark the end of a chapter in the of revitalization initiatives from the community’s history that started with, as Maryland Department of Housing and some residents interpreted it, its proposed Community Development and grant destruction. programs. The island received a $25,000 In October 2012, Superstorm Sandy grant last year to fix store facades because walloped the New Jersey coast and flooded of the program. lower Manhattan in New York City, and In the meantime, long-stalled plans to in Maryland caused extensive flooding shore up Smith Island’s marshy coastline in Crisfield and along the Bay shore in began to materialize. The U.S. Fish Somerset County. Smith Island suffered and Wildlife Service built a $9 million relatively little damage in comparison. “living shoreline” in the Glenn Martin Two jetties extending out into the Bay were built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Still, state officials, conscious of the to protect a navigational channel near Rhodes Point on Smith Island. (Jeremy Cox) long-term threat to Smith posed by rising Jetty continues on page 17 Bay Journal • September 2018 17

Jetty from page 16 second floor of her home and all she could see was sand,” he said. “When I was National Wildlife Refuge, a marshy growing up, it was just a narrow strip and island that protects Smith’s north side then marsh. When my kids came along, it from erosion. Then came a $4.5 million was just gone.” county project, completed in late 2017, Most Smith Island residents have that created another living shoreline on incomes tied to the seafood industry, from the island’s west side near Rhodes Point, the crabs they catch or pick or the oysters its most endangered spot. they dredge. Support for Trump was near The Army Corps complemented that unanimous on the island in 2016, and work with the construction of two jetties most share his skepticism toward human- earlier this year, one on either side of an caused climate change. inlet called Sheep Pen Gut. Workers are They concede that their island is expected to return in the fall to dredge the vanishing, but they prefer to speak of it in channel, deepening it from 3 feet to 6 feet. terms of erosion instead of sea level rise. That will restore vessel passage through Marianna Wehnes moved to Smith the island, eliminating the circuitous, Island in 2011 to live with her boyfriend, gas-wasting journey that some watermen and she quickly fell in love — with the must take to reach the open Bay because island. the inlet has shoaled up. After her relationship with the man Once the DNR vessel had returned to ended, Wehnes moved back to the Ewell, Chamberlayne, Mathias and other mainland on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, VIPs embarked on a Natural Resources only to return. She missed the commu- Police boat to get a closer look at the jet- nity’s tranquil way of life and knowing ties. The Kerhin’s draft was too deep for As seas rise and erosion takes its toll — and the population shrinks — some homes her neighbors. She now works in one of the shallow waters around the inlet. have been abandoned on low-lying Smith Island, including this two-story struc- Ewell’s gift shops, where eight customers Everett Landon caught a glimpse of ture in the community of Rhodes Point. (Jeremy Cox) walking through the door qualifies as a the construction while standing on the busy day. second-floor balcony of a home still been on the books at the Army Corps welcome in Rhodes Point, where the The new jetties and restored marsh under construction. since the mid-1990s. Some residents had 40 or so remaining residents live on an will help keep the island above water for “It looks very good,” said Landon, a all but given up hope that it would ever ever-shrinking strip of high ground. For a while, she agreed. Beyond that, Wehnes Rhodes Point native who took over as get built. his part, Landon measures that loss in the added, Smith Island’s fate will be up to a pastor of the community’s three churches “You get a community that struggles gradual disappearance of a beach once higher power. last year. “With the erosion we’ve been a lot, and you get a project like this — it visible — high and dry — beyond the “It’s been here 400 years, and it’s facing, people have been wondering how puts the wind in your sails. It just shows marsh that fringes Rhodes Point. going to be here for 400 years,” she said. long until it makes them move away.” persistence,” Landon said. “My grandmother told me that when “The only reason it won’t be is if the good The Rhodes Point jetty project had He added that the help is especially she was younger, she could sit on the Lord tells it to go.”

INCLUDES FREE SHIPPING 18 Bay Journal • September 2018

Flood from page 1 with the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. over the past 10 years, so that it can Salinity readings at the recover from these types of [storm] events mouth of the York River and not be set back this time,” said Doug plummeted to 10 parts per Myers, a scientist with the Chesapeake thousand, about half of the Bay Foundation, a nonprofit environmen- normal value, according to tal group. VIMS. Researchers found The July rains supercharged flows on that the unusually fresh the Susquehanna River — which provides water was all but devoid of about half of the freshwater entering the potentially harmful algal Chesapeake — to a peak of 375,000 cubic species in the wake of the feet per second at the Conowingo Dam on July rains. Young striped July 26, according to the U.S. Geological bass were venturing farther Survey. downstream than normal, Exelon, the dam’s owner, opened 22 taking advantage of the floodgates, triggering voluntary evacua- saltwater’s retreat. tion orders for the Cecil County town of It’s unclear how the Port Deposit, about 6 miles downstream Bay’s plant and animal life of the dam. will respond over the long The August storm boosted flows term to the lashing from to 211,000 cubic feet per second and sediment and nutrients, prompted another round of floodgate Carnegie said. opening. “Estuaries are inherently That peak came the day that Gurbisz variable environments,” he and her fellow scientists were taking sedi- said, “but extreme events ment and grass samples within view of can be beyond what many the Thomas J. Hatem Memorial Bridge, Cassie Gurbisz, a St. Mary’s College coastal ecosystem ecologist, prepares to take an underwater inhabitants can manage. which spans the Susquehanna in Mary- vegetation sample near the Susquehanna Flats during a research cruise in mid-August. (Jeremy Cox) The 1972 Agnes event is a land just upstream from its confluence classic illustration. We will with the Bay. The water was tinged the southern Pennsylvania. Storms dumped just have to wait and see how detrimental color of chocolate milk and either dotted at least 10 inches of rain in the area, with this year’s event was to key resource or smeared, depending on the spot, with one spot in Baltimore County receiving species.” tree trunks and branches. as much as 15 inches, according to the Although rivers throughout the region “It’s spectacular with all this debris, National Weather Service. BWI Marshall were choked with debris, some pointed but what actually affects the Bay is the Airport got inundated with nearly 11.2 a finger at the Conowingo Dam, which suspended sediment,” said Cindy Pal- inches of rain. Norfolk, at the base of is up for relicensing. They want Exelon inkas, a University of Maryland Center the Bay, received slightly more than 4 to do more to control nutrients, sediment for Environmental Science researcher also inches. Dulles Airport and the District of and debris being pushed downstream of working on the study. This clump of wild celery was gathered Columbia’s Northern Virginia suburbs got the dam. Maryland, as part of the condi- Since the spring, the researchers from a small patch near the Susque- hit with 5 inches of rain on July 21 alone, tion for the new license, is pressing to have been examining small patches of hanna Flats. (Jeremy Cox) fueling a total of 7.7 inches over those five spend up to $172 million a year to control underwater grass near the mouth of the soggy days. nutrient and sediment pollution and to Susquehanna. The team recently received “You can withstand the occasional One bright spot with the influx of more frequently clean debris that builds additional funding from Maryland Sea cold,” she said. “You can’t withstand 20 water is that it flushed out to sea much up behind the 94-foot-high structure. Grant to study how the grass responded to colds in a row.” of the water that was in the Bay, includ- “None of that pollution would be the rainfall in one of the largest patches of The size of the storm was not par- ing the deeper portions that had grown building up and causing a danger or them all: the Susquehanna Flats. ticularly unusual. River flows of 375,000 inhospitable to life, Myers said. hazard but for the dam,” said Betsy They plan to compare their findings cubic feet per second at Conowingo In June, scientists predicted that a Nicholas, executive director of Water- with measurements they took of the Flats would be expected about every four years larger than average “dead zone” would keepers Chesapeake, which has pressed during a separate study in 2014–15, which on average, said Joel Bloomquist, a USGS spread across the bottom of the Bay this the state to go even further. She added were comparatively dry years. hydrologist. This was the first time flow summer. They based their forecast on that climate change is expected to make Grass beds in the Flats trap some of had approached the level since 2011, when heavy spring rains, which sent nutrients severe storms more frequent. the sediment and nutrients as they flow a deluge from Tropical Storm Lee led to streaming down the Susquehanna and Exelon has said it is not responsible for out of the Susquehanna, Palinkas said, slugs that were twice a high. Potomac rivers. The nutrients feed algae pollution originating upstream that flows helping to improve water quality in the But the timing of the rain blooms, which, in the process of sinking past the dam, and that the state’s proposal area. Those beds were wiped out after events — during typically dry mid- and dying, deplete the water of oxygen. would cost more than it makes from the Tropical Storm Agnes — the largest summer months — is unusual. By late July, though, Maryland’s hydroelectric facility. It has challenged storm on record — hit in 1972. They have Very high stream flows are usually Department of Natural Resources was Maryland’s requirements in court. since bounced back to cover more than associated with spring rains and snowmelt recording the best oxygen conditions it Back on the Upper Bay, the UMCES 9,000 acres of Bay bottom, making the as well as tropical storms and hurricanes had ever found for that time of year in boat carrying Palinkas kept making Flats one of the largest underwater beds that strike in late summer or fall. (But the Bay. The recent rain and wind had unscheduled stops because the motor was in the Bay. Agnes, the most severe storm on record, churned up the water so much that the getting choked with grass growing in the The grasses could use some dry hit in June 1972.) only oxygen-starved areas were restricted Flats. The pattern repeated itself more than weather this fall to recover, Palinkas said. High flows in the summer can be more to depths of 65 feet or deeper. a half-dozen times: remove, go, sputter. The murky water can block the sunlight, damaging than at other times because it’s But all of the freshwater pushed into But she was optimistic the Bay would causing the plants to die off. The sediment the peak of biological activity for many the Bay could be bad news for some bounce back. “It looks really dramatic particles can also settle on the leaves important Bay species, from underwater species, such as oysters, which like higher now with all the sediment and the water. themselves, spreading more shade. grass beds to juvenile fish and crabs. salinities. But you give it time, I think it will The grass beds appear to be able to The July rainfall was especially heavy In Virginia, oysters beds were already recover.” weather a heavy pulse of water now and in a band extending north and south dying in the James River and other tribu- Karl Blankenship contributed to this then, but not repeatedly, Palinkas said. along Maryland’s Western Shore into taries, said Ryan Carnegie, a researcher report. Bay Journal • September 2018 19 FERC approves ‘Potomac pipeline’ that would carry gas from PA to WV ≈ Decision’s dissenters take adhere to the state conditions. issue with ignoring the impacts The panel’s majority also dismissed contentions that the pipeline would it would have on climate change. stimulate more gas production using By Timothy Wheeler hydraulic fracturing, a controversial Over objections from environmen- technique blamed for instances of talists, the Federal Energy Regulatory drinking water well contamination and Commission has given the green light other problems. They likewise said to building a hotly disputed natural gas they lacked information to determine pipeline through Western Maryland whether the pipeline could signifi- and under the Potomac River. cantly exacerbate climate change by October 11-14 With one of its five commissioners allowing for more gas to be produced voting no and another dissenting in and consumed, as environmentalists part, the five-member commission in contended. July approved the Eastern Panhandle But two of the five panel members Expansion Project, a 3.5-mile pipeline took issue with the majority on those proposed by Columbia Gas Trans- last two points. Commissioner Cheryl mission that would carry gas from LaFleur concurred with the majority Pennsylvania to West Virginia. in approving the pipeline, but she Environmental groups and some disagreed with its decision to ignore western Maryland residents have the project’s climate-change impacts. waged a lengthy campaign against Commissioner Richard Glick opposed the “Potomac pipeline,” as they call the project, arguing that the commis- it, staging repeated protest demon- sion had abrogated its legal respon- strations and garnering resolutions sibility by refusing to consider those against the project from several local impacts. governments. Opponents argue that the “Climate change poses an existen- project’s construction poses risks to tial threat to our security, economy, the river and drinking water supplies, environment and, ultimately, the health both near the drilling and downriver. of individual citizens,” Glick wrote. He They also contend that it will acceler- said the majority “goes out of its way ate climate change by encouraging to avoid seriously addressing the proj- ENVIRONMENTAL FILM DAY: OCTOBER 13 more natural gas production and ect’s impact from climate change” by Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, St. Michaels, MD consumption. disregarding the potential emissions of Screenings. Discussions. Receptions. In its 53-page order, the commission carbon dioxide and methane that might majority brushed aside those concerns, result from increased gas production saying the company’s plan for drilling and consumption. Environmental Shorts Program beneath the Potomac addressed the risks In August, two environmental Eight outstanding short films about environmental issues. and potential impacts of a leak or blowout. groups — Chesapeake Climate Action “Tidewater” Environmentalists had asked the Network and the Potomac Riverkeeper Sea level rise in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia threatens military commission to require Columbia Gas, Network — filed a request with FERC readiness and national security. a subsidiary of TransCanada, to follow seeking a rehearing, arguing that the a lengthy list of conditions for drilling commission did not adequately consider “Current Revolution” (East Coast Premiere) beneath the river that the Maryland the direct and indirect greenhouse gas The American Resilience Project’s new film about modernizing an aging Department of the Environment had emissions from the project. The groups power grid with renewable energy. proposed in approving a state permit also have criticized Maryland Gov. for the project. But the federal panel Larry Hogan for his administration’s “Restoring the Clearwater” declined to do so, saying it would decision not to subject the pipeline to A community rallies to save the Sloop Clearwater and her efforts to instead encourage the company to more rigorous environmental review. clean up the Hudson River. “Edna E. Lockwood: Bottoms Up!”(Sneak Preview) Shipwrights at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum restore an 1889 bugeye, the last of her kind to work the Bay. “An Island Out of Time”(Premiere) A Smith Island family ponders the future: remain where they’ve been rooted since 1608 or join the mainland. TO SEE A SCHEDULE OF SCREENINGS AND EVENTS AND TICKET INFORMATION FOR ALL FOUR DAYS OF THE FESTIVAL VISIT chesapeakefilmfestival.com

20 Bay Journal • September 2018 VA to monitor water quality at 3 controversial chicken farms ≈ Research will help document how much water pollution is generated by large poultry operations. By Jeremy Cox & Whitney Pipkin Virginia environmental officials are setting out to answer a question that has long dogged Delmarva’s poultry industry: Do industrial-size chicken farms foul streams and other water- ways with polluted runoff? The Department of Environmental Quality announced that as of August, it is conducting a yearlong study of water quality near three poultry farms in Accomack County on the Eastern Shore. Researchers plan to take samples both upstream and down- stream of each farm and will inspect the water for nutrients, sediment and other contaminants. “We’ll get a much better idea of what contributions the farm is having A surge in the number of chicken houses is taking place on Virginia’s Eastern Shore, including those shown here under on water quality,” said Neil Zahradka, construction along Route 13 in the fall of 2017. (Dave Harp) DEQ’s manager of land application programs. which produce far more birds and, three or if there are others because “We were pleasantly surprised the The study comes after neighbors therefore, more nutrient-laden waste we don’t do any monitoring,” said state was very responsive to our ques- and environmental advocates pres- than their older counterparts. Arthur Upshur, president of Citizens tions,” the CBF’s Ford said. “When sured the state to require rigorous The three Accomack farms are for a Better Eastern Shore, which also we have major storm events, we know environmental monitoring as a condi- receiving extra scrutiny because federal pushed for the testing. water is leaving the sites, but we have tion of the farms’ stormwater permits. inspectors discovered violations of the If the DEQ’s monitoring finds no data anywhere on Delmarva to Representatives of Accomack’s $108 Clean Water Act at each property in 2010. problems, it could open the door know what is leaving.” million poultry industry warned that The county, population 33,000, to a broader industry examination, The poultry industry is changing such an obligation would be a burden is home to two sprawling plants that he added. He said that he hopes the and regulators need to change their that could cripple one of the rural slaughter and package the chickens findings persuade state regulators to protocols to keep pace, he added. region’s few money-makers. grown at nearby farms under contracts enact tighter pollution controls when ”Our permits were written for a The state didn’t tie the sampling with Tyson Foods Inc. and Perdue its overall federal stormwater permit is different size industry,” Ford said. “I to the permits, but most of the farms’ Farms. The companies are Accomack’s reviewed in the next few years. think our regulators are doing the best critics accepted the compromise. two largest employers. Critics have long worried that regu- they can to keep up with an industry It marks the first time that specific The squat, metal-roofed buildings latory programs are not as effective that is growing.” poultry farms will be formally moni- where those birds are housed provide as hoped when it comes to mitigating The ordeal demonstrates that farm- tored for pollution anywhere on the some of the only structural variety the impacts of the huge new poultry ers are responsive to environmental peninsula, they said. in a landscape dominated by fields of operations. concerns and take swift action when “For the first time, we’re really going soybeans, corn and wheat — much of In Maryland’s last two state legisla- problems are found, said James Fisher, to be able to say, ‘Yes, these BMPs really it cultivated to feed the chickens. tive sessions, activists have fallen short a spokesman for the trade group are working’ or ‘No, they’re not,’” said A tougher zoning ordinance in their efforts to pass a law mandating Delmarva Poultry Industry. Jay Ford, the Chesapeake Bay Founda- approved by the county’s board of air emissions tests on the Eastern “The situation that EPA found was tion’s outreach coordinator in Virginia. supervisors in February 2016 has done Shore. They charge that the ammonia fixed, and then all three farms went Ford recently joined the foundation in little to slow the industry’s growth. blowing out of the houses’ huge fans is further and applied for — and this this new position after pushing for these Spurred by the expansion of Tyson’s a detriment to nearby residents’ health. April obtained — these permits that the reforms as the region’s shorekeeper. processing facility in Temperanceville, In Accomack, the DEQ proposed EPA said farms that discharge have to Getting farmers to create and Accomack is on pace to nearly double that the three farms’operators conduct have,” he said. “That’s one more sign of maintain BMPs, or best manage- the number of chicken houses within their own “visual monitoring” tests: how seriously growers and the chicken ment practices, represents one of the its borders in the coming years, with taking stock of their runoffs’ color, community take water quality.” top strategies under the federal and permit applications submitted for 273 odor and amount of solids each time it At the Brady Farm, one of the three multistate Chesapeake Bay cleanup new structures as of August 2017, rains. When Ford and other detractors that received the new permits, owner program. The 83,000 farm operations according to county documents. learned that would be the only failsafe Ryan Brady said he has taken several in the watershed are the Bay’s largest In 2010, when the U.S. Environ- at the farms, they turned out by the steps to clean up runoff, including single source of nutrient and sediment mental Protection Agency found the dozen at a DEQ hearing in January. planting tree buffers, treating poultry pollution, researchers say. three farms doing little to prevent pol- At a Virginia State Water Control manure and installing channels that Practices that can soften that pollu- luted runoff from leaving their sites, it Board in April, regulators signed off drain into a new $400,000 pond. tion punch include digging bioretention ordered the DEQ to issue them federal on the permits — the first ever issued He told those gathered at the Janu- ponds where stormwater can collect and permits, which are ostensibly stricter. for individual poultry farms. The ary hearing, though, that he supports planting a buffer of trees and shrubs on Some neighbors suspect other board required visual monitoring. But research into how much pollution the edges of fields to filter runoff. Such poultry operations aren’t in compli- outside the bounds of the permit, DEQ CAFOs discharge. “We need to make steps are widely embraced as effective. ance as well, but they admit they have officials said they would be studying sure we’re doing the right thing and But little is known about how well they no evidence to support those claims. nearby waters themselves and share taking the right steps before we put perform on modern chicken farms, “I don’t know if these are the only the results with the public. these permits into place,” Brady said. Bay Journal • September 2018 21 Manure management questions stall plans for MD poultry farm ≈ Rules that require outdoor organic chicken houses are festooned with enclosures raise concerns about hatches that allow older birds to skedaddle outdoors into a fenced pasture. how runoff will be controlled. Inevitably, the chickens poop outside. By Jeremy Cox Where does the manure go? How is it Maryland has withdrawn a permit treated? for a large organic chicken farm in Cecil Zion Acres’ plan, as originally County after its neighbors appealed the submitted, doesn’t answer those ques- decision, saying it would leave manure- tions, according to the appeal filed by the laden runoff unchecked. Environmental Action Center on behalf of The Maryland Department of the McKenica’s group. The Washington, DC- Environment notified Zion Acres Poultry based advocacy group also represented in June that the permit won’t be approved citizens contesting the Worcester project. without more detailed information about “The lack of operation-specific param- how the company will stop polluted eters to address the scattered manure stormwater runoff from entering ground- violates the [general discharge permit] water and nearby streams. and federal requirements by failing to The Cecil decision represents a rare ensure that the zero-discharge standard is victory for Maryland activists who met,” wrote Environmental Action Center oppose poultry operations that they see as attorney Sarah Edwards in the appeal. too big to safely contain the farms’ air and Environmentalists and farmers dis- water emissions. And it deals a blow to pute whether the pastures next to chicken agribusiness companies that have sought houses capture and filter nutrients on in recent years to marry organic practices their own. with increasingly industrialized farm According to the Global Animal footprints. A state permit for the Zion Acres poultry farm in Cecil County, MD, was withdrawn Partnership guidelines, the outdoor area Animal manure remains a stubborn until the owners provide a more detailed stormwater management plan. (Dave Harp) must be at least the size of the adjoin- source of nutrient pollution in the Chesa- ing chicken house. Edwards and other peake Bay. On poultry farms, manure istrative law judge recommended the stricter development and zoning controls. opponents question whether that’s enough gets tracked onto areas outside chicken action. Officials had initially approved the That happened in the wake of the Zion space. houses and washed into streams with the eight chicken houses, giving the farmer Acres proposal in Cecil County. The new “Chickens, I’m telling you, they will rain; much more is scraped out of sheds up to two years after it went into opera- rules that the county council voted for in tear up a piece of ground,” said Carole and spread onto cropland as fertilizer. tion to construct a required manure shed. March largely mirror those put forward Morison, a former Perdue contract farmer Once in the Bay, the nutrients fuel The Cecil case stands out because, by the Delmarva Poultry Industry, a trade who now raises chickens independently algae blooms that block sunlight from unlike in Worcester, MDE officials acted group consisting of the region’s chicken at her organic operation in Worcester underwater grass beds. When the blooms without a judge’s urging, said Keith McK- farmers and agribusiness companies. County. She consulted with the Environ- die, the bacteria that feed on them suck up enica, one of the founders of the Calvert McKenica, a member of the citizens mental Action Center on the Zion Acres oxygen, creating so-called “dead zones” Neighborhood Alliance, which formed to committee that initially drafted the rules, case. “They will scratch, constantly do. where there’s almost no oxygen for fish or contest the 24-acre project. said he found himself outnumbered by It’s normal behavior. If you’ve got nothing other marine organisms to breathe. “I was shocked,” McKenica said. interests arrayed in favor of the industry. but dirt, it’s just going to run off.” Galen and Crystal Horst, the owners The Horsts didn’t return messages The final document doesn’t require new Perdue’s Levitsky disagreed, saying of Zion Acres, want to build four chicken seeking comment for this report. But chicken buildings to be set back far there appears to be ample time for the houses, raising up to 830,000 birds a year Perdue representatives said the informa- enough from neighboring homes and grass to rebound in between flocks and on a farm in North East, a town just off tion being sought shouldn’t delay the doesn’t go far enough to protect air qual- during the weeks when the birds are too the northern banks of the Chesapeake project for long. ity, he added. young to venture outside. Bay. The Horsts are under contract with “It’s more of an administrative “I told the committee you don’t have “What I’ve seen is it looks like your Perdue, one of the largest poultry produc- issue,” said Steve Levitsky, vice presi- enough information to know what the lawn, a nice grass cover,” he said. ers in the country. dent of sustainability. “They had some decision should be,” McKenica said. MDE spokesman Jay Apperson con- The MDE approved their stormwater questions with the original application, “They took everything they wanted and firmed that the agency is seeking more plan last November, but a community so they pulled the permit to get more made it the new zoning package.” information from Zion Acres about how it group, the Calvert Neighborhood information.” Hence his surprise with the MDE’s will resolve the outdoor manure problem. Alliance, appealed the decision to the Added Perdue spokesman Joe recall of the Zion Acres permit, which at “The farmer will need to submit a agency’s administrative law judge. Forsthoffer: “We don’t see this as any red minimum delays the construction of four revised [certified nutrient management Officials agreed to withdraw the permit flag situation or big change.” chicken houses and at most adds years of plan] with additional information to before the case went to a hearing. Still, the pair of recent successful bureaucratic headaches for the industry. address the presence and assimilation of “MDE has revisited its assessment challenges may ratchet the Shore’s poultry The state’s biggest sticking point with poultry manure in the outdoor access area of these documents and has made the battle to a new level. A confluence of Zion Acres’ stormwater plan centers on next to the chicken houses, among other determination that further information factors — cheap grain prices, relatively one of the main features that distinguishes issues,” Apperson wrote in an email. is necessary” before the permit can be low interest rates and rising consumer an organic poultry farm from a non- Zion Acres will have to resubmit the approved, wrote Hilary Miller, director demand — has led to a wave of new organic farm. plan for the MDE’s approval and undergo of the land and materials division, in a chicken house construction on the Eastern Perdue requires its contract farmers another round of public comment before it June 22 letter. Shore. The 21st-century houses are con- to raise organic chickens according to is finalized, he added. State environmental regulators have siderably larger than their 20th-century standards set by the Global Animal Edwards said she hopes the case now rejected three farm stormwater counterparts and tend to be clustered in Partnership, a certification program leads the MDE to make industrial-scale permits out of nearly 500 applications, groups of six or more, instead of the usual established by Whole Foods for the meat organic farmers account for pollution in according to department statistics. two or three. it buys. At most non-organic farms, chick- the pasture. She will be watching to make One of the other reversals also came Community activists, often backed ens never see the light of day, living their sure that the Zion Acres plan lays out in June. The MDE rejected a permit for a by environmental groups, have struck lives entirely under artificial lights inside what she considers meaningful steps to Worcester County farm after an admin- back, pushing local governments to enact a long, narrow shed. In contrast, Perdue’s address the runoff. 22 Bay Journal l Tr avel l September 2018

Pleasant Grove Park a connection to nature, the past Wildlife Trail. They wind through meadows managed for birds and other wildlife, as well as fields on their way to becoming forests. Some trails are for equestrians. The park provides handouts: nature activities for all ages, trail guides and checklists for birds, plants and butterflies. Walter Hussey, a former federal program manager from the District of Columbia area, is an enthusiastic master naturalist and master gardener who helps tend the land at Pleasant Grove Park and coordinate its many volunteers. Together, they have transformed more than 100 acres of parkland into bobwhite quail habitat, hedgerows and pollinator demonstration gardens. “We’re basically trying to enhance the natural experi- ence at the park,” Hussey said, “and increase the wildlife diversity.” Some projects showcase how homeowners can create small butterfly gardens in their front yards and how farmers can border their fields with vegetated strips to increase game and decrease runoff. The Heritage Trail, one of Hussey’s favorites, was one of the first to be built. It’s named for the Heritage Trail Foundation, which is responsible for establishing this and other trails in the park. The trail follows the Rivanna River for almost 3 miles from a parking lot at the Eastern Trail- head to the Western Trailhead close to the Haden House parking. Much of the trail traverses a forested bluff above the river, occasionally dipping down to cross one of the small- At least 100 acres at Pleasant er creeks entering the river. Bridges help hikers over soggy Grove Park, located along In the small central Virginia county of Flu- ground through tall stands of Joe Pye weed, which in some Virginia’s Rivanna River, have been vanna, a triangle of historic farm and forest years have drawn thousands of migrating monarchs. transformed into habitat for birds, is wedged between the Rivanna River and “The river here is kind of slow and easy,” Hussey said. butterflies, and other pollinators “And you don’t see another farm, house, condo or office and wildlife. (Stan Kaslusky) Virginia Highway 53, just 20 miles southeast building, only the river.” But you might see canoeists and kayakers traveling of Charlottesville. downriver or stopping to play in the shallows. Many pad- At the western end stands a three-story story brick dlers put in at the Crofton Landing 6 miles upstream from house, built in 1854 by Col. William Haden where he the park and take out just below the park at the Palmyra raised 12 children and managed a plantation of approxi- landing. Parks and Recreation staff can provide boats and mately 3,000 acres. In those days, the river connected the even a shuttle for a small fee. By Leslie Middleton Haden family to the world — and markets — beyond On the opposite side of the river, hikers on the Heritage their home. Rail Trail can often be heard through the leafy branches Today, 830 acres of the original Haden land have overhanging the river. This half-mile ADA-accessible trail become Pleasant Grove Park, named after the original follows the former route of the Virginia Air Line Railway, plantation, connecting visitors from near and far to the a popular local spur that connected Fluvanna residents to river, local history and the natural world. Charlottesville and Richmond through the 1930s. For thousands of years, the Rivanna River (which Parking for the rail trail is across the river from Pleas- bisects Fluvanna County) and James River (which marks ant Grove in the small village square of Palmyra, the its southern boundary) were thoroughfares. The Monacan Indians, a Siouan tribe, had settlements on both rivers, including Rassawek, once located 14 miles downstream from the current park at the confluence of the two rivers. When the English began to colonize the land upstream from Jamestown, they called the James River above that confluence the Fluvanna or “River of Anne,” for the Eng- lish Queen. They also named the smaller river, the Rivan- na, in her honor. Haden’s plantation, established about 200 years later, hugged the Rivanna shoreline and took advantage of a series of dams constructed by the time Hayden built his home. The dams created flatwater impoundments, allow- ing the passage of people and farm products and powering of gristmills along the river. Pleasant Grove Park stretches along 3 miles of the Rivanna, just downstream of an S-curve where the river Pleasant Grove Park is bounded for 3 miles by the Rivanna cuts through rocky outcroppings. The park has more than River. The park offers canoe and kayak rentals. 20 miles of trails that are part of the Virginia Birding and (Fluvanna County Parks and Recreation) 23 Bay Journal l Tr avel lSeptember 2018

benefited from batteau, developed after a 1771 flood seems to invite the visitor outside. the wealth of the destroyed many of the canoes; and fi- On the grounds of the house, land and those nally canal boats. Each required more centuries-old boxwoods — remnants who labored sophisticated ways to tame the flow of of the original English garden — on it – many the Rivanna. flank the brick path from the home’s of whom were Museum attendant Brian Coffield front portico. The Haden family enslaved. likes to highlight the replica hogshead cemetery lies under towering oak “The house barrel that anchors one corner of the trees between the lawn and restored was by any exhibit room. meadow. stretch of the Such round, planked containers A covered walkway leads from imagination a were used to transport tobacco from the side entrance of the house to a rather imposing fields to boats, moving along crude separate building called the “summer residence,” said farm roads and then onto increasingly kitchen,” where enslaved servants Marvin Moss, larger boats on the way downriver prepared food for the family. president of both and across the ocean. “We built this The summer kitchen is now the the Fluvanna to give people a sense of scale,” he headquarters for the park’s many County His- said. A typical hogshead was packed nature programs and projects, with torical Society so tight it could weigh as much as shelves of animal skulls, feathers, and and Fluvanna 1,000 pounds. leaf and plant identification keys. Heritage Trail Coffield is well-suited to talk Moss is unabashedly proud of the Foundation. The about local watercraft of the 1700 offerings that he and other devoted two groups have and 1800s. Every year he captains his locals helped to make possible at the been instrumen- own modern replica of a batteau, the park. “I think it’s probably one of the tal in raising pri- Queen Anne, in the annual summer best county parks in all of central vate funds and James River Batteau Festival, a 10- Virginia,” he said. securing grants day re-enactment journey down the Historic society director Johnson for the park and James. thinks this is because the county has its historic ame- One artifact, carefully displayed in struck the appropriate balance for nities over the the center of the room, is part of an honoring and respecting the past last two decades, 1850-era batteau recovered by Vir- while looking ahead to the future. including resto- ginia Canals and Navigation Society At Pleasant Grove Park, historic ration of Haden volunteers from a mud bank along the preservation, recreation and wildlife House. Rivanna River in 1996. enhancement are woven together to The house has Even on a humid, gray, summer provide something for everyone — The stately 1854 Haden House has been restored to highlight both Greek re- morning, the museum’s tall windows plants, pollinators and people who the architectural features of its time. (Stan Kaslusky) vival features and ensure that models, maps and photos come to soak up fresh air, green traditional Feder- are drenched with natural light that spaces and history. county seat, which is also well worth a alist style details, and it now visit, especially for history enthusiasts boasts a two-story modern and genealogists. It includes the Old addition, rendered historically Pleasant days at Stone Jail, a museum run by the Flu- accurate and environmentally Pleasant Grove Park vanna County Historical Society, and sensitive by W. Douglas Gilpin, “Maggie’s House,” the society’s offices Jr., a restoration architect from Pleasant Grove Park is located and archives. Charlottesville. near the town of Palmyra in “We’re fortunate,” said Tricia John- The addition, Moss said, “is Fluvanna County, VA. Park son, executive director of the society. a little more sophisticated than grounds are open dawn to “Our records are intact back to 1777, the Pleasant Grove House, but dusk daily. The Haden House unlike [those of] many Southern it fits in beautifully.” It also towns whose public buildings were includes modern features, museum is generally open ravaged during the Civil War.” such as geothermal heating 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to People who come to the museum and cooling and an elevator, as Friday and 12–4 p.m. Saturday and archives, Johnson said, “are aston- well as a kitchen for the events to Sunday. Hours may vary ished at the richness and depth of his- that groups host year-round at by season so check before tory here — and how available it is.” the park. visiting by calling 434-589- Connections are deep and some- Like the park itself, the times surprising. “Many times people small but elegant house serves 2016. Admission to both the come looking for their ancestors, only multiple uses — the third floor park and museum is free. The to find that a descendent of that an- provides staff offices, and the park offers canoe and kayak cestor is here volunteering,” Johnson first floor is the county’s wel- rentals, as well as a shuttle said. come center. service. Call for information. Historic society members serve The second floor houses as docents at the Old Stone Jail and two rooms of the small but de- Annual events include the Maggie’s House, as well as the Haden lightful transportation exhibit, Old Farm Day, next set for House at Pleasant Grove Park. “On the Move: Rivers, Roads, May 4, 2019. For information, While the Haden family is not as and Rails.” visit oldfarmday.org. storied as Thomas Jefferson, who The permanent exhibit in- presided at Monticello near Charlot- cludes models of the evolving For information about the Flu- A covered walkway connects the main house to tesville, nor as prosperous as other watercraft used to transport vanna Historical Society, visit its “summer kitchen” where enslaved servants plantation owners in the county, the crops and people: first, the fluvannahistory.org. prepared meals. (Leslie Middleton) Haden House shows that the family double dugout canoe; then the 24 Bay Journal l Tr avel l September 2018

C&D museum sure to float the boat of any canal lover The year was 1829, and the travel. You can still smell the oil and fluids that kept the enormous pistons of the engines sliding smoothly in their news was big — big enough cylinders. And, the past wafts upward in the moist, cool to be trumpeted on a broad- air of the cavern housing the massive cypress water wheel that moved water into the canal. That tangible history lin- side that exercised all of the gers as you walk outside and see a modern car carrier slid- exaggerated fonts and eye- ing silently by in today’s greatly expanded, sea level canal. “It was one of the first civil engineering projects pro- grabbing capitalization of posed in the New World, and one of the most difficult to the day: carry out,” according to the American Society of Civil En- “Notice is hereby given,” it stated, gineers, which has placed the canal on its list of national historic landmarks. The American Society of Mechanical “that this CANAL is NOW OPEN Engineers has also listed the engines and water wheel as FOR NAVIGATION ... The rates of national landmarks. Toll have been fixed so low, as to Entering the museum, you encounter the broadsides make this the CHEAPEST as well as and other bits of the canal’s history, including artifacts, the most EXPEDITIOUS and Safe displays and photographs that introduce the story of the channel of communication, between canal. It began when Augustine Herman, as early as 1661, the waters of the Chesapeake and envisioned a waterway connecting the top of the Chesa- Delaware. Horses for towing vessels peake and Delaware bays. It would be another 100 years may be hired at reasonable prices at before that dream would edge toward reality, with an each end of the Canal.” initial route mapped out in 1764. Another 35 years would They had reason to shout. The pass before the young states of Maryland, Pennsylvania new waterway, which today is the and Delaware signed on with the fledgling federal govern- only 19th-century canal built in the ment to buy stock in what would become the Chesapeake United States that remains a major and Delaware Canal Company. shipping route, cut about 500 miles It took four years and $2.5 million to build the canal, from the travel route for vessels which initially had four locks. A marble plaque embedded between the ports of Baltimore and on an exterior wall of the museum building, dedicated at Philadelphia. While the world’s eyes the canal’s opening in 1829, provides some of the pertinent turned southwest toward the great figures, principals and engineering challenges: “On the canal in Panama, which wouldn’t Deep Cut more than 375,000 cubic yards of earth slipped The C&D Canal Museum in open for another 83 years, the from the regulated slopes of the sides, and passed into the Chesapeake City, MD, is housed Chesapeake and Delaware Canal — C&D for short — chamber of the canal.” Those 375,000 cubic yards were in the orignal pump house for the quietly transformed shipping on the East Coast. It re- hand-hauled out of the Deep Cut, then dragged up and mains a vital waterway, with more than 15,000 vessels Chesapeake & Delaware Canal. over 90-foot embankments by ropes attached to wooden transiting annually. barrels, an example of which is on display. The canal opened in 1829 and still I have traveled the C&D Canal dozens of times in sail- serves approximately 15,000 vessels “These and many other difficulties having been over- boats, sidling past the enormous walls of car carriers and come,” the plaque continues, “the water was introduced on each year. container ships as they make their careful way along the waterway’s narrow con- fines. And every time, like all of these world travelers, I have passed three Story & Photos By unassuming, interconnected buildings Wendy Mitman Clarke that sit beside the canal in Chesapeake City, MD. Their elegant flagstone walls and peaked roofs look like something from another era — which they are. Built in 1837, 1851 and 1853, these buildings, which served as a pump house to raise the canal’s water level, are on the National Register of Historic Places and today house the C&D Canal Museum. The remarkable examples of 19th-century engineering within their stout stone walls — including the old- est steam engines still on their original foundations in the country — are just one reason why this museum is, for my money (even though it’s free), one of the most riveting in the Bay region. Most museums have to move or replicate historical features to represent them. But the C&D Canal Museum itself is a piece of history, intact and in Museum exhibits explain that Augustine Herman introduced the idea of a place, resulting in a kind of sensory time canal to connect the Delaware and Chesapeake bays as early as 1661. 25 Bay Journal l Tr avel l September 2018

Sailboats share the C&D Canal with a ship near Chesapeake City, MD. Sailboats are not allowed to sail through the canal; they have to be under power. All vessels must travel slowly. cypress water into the canal about 960 feet east of miles, width of 450 feet and depth of wheel, designed the lock. 30 feet. by Merrick en- You don’t have to be an engineer In one corner of the museum, a gineer Barnabas to geek out here. The physical pres- screen displays what the U.S. Army Bartols. ence of these enormous machines is Corps of Engineers canal controllers, Two years like standing next to a locomotive, housed in a building next door, are Two engines, one of which is shown here, flanked a large, later, they added now silent but still emanating a raw checking as they monitor vessels on bucket-bearing wheel that was used to raise the water level a second engine, power that permeates the very walls. the canal. You can see what ships are in the C&D Canal and lock until 1927. and this aggregate By 1906, President Theodore en route, their estimated arrival time of machinery and Roosevelt (who would also have a at Chesapeake City, their length, port the 4th of July, 1829, and the final ac- engineering is the breathtaking heart major influence on the completion of of origin, destination and name. complishment of this great National of this place. the Panama Canal) approved a study You can also walk outside and, work was celebrated on the 17th of Still on their original foundations, into expanding the C&D Canal and standing in front of the machinery October of the same year at which the engines are in separate but con- making it a fully sea level waterway. and reflecting on dreams that harken time the navigation was opened.” joined buildings, with the enormous By 1927, this expansion was finished, back to 1661, watch as those ships Some salient facts are carved into wheel poised in its own thick-walled and since then the canal has contin- pass by, with the dark, fast-flowing the marble: Length 11.3 miles, width chamber between them. Their “walk- ued to be widened, lengthened and water of the C&D Canal barely chang- at waterline 66 feet; width at bottom ing beams” — large, pivoting beams deepened to its present length of 14 ing with their passage. 36 feet; depth of water 10 feet; depth that apply force to the pumps — soar of excavation at summit 76 ½ feet; upward into the second story. Fluted length of Summit Bridge 247 feet — columns hold up Herculean cross- The Chesapeake and Delaware Canal: Past & Present a covered bridge spanning the canal, members, and the various connecting The C&D Canal Museum in Chesapeake City, MD, is open 8 a.m. to itself an engineering marvel— and rods glisten with elegant precision. height above bottom of canal 90 feet; In their individual parts and as a 4 p.m. Monday to Friday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends, April length of locks 100 feet; width of symphonic whole, they are industrial through October. Admission is free, tours are self-guided and there locks, 22 feet. artwork that, providing a combined is plenty of parking. For information, call 410-885-5622. A copy of an original rules book 350 horsepower, operated until May From the museum, it’s an easy to walk to Chesapeake City, a lays out the fees: A hogshead of wine 12, 1927, with only one recorded or rum or other spirits was $1.25, breakdown. destination in and of itself, with waterfront restaurants, shops and while a hogshead of tobacco or beer Between the engines and attached bed-and-breakfasts. To make a weekend of it, spend a day in town was $1; cider, rice or molasses 75 to each by a 13-inch-diameter iron and at the museum, and a second day on the northern side of the cents; every bushel of wheat, peas, axle, is the wheel. Plunging into a 22- canal exploring the C&D Canal Recreational Trail. This newly finished beans or flaxseed a mere 4 cents; and foot deep well, the cypress wheel is 38 waterfront trail is open for walking, bicycling and hiking for 17 miles, barrel of pork, beef or fish 30 cents. feet in diameter and 10 feet wide. Ten encompassing the length of the canal to its original eastern terminus From the start, the canal had buckets built into its circumference problems maintaining the depth are held by 12 segments of cast iron in Delaware City, DE, where the only one of the original four locks is of its channel, and in 1837 the first gear rings whose teeth link into the still in place. For information, visit: pump house at Chesapeake City axle; each weighs 1,860 pounds. l nap.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Chesapeake-Delaware- was built to divert water into the Water from Back Creek was chan- canal from neighboring Back Creek. neled into the well, where the wheel Canal/Canal-History Even this proved inadequate, and in would lift 20,000, or 84.3 tons, of wa- l chesapeakecity.com/cd-canal-recreational-trail 1852 the engineers added a second ter per minute — 1.2 million gallons building, installing a Merrick & per hour. The wheel moved the water l chesapeakecity.com Sons steam engine to run a massive into an upper race which carried it 26 Bay Journal • September 2018

Struggle from page 1 ronmental and watershed groups. “We’re obviously at a tipping point. We know meeting difficult stormwater reduction the stormwater load is increasing across requirements. the region, and climate change is going to Montgomery County’s shortcomings make things worse. are notable because it has been widely “Montgomery County has been a considered a leader in Maryland in leader on clean water,” added Wall, who tackling polluted runoff. It was the first is Maryland and District policy director county in the state, for instance, to levy for the Potomac Conservancy. “From a stormwater cleanup fee on property where we sit, we feel like we’ve come too owners. That “water quality protection far to let it go to waste.” charge” generated funds for retrofitting The County Council balked at approv- storm drains and other “best management ing Leggett’s budget plans for scaling back practices” that would keep sediment and and privatizing the stormwater effort, nutrients from washing off pavement and they overrode his line-item veto of and buildings into local streams and their changes. In July, the council struck a ultimately, the Bay. compromise, which still allows the county But as state officials began figuring administration to farm out a portion of the out how to comply with the “pollution stormwater work to private consultants or diet” that the EPA had put the Bay on in contractors. It also doesn’t spell out how 2010, they decided that they’d need to get the county will pay for all of the $243 Maryland’s older urban and suburban million in projects listed to be done. communities to do more to reduce the Eliza Cava, with the Audubon Natu- amount of nutrients and sediment coming ralist Society, said the compromise isn’t from streets and buildings constructed perfect, but that environmental groups before stormwater controls were required. were pleased it included commitments for Their tool of choice was the “municipal more green infrastructure. separate storm sewer system” permit each The MDE, meanwhile, is still mulling large community must have to discharge Rain gardens, bioswales and other green infrastructure, like this one on a resi- over ways to help the other jurisdictions runoff from storm drains into local water dential Montgomery County street corner, capture runoff and reduce the flow of reach the 20 percent finish line, as well as ways. nutrient-laden stormwater to local streams. Environmental groups worry that as what actions the department will require Montgomery officials call the runoff the county looks to cut costs, streams might suffer if small projects like this get in the next round of stormwater permits, reduction goal set by their 2010 stormwa- dropped.(Montgomery County MD Department of Environmental Protection) due to be issued next year. ter permit “very aggressive.” It required “It’s a challenging issue to deal doing twice as much as the county had less than halfway there, having restored What happens next remains to be seen. with, with many trade-offs,” said the been expected to do — and had achieved stormwater controls on just 1,774 acres. With the discovery that they are closer MDE’s Currey. While some localities — in the previous five years. It called for Two years later, that number had grown, to compliance than previously thought, appear to be on course, others are clearly capturing or treating runoff from 3,778 but was still 25 percent short of the goal. county officials looked to scale back. struggling. And collectively, the state’s acres of the county’s impervious surface State regulators could wait no longer, so Worried that political support for the localities are spending $300 million a year area that was paved or built over before they took enforcement action. cleanup was being worn down, County on the effort. modern stormwater regulations went into County officials say it was just too Executive Ike Leggett called for halting The EPA, in its recent midpoint effect. That’s an area roughly three times much to try to do in such a short time the annual increase in fees. He proposed assessment of states’ Bay cleanup the size of the city of Takoma Park, one of period. In some cases, they point out, reducing the number of projects and efforts, concluded that “while states have the municipalities in the county. community objections delayed proj- farming out management of the stormwa- improved their regulatory programs, Complicating matters, environmental ects, resulting in delays to redesign or ter effort to the private sector. overall loads in this [stormwater] sector groups went to court to challenge the relocate them. That drew criticism from environmen- continue to increase due to population Montgomery permit, arguing it wasn’t “Could we have done better? Could we tal groups. They worried that privatiz- growth and development. Maryland and rigorous enough. They ultimately lost, but have done differently? Possibly,” Dawson ing and cost cutting would lead to the Pennsylvania committed to significant the litigation delayed the official start of said, “but there was no lack of commit- abandonment of “green infrastructure” reductions … and will need to re-evaluate the permit. Montgomery officials didn’t ment and fortitude to meet these require- projects, such as rain gardens, green their strategies to meet the 2025 goals.” wait, though, and began working toward ments, and we didn’t get there. I don’t streets, created wetlands, tree plantings Faced with those challenges, state the permit requirements even before the know what we could have done differ- and other measures that allow rainfall to officials haven’t decided how much lawsuits were resolved. ently to meet that 20 percent requirement soak into the ground or be drawn off by impervious surface treatment to require “When we signed that permit, we took in five years.” vegetation. Those tend to cost more per in the next permits. To help those locali- it very seriously,” said Patty Bubar, the The county’s difficulties prompted acre than large rainfall retention ponds, ties struggling now to get to 20 percent, DEP’s acting director. The county hired a searching internal review. As they but do more to maintain the ecological Currey said they are considering allowing staff to ramp up planning and contract- reviewed what had been done so far, they vitality of streams. some water-quality trading. The state’s ing out the work. It also increased the discovered that the county’s stormwater Critics also questioned the county’s trading regulations have yet to be final- stormwater fee to cover the escalating projects had actually treated runoff from basis for scaling back its stormwater ized but, assuming they will be, localities costs of the growing number of projects. a larger impervious area than previ- effort, noting that officials were project- might then apply nutrient and sediment From an initial annual rate of $12 for a ously thought. They also found that they ing having to deal with runoff from just reductions from another sector, such as typical household, the fee has risen to hadn’t accounted for stormwater control 5 percent of the county’s impervious wastewater, to cover gaps in stormwater $104.25, while some businesses with large measures installed on new development. surface in the next state permit, which has reductions. Such trades would only be buildings or parking lots pay thousands Together, those added 800 acres to the yet to be issued. That’s only a fourth of temporary, he stressed, giving them more of dollars a year. The rising charges total needed. what Montgomery was required to do in time to complete the projects needed to prompted other lawsuits from aggrieved Now, county officials say they are its most recent permit. reduce enough runoff pollution. property owners, two of which are still “very close” to achieving the 20 percent “In this time when we’re seeing a lot “This would allow them to achieve pending. goal and, with 18 projects now in the of progress, we don’t think that now is the equivalent water quality reductions to Well before the deadline rolled around, works, hope to get the remaining 850 the time to let up on any of our work,” avoid that consent decree,” he said, “but it was clear Montgomery was not going acres needed by the end of this year — said Caitlin Wall, chair of the Stormwater we still need to advance stormwater res- to reach its goal. By the time the permit roughly 18 months ahead of the consent Partners Network, a coalition of three toration in these urban areas.… There’s expired in February 2015, the county was decree deadline. dozen local, regional and national envi- still more work to be done.” Bay Journal • September 2018 27 Your donations help us to keep an eagle eye on Bay issues Thanks to Bay Journal Jody & Chad Couser Fund contributors, we’ve Annapolis, MD David & Christie Crane increased our staff, expanded Parksley, VA coverage, added pages and Matthew & Diane Creme are better able to inform the Lancaster, PA public about issues affect- John S. Davis ing the Chesapeake and its Cooperstown, NY watershed. Donations support Gary Davis the Bay Journal and other Bel Alton, MD activities related to Bay Rosemary Dawley Journal Media’s mission to Lubsy, MD expand independent journal- Glenn Dawson Baltimore, MD ism that informs the public Ginny Deise about environmental issues Essex, MD affecting the Chesapeake Bay Edwin Demoney and the mid-Atlantic region. Arlington, VA This includes our Bay Journal Elaine Dickinson News Service, which distrib- Neavitt, MD utes articles and commentar- Paul W. Dillingham, Jr. ies to newspapers throughout Rock Hall, MD the region. Michele Dobson Please help us continue our Bel Air, MD Carol & Bill Durr success! Pasadena, MD Philanthropist Charles Dykema Roy Hock Norfolk, VA Williamsburg, VA Terry Edwards Chesapeake Bay Trust Willow Street, PA Annapolis, MD Jinny C. Estell Heathsville, VA Champion Charlie Conklin A pair of eagles share a loblolly pine along the Blackwater River in Maryland. (Dave Harp) Frank H. Felbaum Glen Arm, MD Ligonier, PA Mike & Cheryl Smith Anthony & Susan Kar Carol & Eli Buskirk Thomas Filip Booster GreenSmith PR Carlisle, PA Harrisburg, PA Ocala, FL Michael & Dana Wheeler Virginia Beach, VA Chantilly, VA Sarah & Charles Lex Paul Bystrak Ingeborg Fisher Farnham, VA Salisbury, MD Charles City, VA Advocate Sponsor Curtis Badger J. C. Rodgers Jean Campbell Paul & Diane Ford Lee & Carol Jacobsen Street, MD Lancaster, VA Melfa, VA Piney Point, MD Glen Arm, MD Julian Shepard Linda & Chuck Carlisle George & Nancy Forlifer Arthur & Katherine Long Nick & Margaret Carter Corriganville, MD Forest Hill, MD Greensboro, MD Binghamton, NY Denver, CO In Honor of Sandy Mr. & Mrs. John G. Combs Ann & Eric Swanson Glenn Carper Benefactor Annapolis, MD from Capt. Francis Michael Walter & Mary Ellen Boynton Rockville, MD Manassas, VA Gambacorra (Ret.) 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Marcy Goldberg Card # _____ Expires: Security Code:  $250–$499 Advocate Reading, PA  Ken Goldsmith Name(s): $500–$999 Booster Raleigh, NC  $1,000–$2,499 Champion Geraldine Gramp Address: Springfield, VA  $2,500–$4,999 Guarantor Michael D. Grimes City, State, Zip Code:  Owings Mills, MD $5,000 & Up Philanthropist Kathleen & John Groutt Is this a memorial? Write name here: Eden, MD Dwayne & Edie Haines Is this in someone’s honor? Write name here: Upper Marlboro, MD  From time to time, the Bay Journal may include a list of its supporters in the print edition. Please check here Barbara Hale Cambridge, MD if you would like your gift to remain anonymous and not be recognized in the Bay Journal. Ridgway Hall Please mail your donations to The Bay Journal Fund, P.O. Box 222, Jacobus, PA 17407-0222 Washington, DC The Bay Journal Fund does not share the names of its donors or their addresses with other organizations. Continued on page 28 28 Bay Journal • September 2018

In Honor of Daniel Siebenhaar ontinued from page 35 John O’Boyle C Arbutus, MD from Dan Siebenhaar Joseph A. Hankins Glen Burnie, MD Shepherdstown, WV Gertrude O’Leary Ambler, PA Darcel Stephan Paul Harvey Virginia Beach, VA Carrollton, VA Philip Olsen Thurmont, MD A. G. Stifel Frederick J. Heagy Glyndon, MD Middletown, PA John Pancake Rockbridge Baths, VA Donnan M. Stoicovy In Honor of Margaret Lorenz Warriors Mark, PA from Kevin Heanue Steve Patten Annapolis, MD Marvin & Andrea Storey Alexandria, VA Laurel, MD Fredrick Heider Timothy J. Peck Parkville, MD Walter Stracke Kensington, MD Rockville, MD Paul Helsey Paulding Phelps Kennett Square, PA Robert Strand Drumore, PA Falls Church, VA James J. Hill Harriette Phelps Greenbelt, MD Charles Sydnor Bowie, MD Heathsville, VA Richard R. Hinch Potapskut Sailing Association Pasadena, MD Neil Tague Sarasota, FL Tunkhannock, PA Diane Hines David Power Timonium, MD William Tanger Germantown, MD Roanoke, VA Ed & Kathie Hoeck Thomas & Sally Price Sperryville, VA In Memory of Tom Thomas, Jr. Heathsville, VA Trip Thomas Diane Hoffman Bill Reilly Wallingford, PA West Chester, PA Annandale, VA Sally Hornor & Thomas J. Caperna Edward Holland James Rhodes Arnold, MD Arlington, VA Arlington, VA Mr. & Mrs. William W. Thompson Beverly Holmberg Charles & Ann Robbins Carlisle, PA Bel Air, MD North, VA Harriett Tinker Joseph Homburger Elizabeth Rosborg New Freedom, PA Arnold, MD Cooperstown, NY Susan & Robert Trice Tom Horton Roberta Schaff Ross Annapolis, MD Alexandria, VA Salisbury, MD David Trubey Valli M. Hoski Steven Russo Baltimore, MD Midlothian, VA York Springs, PA Randy Turner Frank Howard Peggy Sale Thurmont, MD Fredericksburg, VA Annapolis, MD Bruno & Dorothy Vasta John Joyce Jay Sandler Lusby, MD A great egret at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge near Cam- Pipersville, PA Annapolis, MD bridge, MD, patiently waits for dinner to swim by. (Dave Harp) Elizabeth Volmer Christina Kaminski Michael Schaffer Joppa, MD Wilmington, DE Lewes, DE Richard Lewis Steven Miller J. R. Walker Pat & Jim Kelly Joan & Richard Schmidt Glen Burnie, MD Nashville, TN Saint Augustine, FL Bowie, MD Towson, MD William Walters In Honor of Shawn Long William Miller Lawrence Schneider George Kennett from Lorraine Long Cochranville, PA Cobbs Creek, VA Avenue, MD Bethany Beach, DE Baltimore, MD Kathleen & Owen Moe Gerald Wiggen Mary Kilbourne Walt & Mary Sechrist Mechanicsville, MD Rodney Lorence Annville, PA Airville, PA Upper Marlboro, MD Bruce Wiggins Lynchburg, VA Dennis Morris In Honor Of Bud Harding Gary Sergott Harrisonburg, VA Lowell & Marilyn Martin Petersburg, VA Westminster, MD from Cindy King Solomons, MD Carolyn Williams Worton, MD Henry Mortimer Frank Sharpe Fairfax, VA Sherwood Forest, MD Ronald J. Klauda Joan Matthews Burtonsville, MD Bryans Road, MD In Honor of Kenneth & Edna Wilson Prince Frederick, MD David Moulsby O. Shreaves from Jan Wilson Baltimore, MD In Memory of Mary Pat Kyle Dave & Judy Mauriello West Point, VA Annapolis, MD from Amy D. Kyle Severna Park, MD Muddy Run Recreational Park Winston Sibert In Honor of David Harp San Francisco, CA Lloyd Mcallister Holtwood, PA Salisbury, MD from Terry Winter Margaret L’Hommedieu Salisbury, MD Stephen & Alina Muther Eric Silberhorn Baltimore, MD Deale, MD David & Kathryn McCorkle Annapolis, MD Ellicott City, MD Ron Wisniewski Neal & L. Leatherman Lemoyne, PA Anne Nielsen Smalley Family Ruther Glen, VA Glen Rock, PA James & Laura McGowan Centreville, MD Hilton, NY Ruth Young Ernest Lehman Onancock, VA George Nitzel Ellen Smith Horseheads, NY Alexandria, VA In Memory of Tom Thomas, Jr. White Marsh, MD Glenville, PA Gene Lepley Trip Thomas Wilson Nobles, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Robert P. Solem Richmond, VA Wallingford, PA Hallieford, VA Laurel, MD Continued on page 29 Thank You To These Philanthropic Donors The Curtis and Edith Munson Foundation Bay Journal • September 2018 29

Continued from page 28 Richard & Vicki Budden Chestertown, MD Frances & Richard Younger Bob Burns Lusby, MD Bethesda, MD Edward Joell & Yvonne Irvin Rita Buschman Indian Head, MD Glen Rock, PA Vincent Zabrucky Arthur Bussiere Boonsboro, MD Virginia Beach, VA Dr. & Mrs. Lawrence C. Zacharias Phil Capron Richmond, VA Hunt Valley, MD In Memory of Dianne Raff Vicente & Karen Carag from Mark Zadrozny Rising Sun, MD McKees Rocks, PA Cindy Carmichael Joseph A. Zinner Perry Hall, MD Ellicott City, MD In Memory of Victor Liscinsky Becky Robinson & Nick DiPasquale Chestertown, MD from F. Jean Capets Monroeville, PA Nancy Wottrich & Bruce McNaught New Milford, PA Sarah P. Carr Tunkhannock, PA George & Marion Brewington Milford, DE Jeffrey Catts Washington, DC Kyle Woodley & Ingrid Velasquez Gaithersburg, MD Dave Cavanaugh Alexandria, VA Arthur Smith & Betsy Mccaul Baltimore, MD Carl F. Cerco Clinton, MS Friend Jack Chesser Tom & Vickie Carter Upper Marlboro, MD Newark, DE Tom Christovich Margo Bloxom Catonsville, MD Chincoteague Island, VA Jonathan Clarke Mark M. Getz Adelphi, MD Fleetwood, PA This placid scene at Two Johns Landing on the Choptank River, with daylilies adding a splash of Mr. & Mrs. William P. Cleveland Tim Goodfellow Alexandria, VA Gaithersburg, MD color to an overall green palette, was taken just moments before an otter suddenly appeared and bit the elbows of the photographer in his kayak. (Dave Harp) Karl Huber John & Bette Coursey Richmond, VA Thurmont, MD Bill Enselman Ben Miller Patti & John Alli Kitty Cox Mr. & Mrs. Marc Imlay Falls Church, VA Annapolis, MD Catonsville, MD Bryans Road, MD King William, VA Ralph Eshelman Glenn Morrson Dennis Allison Robert & Mary Crafton Frank Mastro Lusby, MD Quarryville, PA Hampton, VA North Abington Township, PA Grasonville, MD Michael Gardner Clifford & Miranda Nelson Philip Anderson Peggy Brosnan & Dave Linthicum Margaret Robinson Harrisonburg, VA Berryville, VA Church Creek, MD Marydel, MD Lothian, MD Richard W. Gilpin Evelyn Petery Asmare Atalay Norman Dean Fran & Fred Adams Baltimore, MD Lewisburg, PA Hopewell, VA Virginia Beach, VA Berkeley Springs, WV Paul Gormley Thomas H. Pheiffer Miriam Avins George Dean Robert Filippi Baltimore, MD Annapolis, MD Baltimore, MD Baltimore, MD Montross, VA Janet Griffith Kathleen Phillips Freeman G. Bagnall Richard Dempster Earle Hatton Selbyville, DE Arnold, MD Delmar, MD Reston, VA Lago Vista, TX Lew Gross Bonnie & Phillip Pierce Larry Baker Pat Devlin Mr. & Mrs. Robert Jones Culpeper, VA Cambridge, MD Owings Mills, MD Falls Church, VA Dillsburg, PA William Hartzell David A. Prescott Denah Barbe David Leathery Fort Washington, MD Alice F. Dorshow Stevensville, MD Orrtanna, PA Boiling Springs, PA Catonsville, MD Elizabeth & James Heim Terry P. Reck Felix Bashinsky Alfred Petruccy Mahanoy Plane, PA Betsy Sener Durham Severna Park, MD Catonsville, MD Dover, PA Church Hill, MD In Honor of Mike Burke Ann Ray Patricia Holobaugh Tom & Karen Riley In Memory of Kilby Joe Edwards, Sr. Greenbelt, MD Ocean View, DE from Brenda R. Beazley Shady Side, MD Palmyra, VA from Dot Edwards Greg Rider John D. Humphreys Edward Ruskowsky Locust Hill, VA Eastville, VA Hollywood, MD Thomas R. Bender, Jr. Severna Park, MD Bellefonte, PA Bart Elfman Dawn L. Vangrin John Jensen John Sawyer Newport News, VA Aylett, VA Locust Grove, VA Nancy Bernhardt Chestertown, MD Media, PA In Memory of William H. Ellett Paul Amtower Bob Jones Mr. & Mrs. Paul Schuette from Kathleen Ellett Washington, DC Silver Spring, MD Steve Blanks Annapolis, MD Kensington, MD Roanoke, VA Kenny Beach Richard C. Karney Robert Stewart Tilly Jo Emerson Vineyard Haven, MA Onancock, VA Bernard & Josephine Bodt Morristown, NJ Newark, DE Churchville, MD Capt. John Beach Joseph J. Lentz, Jr. Harry Stokes Becky Farmer Catonsville, MD Gettysburg, PA Gretchen Boeren Mount Airy, MD Chesapeake Beach, MD Roanoke, VA John Beckner Marie Lerch John Streb Beverly Feig Kensington, MD Pasadena, MD George & Peggy Bogdan Owings Mills, MD Colonial Beach, VA Baltimore, MD Heather Supeck Janet & Harold Butler Brian MacElroy In Memory of Francesca Borrelli Theodore Feitshans Pottstown, PA Pasadena, MD North East, MD from Dr. & Mrs. Niel Borrelli Raleigh, NC Tanya Cohen Bill Mattimore Dean & Peggy Troyer Westminster, MD Rachel & Craig Flanagan York, PA Easton, MD Norfolk, VA In Memory of Paul Brooks Lusby, MD Sandra Collins Karen Mayne Leo J. Vollme from Paul R. Brooks Sharon Foley Kingstowne, VA Norfolk, VA Kennedyville, MD Cambridge, MD Mount Crawford, VA Edward Crizer Jim McMahon Barry Williams Marilyn Brown John & Susan Ford Dundalk, MD Burtonsville, MD Pasadena, MD Pensacola, FL Maryland, NY Bob & Peggie Cunningham Holly Meyer David Adamson Warren Lee Brown Peter L. Freeman Gore, VA Silver Spring, MD Gloucester, VA Annapolis, MD Catonsville, MD Tom Dulz Clyde A. Miller Clara J. Ailes Gary & Susan Bryde Carl Fritz Artemas, PA Falls Church, VA Springfield, VA Hockessin, DE Camp Hill, PA 30 Bay Journal • September 2018

Commentary • Letters • Perspectives Floodorum of 10 million trees could help offset impact of future PA deluges By HFarry Campbell Veteran newspaper photographer John Pavoncello has been eye-to-eye with all kinds of human drama. In the short time his drone imaging business has been up and running, Pavoncello has gone above and beyond to record traumas faced by fire and law enforcement first responders. But it was the sight of nature’s powerful force that he called “crazy.” Pavoncello was contracted by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation to fly his camera over a portion of the lower Susquehanna River after a week of relentless rainstorms in late July. Pavoncello has seen the river at its beautiful best in spring, and bulging with damaging ice flows in winter. But never like this. The Susquehanna was an angry, swollen, chocolate-colored torrent. “You just don’t get the perspective standing along the bank,” Pavoncello said, thinking back on the magnitude of roiling, brown water. This aerial perspective of the deluge of runoff illustrates powerfully the urgency that more solutions must be found on the ground. It just so happens that one of the most The Susquehanna was a swollen, chocolate-colored torrent after rainstorms in late July. (Pavoncello Media) ambitious and challenging efforts to reduce the pollutant payload that flows among the most cost-effective tools for of forested buffers to be planted volunteers maintained their plantings into the Susquehanna and other com- cleaning and protecting waterways. The in Pennsylvania’s portion of the by carrying water to seedlings during monwealth waterways is taking root. canopy and deep roots allow rain to soak Chesapeake Bay watershed. Adding 10 a heat wave. The Keystone 10 Million Trees into the soil, stabilizing streambanks, million new trees alongside streams, The effort’s partners will add more Partnership is a collaborative effort, improving soil quality and keeping streets and other priority landscapes trees from September through November. coordinated by the CBF, to add 10 mil- streams cool for fish like brook trout. would accelerate the Keystone State In 2019, the partnership hopes to lion trees to Pennsylvania’s landscape The partnership, launched in April, toward its clean water goals, achieving nearly double its impact. That means before the end of 2025. has galvanized national, regional, as much as two-thirds of the 95,000- that 50 planting partners will engage Trees alongside streams and streets are state and local agencies, conservation acre goal. at 100 planting sites, 3,000 volunteers organizations, watershed groups, Special emphasis has been placed on will be mobilized and 50,000 trees will conservancies, outdoors enthusiasts, planting trees in the southcentral Penn- go into the ground next spring. businesses and individuals. sylvania counties of Lancaster, York, Benefits from the trickle-down effect ChesapeakeAnswers Challenge to In the partnership’s first month, Adams, Cumberland and Franklin. of so many plantings extend beyond the Sharp as a needle? This bald about 1,500 volunteers and the CBF’s All are thriving agricultural regions, cleaner water that flows from them. cypress quiz is for you restoration specialists planted 31,000 which contribute the greatest amount of The need for so many trees, tubes, on page 38. trees at more than 50 locations. pollutants that flow into the Bay. stakes and other supplies has also pro- 1. D 2. D 3. C 4. D 5. C 6. A The Arbor Day Foundation, along Response to the spring season of vided an economic boost to nurseries and 7. C 8. D 9. D 10. Amphibians with Pennsylvania Departments of tree plantings has been encourag- other companies that can supply them. / Use for spawning or nursery Agriculture, Conservation and Natural ing. Additional groups in and out of As for the mighty, muddy Susque- grounds; Catfish / Take refuge Resources, and Environmental Protec- Pennsylvania’s portion of the Bay hanna, there may not be enough trees amid submerged roots; Squirrels tion, are among the partners. watershed have been asking to join the to withstand such an unusual force of / Eat the seeds; Wood ducks / The commonwealth is significantly partnership. nature as seen through John Pavoncel- Nest in the trunk behind in meeting its pollution- That’s good, as planting 10 million lo’s lens. But the lasting images should reduction commitments and the Key- trees by the end of 2025 will take be a reminder that consequences stone 10 Million Tree Partnership can many hands. downstream could be less “crazy” if Bay Buddies jump-start efforts to close the gap. Between planting seasons, summer more trees are working upstream. Answers to Bald Cypress on page 38 Roughly 19,000 miles of Pennsylva- months were for maintaining trees To learn about the Keystone 10 1. Swamp 2. Knees 3. Redwood nia’s rivers and streams are impaired already planted. Million Trees Partnership, visit 4. Hummock 5. Cones 6. Widen by polluted runoff and the legacy of Partners in Pequea Park, Lancaster TenMillionTrees.org. 7. Heartwood 8. Sweet gum 9. coal mining. County were successful, losing just Harry Campbell is the Chesapeake Persimmon 10. Ovenbird The commonwealth’s Clean Water three of 200 larger trees planted. Bay Foundation’s Pennsylvania execu- Blueprint calls for about 95,000 acres Conodoguinet Creek Watershed tive director. Bay Journal • September 2018 31

Commentary • Letters • Perspectives Whetherorum they’re coming or going, all Chesapeake islands have a tale to tell ByF Tom Horton of islands. I always joke to the owner that he runs The essential landform around the the world’s best store in a Chesapeake Bay is peninsular, from town of 42 people. Virginia’s Northern Neck between the And that, as much as Potomac and Rappahannock to virtu- erosion and sea level rise, ally all of Calvert County, MD, and the is Smith’s problem. Its Broadneck and Mayo peninsulae of people are dying, leaving Anne Arundel. And there’s the mother — and it’s not so simple of them all, Delmarva. as clean up the Bay and And yet the “insulae” — the Bay they’ll stay, though fish- islands — are what intrigue us most, ing’s their livelihood. A even if they are insignificant acreages lot of what’s reduced the compared to the “pen” (from Latin for islandwide population to “almost”) islands. Perhaps it’s their less than 200 is simply historic isolation/insulation from the people seeking a broader wider world that ensorcels us. Some- margin for their lives. thing interesting, different, mysterious Federal and state gov- must be going on out there. ernment, ironically, have So it is that my colleagues at Salis- just put tens of millions bury University and I choose every of bucks into holding off year to cap our monthlong summer erosion here for a while kayak class by paddling and camping longer — a good thing, with students through Bay islands but meanwhile you can from Poplar, in sight of the Bay Bridge, count on your fingers the to Tangier, across the Virginia line. little kids growing up Being islands, they all have their here. unique stories. Lessons attached to By Friday, we were an island are more memorable. Just headed into Tangier getting to islands is an attainment. Poplar Island’s restored salt marshes, including this low marsh, are starting to attract wildlife. Island, the last stop of our Monday was Poplar, a pleasant (Leo Miranda / U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service) little paddling semester. 3-mile paddle from the Talbot county Trump flags were flapping main. By the 1990s, Poplar had eroded Bay froze and the cats, cut off from in the breeze beneath Old Glory on sev- to 5 acres — from nearly 2,000 in their supply of fish from the mainland, eral homes and crab shanties. A year ago, the early 1600s. Reclaiming it was scampered off across the ice. the president famously called Tangier’s unthinkable, some said, and would But it is the island’s future that is mayor and assured him the island’s future have cost a billion bucks. truly remarkable: I call it “creation” was secure. And then, Maryland banned the biology, as opposed to more conven- But assurances haven’t turned dumping of the silt removed constantly tional restoration or conservation into money for rock, which Tangier’s from shipping channels to the Port of biology. We’re starting with a clean 400–500 people need desperately to Baltimore back into the Bay. What to do slate, choosing what landscapes to stave off erosion that could end them with mountains of dredged spoil? Poplar make and which creatures to favor. within another couple of decades. Still, beckoned — a massive spoil contain- Playing God just a bit. And that can their community is holding together ment dike and a federal-state project to be complicated. Great horned owls, better than those of Smith Island, restore it for wildlife has resulted. consummate predators, have had to be and it’s clear that a lot of the younger Construction began 17 years ago “controlled” from flying over from the Chesapeake Born crowd will try to remain islanders. and won’t stop until the island reaches mainland and snacking on other bird Some of them have heard of Poplar about 3 square miles, close to what species that managers are trying to under the waves just a few years back. Island: “It’s a good thing to do for John Smith sailed by in 1608. We jump-start on Poplar. Saltwater intrusion assured us plenty wildlife … but $700 million there and paddled in through a curious land- All of this hasn’t cost a billion of dead trees for our campfire. nothing for us?” scape: lush wetlands, barren uplands bucks — yet. But it’ll end up close. We slogged through the salt marsh Faith in Trump, for whom most of where a forest will eventually grow, And given Baltimore’s never-ending to pay our respects at the only cem- Tangier voted, remains strong. But giant cranes adding massive boulders dredging needs, there are plans to etery that hasn’t gone in the Bay yet. a woman who has worked long and to the dikes, construction equipment “Poplarize” more eroding Bay islands, Marble and granite stones spoke of a hard for a Tangier seawall confessed rumbling past ecologists measuring starting with James, at the mouth of prosperous community, but it would she’d begun thinking something truly the success of this summer’s nesting the Little Choptank; and after that, have taken a Poplar-scale effort to hold unthinkable: “I wish I was a Mary- of diamondback terrapins (hugely Barren, off Upper Hoopers Island. back the Bay that was their livelihood lander … at least they are willing to successful). Tuesday, we launched from lower and their ending. spend to keep their islands there.” Poplar’s past is interesting enough, Dorchester County and made about Wednesday, we reached Smith Tom Horton has written about the a thriving community, even a retreat 12 miles before thunderstorms forced Island, where a freshly baked eight- Chesapeake Bay for more than 40 for U.S. presidents. Around 1847, us to hunker down for the night on the layer chocolate cake and luscious years, including eight books. He lives it was the site of a black cat farm last remnant of Holland Island. Hol- third-of-a-pound crab cakes awaited us in Salisbury, where he is a professor destined to supply the Chinese fur land’s last people left about a century at the Drum Point Market in Tylerton, of Environmental Studies at Salisbury demand. That didn’t work out. The ago. The last old remaining house went the southernmost town in this cluster University. 32 Bay Journal • September 2018

Commentary • Letters • Perspectives We can’torum improve the Bay’s water quality without addressing manure By LFynton S. Land ≈ Commercial Seafood Landings: Despite decades of concern, National Marine beginning seriously with the passage Fishers Service data of the Clean Water Act in 1977, show landings for all water quality improvement in the commercial species, Chesapeake Bay after 40 years is excepting striped disappointingly small. bass and menhaden Most of the action has been because they are focused on reducing urban point- regulated, to be source pollution. The reason steadily decreasing water quality has not improved after the initiation significantly is simple. The largest of data collection in source of pollution, inefficient 1950. crop fertilization, has never been A similar, albeit meaningfully addressed. That anecdotal, argument conclusion applies to water bodies can be made for worldwide, including the Great Lakes recreational fishing. and the Gulf of Mexico. Decreasing fish Farmers, supported by the populations reflect powerful agricultural lobby, seek changes in benthic to maximize their harvest (profit) and pelagic food without paying for the pollution they sources, including cause. Society benefits from the cheap more harmful algal food they produce. Most of the grain Source: Maryland Department of Planning blooms caused by produced in the Bay watershed feeds nutrient overload. animals raised for meat, not humans. condition that supported a few stated, “eelgrass area has declined 29 Most menhaden are now being At least four metrics can be used to native communities. Improvement percent in total since 1991, with wide- caught offshore and fewer are caught gauge Bay water quality. is possible, but not restoration. Use ranging and severe ecological and in the Bay. One can argue that the ≈ Sea Grass Abundance: Recently, of the word “restoration” should economic consequences. Declining same water quality issues that cause seagrass — submerged vegetation, or always raise the red flag of unrealistic clarity has gradually reduced eelgrass reduced commercial landings of SAV — beds exceeded 100,000 acres, expectations. cover the past two decades, primarily other species in the Bay also apply to as was reported with great glee. Plus, nobody is certain that the in deeper beds where light is already menhaden in the Bay, and are not the But we need to be realistic. Some recent improvement in SAV acreage limiting. In shallow beds, however, result of overfishing. believe the Bay once had about is permanent; SAV acreage has reduced visibility exacerbates the Two of the four metrics seem 600,000 acres of SAV. In the mid- flip-flopped in the past. Additionally, physiological stress of acute warming, to document slight improvement 1980s, acreage had declined to less most of the recent SAV increase is leading to recent instances of decline in water quality. This is hardly than 40,000, which has now slightly from low– or intermediate-salinity approaching 80 percent.” surprising based on all of the money more than doubled. species, while eelgrass — the most ≈ Water Clarity: The famous that has been spent to reduce nutrient We can never “restore” 600,000 critical species in the Lower Bay — “Bernie Fowler Wade-In” or “sneaker pollution. It demonstrates that acres of SAV because the Bay can continues to decline. A 2017 paper in index” — the depth in inches below reducing nutrient pollution does result never revert to its original forested the journal Global Change Biology the surface where his white sneakers in water quality improvement. But we can no longer be seen — may not are a very long way from where we seem very scientific, but has been need to be. heralded by National Aeronautics What must be done to ensure and Space Administration as being that all of the metrics improve a reasonably accurate yardstick. significantly, indisputably and (See NASA scientists deem Fowler’s permanently? The answer is the same wade-in data out of this world, June worldwide — fertilize more efficiently 2017.) Meanwhile, increased water so crops use more of the applied clarity is unproven. nutrients, thus reducing environmental ≈ Volume of the Dead Zone: A nitrogen and phosphorus pollution. 2011 study concluded “Evaluation of All scientific publications stress a 60-year record of hypoxic volumes that continued nutrient reduction is demonstrated significant increases necessary if additional Bay water in early summer hypoxia (low quality improvement is to be realized. oxygen), but a slight decrease in late Reduced nutrient pollution cannot summer hypoxia.” A small decrease continue to focus on urban areas. That in the volume of anoxic water in late low-hanging (expensive) fruit has summer was confirmed in a 2018 already been picked. study. But the volume of the dead Reducing pollution from chemical zone remains huge in summer, and crop fertilization is necessary, the improvement, if it persists, is Source: National Marine Fisheries Service, Lynton Land, Ph.D. small. Manure continues on page 33 Bay Journal • September 2018 33

Commentary • Letters • Perspectives

Manure from page 32 orum Virginia’s anthropogenic nitrogen pollution etter to the ditor although many complex issues are (millions of pounds) L E involved.F How many people know that conventional chemical fertilization 1985 2009 2017 Time to take efficiency is typically no better than about 65 percent when the fertilizer is Wastewater 38 23 13 out the trash applied at the time of planting? Returning to Port Deposit on May Fertilizer application should Developed Land 7 10 11 25 after a week on the Chesapeake closely match plants’ needs Bay, we were met by the inevitable throughout the growth cycle. This has Septic 1 2 2 river of mud. After all, it had rained a been expressed as the “4 Rs” – apply Agriculture – chemical 12 10 10 lot in the preceding week throughout fertilizer from the Right source at the the Susquehanna watershed, and now Right rate, at the Right time and in Agriculture – manure 12 10 10 the river flow was observable far into the Right place. the Bay itself. That is easier said than done. Natural 14 13 12 What was not inevitable — nor Applying fertilizer in increments should it be — is that the river of mud as the plants grow is more efficient Total 84 68 58 included trash: more trash than I have than a single-application at the time Based on the EPA’s and author’s estimates, nutrient pollution from agriculture can ever seen outside of a landfill. of planting. Controlled- (timed-, be traced equally between chemical fertilization and the land application of organic Clearly, this was trash that had delayed-, stabilized-, encapsulated- fertilizers (poultry litter, animal manure, sewage sludge). Nutrient pollution from accumulated behind the Conowingo or slow-) release fertilizers can wastewater treatment plants has decreased significantly and is responsible for nearly Dam, and now it was free to go significantly increase fertilization all of the reduction to date. Crop fertilization remains responsible for most of action- wherever or be ingested by whatever. efficiency, but they are more able nutrient pollution in Virginia and has changed little in the last three decades. Apparently, the dam operators push expensive. Could they be subsidized? this trash aside as it accumulates at the Chemical crop fertilization will in order to be available to the crop. nation’s phosphorus reserves will dam from upstream sources. always be “leaky,” but it can be Nothing can be done to change be exhausted within the lifetimes While this is not trash that Exelon made much more efficient. Modern that or to increase the efficiency of of children being born today. Land produces, the opportunity to remove encapsulated fertilizer, on-the-go the fertilizer. When sewage sludge application is currently the cheapest it from the river while it is trapped variable rate applicators and strains is applied to land in Virginia, it way to dispose of manure, but only behind the dam exists. of grain that scavenge nutrients and is assumed that 30 percent of the because the cost of pollution is not If removing trash buildup behind use less water can raise fertilization nitrogen will be available to the crop. accounted for. the dam is not part of the dam’s efficiency considerably. Rotating a Most of the remaining 70 percent Urban areas bear most of the burden operating agreement, it should be. variety of crops, producing biofuels of the nitrogen causes pollution, of Bay nutrient reduction because If it is part of that plan, then it from perennial crops instead of corn amounting to hundreds of pounds of wastewater and stormwater are wasn’t — and perhaps isn’t — being as well as requiring riparian buffers nitrogen per acre. regulated. Bay water quality can only carried out. can also considerably reduce nutrient The phosphorus “cap” is astronomi- improve significantly when the largest Karl L. Huber pollution. cal, so all of the phosphorus is dis- source of pollution, crop fertilization, Richmond, VA The 2005 Virginia Cooperative posed whether the crop needs it or not. becomes much more efficient. Extension On-Farm Corn Test Plots Lawmakers are obviously more con- The easiest way to advance that Report documents an average yield cerned with the profits of the manure goal is to limit the disposal of manure of 174 bushels of grain per acre using producers and a very few farmers than by land application to the phosphorus Let Us Know 192 pounds of nitrogen fertilizer they are about water quality. They needs of the crop. Disposing of The Bay Journal for an efficiency of 64 percent. In need to be held accountable. phosphorus in excess of crop needs welcomes letters pertaining the 2015 report, yields increase to Current permissive and complex guarantees pollution while protecting 214 bushels per acre using only regulations that permit phosphorus the profits of the manure producers. to Chesapeake Bay issues. 168 pounds of nitrogen fertilizer disposal in excess of crop needs Every study concludes that the Letters should be no more for an efficiency of 89 percent. The are merely excuses for cheap waste worth of a healthier Bay based on than 400 words. Send letters extent to which these “test plots” disposal and should be replaced by the value of seafood, recreation and to: Editor, Bay Journal, reflect average fields is unknown, something simple, like “The land property far exceeds the worth of the 619 Oakwood Drive, Seven but the data show conclusively that application of poultry litter, sludge most highly polluting agricultural Valleys, PA 17360-9395. a significant increase in chemical and manure shall be limited to entities. Anyone, including E-mail letters to: bayjournal@ fertilization efficiency is possible. The supplying the phosphorus needs of nongovernmental organizations and fertilization efficiency of small grain the crop, based on a soil analysis for elected officials, who wants real earthlink.net test plots also increased over the same phosphorus.” improvement in Bay water quality Letter writers should include decade, from 57 percent to 76 percent. This waste can be a source of should actively advance the strategy a phone number where they If the efficiency of chemical methane (natural gas) that will not to ban manure. can be reached. Longer fertilization can be improved and contribute to global warming, even Unless there is a groundswell of commentaries should be point source pollution has been from a properly designed landfill. focused opposition to the most easily arranged in advance with the reduced nearly as much as is An excellent example is the District addressed source of substantial Bay editor. Call: 717-428-2819. reasonable, the massive pollution of Columbia’s gigantic Blue Plains pollution, the land application of from the disposal of manure by Advanced Wastewater Treatment manure will continue for the usual Views expressed are those land application remains. Manure Plant, where methane produced from political reasons, and improvements in of the writers and do not is an extremely inefficient fertilizer sludge provides a third of their power. Bay water quality will remain small. necessarily reflect those of because the nutrients nitrogen and Phosphorus must be recovered Lynton S. Land, Ph.D., lives the Bay Journal or Bay phosphorus must be released from from the waste rather than squandered in Ophelia, VA. His website is Journal Media. organic compounds by microbes and cause pollution because the VABayBlues.org. 34 Bay Journal • September 2018

dirty. Registration required. Info: 571-379- bridge the information gap by taking 8213, [email protected]. a selfie from their backyard or nearby WorkdayMake sure that when Wisdom you participate stream. Info: iwla.org/streamselfie. Adopt-a-Stream program The Prince William Soil & Water Con- in cleanup or invasive plant removal Ruth Swann Park servation District in Manassas, VA, wants workdays to protect the Chesapeake Help the Maryland Native Plant to ensure that stream cleanup volunteers Bay watershed and its resources that Society, Sierra Club and Chapman Forest have all of the support and supplies they you also protect yourself. Organizers Foundation 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. the second need for trash removal. Participating of almost every workday strongly urge Saturday in September, October and Volunteer Opportunities groups receive an Adopt-A-Stream sign their volunteers to wear long pants, November remove invasive plants at Ruth from the PWC Public Works Depart- long-sleeved shirts, socks and closed-toe Swann Park in Bryans Road. Meet at Ruth Report stranded marine life Since 1990, Maryland’s Stranding ment in recognition of their stewardship. shoes (hiking or waterproof). This helps Swann Park-Potomac Branch Library Response Program has documented To learn more, adopt a stream or get a to minimize skin exposure to poison ivy parking lot. Bring lunch. Info: Marc Imlay strandings of 25 marine mammal species proposed site, visit and ticks, which might be found at the at [email protected], 301-283-0808, (301- and four sea turtle species. On aver- [email protected]. site. Light-colored clothing also makes 442-5657 day of event). Carpoolers meet it easier to spot ticks. Hats are strongly at the Sierra Club MD Chapter office at age, 40–70 protected marine animals Occoquan River cleanup are found each year in the Bay and its recommended. Although some events 9 a.m., return at 5 p.m. Carpool contact: Join Friends of the Occoquan for a Fall Laurel Imlay at 301-277-7111. tributaries as well as the Atlantic coast. Lower Occoquan River Cleanup 9 a.m. provide work gloves, not all do; ask Anyone who comes upon a stranded to noon Oct. 13. Boaters are needed to when registering. Adopt-a-Stream program marine mammal or sea turtle should help assist at sites along waterways. Bring Events near water require closed-toe The Prince William Soil & Water Con- call the Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle a refillable water bottle. Contact 703-624- shoes and clothing that can get wet or servation District in Manassas, VA, wants Stranding Hotline at 800-628-9944. Once 7124. Here are the contacts for those who muddy. stream cleanup volunteers to have all of the biologists find and collect the specimen, wish to register at a particular location: Always bring water. Sunscreen and support and supplies they need. Participat- staff gather data that helps inform policies ≈ Lake Ridge Marina in Lake Ridge: an insect repellent designed to repel both ing groups receive an Adopt-A-Stream sign on the conservation and protection of Renate Vanegas, 703-674-6659. deer ticks and mosquitoes help. from PWC Public Works Department to these animals. All marine mammals — ≈ Town of Occoquan: Julie Little, Lastly, most organizers ask that recognize of their stewardship. To learn dolphins, manatees, porpoises, seals and 703-491-2168. volunteers register ahead of time. more, adopt a stream or get a proposed whales — are federally protected under ≈ Bull Run Marina in Clifton: German Knowing how many people are going site, email [email protected]. the Marine Mammal Protection Act, to show up ensures that they will have Vanegas, 703-624-7124. VA Master Naturalist training which prohibits the interaction, feeding ≈ Fountain Head Park in Fairfax Sta- enough tools and supervisors. They can The Prince William County (VA) and harassment of live animals, as well as tion: Sonia Monson, 703-581-5487. also give directions to the site or offer Master Naturalist Merrimac Farm Chap- interaction and collection of parts from ≈ Occoquan Regional Park in Lorton: any suggestions for apparel or gear not ter needs volunteers interested in the dead, stranded animals. Additionally, sea John Houser, 703-690-2121. mentioned here. stewardship of natural areas, trail & stream turtles, whales and manatees are listed as rehabilitation, and water quality monitor- either threatened or endangered under the North Fork Broad Run Help to monitor the water quality ing. Volunteers can lead educational Endangered Species Act. Violating these All ages. Help to count broad-winged programs or assist scientists in plant and laws can result in fines, imprisonment and of North Fork Broad Run 10:30 a.m. to hawks as they migrate through the valley. 1:30 p.m. Sept. 15 at Links Pond Circle in animal surveys. Training covers ecology, confiscation of property. No registration. geology, soils, native flora & fauna and Gainesville, VA. Info: Veronica Tangiri at ≈ Drop in Gardening: 9 a.m.–12 p.m. Howard County Conservancy [email protected]. habitat management. The fee is $200; The Howard County Conservancy in Sept. 22 & 29. Children’s Garden. Indi- a scholarship is available. Volunteers Woodstock and Elkridge, MD, needs adult York County (PA) Parks viduals/families, ages 13+ Gloves, tools, commit to 40 volunteer hours a year. Info: volunteers to lead groups of elementary Upcoming volunteer opportunities at water provided. Bring a hat, sunscreen. merrimacfarmvmn.weebly.com/. and secondary students on hikes around York County, PA, parks include: No registration. Info: 410-887-2503, info@ the conservancy grounds and assist them ≈ Raab Park, Seven Valleys: 9 a.m.–12 cromwellvalleypark.org. Floatable monitoring program p.m. Sept. 22. Trail work. The Prince William Soil & Water in hands-on activities. Field trips usually Magruder Woods Conservation District in Manassas, VA, take place from 9 a.m. to early afternoon ≈ Nixon Park, York: 9–11:30 a.m. & Help Friends of Magruder Woods 9 2:30–4 p.m. Oct. 6. Habitat tree plantings. needs volunteers to help assess and Monday through Friday. Elementary a.m. to 1 p.m. the third Saturday in Sep- trace trash in streams as part of an effort training sessions take place 9 a.m. to 12:30 Preregistration is required. Contact: tember, October and November remove [email protected], 717-840-7440. to reduce nonpoint source pollutants p.m. Sept. 12, 19 & 26; the secondary invasive plants in the forested swamp in in urbanized and industrialized areas training session runs 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Little Paint Branch Park Hyattsville, MD. Meet at the farthest end in relation to the County’s Municipal Sept. 11. Preregistration is recommended Help the Maryland-National Capital of the parking lot. Info: Marc Imlay at Separate Storm Sewers (MS4) permit. but drop-ins are fine. You need not attend Park and Planning Commission remove [email protected], 301-283-0808, Cleanup supplies are provided. Info: all of the sessions. Info: 410-465-8877, invasive species 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. the (301-442-5657 the day of event); or Col- [email protected]. [email protected]. last Saturday in September, October and leen Aistis at 301-985-5057. November at Little Paint Branch Park in Anita Leight Estuary Center CBL Visitor Center Beltsville. Learn about native plants. Sign American Chestnut Land Trust Anita Leight Estuary Center in Abing- Volunteer docents, ages 16 & older, The American Chestnut Land Trust in in for a safety orientation. Gloves and ton, MD, needs volunteers for: are needed at the Chesapeake Biological Prince Frederick, MD, needs volunteers tools are provided. Info: Marc Imlay at ≈ Plankton Monitoring Studies: 10 Laboratory’s Visitor Center on Solomons for invasive plant removal workdays 9–11 Island, MD. Volunteers must commit to 301-442-5657, [email protected]. a.m.–12 p.m. Sept. 12, 19 & 26. Adults. a.m. Thursdays and 10 a.m.–12 p.m. Help collect, identify, analyze plankton a minimum of two, 3– to 4-hour shifts Wednesdays. All ages (16 & younger w/ each month in the spring, summer and Cromwell Valley Park samples. Call the center for training. Cromwell Valley Park near Towson, adult) are welcome. Training, tools and ≈ Invasinators: 2:30–4:30 p.m. Sept. fall. Training sessions are required. Info: MD, needs volunteers for: water are provided. Preregistration is [email protected]. 22. Ages 14+ Help to remove invasive ≈ Habitat Restoration Team / Weed required. Info: 410-414-3400, acltweb.org, plants, plant native species. Wear sturdy Bull Run stream cleanup Warrior Days: 2–4 p.m. Sept. 15, 22 & 26; [email protected]. shoes, long sleeves, work gloves. Info: Help the Merrimac Farm Master Oct. 3, 13 & 20. All ages, 12 & younger 410-612-1688, 410-879-2000 x1688, Naturalists, Friends of the Square and w/adult. Help remove invasive species, Prince William Ploggers Join the Prince William (VA) Ploggers, otterpointcreek.org. Keep Prince William Beautiful 9 a.m. to 12 plant natives and maintain restored a volunteer corps of joggers who pick up p.m. Oct. 13 as they clean up the stream habitat. Service hours are available. Meet Resources behind the Manassas (VA) Costco that at Sherwood House parking lot. No litter. Contact: Lynda Kummelt at 571-285- 3772; [email protected]. 5 MD libraries offer fishing gear flows into Bull Run. Student community registration. Info: Laurie Taylor-Mitchell at The Maryland Department of Natural service hours are available. Light refresh- [email protected]. Snap a stream selfie Resources’ Aquatic Resources Education ments will be served. Volunteers should ≈ Hawk Watch Weekend: 9 a.m. Sept. Water quality in 80 percent of U.S. wear shoes (boots preferable) that can get 15 & 16. Willow Grove Hawk Watch Site. streams is unknown. Volunteers can help Bulletin continues on page 35 Bay Journal • September 2018 35

MD weekly fishing report Learn what fish are biting where in Maryland through summaries written by Submission Guidelines experts at news.maryland.gov/dnr/tag/ The Bay Journal regrets it is not always months in advance. See below. weekly-fishing-report. able to print every notice it receives ≈ Submissions to Bulletin Board must be National water resource surveys because of space limitations. Priority is sent either as a Word or Pages document, The U.S. Environmental Protection given to events or programs that most or as simple text in the body of an e-mail. Agency partners with states and tribes to closely relate to the preservation and PDFs, newsletters or other formats may Bulletin from page 34 conduct surveys that assess the quality appreciation of the Bay, its watershed be considered if there is space and if of the nation’s lakes, wetlands, rivers & and resources. Items published in Bulletin information can be easily extracted. Program is providing rods and reels, tackle streams, and coastal waters. The most Board are posted on the online calendar; ≈ Programs must contain all of the and fishing books — geared toward chil- recent assessment reports are available at unpublished items are posted online if following information: a phone number dren — to the Eastport-Annapolis Neck epa.gov/national-aquatic-resource-surveys. staffing permits. Guidelines: (include the area code) or e-mail address Community Library and Mountain Road ≈ Send notices to of a contact person; the title, time (online Community Library in Anne Arundel Turf / lawn programs For information on the Prince Wil- [email protected]. Items sent to calendar requires an end time as well as County; Westminster Branch Library in other addresses are not always forwarded a start time), date and place of the event Carroll County; Brunswick Branch Library liam Soil & Water Conservation District’s 12 Steps to a Greener Lawn / Building before the deadline. or program. Submissions must state if the in Frederick County; and Joppa Branch ≈ Bulletin Board contains events that program is free, requires a fee, has age Library in Harford County. The goal is to Environmental Sustainable Turf BEST Lawns Programs, low-cost, research-based take place (or have registration deadlines) requirements, has a registration deadline foster the next generation of anglers by on or after the 11th of the month in which or welcomes drop-ins. cultivating a passion for outdoor recre- programs for lawn education, call 703-792- 4037 or email [email protected]. the item is published through the 11th of ≈ October issue: September 11 ation as well as an appreciation for nature. the next month. Deadlines run at least two ≈ November issue: October 11 These libraries, which are in close proxim- Emerald ash borer program ity to public fishing areas, have partnered The Virginia Department of Forestry’s with local fishing clubs to ensure proper Emerald Ash Borer Cost-Share Program programs. Info: potomacriver.org/resources/ Seeds from Field to Freight: A Tour of inventory levels and maintenance of the helps landowners and organizations (non- educator-resources/bilingualmaterials. Ernst Conservation Seeds; Wine Country equipment. profits, schools, homeowner associations, Connection: Streambank Vegetation municipalities) treat ash trees to prevent Stormwater site visits Projects and Vineyards Using Natives as Businesses and nonprofits interested The Bay Backpack emerald ash borer from killing them. Cover Crops, Erosion & Sedimentation Provided by the Chesapeake Bay in landscaping and turf management, Program’s Education Workgroup, the Info: Meredith Bean at 434-220-9034, Solutions; Native Grasses, Wetland Plants [email protected]. To learn stormwater pond management, wildlife and the Sand Barrens of Presque Isle; Bay Backpack is an online resource for concerns, recommendations for maintain- educators with information about funding about the borer, visit emeraldashborer.info. and Establishment of Native Grasses & To participate in free webinars, visit ing landscapes, protecting water quality Forbs on State Game Lands. The evening opportunities, field studies, curriculum and pollution prevention can call 703- guides and lesson plans related to the emeraldashborer.info/eabu.php. of Sept. 17, Dave Boughton, maritime 792-6285 to schedule a free site visit. education specialist with Pennsylvania Chesapeake. Info: baybackpack.com. Watershed Capsule Prince William Conservation District Marine debris toolkit Sea Grant, will present Shipwrecks of Calvert County water trail guide Watershed Capsules, tools for students The National Oceanic and Atmo- Lake Erie. Sessions offered Sept. 18–19 The Maryland Department of Natural spheric Administration’s Office of National include native grasses and forbs in Resources and Calvert County Parks and to learn about the important role of the watersheds, are available on a first-come, Marine Sanctuaries and the NOAA commercial & residential landscapes; site Recreation have produced a water trails Marine Debris Program have developed preparation, seed selection, establishment, map and guide for county waterways and first-served basis. Info: pwswcd.org/educa- tors.html, [email protected]. a toolkit for students and educators in maintenance & expectation management; public water access sites for boaters and coastal and inland areas to learn more erosion & sedimentation plans; steep paddlers. Water Trail Adventures in Calvert VA water monitoring test kits about marine debris and monitor their slopes/disturbed sites; public health & County: Discover the Charm of the The Virginia Department of Environ- local waterways. This toolkit is a col- safety applications; native grasslands for Chesapeake is printed on waterproof / mental Quality is distributing a limited laborative effort to reduce the impact on livestock forage, biofuels & sustainable tear-proof paper and features color maps, number of water monitoring kits to test marine ecosystems through hands-on fiber production; restoration of native locations of launch sites & support facili- for dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity and citizen science, education and community grassland communities; natives for wildlife ties, and information on cultural, historic temperature. These kits are available for outreach. Info: & pollinator habitat; and the role of natives & natural resources. It depicts six paddling free to schools and organizations that do ≈ sanctuaries.noaa.gov/news/aug17/ in conservation agriculture. The event routes along approximately 29 miles of not have water monitoring equipment. toolkit-helps-students-and-teachers-fight- offers continuing education credits, (see waterways. The water trail map is avail- The DEQ requests that participants against-marine-debris.html. website). Registration is $250 (plus $30 able at the department’s Outdoor Store, use these kits as part of the EarthEcho ≈ marinedebris.noaa.gov/cur- for those who attend Sept. 17 field trips). Calvert County Parks and Recreation and Water Challenge (formerly known as ricula/marine-debris-monitoring-toolkit Info: EasternNativeGrassSymposium.com, other locations, including Jefferson Pat- World Water Monitoring Challenge. See educators;marinedebris.noaa.gov/sites/ [email protected], terson Park and Museum, and the towns worldwatermonitoringday.org). Groups 800-873-3321 (ask for Randy Ferguson). of North Beach, Chesapeake Beach and with their own monitoring equipment can default/files/publications-files/MarineD- Solomons Island. The cost is $3. also participate in the event. Teachers, or ebrisMonitoringToolkitForEducators.pdf. Water monitoring call for papers those who work with a large number of Organizers of the 24th Annual Maryland Water Monitoring Council: Virginia river atlases students, can request a free kit. Info: Stuart Forums / Workshops The Virginia Canals & Navigations Science, Stewardship and Citizen Involve- Torbeck at [email protected]. Society publishes river atlases designed Eastern Native Grass symposium ment, which takes place 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 for river research and recreation. Each gov and provide a mailing address, the The 11th Eastern Native Grass Sympo- p.m. Dec. 7 in Linthicum, are issuing a includes large-scale river maps annotated number of monitoring locations, the total sium, Form & Function: Grasslands and call for presenters and posters as well as with historic riverbed sites. Most have a number of participants from the organiza- Meadows in the Converging Landscape, nominations for the 12th Annual Carl S. river mileage system so that historic and tion or school expected to participate takes place Sept. 17–19 at the Bayfront Weber Award. Topics include: forests & pollution sites can be located scien- in the EarthEcho Water Challenge. This Convention Center in Erie, PA. The water quality; urban ecology; promoting tifically. Atlases for the Bay watershed information helps to determine how many biennial symposium brings together stewardship; environmental reporting; include the Shenandoah, Goose Creek/ kits a group needs. The Virginia Water stakeholders and academics from the stream restoration monitoring; sewage Little River, Rappahannock/ Hazel, Monitoring Council provided the kits for United States and Canada to share best infrastructure; citizen monitoring; and Dragon Swamp, Chickahominy, Appo- this effort. practices, as well as emerging markets toxic contaminants. The deadline for mattox, the James and its other branches, Bilingual educator resources and trends in the use of native grasses and abstracts is Oct. 19. In addition, the and the Dismal Swamp waterways. Visit Bilingual lessons are available in Eng- forbs (flowering plants) in diverse applica- event is also soliciting submissions for www.vacanals.org, click on VC &NS lish and Spanish for Interstate Commission tions. On Sept. 17, attendees may attend Online Store. on the Potomac River Basin educational two field tours from four options: Getting Bulletin continues on page 36 36 Bay Journal • September 2018

graphs of streams and the forms that crafts. Food, drinks and beer will be avail- Paradise Creek: 9–11 a.m. Sept. 22. monitors fill out in the field. This class is able for sale. Call Queen Anne’s County No experience necessary. Trip includes for anyone who plans to participate in the Office of Tourism at 410-604-2100 or visit kayaks, paddles, life jackets, guide. Learn ANS water quality-monitoring program corsicariverconservancy.org. about park’s history, ecology. Fee: $40. and is a refresher on habitat assessment Registration required at least two business Patuxent River Appreciation Days for experienced monitors. Patuxent River Appreciation Days takes days prior to paddle. Contact 757–392- Classes are $25 and require preregistra- place 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 6–7 at the 7132, [email protected]. tion. Info: anshome.org/stream-science- Calvert Marine Museum in Solomons, ≈ The Great Migration Bird Walk: Bulletin from page 35 classes/ or [email protected]. MD. The PRAD Inc. committee is seeking 8 a.m.–10 a.m. Sept. 29. All skill levels welcome. Ages 8+ (8–12 w/adult) Tour Prince William Recycles Day participants for the annual parade, which the seventh Annual Maryland Water Prince William Recycles Day takes starts at 2 p.m. Oct. 7. Nonprofit organiza- the park to look for birds visiting during Monitoring Council Student Poster Award, place 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Oct. 13 at the Prince tions are welcome. Prizes are awarded their fall migration. Bring binoculars or which is open to junior high, high school William County Landfill in Manassas, for best floats. First prize is $300, second borrow a pair. The walk, presented by the and college undergraduate students. VA. The recycling education and com- is $200 and third is $100. School bands Elizabeth River Project is free, but dona- First place receives $200, second place munity outreach includes games, waste receive a stipend for participation. Info: tions will help support river education and $100. The Weber Award is presented reduction, reuse & recycling techniques, Randy Geck at [email protected]. restoration. Preregistration required. Info: to an individual (or individuals) involved a recycling magic show, music, free [email protected], 757-399-7487. Mount Harmon Plantation in water monitoring in Maryland. The refreshments and tours of the landfill. Info: Upcoming events at Mount Harmon Senior Rangers at Patapsco council will also present the Above and Deborah Campbell at 703-792-5328 or Plantation in Earleville, MD, include: Maryland’s Patapsco Valley State Beyond Award to recognize contributions [email protected]. ≈ National Revolutionary War & Park invites citizens, ages 60 & older, to of an up-and-coming individual who take part in Senior Rangers. The six- Fishing contest celebrates reefs Colonial Festival: 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Sept. 15 has volunteered time and energy toward The Chesapeake Bay Foundation and & 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Sept. 16. Re-enactment session program meets 2–3:30 p.m. The monitoring the state’s waters and has the Coastal Conservation Association, features British, Rebel encampments & schedule is: made a significant contribution to increas- MD, invite anglers of all ages to celebrate battle, colonial marketplace. Admission: ≈ Parks, Park Rangers & Volunteering: ing watershed awareness, advocacy, oyster reefs in the Bay at the second $5, ages 12 & younger are free. Oct. 4. Hilton Area Shelter 201, Catons- education and stewardship. Nominations annual Rod & Reef Slam Fishing Tourna- ≈ Bull & Oyster Roast: 5–9 p.m. Oct. ville. Learn about the parks, volunteer must be submitted by Oct. 12. Visit dnr. ment Sept. 22 in Sherwood, MD. In 13. Benefit also includes silent, live auc- opportunities, first aid, how parks operate. maryland.gov/streams/Pages/MWMC/ recognition of how oyster reefs provide tions; manor house tours; live bluegrass ≈ Planet Earth: Oct. 11. Hilton Area conference.aspx for submission details, habitat for fish, the event will allow anglers music. Advanced tickets: $65. Reserved Shelter 201, Catonsville. Geology & tour opportunities for vendors and sponsors, to fish on six sanctuary reefs normally off- table for eight is $500. of Soldiers Delight’s chromium mines. and conference updates. limits to harvesting. The event includes an Info: [email protected], ≈ Plants: Oct. 18. Hilton Area Shelter 201, Catonsville. Walk the sensory trail. vents rograms after-party, as well as powerboat, kayak mountharmon.org, 410-275-8819. E / P and youth divisions. Registration required. Learn to ID trees using bark; discuss Info: cbf.org/slam. Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum leaves; make Sunprint images using leaves. Stream monitoring classes The Chesapeake Bay Maritime ≈ Animals: Oct. 25. Soldiers Delight The Audubon Naturalist Society at Museum in St. Michaels, MD, invites the Woodend Sanctuary, in Chevy Chase, RIVERFest 2018 NEA Auditorium, Owings Mills. Scales RIVERFest 2018 takes place 11 a.m.–4 public to view Chesapeake Bay sailing & Tales program features MD’s native MD, invites citizen science volunteers or p.m. Sept. 15 on the grounds of St. Bride’s log canoe races along the Miles River team leaders, aquatic resource biolo- raptors, snakes, turtles. Episcopal Church in Chesapeake, VA. while aboard the 1920 buyboat, Winnie ≈ People: Nov. 1 Avalon Area Shelter gists, fly fishermen and anyone, ages 10 The free environmental festival celebrates Estelle. The two-hour cruises depart 9:30 & older, interested in monitoring and 104, Halethorpe. Hike with park historian. the restoration of the Elizabeth River and a.m. Sept. 16 or 9:30 a.m. & 1:30 p.m. ≈ Conservation: Nov. 8 Hollofield understanding stream health, to a series of includes a native plant sale, meet the Sept. 15. Cruises include commentary introductory classes on stream monitoring. Area Shelter 300, Ellicott City. Learn Chesapeake Mermaid, aquariums with from CBMM’s docents, crew. Fee: $35. about Leave No Trace principles, living The schedule is: river creatures, wildlife rehabbers and live Registration required. Info: ≈ Know Your Invasive Plants: 9:30 sustainably, conserving energy & other music. Dogs on a leash are welcome. Info: cbmm.org/onthewater. resources, reduce/reuse/recycle, alterna- a.m.–12 p.m. Sept. 15. Invasive plants elizabethriverfest.org that kill or bring down mature trees can Calvert Marine Museum tive energy exploration seriously alter stream health and ecosys- Horn Point Open House Upcoming events at the Calvert Marine Each day also includes a half hour of tem function. Learn to identify nonnative The University of Maryland Center Museum in Solomons, MD, include: physical fitness: croquet, hiking, bocce invasive plants at Woodend and in nearby for Environmental Science’s Horn Point ≈ Fossil Field Experience: 9 a.m. Sept. ball or the like. The fee for the six-week Rock Creek. Laboratory invites the public to its 15, Oct. 20. Ages 8+ (Children must be program is $10; preregistration is required. ≈ Introduction to Stream Science Sustainable Solutions through Science w/adult.) Meet at Cove Point Lighthouse. Info: 410-461-5005, Jamie Petrucci at Series/ Healthy Stream Biology (class- Open House 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. Learn how to find, identify fossils, then [email protected]. 13. Hands-on exhibits will help visitors search for them on beach until 11:30 room): 7–9:30 p.m. Sept. 20. Learn how Manada Conservancy benthic macroinvertebrates — organisms learn about the lab and its impact on the a.m. Bring a bag lunch or eat at a local The Manada Conservancy in Hum- that live in the bottom of streams — help health of the Chesapeake as well as how restaurant. Program resumes at 1 p.m. at melstown, PA, invites the public to these to assess a waterway’s health. Learn how marshes, oysters, sediment, zooplankton the museum where participants discuss events: to identify these organisms to the taxo- and computer models help restore the finds, explore the Paleontology Hall. ≈ Take a Walk on the Wild Side / nomic level of order. Bay. The free event, which takes place Fee of $20 includes museum admission. Plants: 2–3 p.m. Sept. 16. Hershey Public ≈ Introduction to Stream Science rain or shine, also includes exhibits and Preregistration required. Info: Library, Hershey. Grades K–5 w/parent. Series / Ten Mile Creek, Boyds, MD, (field a children’s scavenger hunt. Children bit.ly//FossilFieldExperience or Melissa Learn why the library’s and other riparian workshop): 9:30 a.m.–12 p.m. Sept. 22. receive a free T-shirt. Info: 410-221-8408 McCormick at 410-326-2042 x41. buffers are important. Discover these Visit a healthy stream to practice monitor- or [email protected]. ≈ Dee of St. Mary’s Public Sails: buffers’ plants during a walk. Event takes 2:30–4:30 p.m. Sept. 16 & 29; Oct. 14. ing techniques, collect, identify benthic Corsica River Day place rain or shine. Free. macroinvertebrates. The Corsica River Conservancy, Cor- Tickets: $25/ages 13+ and $15/ages 5–12. ≈ Third Annual Music Over the Moun- ≈ Introduction to Stream Science sica River Yacht Club and Queen Anne’s Ages 5 & younger not permitted. Advance tains Celebration: 4–8 p.m. Sept. 23. Wind Series / How to Read Your Stream: 7–9:30 County Dept. of Parks invites the public to reservations taken till noon the Friday in the Willows, Grantville. Benefit’s venue p.m. Sept. 27. Learn about the influence learn about preservation efforts at Corsica prior to each sail. Remaining tickets are at offers a view of Blue Mountain, central to admissions desk the day of the sail. Info: of land uses on streams, stream character River Day 12–4 p.m. Sept. 16 at the Manada’s preservation efforts. Live music, 410-326-2042 x41. & dynamics, bank erosion, bar formation, Corsica River Yacht Club in Centreville, barbecue, beer. Tickets of $50 include substrate composition, different velocity- MD. Free family entertainment includes Paradise Creek Nature Park music, barbecue, 3 beers. Advance tickets depth regimes as well as the importance water and environmental activities, live Upcoming events at Paradise Creek are required and are sold at: of riffles and riparian vegetation. Practice music, exhibits, the Fishmobile, pony rides, Nature Park in Portsmouth, VA, include: assessing stream habitat using photo- petting zoo, Scales & Tails, and children’s ≈ Clear-Bottom Kayak Paddles on Bulletin continues on page 37 Bay Journal • September 2018 37

weather-dependent. (Birds of Prey); Oct. 11 (Autumn Leaves); Apple) Ages 2–5 w/adult. Nature activities, All programs are free; donations Oct. 18 (Animal Camouflage). Ages 3+ story, craft, hike. Fee: $10 per date. are appreciated. Except where noted, Stories, crafts, adventures explore nature. ≈ Still Life Drawing / Crunchy Leaves: programs are designed for individuals/ Fee: $2/child. No registration. 5:30–7:30 p.m. Sept. 18. Teens, adults. families and require preregistration. Con- ≈ Bookworm Story Time: 11–11:45 All skill levels. Learn to view plants with tact: 301-497-5887. For disability-related a.m. Oct. 5. Toddlers to age 6. Nature an artistic naturalist’s eye. Draw from a accommodations, notify the refuge, giving story w/activity (animal encounter, choice of displays. Fee: $9. as much notice as possible. Info: puppets or craft). Dress for brief outdoor ≈ Nature Storybook Art: Three-session Bulletin from page 36 fws.gov/refuge/Patuxent. experience. Free. No registration. program meets 12:30–2:30 p.m. Oct. 3, ≈ Morning Bird Walks: 8:30–10 a.m. 10 & 17. Ages 6-12. Parents do not attend. Cromwell Valley Park atmanada.org/music-over-the-mountains. Upcoming programs at Cromwell Sept. 14, Oct. 12, Nov. 9. Adults. Bring Participants learn about books, illustrators, ≈ A Few Small Things...of the Kittatinny Valley Park’s Willow Grove Nature Center binoculars, wear hiking shoes. Free. art techniques. Fee: $44. Corridor: 7 p.m. Sept. 26. Dauphin [N] or Primitive Technology Laboratory Preregistration appreciated. ≈ Hunting the Haunted: 7–9 p.m. Oct. County Ag & Natural Resources Center, [T] near Towson, MD, include: ≈ Homeschool Nature Days / Insects: 13. Ages 10+ (Minors must be accompa- Dauphin. Ages 10+ Learn about easily ≈ Autumn Solstice Bonfire & S’mores: 10–11:30 a.m. Sept. 14, 21, 28 & Oct. 5. nied by a paying adult.) Storyteller, local overlooked species in this corridor. Free. 7:30–9 p.m. Sept. 21 [N] Ages 5+ Fee: $5. Ages 6–13. No siblings (parents may stay). historian tell true ghost stories supported ≈ 2018 Annual Walk in Penn’s Woods: ≈ Bees Wax Bowls: 1–2:30 p.m. Sept. Fee: $20 for the series. by paranormal evidence from the mill. 1 p.m. Oct. 7. DeHart Dam, Tower City. 22 [N] Ages 8+ Learn about honey bees, ≈ 35th Annual Honey Harvest Festival: Take a guided ghost hunt of the mill, Guided 1.5 mile walk explores DeHart craft a small bowl from their wax. Fee: $5. 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Oct. 6 & 7. All ages. cemetery, weather permitting. Fee: $15. Dam & Reservoir in Clarks Valley. Event ≈ A Walk in the Park / Nature Quest Learn about honeybees. Activities include ≈ Sunrise/Sunset Canoe Trips: 9 –11:30 highlights drinking water from raindrop Hike: 11 a.m. Sept. 23 [N] All ages. open honeybee hive demonstrations, a.m. Saturdays or 5:45–8:15 p.m. Thursdays to the tap, water stewardship. A field Hike to Nature Quest markers. Free. No honey extractions, mead making, honey through Oct. 13. Ages 6+ (all minors w/ expert will help identify wildlife, flowers, registration. ice cream-making, food trucks, puppet adult) Explore Deer Creek. The emphasis is invasives and discuss forest & tree health ≈ Polliwog Preschool Club: 10:30– shows, animal encounters, local honey on environmental education, interpretation along the way. Terrain may be uneven and 11:30 a.m. Tuesdays, Sept. 25–Oct. 30 product sales. Free admission; minimal provided by naturalist guide. Fee: $8. there are moderate inclines. Wear well- or Wednesdays, Sept. 26–Oct. 31. [N] charge for some activities. No registration. Preregistration is required for all fitting sturdy shoes or boots. Meet in the Ages 2–5 w/adult. Explore the natural ≈ Monarch Magic: 1–3 p.m. Sept. 15 programs. Info: 410-836-3050, gravel parking lot at the dam’s entrance. world through hands-on activities, nature & 16. Ages 5+ Learn about this butterfly’s [email protected]. migration. Help to capture, tag, release Parking is limited; carpooling is recom- play, stories, crafts. Non-mobile siblings Anita Leight Estuary Center mended. Free. only, parent/guardian must be an active monarchs. Fee: $2. Programs at the Anita C. Leight Estuary Preregistration is required for all participant. Dress for outdoors. Fee: $30 ≈ Oregon Ridge Nature Center Coun- Center in Abingdon, MD, include: programs. Info: [email protected], for 6 sessions. Register for one series only. cil Speaker Series - Wild Bees that Live in ≈ Paddle Palooza Canoe Trip: 10 717-566-4122. ≈ Monarch Madness: 1–2:30 p.m. your Backyard - You can Make a Differ- a.m.–1 p.m. Sept. 15. Ages 8+ Join ACLEC Sept. 29 [N] Ages 5+ Learn about, help ence: 7–8:30 p.m. Sept. 17. Adults. Did and the Izaak Walton League of America Patuxent Research Refuge you know that mowing kills more bees Upcoming events at the Patuxent tag this migratory butterfly. Fee: $5. for a naturalist-led introduction to canoe- ≈ Apple Press & Prints: 1–2:30 p.m. than pesticides? Sam Droege, wildlife ing, guided paddle. Fee: $12. Research Refuge’s National Wildlife Visitor biologist at the USGS Patuxent Wildlife Center [C] and North Tract [T] in Laurel, Sept. 30 [N] Ages 2–10. Learn about ≈ Reading Bones: 2–3:30 p.m. Sept. Johnny Appleseed, then squeeze cider Research Center will discuss the benefits 15. Ages 6+ Discover clues to who eats MD, include: of wild bees and how to reverse the ≈ Family Fun / Migration: 10 a.m.–1 at the apple press. Use apples to make who while looking over bones, skulls of hand-printed craft to take home. Fee: $5. decline in their population. Adults. Free, different animals. Free. p.m. Sept. 14 & 15 [C] All ages. Learn donations appreciated. No registration. about bird migration through hands-on ≈ Night Out with Nature / Game ≈ National Estuaries Day - Paddles & Wardens - The Thin Green Line: 7–9 ≈ A Walk in the Park: 11 a.m.–12 p.m. Pumpkinseeds Canoe Trip: 9:30 a.m.–2 games, activities, crafts for everyone. No Sept. 23. Ages 5+ Easy/moderate hike. registration, drop-in program: come & p.m. Oct. 5. This event takes place at p.m. Sept. 22. Ages 8+ Learn about the Sherwood House. Adults. What happens Wear sturdy shoes, bring water bottle. recreational, environmental benefits of the leave when you wish. Leave pets at home. Free. ≈ Owl Eyes: 12:15–12:45 p.m. Sept. 15 to game wardens when they are out in Bay’s upper reaches in this combination the field? Officer Loren Lustig of PA will ≈ Family Camp Out: 6 p.m. Sept. 22 canoe/fish seining program. Fee: $12. & 22 [C] All ages. Learn about owls. No through 9 a.m. Sept. 23. All ages. Bring registration. present true stories, some humorous, ≈ Champion Tree Hike: 2–3:30 p.m. some ridiculous, some tragic. Dessert tent, camping gear. Hike, campfire, Sept. 22. Ages 6+ Meet at Rock Grist Mill ≈ Bird Walk: 8–10 a.m. Sept. 15 [C] s’mores, light breakfast provided. A All ages. Search for, identify birds on walk included. Fee: $10. of Susquehanna State Park in Havre de ≈ Hiking Sticks: 1–3 p.m. Oct. 6 [P] limited number of tents can be rented. Grace to see some of Maryland’s award- around Cash Lake. Binoculars, water No alcohol, pets. Fee: $10/person; $25/ bottle recommended. No strollers. Event Adults. Make a hiking stick. Fee: $4. winning Champion Trees. Fee: $3. ≈ Fall Harvest Festival: 10 a.m.–4 family. ≈ Spectacular Sunset Paddle / Kayak is weather-dependent. ≈ Autumn Scents: 1–3 p.m. Sept. 29 ≈ Tiny Tots: 10:30–11:15 a.m. Sept. 16 p.m. Oct. 13 (rain date: 10/14) [N-Farm] Trip: 5:30–8 p.m. Sept. 22. Ages 8+ All ages. Pony & hay rides, music, earth & 30. Use your senses on hike while Camera recommended. Fee: $12. & 17 [C] Ages 18–48 months w/parent collecting items to create a potpourri. participation. Learn about wildlife through oven cooking, apple pressing, apple ≈ Kayak Cruising on the Creek: 10 a.m. butter-making, beekeeping, family games Fee: $5. –12:30 p.m. Sept. 27. Adults. Explore Otter interactive songs, stories, activities. Ages 12 & younger must be accom- ≈ Pollinator Festival: 10 a.m.–2 p.m. & crafts, Native American activities, food, Point Creek, upper Bush River. Fee: $12. 4-H animals. No registration. Suggested panied by an adult. Except where noted, ≈ Mushroom March: 1–2:30 p.m. Sept. Sept. 22 [T] All ages. Watch monarch preregistration is required for all pro- butterfly tagging. Learn how domestic and donation: $5/car. 29. Ages 5+ Identify mushrooms, craft Ages 12 & younger must be accom- grams. Info: 410-887-1815, native bees sustain the environment. Take a mushroom inspired by nature. Bring a panied by an adult. Except where [email protected]. home free milkweed seeds or plants while camera or smartphone. Fee: $3. noted, preregistration is required for all Programs are designed for individuals supplies last. Take a guided nature walk. ≈ Date Night Dinner Cruise: 5:30–7 programs. Info: info@cromwellvalleypark. and families; groups can call the park to No registration. p.m. Sept. 29. Adults. Dine as the sun slips org, 410-887-2503. For disability-related arrange a program. For disability-related ≈ Raptors Reign: 1–3 p.m. Sept. 29 [C] below the horizon. Fee: $15. accommodations, call 410-887-5370 accommodations, call 410-887-5370 All ages. Licensed falconer Rodney Stotts ≈ Crabby Crafts: 2–3:30 p.m. Sept. or 410-887-5319 (TTY), giving as much or 410-887-5319 (TTD/Deaf), giving as 30. Ages 4–12. Decorate a crab shell. discusses, shares up-close encounters with notice as possible. much notice as possible. birds of prey. No registration. Participate in the crab walk relay. Fee: $5. ≈ North Tract Bicycle Ride: 1–3:30 Oregon Ridge Nature Center Eden Mill Nature Center Ages 12 & younger must be accom- p.m. Sept. 30. Ages 10+ Learn how to Upcoming events at Oregon Ridge Upcoming events at Eden Mill Nature panied by an adult. Events meet at the reduce one’s footprint, leave no trace on Nature Center in Cockeysville, MD, include: Center in Pylesville, MD, include: center and require preregistration unless 12-mile ride. See local wildlife, plants, ≈ Shoots & Letters: 10–11 a.m. Sept. ≈ Preschool Nature Series: 10 –11:15 otherwise noted. Payment is due at time historical sites. Bring bike, energy bar/ 13 (Life Underwater); Sept. 20 (Monarch a.m. Sept. 18 (Monarchs on the Move); of registration. Info: 410-612-1688, 410- snack, water bottle, helmet. Ride is Butterflies); Sept. 27 (Honeybees); Oct. 4 Sept. 25 (Harvest Party) Oct. 9 (Everything 879-2000 x1688, otterpointcreek.org. 38 Bay Journal • September 2018

This month’s Bay Naturalist column, on the back page, is all about the bald cypress. How much do you Bay Buddies know about this tree? Here are 10 scrambled Bald Cypress! words related to the bald cypress, along with a clue to their identities. Stuck? All of the information you need is in Bay Natu- ralist. Or, you can look up the answers on page 30.

1. WSPAM ______This is the type of habitat where bald cypress are found.

2. SNEEK ______Instead of growing down, these unusual roots help to anchor the bald cypress by growing upward.

3. DOWERDO ______The bald cypress is a member of this family of trees.

4. KUMCHOM ______Bald cypress rise from the water at Trap Pond State Park near Laurel, DE. (Dave Harp) This little piece of land sticks out of the water and remains moist. Bald cypress seeds must land on Sharp as a needle? This bald cypress quiz is for you one of these if they are to sprout and grow. This month’s Bay C. Each tree has either wetlands. Naturalist column, on male or female flowers. C. They are too slow- 5. ONCE ______the back page, is about D. Each tree bears growing for agroforestry. This is the part of the bald cypress that bears the bald cypress. How female flowers in the D. All of the above. flowers and seeds. much do you know first 200 years or so of about this tree? Answers its life, and then bears 9. Why are bald on page 30. male flowers in the later cypress growing along 6. EWIND ______years of its life. or in watery areas The trunk of the bald cypress does this near 1. The tallest known D. Rectangle beneficial for the Bay’s the bottom of the tree to help support it. bald cypress, at 145 7. Young bald cypress water quality? feet, is found near 4. Bald cypress drop cones do not resemble A. They absorb pollutants. 7. OWARDHETO which Virginia city? all of their needles typical conifer cones, B. They take up A. Newport News during the fall. Trees though they do become floodwater and slowly ______B. Norfolk that do this are called: woodier as autumn disperse it. This is the hard interior of a tree’s trunk. The bald C. Virginia Beach A. Anadromous goes on. What do this C. They prevent erosion cypress’ is valued because it remains strong, even D. Williamsburg B. Autumnal tree’s cones look like? along the banks of the A. Clusters of small (about when exposed to soil or water. C. Coniferic river or stream. 2. The Chesapeake D. Deciduous a half inch), smooth deep watershed is home to red berrylike orbs D. All of the above 8. STEWE MUG the northernmost stand 5. While the bald B. White, papery, 2-inch 10. Match the animal ______of bald cypress in the cypress can live for catkins with the benefit it United States. Where is more than 1,000 years, This is another water-tolerant tree that sometimes C. Tough, green, scaly receives from the bald this stand? approximately how long grows near bald cypress. It has hard, spiky fruit. balls about an inch in cypress. A. Big Cypress Memo is their usual lifespan? - diameter Species rial Park in Delaware A. 300 years D. Feathery brown Amphibians B. Lost Swamp State Par B. 450 years 9. REMOMSNIP 1-inch pods that grow Catfish in Delaware C. 600 years ______redder as autumn Squirrels C. Needles & Nobs D. 750 years approaches winter This tree, found in the same habitat as bald cypresses, State Park in Delaware Wood ducks bears yellowish orange to reddish orange fruit that D. Trap Pond State Park 6. The bald cypresses 8. Bald cypress were creates a dry sensation in the mouth when eaten. in Delaware is monoecious. What once heavily lumbered Benefit does this mean? for their rot-resistant Eat the seeds 10. DOVERBIN 3. The crowns of A. Each tree contains wood. Why is this not Nest in the trunk young bald cypress separate male and the case today? Use for spawning or ______have a distinct shape. female flowers. A. There are fewer bald nursery grounds This songbird, found in the same habitat as the What is it? B. Each tree contains cypress to harvest. Take refuge amid bald cypress, builds a domed nest, woven from A. Hourglass flowers that have both B. Most of remaining submerged roots plants, on the ground. B. Oval male (stamen) and bald cypresses are in — Kathleen A. Gaskell C. Pyramid female (ovary) parts. not easily accessed — Kathleen A. Gaskell Bay Journal • September 2018 39 Local birders tickled pink when roseate spoonbill showed up here By Mike Burke The oddly shaped bill is quite functional. Apparently, it all started on June 17 Spoonbills feed by when Mikey Lutmerding spotted the walking through shallow unlikely pink visitor flying off into some water, swinging their nearby trees. It was pretty far away and bills back and forth, only in view briefly, but Mikey knew searching for food. The he had just seen an extremely rare outside of the bill is Chesapeake leathery, but inside it visitor: a roseate is lined with sensitive spoonbill. nerve endings. When Lutmerding the spoonbill feels prey entered his touch the inside of its sighting into the slightly agape mouth, it popular eBird clamps down, capturing mobile birding crustaceans, tiny fish app, making it and the like. Its diet is the first record rich in carotinoids — of a spoonbill organic yellow, orange, in Calvert or red fat-soluble pig- County, MD, and just the fourth record ments found in plants, of the bird in the state. Mikey’s not just algae, bacteria and fungi any birder, he’s a pro: a wildlife biologist — which give the bird for the incomparable U.S. Geological its colors. Survey’s North American Breeding Bird As their diets suggest, Survey, which is headquartered at the spoonbills seek habitats Patuxent Research Refuge in Laurel. abundant in shallow Besides, he had the pictures to prove it, water and tiny creatures. posting them on the popular Maryland This photo highlights the black edges of this immature roseate spoonbill’s flight feathers. Juveniles Typically, that means birders Facebook page. also have a white head with a blue-gray patch about the eyes. (Matt Felperin / FelperinFoto) marshes, estuaries and The young spoonbill was an immedi- mangrove islands. ate sensation. Birders from near and made the trip. His photos of the striking are tropical birds. In the United States, Like most wading birds, spoonbills far, equipped with cameras, binoculars spoonbill accompany this column. Ironi- they are usually confined to south nest in colonies, often in mixed flocks and spotting scopes, descended on the cally, when the spoonbill finally departed Florida, Louisiana marshes and parts of ibises, egrets, herons and storks. tiny hamlet of North Beach to see for North Beach on July 6, it flew a few of the Texas coast. Typically, they are They build stick nests and produce a themselves. Evidently, the spoonbill liked miles to the north where its was spotted found even farther south in the Carib- single brood annually, typically laying the attention, hanging around for the next at Jug Bay/Patuxent River Park on July bean, Mexico and down the coasts of three to four eggs. For a variety of three weeks, giving birders hundreds of 8. A spoonbill was spotted on the C&O Central and South America. reasons ranging from weather to preda- opportunities to snap its picture. Canal on Aug. 15 After that, there were A medium-size wading bird (it stands tors, an average of just one bird from Matt Felperin, a naturalist at Patuxent no additional sightings in Maryland. about 30 inches tall), the spoonbill is pink each brood survives into adulthood. River Park, was one of the many who Roseate spoonbills (Patalea ajaja) and white, quite unlike anything else in So what was this spoonbill doing so the Americas except perhaps a flamingo. far from home? But the striking color is not even its most After nesting season is complete notable characteristic. That distinction and young birds are independent, goes to the bird’s eponymous bill, a long, it’s time to roam. Parents may range spatula-like affair. The roseate is the only beyond their typical territory in mid to spoonbill found in this hemisphere. late summer, but it is the younger birds As Felperin’s photos show, immature that often wander the farthest from spoonbills have black edges to their flight home. Even so, the case of the North feathers. They have a white head with a Beach bird was extreme, as its record- blue-gray patch about the eyes. Unmistak- breaking appearance made clear. able even as young birds, spoonbills are Had the youngster come to the Chesa- even more distinctive as adults. peake because of the Bay’s improving Many men are familiar with the health? After all, clearer, well-oxygenated phenomenon of premature baldness. water will host the abundant tiny Spoonbills take that to the extreme. In a aquatic life essential to the spoonbill’s little more than a year, the bird will lose diet. More ominously, perhaps it is an its head feathers, leaving a bald, greenish early signal of the disruptions caused pate. And that’s just the start. by a warming planet. Or is it simply a By the time spoonbills reach full one-off, a serendipitous occurrence that maturity at age 3, they will have lost carries no greater significance? the black wing tips, become pinker, I’ll resist my usual urge to find deeper and the bluish eye patch will transform meaning here. Instead, I’ll simply take into a large black splotch surrounding delight that a strange and wonderful a red eye. Mature birds will also show creature came to share a few days of its a bright carmine streak on the fold of fascinating life with us. And after all, The roseate spoonbill’s most notable characteristic is its eponymous bill, a long, the wings. The tail will become tawny, isn’t that enough? spatula-like affair. The roseate is the only spoonbill found in this hemisphere. almost orange. Even the black legs will Mike Burke, an amateur naturalist, (Matt Felperin) take on a reddish tinge. lives in Cheverly, MD. September/2018 Volume 28 Number 6 The Bay Journal NONPROFIT ORG. P.O. Box 222 U.S. POSTAGE Jacobus, PA 17407-0222 PAID DULLES VA PERMIT # 510

The Bay Journal is printed on 100% recyclable/recycled paper using vegetable-based inks. www.bayjournal.com Remnants of bald cypress swamps grace Chesapeake watershed By Kathy Reshetiloff

Towering over coffee-colored waters, a majestic tree, the bald cypress (Taxodium distichum), dominates isolated swamps of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Although more common to swamps in the Southeast, stands of bald cypress can still be found in parts of Virginia, Maryland and Delaware, where it inhab- its areas too wet for many other trees, catching attention with its odd knobby “knees” and buttressed trunk. Although it is a member of the red- wood family and has needles and cones, the bald cypress is not an evergreen. This deciduous tree’s needles turn brown in Bald cypress autumn and fall off by winter, and is the swamps are one source of its common name, bald cypress. of the breeding Its featherlike appearance is produced habitats for the by flattened needles. The reddish brown prothonotary to gray bark is stringy and flakes away warbler, above. from wood, peeling off in strips. Flowers (USFWS) are borne on round cones. Growing up to 150 feet high, very old The Pocomoke bald cypress trees may reach a diameter River forested of 10 feet or more. More often, though, swamp is located they approach 120 feet high and 3–5 feet near Snow Hill, in diameter. MD. (Dan Murphy / Adapted to swamp life, bald cypress USFWS) trunks widen at the base to provide additional support in the soft, wet soil. wood ducks, woodpeckers and owls, are Shallow roots spread out from the base right at home here. of the trunk. Where water stands during Where to See Bald Cypress Temporary pools are excellent part of the year, roots develop into ≈ Trap Pond State Park near breeding grounds for frogs, toads and elongated “knees” that grow above the Laurel, DE salamanders. Snakes and turtles take mud and correspond to the high-water ≈ Pocomoke State Park near advantage of both aquatic and terrestrial level. The knees help to anchor the tree. Snow Hill, MD environments. Even fish find both food Hollow, the knees usually die if the water ≈ Battle Creek Cypress Swamp and refuge among the twisted submerged is permanently drained. near Prince Frederick, MD roots. Muskrat, raccoons and otter are a Because they do not produce seeds ≈ First Landing State Park near few of the mammals that live in these for- every year, bald cypress trees must be Virginia Beach, VA ested wetlands. Seeds are eaten by wild long-lived to reproduce. Conditions must swamps, from Virginia south to Texas, ≈ Great Dismal Swamp turkey, wood ducks, evening grosbeak, be just right for a seed to develop into a have been logged. National Wildlife Refuge near wading birds, waterfowl and squirrels. tree. Seeds must set down on a hummock, Bald cypress often share the swampy Suffolk and Chesapeake in Suf- Bald cypress swamps, like other types a knoll of land that remains moist, but not landscape with other water-tolerant tree folk and Chesapeake counties, of wetlands, play an important role in flooded, for three to five years before the species such as black gum, sweet gum, VA. Not all of these site are in the landscape. Their floodplains help to sprout can grow into a thriving seedling. red maple, and a variety of oaks and the Bay watershed, but they are disperse and slowly release floodwater. Seeds are dispersed by wind and water. hickories. In the understory, look for definitely worth the visit! In addition, they trap sediments and Bald cypress wood is valued for persimmon, sweet pepper bush, swamp other pollutants, improving the health of both interior and exterior building azalea and southern arrowwood. Lichens nearby rivers. materials. The heartwood is durable and mosses may add a soft coat to trunks like the Kentucky warbler, hooded The Chesapeake Bay watershed still even when it comes in contact with the and logs. Open water supports both float- warbler, prothonotary warbler, yellow- supports some of these unique bald soil or is exposed to the elements. Bald ing and submerged plants throated warbler, ovenbird, Louisiana cypress swamps. Explore and enjoy! cypress wood is also very resistant to These forested swamps provide waterthrush and yellow-breasted chat, Kathy Reshetiloff is with the U.S. Fish most insects and rot. Because of the homes for wading birds, like herons and depend on these swamps for migratory and Wildlife Service’s Chesapeake Bay wood’s durability, large tracts of cypress egrets, and waterfowl. Many songbirds, and breeding habitat. Cavity nesters, like Field Office in Annapolis.