October 2019 Volume 29 Number 7

Low salinity wallops oysters in Chesapeake ≈ Aquaculture, restoration efforts and fishery hurt as unrelenting rain made much of Bay water too fresh, causing die-offs and delayed spawning By Timothy B. Wheeler & Jeremy Cox The rains have finally let up, but they’ve dealt a serious blow to the Chesa- peake Bay’s oysters — and to the people who make a living harvesting, cultivating or restoring them. Oysters need at least a little salt in their environment to live and a bit more to thrive. The record-setting downpours that began last year and continued through the first half of this year flushed so much freshwater into the Chesapeake that salin- ity sank to abnormally low levels. In some places in Maryland and on the Potomac River, where the water turned almost completely fresh for months on end, oysters died in droves. Those that survived elsewhere didn’t grow much, and reproduction was spotty. “What a rough beast of a year that The Maryland Transportation Authority announced in September three possible routes for a new Bay bridge, all of which was,” said Martin Gary, executive would connect to the Bay’s Western Shore in Anne Arundel County, MD. County executive Steuart Pittman, shown here secretary of the Potomac River Fisher- near the site of a proposed route on the Mayo peninsula, called all options “severely disruptive to existing communities ies Commission. “Everybody got and sensitive environmental areas.” See article on page 4. (Dave Harp) Oysters continues on page 19 Path to a clean Chesapeake poses problems for key Bay states ≈ Pollution reductions from greatly exceed what states have so far source of nutrients. Both sectors must WIPs,” said Ann Swanson, execu- farms will require huge ramp demonstrated they can accomplish. slash pollution by rates that the states have tive director of the Chesapeake Bay up in funding and technical Much of the attention has focused so far been unable to attain. Commission, an advisory panel that on Pennsylvania, whose pollution Maryland’s plan, for instance, would represents state legislatures. “And support across the region control shortfall is more of a chasm require a 6.4-fold ramp up its annual rate without monetary support, there will By Karl Blankenship than a gap. But a review of the latest of nitrogen reductions from farmland not be progress. It is the Achilles heel.” Must Chesapeake Bay states achieve state watershed implementation plans between now and 2025. Virginia needs a Nutrients, in the form of nitrogen the impossible to reach Bay cleanup and supporting documentation reveals 14-fold increase, and Pennsylvania must and phosphorus, are the major pollutant goals by 2025? That’s unclear. But that other key states — Maryland and step up its rate by a staggering 67 times. fouling the Bay’s water. States have been their work must certainly achieve the Virginia — face a steep climb as well. It’s unclear in the watershed imple- working to curb the amount of nutrients unprecedented. Plans from the three states, which mentation plans, or WIPs, whether any entering the Bay since the mid-1980s. Most of the latest state cleanup combined supply almost 90% of the nitro- state has the programs or funding to While progress has been made — espe- plans, released in August, call for gen pollution to the Bay, call for reversing achieve that magnitude of effort now, cially with phosphorus — nitrogen has levels of action to reduce pollution the rising trend of runoff from developed let alone the profound boost that will proven to be more difficult to control. from the hardest-to-control sources lands and accelerating conservation be needed in the coming years. — agriculture and stormwater — that practices on farms — by far the largest “Funding is the tragic flaw of the WIPs continues on page 21 2 Bay Journal • October 2019

BAY JOURNAL is published by Bay Journal Media to inform Editor’s Note the public about ecological, scientific, historic and cultural issues and events related to the Chesapeake Bay. The Bay Journal, The less things change, the more things stay the same circulation 35,000, is published monthly except in midsummer and midwinter. It is distributed free of charge. Bundles are available “Pennsylvania has The thing is, from the beginning of the for distribution. Material may be reproduced, with permission completed a new tributary cleanup effort, everyone knew that develop- and attribution. Publication is made possible by grants through strategy to guide the nutri- ment and agriculture would pose major the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Chesapeake Bay ent reduction efforts in its hurdles. So when I read any state plan that Program Office, the Campbell Foundation, the National Oceanic portion of the Susquehanna talks about the need to develop and fund and Atmospheric Administration’s Chesapeake Bay Office, the and Potomac river basins. programs to control those sectors, it’s hard Sumner T. McKnight Foundation, the Rauch Foundation, the But like the initial strategy to grasp exactly why that still should be the Fair Play Foundation, the Shared Earth Foundation, the Virginia released in spring 1994, it case. As far back as 1990, reports said that Environmental Endowment, anonymous donors, and by reader falls short of achieving its 40% nutrient reduc- existing programs were “inadequate” — contributions. Views expressed in the Bay Journal do not tion goal. and the cleanup goals at the time, for the necessarily represent those of any funding agency or organization. “State officials say they will ultimately year 2000, were subsequently missed. make the full reduction — the question is Today, regional leaders are making the For mailing list additions/changes, please use the form on this when.” — Bay Journal, January 1996 same call to action. The reach remains page or contact: Bay Journal, P.O. Box 222, Jacobus, PA 17407-0222 enormous. To meet the 2025 goals, Mary- E-mail: [email protected] The past, as William Shakespeare once land would have to ramp up its annual BAY JOURNAL MEDIA wrote, truly is prologue. Pennsylvania nitrogen reductions from farmland at 6 struggled when writing its first Bay clean- times its current level of effort — Virginia Bay Journal Media is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization with up plan in 1992. Nearly 25 years later, it by 14 times. a mission to further public education and awareness of issues faces the same struggle. Its watershed Pennsylvania is facing a gap requiring a affecting the Chesapeake Bay and the mid-Atlantic environment implementation plan, released in August, 67-fold increase in effort. If not for all of the by creating and distributing journalistic products. In addition does not achieve the reductions in nitro- attention this shortfall is drawing, the other to producing the Bay Journal, Bay Journal Media operates gen pollution needed to meet 2025 goals. states would (rightly) be criticized for also the Bay Journal News Service, which distributes Bay Journal The lack of progress is evident. Since putting themselves in a position where goal articles and original op-eds about the Chesapeake Bay or regional 1985, water quality monitoring has shown attainment is unlikely. environmental issues to more than 400 newspapers in the region, that nitrogen loads from the Susquehanna reaching several million readers each month. River, which drains most of the state’s New name, home for Alliance column portion of the watershed, have ticked down We are starting to roll out a number of Karl Blankenship, Executive Director only modestly. As a result, runoff from the changes you’ll be seeing in coming months. Andrew Nolan, CPA, Chief Financial Officer state continues to fuel algae blooms that A redesign of our website is nearly com- STAFF cloud the Bay’s water and feed its oxygen- plete, and we will be updating the look of starved “dead zone.” our print publication in the coming year. Editor: Karl Blankenship ([email protected]) While Pennsylvania clearly has not And this month, our colleagues at Managing Editor: Lara Lutz ([email protected]) stepped up to the plate, it has significant the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay are Associate Editor/Projects: Timothy B. Wheeler ([email protected]) challenges. Most of its nitrogen comes from retooling their column to focus on citizen CONTACT US Bay Journal News Service Editor: Tim Sayles ([email protected]) farms and developed lands — and it has stewardship. It’s something the Alliance has by mail: Copy/Design Editor: Kathleen A. Gaskell ([email protected]) more of both than any other state in the specialized in over the years, and readers in The Bay Journal Staff Writer: Jeremy Cox ([email protected]) watershed. The entire region has struggled our surveys have asked for more informa- 619 Oakwood Drive Staff Writer: Ad Crable ([email protected]) to control those sources of pollution. tion about things they can do. The new Seven Valleys, PA Staff Writer: Whitney Pipkin ([email protected]) Indeed, if you factor out nutrient reductions column, Steward’s Corner, is now packaged 17360-9395 Photographer: Dave Harp ([email protected]) from wastewater treatment plant upgrades, with our other popular columns. ADVERTISING our collective progress isn’t great.. — Karl Blankenship by phone: Marketing & Advertising Director: Jacqui Caine ([email protected]) 717-428-2819 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Sign Up for the Bay Journal or Change your Address TheBay Journal is distributed FREE by Bay Journal Media, Inc. If you would like to Mary Barber, President To inquire about be added to its mailing list or need to change your present address, please fill out this form advertising, contact Bill Eichbaum, Vice-President Karl Blankenship, Secretary and mail it to Bay Journal, P.O. Box 222, Jacobus, PA 17407-0222. Jacqui Caine at o o Frank Felbaum, Treasurer Check One: New Subscription Change of Address 540-903-9298 Donald Boesch o Please remove my name from your mailing list Kim Coble Please note that it may take up to two issues for changes to become effective. Tom Lewis Name: Address: Correction City: State: An article in the September issue Zip: about Montgomery County’s struggles to reduce stormwater pollution incor- Optional: Enclosed is a donation to the Bay Journal Fund for $ rectly reported the status of Maryland’s www.bayjournal.com o Bay Journal water quality trading regulations. They From time to time, the includes a list of its supporters in the were finalized in July. The Bay Journal print edition. Please check here if you would like your gift to remain anonymous and not be recognized in the Bay Journal. regrets the error Bay Journal • October 2019 3

Clockwise from left: A dolphin calf for- ages in the Potomac River. Researchers witnessed the birth of a wild calf in the river’s confluence with the Bay. See article on page 6. (Ann-Marie Jacoby / Photograph taken under NMFS Permit No. 19403) Paddlers wend their way along the curvaceous course of Barren Creek as it approaches the Nanticoke River on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. (Dave Harp)

A mylar balloon is shown washed up on a beach on Assateague Island. Communities are increasingly looking at banning the mass WHAT’S INSIDE release of balloons, which pose a threat News Travel to wildlife. See article on page 10. 4 Opponents fear case has already been built for Bay Bridge 24 Turkey Hill Trail stuffed with views of Susquehanna, birds (Ann Richardson) option • Hogan, state officials have already expressed their preference for Chesapeake span 26 Sinuous, woodsy Barren Creek is fit to be plied 6 Scientists witness dolphin give birth in the Potomac River • Columns Researchers have intensified work during a fifth season to see if mammal’s numbers are increasing 38 Steward’s Corner • WOW program helps female forest 8 Groups work to stop brook trout from being the fish that owners branch out got away • Habitat drastically shrinks as climate change, removal of shade trees make streams too warm 39 On the Wing • For wren & writer, home is where the birdhouse hangs 10 Queen Anne’s is first MD county to let go of balloon releases • More bans could follow as balloons become focal 40 Bay Naturalist • Bats, our best weapon against insect pests, point of litter reduction campaigns need magic bullet to fight disease 11 Court rules that DC’s daily E. coli limit is inadequate • Advocates argue current regs allow waterbodies to exceed Puzzles & Events standard as long as averages are met 0 3 Chesapeake Challenge • Let’s go to bat for the little brown 12 MD denies permits for solar projects that sought to clear bat forests • Move will also protect high-quality streams and an ‘important bird area’ 30 Bay Buddies • Bats! 13 Deluge of development spurs call for Rappahannock research 34 Bulletin Board • Volunteer Opportunities • Workshops • • Entrepreneur wants to create facility that would forge stronger ties between river, scientists and growing community Events • Programs • Resources 15 Researchers find sunscreen chemicals in Chesapeake Forum oysters • Antibiotics, natural and synthetic hormones also Commentary • Letters • Perspectives detected in water, sediment and bivalve tissue WE’RE JUST 16 Outreach strategies cropping up to help growing number 31 Chesapeake Born • Ignoring science won’t make looming A CLICK AWAY of female farmers • Studies find that women are more open climate calamity go away to conservation, stewardship practices Visit us online: bayjournal.com 32 Around the Watershed • EC meeting recognizes innovation, 17 Bay scientists studying environmental, economic uses for Like us on FaceBook: hemp • Backers cite its benefits for humans, soil and water, acknowledges work ahead Chesapeake Bay Journal others question environmental claims or send us a Tweet: 33 PA legislators need to put the money where the boots are – @ChesBayJournal 23 Chesapeake restoration goals a greater challenge for PA • on farms State’s latest Bay cleanup plan still fails to meet pollution objectives 4 Bay Journal • October 2019 Opponents fear case has already been built for Bay Bridge option ≈ Hogan, state officials have summer typically already expressed their face a 1-mile preference for Chesapeake span backup, which equates to an hour By Jeremy Cox of sitting in traffic. After three years of high-stakes A 2015 MDTA analysis and sometimes-clamorous analysis suggested rhetoric over environmental and com- that westbound munity impacts, four possible courses traffic could back of action remain on the table for dealing up 14 miles on with heavy traffic on the Chesapeake such days by Bay Bridge in Maryland. 2040, trapping The Maryland Transportation Author- drivers in an ity in August proposed three possible 11-hour wait. routes for a new span, which would be In Queen the third to cross the Bay in the state. The Anne’s County, agency also included a so-called “no- where the Bay build” option — managing the congestion Bridge links without constructing a new bridge. up with the Citizens and conservation organiza- Eastern Shore, tions have reacted with concern over that congestion how a new bridge could affect the often boils over landscape wherever it touches down. onto secondary Maryland’s first Bay Bridge, which roads, said James opened more than 60 years ago, trans- Moran, a county formed parts of the rural Eastern shore commissioner. with increased traffic and sprawl devel- Kate Livie stands by a wetland near her home outside of Chestertown, MD, near one of the three routes On weekends, opment, both of which have increased proposed for a new Bay crossing. Livie launched a Facebook group called “Stop the Span” as an online residents become over time. Opponents say that a new gathering place for opponents. (Dave Harp) prisoners in their span, which will cost billions of dollars, own homes. will trigger more land conversion in expanse will trample across environmen- not a done deal. “You don’t leave your home after 10 places, where communities don’t want it tally sensitive lands and fuel more urban “So, all we’re simply stating are the a.m.” on Sundays in the summer, said and the environment will suffer, on both sprawl on both sides of the Bay. But after facts that [the route near the existing Moran, a supporter of the third span. “If sides of the Bay. Hogan and Ports drew their identical lines spans] provides the most relief,” he said. you go out, you’ll have a hard time getting The three proposed routes include in the sand, groups are now expressing “We’re not picking it, not predisposed back home because of the traffic.” adding a span to the existing bridge or fresh doubts about whether the “no-build” to it. We’re just looking at the numbers. Dennis Dare, an Ocean City council- building a new one to either the north alternative will get a fair airing. I think you would come up to the same man and former city manager, said a or south. All would leave the Western conclusion.” third span would allow maintenance to Shore from Anne Arundel County. Questions about legitimacy An environmental law expert said the be performed on one of the other spans Critics say that statements made “It’s problematic that the governor officials’ comments aren’t likely to get without having to force traffic in both by state officials could undercut a fair has already come out and said he will them into any federal hot water, as long directions onto a single bridge. consideration of all options, including only support a new span at the existing as the final decision is informed by the Building a bridge next to the existing the “no-build” scenario. Under federal location,” said Kimberly Golden Brandt, evidence gathered by the study. ones is “the only way” to ensure traffic statutes, the lengthy review being led by director of the smart growth program Still, whenever public officials publicly continues to flow smoothly in the the MDTA isn’t supposed to be used for with Preservation Maryland. “It raises back one option over others prematurely, future, Dare added. “You could make “justifying decisions already made.” But questions about the legitimacy of the “it does undermine confidence, I think, an argument that the urban sprawl that’s that increasingly seems to be the case, whole process.” in the process that what’s going on is a gone into Queen Anne’s isn’t smart they say. “You don’t preordain the outcome,” careful look at the alternatives,” said Jim growth, but it’s happened and you have Although the MDTA plans to make said Gary Hodge, vice chairman of the McElfish, an attorney with the Environ- to deal with it.” no final decision until 2021, the agency’s Maryland Transit Opportunities Coali- mental Law Institute in Washington, DC. head, a former state delegate, has publicly tion, which advocates for mass-transit In Maryland, drivers can only cross Options for span described one of the routes as the “best” solutions. the Bay on a pair of spans between The MDTA began its study with a list alternative: a span running parallel to the Hogan’s office disputes that charac- Annapolis and Kent Island: a two-lane of 14 potential bridge corridors, stretching two existing bridges. James Ports’ com- terization of his comments. His prefer- bridge constructed in 1952 and another virtually the entire length of state’s Bay ments came at a Queen Anne’s County ence for the route nearest the existing three-lane span that opened beside it in shoreline from north to south. None of the Commissioners meeting Aug. 27, the day bridges is supported by the study’s traffic 1973. The segment forms part of U.S. routes, including the three that remain, is the options were unveiled. projections, which show it reduces traffic Routes 50/301. an exact path. Each marks a swath 2 miles The next day, Gov. Larry Hogan more on the other spans than any of the The Hogan administration launched wide from one side to the other where a doubled down on that assessment. alternatives, said Michael Ricci, a Hogan the $5 million route study three years bridge and approach roads could be built. “There is only one option I will ever spokesman. ago. Advocates say a new bridge would The northernmost path would extend accept: adding a third span to our existing “The community has the opportunity ease traffic backups during weekday from state Route 100 in Pasadena down Bay Bridge,” Hogan said on Twitter. to provide its input and, as the process rush hours and summer weekends. The MD Route 177, making its crossing near “While the federal process requires mul- moves forward, to review the environ- 4-mile bridges are a key chokepoint for Gibson Island. It would meet land near tiple proposals, the data is indisputable mental impacts, the potential costs and tourists driving between the DC and the entrance to the Eastern Neck National — this option [at the existing site] would how transit options can be incorporated,” Baltimore areas and popular coastal Wildlife Refuge in Kent County, cross the maximize congestion relief and minimize Ricci said. resort communities, such as Rehoboth mouth of the Chester River and intersect environmental impact,” Hogan added. Ports told the Bay Journal that Beach, DE, and Ocean City, MD. with Route 301 south of Centreville in Many conservation groups oppose the although he and Hogan have made Today, drivers heading westbound bridge’s construction, warning that the clear where they stand, the decision is across the bridge on Sundays in the Bridge continues on page 5 Bay Journal • October 2019 5

Bridge from page 4 they should homes urge “No Bay Bridge to Kent.” consider “I agree with Larry Hogan, though Queen Anne’s County. other options I’ll be confident he’ll be long out of The middle route would follow along- as well, such office before any of this comes to side the existing two bridges, departing as an electric happening,” said Tom Mason, president the Western Shore near Sandy Point Park ferry and of the Kent County Commissioners. He and ending on Kent Island. rail, Pittman added that he was “a little surprised” by The southernmost route would turn added. the twists and turns of the proposed Kent south from Routes US 50/US 301 at “If we route, which depicts the future roadway or near Davidsonville Road to con- haven’t fig- as crossing the Chester River at its nect with state Route 214, placing the ured out how widest point. bridge at the end of 214 on the Mayo to get cars Kate Livie, a freelance writer who Peninsula. It would make landfall on off the road lives in Kent, launched a Facebook group the opposite side of the Bay near St. by the time called “Stop the Span” as an online Michaels in Talbot County. A second this bridge gathering place for opponents. It has more bridge would likely have to be built to gets built, than 350 members. She opposes a new take it across the Miles River to link we’ll have bridge being built anywhere but sees only up with Route 50 again just north of much bigger one way that will come about. Easton. problems to “The no-build option will be imple- In addition to the problems cited by confront than mented if they don’t have the money to residents along the current route, the traffic,” he build it,” Livie said. new routes would require enormous said. “Let’s In his remarks to Queen Anne’s infrastructure changes through exist- not build County Commissioners, Ports said that ing towns and landscapes that do not yesterday’s the route next to the existing bridges have major highways running through bridge is the “best alternative,” citing the them. In some places, the routes would tomorrow.” agency’s analysis of its traffic benefits. travel through farmland and rural The The agency’s new analysis shows that communities. In others, they would be M DTA’s summer weekend traffic on the existing challenged to navigate existing corri- report closes two bridges is expected to be 135,300 dors already mired in congestion. Both the door to vehicles a day in 2040 without the third of the alternate paths would transform other options span added next door; with one, that the shoreline environments where the as sole solu- figure falls to 79,700. bridge was placed and have a ripple tions, declar- Because the state is following the effect on surrounding land use. ing that federal National Environmental Policy Objections to all three routes have operational Act mandates, the agency had to go prompted many critics on both sides of improve- forward with any possible route that the Bay to ask: Is a new span necessary? ments, showed a “positive result,” Ports said. The Eastern Shore Land Conservancy ferries, Compared with the no-build option, the urged the MDTA to strongly consider new bus northern candidate would reduce the the no-build option, warning that a new routes number of vehicles during that time to bridge would kindle more sprawl on the In Maryland, drivers can only cross the Bay on a pair of spans and rail 111,200 while the southern route would Delmarva Peninsula. “So why not first between Annapolis and Kent Island: a two-lane bridge (left) con- lines alone result in 104,300, the study found. So, try to fix the congestion at the existing structed in 1952 and another three-lane span that opened beside it wouldn’t they were retained in the analysis. Bay Bridge as best we can, prior to in 1973. The segment forms part of U.S. Routes 50/301. (Dave Harp) remove “The feds are very careful about making more space for cars to cross?” the enough making sure it’s not a political process,” nonprofit asked on its Facebook page. across that bridge,” he added. traffic from the existing bridges. Ports said. New vehicle technology, not concrete, The cost of a new bridge would likely During the second phase of the study, The MDTA scheduled several public may solve the traffic problem, said Klaus force the state to raise tolls on the cross- the agency said it will analyze opera- gatherings in late September and early Philipsen, a Baltimore architect and land- ing. The Maryland Transit Opportunities tional improvements — a ferry and bus October to get feedback on the routes. planning activist. Autonomous, or driver- Coalition estimates a jump from $4 to rapid transit —but only in conjunction Construction isn’t expected to begin for less, cars are expected to begin filtering $12. Ports sharply disputes that figure, with the construction of a new bridge. at least several years after that because into the marketplace over the next decade. saying the cost won’t be known until a Projections show that a rapid-transit of the need for further environmental Even the presence of a few such vehicles tolling study is completed. bus or rail line would each remove about study and acquiring the funding, officials on roads otherwise filled with human 1,600 vehicles per day from the existing say. When pressed at the Queen Anne’s drivers can relieve certain types of traffic Impact on landscape spans, Ports said. A bridge could remove meeting about when work might begin, snarls, he said, citing recent research. Others cringe at what a new bridge the same amount of vehicles in an hour. Ports wouldn’t commit to announcing a To invest great amounts of money into might do to the surrounding landscape. “It takes multimodal resources to try to construction date, declining even to select a new bridge — as much as $10 billion, “Any of the three options will be stop congestion.” a decade in which it might occur. according to Ports’ predecessor — is severely disruptive to existing communi- Although no cost analysis has been The Eastern Shore counties hold a nothing short of “insanity,” Philipsen said. ties and sensitive environmental areas,” performed on any of the bridge routes or trump card in the battle over the third “The definition of insanity is doing Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart alternative options, the MDTA is ruling span: A law dating back to the 1970s the same thing that didn’t work before,” Pittman said on Twitter. “All three options out a rail connection “due to its high allows counties affected by a new he said. “We’ve added capacity for the could destroy parks along the Chesapeake costs/impacts,” agency officials said in toll bridge to veto the project by a major- last 50, 60 years as the default, and we’ve Bay at a time when we are trying to a PowerPoint presentation adjoining the ity vote. created more congestion as a result. We expand public water access.” route announcement. “They’re in a significant position should have learned our lesson.” The northern crossing appears to In Kent County on the Eastern to have the state come to them to have Even if autonomous vehicles become bisect Downs Park, the middle goes Shore, elected officials expressed relief express consent to do a new bridge,” said commonplace in the coming decades, through Sandy Point State Park and that Hogan had singled out the Anne Hodge, the transit advocate. Ports said, a third Bay Bridge will still the southern route could pass through Arundel-Queen Anne’s corridor as the He helped write a bill to give Western be worthwhile to build. “A bridge like Beverly Triton Nature Park, Pittman said. best candidate. In the rural county, the Shore counties the same power, but it this would not be obsolete. It would be an If Hogan and the MDTA decide prospect of a new Bay bridge is deeply failed in last spring’s legislative session. enhancement to the traffic that would get to drive forward with a new bridge, unpopular. Yard signs outside many He plans to give it another try next spring. 6 Bay Journal • October 2019 Scientists witness dolphin give birth in the Potomac River ≈ Researchers have intensified work during a fifth season to see if mammal’s numbers A forag- are increasing ing calf is caught By Whitney Pipkin seeming A team of researchers studying dolphins in the to smile at Potomac River got unexpected fruit from their labors last the camera month when they witnessed a dolphin being born near during an the river’s confluence with the Chesapeake Bay. outing this Bottlenose dolphins are among the most studied summer species in the world, but a wild birth has only been on the documented in scientific literature on one other occasion: Potomac in 2013 off the coast of Georgia. River. “I was beyond excited,” said Ann-Marie Jacoby, a (Ann- Ph.D. student at Duke University and associate direc- Marie tor of the Potomac-Chesapeake Dolphin Project, who Jacoby / witnessed the birth on Aug. 17. Photo- Jacoby began working on the dolphin project, graph which was launched in 2015, while a graduate taken student at Georgetown University. The university under supports the work led by Georgetown biologist and NMFS professor Janet Mann. Permit No. “We have been trying to understand why dolphins 19403) come into the Potomac River and the Chesapeake Bay,” Mann said. “We see some very young calves and we see dolphins. After seeing no signs of injury, Jacoby told the many there are and why they come. lots of mating behavior, but this is the most definitive others to look for a newborn. “It’s still surprising to us that so much is known about evidence we have that they have their calves here.” “Lo and behold, a mom with a newborn, whose fin the Potomac and the Chesapeake, and so little is known Although dolphins are not new to the Chesapeake was still slightly bent, surfaced in front of and in line about the dolphins,” she said. “I think there’s a lot of Bay, they appear to be cropping up more frequently in with the cloud of blood,” Jacoby said. great findings to come.” recent years and have been studied, for the first time in Witnessing a dolphin birth is rare, even for research- According to historical accounts, dolphins were the Potomac, over the last five years. Researchers are ers. Despite studying dolphins for more than 30 years, spotted in 1884 as far up the Potomac as the Aqueduct trying to figure out whether there are, indeed, more Mann has yet to see a wild birth. Mann said that a Bridge, just south of Georgetown University in the dolphins in the river than in recent history and, if so, scientist off the coast of North Carolina also might have District of Columbia. They were an exotic enough sight what’s drawing them there. witnessed a dolphin birth but, unable to confirm or docu- at the time that, according to reports, men pursued the Now, they have some evidence that the bottlenose ment the mother, didn’t write about it. Several dolphin animals by boat and tried to shoot or capture them. dolphins, which carry their young for 12 months, could births have been recorded in captivity. Other reports in the late 1800s mention dolphin sight- at least be conceiving and birthing babies in these waters Dolphins visit the Chesapeake Bay region from April ings in the Potomac near Alexandria and Quantico, VA, during annual returns. to October, with populations peaking in the warmest the researchers said. When Jacoby and two other students witnessed months. Mann and her research team, most of them More recently, Mann’s team has documented the birth from their boat near Lewisetta, VA, they saw student volunteers, have been focused on the dolphins’ dolphins as far north as the Gov. Harry W. Nice Memo- a cloud of blood in the midst of a group of about 50 presence in the Potomac, working to understand how rial Bridge, where U.S. Route 301 crosses the Potomac just south of Popes Creek, MD. That’s about an 80-mile trip up the river from the Bay and just halfway to the Aqueduct Bridge. Distinguished Designations for Dolphins Their work involves long days of dolphin-spotting, In a regional twist, the Potomac-Chesapeake gender and American society. noting behavior as well as physical characteristics. The Dolphin Project has always named dolphins This year, the Potomac Conservancy hosted dorsal fins are as unique as human fingerprints — at least identified here after U.S. historical figures, starting a naming contest for another pair of Potomac to the trained observer’s eye — and critical for identify- with the presidents, then their wives, then some dolphins in an effort to raise money for the project. ing individual dolphins. vice presidents. As the number of dolphins began The conservancy asked participants to use the “Initially, we didn’t think there would be that many ballooning into the hundreds, the team turned to theme of historical figures, but not everyone did. dolphins,” Mann said. senators and leaders of other political movements Conservancy president Hedrick Belin said they But in their first summer of research, the team for names, such as Ruth Bader Ginsburg. received more than 3,200 suggestions, and 1,400 identified close to 200, “and that was just going out once This year, the team has been drawing on names people participated in a vote to narrow them down. a month,” Mann said. of abolitionists and suffragists; there’s now a Harriet In the end, names such as Rachel Carson and This season, Jacoby and the team have boated on the Tubman, a Sojourner Truth, and a Gloria Steinem. If Sylvia Earle, famous female scientists, conceded Potomac as many days as possible to systematically track the dolphins named after such females have calves, victory to a catchier pair: Mac and Chessie (as in and observe dolphins near the river’s mouth. the researchers try to name their offspring after the PotoMAC and CHESSIEpeake). Dolphin observation requires calm, almost windless figure’s children — but they often wait a year to “I think there’s something intrinsically exciting waters so that choppy waves won’t be confused for make sure the young dolphin survives. about dolphins,” said Belin, whose organization dorsal fins in the distance. If the weather is good, the The researchers who witnessed the Aug. 17 has an ongoing partnership with the project. “At boat will cover about 14 square miles of water, traveling dolphin birth in the Potomac River scrambled to the end of the day, what’s good for the river is between predetermined points and recording what the find a name for the mother-baby pair. They set- going to be good for dolphins. And gaining a better researchers see. tled on the late Patsy Mink, a former member of understanding of what’s going on with the dolphin “Sometimes, we’ll be out there three days in a row, Congress representing Hawaii, who co-authored population in the Potomac, given its relatively and we won’t see any dolphins,” Jacoby said. “They are the Title IX Amendment of the Higher Education recent return, [can teach us about] the Nation’s here, but you have to be pretty patient if you do want to Act, and her daughter, Gwendolyn, a former River.” see them.” academic who writes about law, politics and — Whitney Pipkin Dolphins continues on page 7 Bay Journal • October 2019 7

Dolphins from page 6 confirm. Jacoby plans to interview watermen And sometimes, the wait pays off. The who have spent much of numbers of individual dolphins has been their lives on the river to climbing. record their memories of “I’m still going through the data,” dolphin sightings in recent Jacoby said at the end of August, “but I decades. wouldn’t be surprised if we had around “Their parents or 1,000 animals that we’ve documented grandparents might even coming into the lower Potomac River.” have something to share,” The public also is helping to report Jacoby said. sightings in the Potomac and other Bay The Potomac research- locations. ers say it’s too early to In 2016, the University of Maryland make projections about Center for Environmental Science’s long-term population Chesapeake Biological Laboratory trends. The boundaries for launched the Chesapeake Dolphin Watch dolphin populations along website and phone app to gather informa- the Atlantic Coast are not tion on dolphin sightings from the public. particularly well under- Nearly 4,000 people have reported more stood, with territories than 2,700 dolphin sightings, occasionally overlapping and spanning of 10 or more of the mammals at once, large distances. Many of according to the website. Locations have the animals spotted in been as far north as Maryland’s Magothy Researchers Ann-Marie Jacoby (far left) and Janet Mann (far right) observe and photograph dol- the Chesapeake Bay and River and off Hart-Miller Island east of phins near the mouth of the Potomac River on a windless day, so choppy waters aren’t confused with Potomac River have also Baltimore. dorsal fins. Since starting the Potomac-Chesapeake Dolphin Project in 2015, the crew of researchers frequented the waters off Those reports are most helpful when and volunteers has tried to make it onto the water as often as possible to learn about the region’s North Carolina. Others paired with a photo, Mann said. The bottlenose dolphins. (Madison Miketa / Photograph taken under NMFS Permit No. 19403) have been seen near Cape Potomac researchers use and contribute May, NJ. to a massive Mid-Atlantic Bottlenose made it even easier. Some of the dolphins spotted in the “We do think that there are multiple Dolphin Catalog managed by Duke “When we get a photo, then we Potomac were first added to the catalog in populations coming to the Chesapeake,” University that identifies each dolphin know that ‘Zachary Taylor’ was seen the early 2000s, which gives researchers Jacoby said. by its dorsal fin. The resource is shared close to Annapolis,” Mann said, using a sense of their age. Bottlenose dolphins “And I think the work we’re doing among more than 30 researchers along a name the project has assigned to can live for 30 to 50 years. now of photographing them and matching the East Coast, and fin-matching a dolphin they regularly see in the Anecdotally, people seem to be them is extremely valuable for helping to technology developed with the help of Potomac. “That helps us know how far seeing more dolphins in recent years, understand the population structure and Google’s machine learning programs has these animals are going.” the researchers say, but it’s hard to how best to manage them,” Mann added. Using Nature to Restore Nature

www.ecotoneinc.com 410.420.2600 8 Bay Journal • October 2019 Groups work to stop brook trout from being the fish that got away ≈ Habitat drastically shrinks as study that tracked brook trout climate change, removal of shade in Maryland, for example, trees make streams too warm found ones that lived up to 8 years and swam more than By Ad Crable 6 miles. Another found that About 100 days a year, you will find some brookies will hang in Michael Garrigan by himself with a fly place, perhaps even as lethal rod, sneaking along small mountain warm water envelopes them, streams hoping to catch and hold, just while others are wanderers for a few seconds, a small trout widely and will relocate to survive. revered as the jewel of freshwater fish. In the future, managers may It’s not just the haloed dots, shadings zero in on peripatetic trout and multi-hued colors of the wild brook and use them to establish new trout that enthrall anglers like Garrigan, populations. Sampling for of Marietta, PA, though that would be the presence of brook trout is reason enough. “They’re wild and they’re vastly more efficient with the native. There’s something innately beauti- emergence of environmental ful about that,” Garrigan said. “There’s a DNA or “eDNA.” A labora- special allure finding water that has brook tory filter that captures the trout in it. It’s usually the most remote and biological material shed by close to wild you can be in Pennsylvania. trout is simply placed in a There’s that connection to something that stream and collected later. is of that place.” No need to net or shock Recognition of wild brook trout — the trout to see if they are there. East Coast’s only native trout — as an Samplings can also reveal important cultural, recreational and This wild brook trout was caught using an artificial fly in a Pennsylvania mountain steam. important information about economic icon has never been stronger. (Michael Garrigan) trout densities and the health Scientists and policy makers also point of the population. to the brook trout as an indicator of water estimated 60% of their historical range live. The widespread loss of hemlocks, But climate change has emerged as quality in streams that eventually feed the in the Bay’s drainage, mainly because which shade many headwater streams, to a looming new threat that many fear Chesapeake Bay. of human development and competition a nonnative pest called the woolly adelgid will add the extra few degrees in water “Saving brook trout is saving the Bay from the nonnative and more aggressive has also depleted brook trout habitat. The temperature that could tip the balance. in a big way,” said Alan Heft, a state fish- brown trout and rainbow trout. Incredibly lacy green trees were once so synonymous “The threat of warming temperatures eries biologist and brook trout program sensitive to pollution and sedimentation, with the fish that they often were called from climate change is the number one manager for the Maryland Department of one study found that the brook trout is hemlock brook trout. threat. No question about it,” said Jason Natural Resources. doomed if even 1.5% of its watershed is In the face of such alarming declines, Detar, an area fisheries manager for the Brook trout are found along the covered by impervious surface. unprecedented efforts and money are Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, Appalachian Mountains from Georgia Brook trout also depend on cool water, focused on preserving and improving which has seen the state’s watersheds to Maine. They are the state fish of nine and their scientific name means “dweller brook trout habitat — mostly small holding brook trout shrink by one-third. Eastern states, including Pennsylvania, of springs,” indicating their reliance on forested streams — and even restoring “I’m very concerned about that. I think New York, Virginia and West Virginia, colder temperatures. Their precarious state brookies to streams where they used to the reality is we’re going to lose brook all of which are in the Bay watershed. has worsened as forest loss and climate swim. Virginia recently resettled brook trout habitat,” added Fred Henson of the Yet “brookies” are gone from an change warm the streams where they trout in several streams in the Massanut- New York Department of Environmental ten Mountains where the fish disappeared Conservation. generations ago. In Western Maryland, In a 2015 report on the impacts of limestone treatments were used to restore climate change, the U.S. Environmental Brook Trout in the Bay States brookies to several streams long made Protection Agency warned that coldwater Native wild brook trout have brook trout could disappear from fishless by acid mine drainage. fish habitat could decline by as much been declining in every state with all streams in the state with the The save-brook-trout movement began as 62% over the next 80 years. And the streams and rivers that drain into exception of some in Western in 2006 when conservation groups, uni- state-federal Chesapeake Bay Program, the Chesapeake Bay. Here are the Maryland, by 2100. versities, and state and federal agencies which has made brook trout a priority, has status and predictions for a few from 17 states formed the Eastern Brook said the species could become regionally of the states based on predicted Virginia Trout Joint Venture. threatened within three or four decades. impacts from climate change and ≈ Gone from 35% of their Since then, harmful pollution, such The Maryland Chapter of Trout development. historic range as acid rain, which can make streams Unlimited said that warming water over ≈ Found in 614 streams too acidic to support trout, has improved the next 100 years could eliminate brook Maryland ≈ One climate change model considerably. trout from the state, except for one county ≈ Gone from 62% of their predicted the elimination of brook New technology is aiding the effort, in western Maryland. In Virginia, the historic range trout from the entire state by 2050. such as the use of computer modeling National Wildlife Federation warned that ≈ Found in 151 streams. to predict where streams will warm and the species could be gone as soon as 2050 Significant populations found in Pennsylvania help identify where to plant or preserve from all of its 614 brook trout streams. only three parts of Maryland: Gar- ≈ Gone from 34% of watersheds streamside trees that shade and cool the The Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture rett County in Western Maryland, ≈ 39% of watersheds that still water. Satellites can help locate where has tweaked its mission because of Baltimore County in the Upper hold brook trout have populations cool underground springs add colder climate change. “Our focus now is to Gunpowder Falls watershed and half their original size. pockets of water to a stream, steering assure [that] the brook trout that we do Frederick County in Catoctin ≈ 16,000 miles of streams have conservation efforts toward them. have can move around where they need Mountain Park wild trout; much of that includes Genetic studies have revealed that to go within a system,” stated Stephen G. ≈ One wildlife group predicted brook trout. brook trout live longer than was thought and some will swim far to survive. A Trout continues on page 9 Bay Journal • October 2019 9

Trout from page 8 concerted effort in the last 10 years to find and document all of the streams that hold Perry, the effort’s coordinator. any kind of wild trout, especially smaller The danger of climate change is ones. About 16,000 miles have been straightforward enough. Unlike the found so far. Once documented, the best more tolerant rainbow and brown trout, are given protection from development. brook trout need water temperature near Hands-on projects already are under 68 degrees. Adults can survive water way to give brookies a fighting chance warmed to 77 degrees, which results in against climate change. less oxygen, but reproduction slows when In Big Hunting Creek in Maryland’s the temperature hits 70. Catoctin Mountain Park, wild but Except in higher elevations, many introduced brown trout, which muscle streams where brook trout are found in out brookies for food and eat their finger- Bay states are perilously close to that lings, are being caught and transported tipping point. Without ideal stream farther downstream where a waterfall habitat and shading trees overhead, a blocks their return. The U.S. Geological degree or two could render a waterway Survey is reintroducing sculpin, a small section troutless. fish that is part of a healthy brook trout “I think there probably will be a stream ecosystem, to several streams in shift favoring northernmost brook trout the park. streams in our watershed,” said Jennifer Unquestionably, the future of brook Greiner, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service An angler tries to catch a native brook trout from a small stream in Pennsylvania. trout is at a critical juncture. Even more liaison to the Bay Program. Climate change could severely reduce native brookies in Chesapeake Bay states. resources must come to bear to make “It’s vital that we protect the best of (Michael Garrigan) streams as good as they can be as warmer our best [steams] right now,” Heft said. temperatures move in. Another threat from climate change Falls Watershed Trout Conservation shade streams. “Planting trees is an amaz- Many of those trying to save the is predicted greater rainfall. High water Partnership, which led a successful effort ingly simple thing to do to get the largest brookie point to the importance of getting in winter can sweep away eggs and to establish a brook trout population in impact in the quickest amount of time for the public aboard so that they clamor fingerling trout. the Upper Gunpowder River. The project the least amount of dollars,” Perry said. for all that can be done and that private While the ultimate fate of brook trout involves mostly private landowners not Another push has come to replace landowners agree to be good stewards of remains uncertain, a formidable coalition far from Baltimore. old culverts that are prone to streambed streams in their midst. of private and public efforts has been pull- It’s one of only three brook trout scourings at their ends, cutting off trout “If the general public places a high ing out all of the stops to, as one popular strongholds left in Maryland. The other from migrating in search of better habitat. value on our streams, then there can be a license plate puts it: “Back the Brookie.” two are in Garrett County and in Freder- Highway departments now use more concerted effort to work collaboratively “It’s not looking optimistic, but we’re ick County near Catoctin Mountain Park. fish-friendly culverts to replace old ones to conserve these resources,” Detar said. going down fighting,” said Scott Scarfone, One of the chief strategies to stave off or when new road crossings are built. “Otherwise, I believe the handwriting is coordinator of the Upper Gunpowder thermal pollution is planting buffers to In Pennsylvania, there has been a on the wall for these systems.”

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Virginia has with a NOAA grant that supports the By Whitney Pipkin for years had a law joint efforts of Delaware, Maryland, New When Jay Falstad tells of the cluster prohibiting the release Jersey, New York and Virginia to prevent of balloons that landed on Unicorn Lake of 50 or more balloons balloon litter in the mid-Atlantic region. near his home in Queen Anne’s County, with a civil penalty of One of their first efforts is to get people MD, it sounds like he’s beginning a $5 per balloon above in the region to participate in a survey to children’s tale. Instead, it begins the story the allowable limit. better understand their views on balloon of the first county-based balloon ban in While the law releases. the state. is little-known and The survey asks, among other ques- The balloons Falstad spotted near his rarely enforced, Katie tions, what participants think happens home on the Eastern Shore came with an Register, executive to balloons once they’re released and “if found” phone number to call written director of Clean reflects choices that are commonly held: on them with a Sharpie pen. When he Virginia Waterways at They disintegrate in the atmosphere, float dialed it, the person who answered was Longwood University, into space or break down naturally. (The nearly 500 miles away in Dayton, OH, said it still got results answer: They fall to the ground or water and had released the balloons from there when she called and break into smaller pieces that persist four days before. school principals who in the environment instead of breaking Falstad found it hard to believe that had been planning a down entirely.) helium-filled latex balloons could travel celebratory, end-of- Kimberly Grubert, a coastal planner so far. Then he started noticing them school release. with Maryland’s Department of Natural everywhere. “When they found Resources, said the survey will help the “I was seeing balloons in ditches, out there was a law, coalition of state-based organizations in trees, in farm fields,” said Falstad, they said, ‘That’s better target their messages to reduce who, despite being executive director of it. We won’t do it,’ ” balloon releases. The agency has begun Queen Anne’s Conservation Association, said Register. “Laws, some of its own monitoring efforts and hadn’t previously thought of balloons as even when they’re recently found about 20 balloon frag- a large source of litter. He realized that not enforced, do ments per mile on a stretch of beach on those released in his county, often in high modify some peoples’ Assateague Island. But, Grubert added, numbers around school graduations, “are behavior.” the volunteers believed visitors who probably out at sea if we’re finding ones Last year, the frequent the island had already picked up here from Ohio.” Balloon Council — an much of the debris that might concen- Falstad reached out to a county A balloon string hangs out of a wild horse’s mouth on industry group repre- trate there. commissioner about introducing a ban on Assateague Island, MD, in this photo by Ann Richardson. senting balloon makers And it’s not just the beaches that are balloon releases at a meeting this summer, “The balloons are no longer pretty when you see them in and sellers in the impacted. For the last 20 years, a charter and “the support was overwhelming.” the middle of a lovely dune or in the mouth of a horse,” United States that had captain out of Ocean City, has been The new law levies a $250 fine for the Richardson said. long fought balloon recording the location of every mylar or deliberate release of “non-biodegradable release bans — foil balloon he has come across in the helium balloons” into the environment. ridley sea turtle found dead on Fisherman updated its stance from discouraging ocean. He has found some nearly 45 miles “Intentionally releasing balloons into Island, VA, with a balloon string hanging only certain types of balloon releases to off the coast. Capt. Mark Sampson’s the atmosphere is nothing short of litter- out of its mouth was a widely circulated advising against all of them. records indicate he finds an average of 18 ing, said Christopher Corchiarino, the example. “Whether it’s a single balloon or mylar balloons per year, mostly in May commissioner who introduced the bill. In response, laws aimed at plastic litter hundreds, let’s keep them from flying and June when graduation and wedding Balloons are the latest in a string of have been coming in waves, reducing away,” the statement says. “Don’t let go: releases are popular. bans that local and state governments access to foam containers, then plastic Inflate. Weight. Enjoy.” A Facebook group called Blume’s have passed in an effort to reduce straws and now, perhaps, balloons. Virginia was the first state on the East Balloon Round Up also tallies the common sources of litter. Earlier this “When it comes to trash policy, Coast to create a marine debris reduction number of balloons picked up by boat- year, Maryland became the first state when one jurisdiction does something, plan in 2014, and it has spawned several based and shore cleanups near Ocean to ban the polystyrene foam containers it definitely gets others thinking,” said efforts that have given the state a good City. Their page reports 2,750 balloons commonly used for food and beverages, Ashley Van Stone, executive director of grasp of what’s washing up where. For so far this year. following in the footsteps of jurisdic- Trash Free Maryland. example, volunteers tallied and analyzed The grant to reduce marine debris tions that make up the Anacostia River Baltimore and Ocean City, MD, 11,441 balloons and balloon-related pieces across the mid-Atlantic will fund watershed. already had laws banning balloon of litter during four years of monitor- balloon awareness efforts over the next When they reach Chesapeake Bay releases, but Queen Anne’s is the first ing on the state’s remote barrier island three years. waters, these nonbiodegradable materials countywide law. Falstad said a representa- beaches, making them the most common Advocates for balloon release bans break into smaller and smaller pieces, tive from Harford County has reached type of debris there. say they’re not opposed to balloons, in called microplastics. Studies show that out to him with interest in also proposing The most common types of bal- general, or to “a 6-year-old kid who acci- fish and oysters can mistake those tiny a ban, and the Ocean City chapter of the loons they found were those celebrating dentally releases a balloon at a birthday bits for food, moving chemical-laden Surfrider Foundation is circulating a bal- birthdays, followed by graduations and party,” Falstad said. plastics into the food chain. loon ban petition for Worcester County. Mother’s Day. With a grant from the Instead, he hopes that laws like the one When balloons become litter in the “We aren’t talking about a child acci- National Oceanic and Atmospheric in Queen Anne’s County spur alternatives marine environment, they can pose more dentally releasing a balloon,” the petition Administration, Register led a social to a deliberate, large release. problems. Their bright colors attract sea states. “We want to ban the act of releas- marketing effort to reduce balloon “We’re one county, but this is a turtles, birds and other species that can ing a bunch of balloons on purpose.” releases at weddings. They interviewed nationwide problem,” he said. mistake the balloons for food or nesting In Pennsylvania, a petition started brides, wedding planners and vendors to Take the mid-Atlantic balloon release supplies. A 2014 photo depicting the skel- by an individual to ban balloon and sky understand what balloon releases symbol- survey at surveygizmo.com/s3/5176323/ eton of a critically endangered Kemp’s lantern releases is close to a goal of 500 ized and to suggest alternatives, such as balloon2. Bay Journal • October 2019 11 Court rules that DC’s daily E. coli limit is inadequate ≈ Advocates argue current regs rivers during heavy rains. allow waterbodies to exceed The project involves 18 miles of standard as long as averages are met large underground tunnels designed to capture polluted runoff and steer it By Whitney Pipkin toward the wastewater treatment plant. How much E. coli can an urban The first stretch came online in spring waterway contain and still be consid- 2018. When the second phase is com- ered “clean”? pleted in a few years, officials predict A federal court ruled in August it will end approximately 98% of all that the limits the District of Columbia polluted overflows to the Anacostia. set for E. coli in its waterways didn’t Contamination from E. coli is one adequately answer that question. of the many challenges in an ongoing E. coli is a type of bacteria often effort to make the Anacostia River found in fecal matter that can indicate swimmable by 2025. A secondary issue the presence of other pathogens. Some with a TMDL that allows for average strains of E. coli infection can cause rather than daily E. coli limits is that it abdominal cramps, diarrhea, fever and could leave future swimmers vulner- vomiting. able to the bacteria on some days. The decision from the U.S. District Though it is still illegal to swim in Court for the District of Columbia District waters, the Anacostia River- gives regulators about a year to keeper now operates a sizable citizen craft new limits for the Anacostia monitoring program that allows the and Potomac river systems running public to track the river’s real-time through the nation’s capital. A tray of water taken from the Potomac River south of the District of Columbia this progress toward that goal. The results The decision was a response to a summer is analyzed for the presence of E. coli by one of several nonprofits now monitoring of weekly tests are posted on the Swim lawsuit filed in 2016 by Earthjustice on bacteria levels in local waters. (Whitney Pipkin) Guide website, which, despite its behalf of three environmental groups — name, includes the reminder in capital- the Anacostia Riverkeeper, Kingman standards,” Earthjustice attorney Seth still reviewing the court’s most recent ized letters that swimming is still Park Civic Association and Potomac Johnson said. ruling, which will result in the E. coli prohibited regardless of the status. Riverkeeper Network — against the The court largely agreed, though it TMDLs being reworked once again. “We cannot disclaim that enough,” U.S. Environmental Protection Agency did not side with the plaintiffs on other “Our efforts thus far have resulted said Trey Sherard, Anacostia River- for its approval of the District’s E. coli technical arguments. in significant improvements in the keeper’s outreach coordinator and limits in 2014. TMDL calculations, one of several Anacostia River’s water quality, and we biologist. He emphasized that the E. coli Earthjustice contended that the EPA criteria used to achieve water qual- will continue our active engagement to TMDL lawsuit and the citizen monitor- violated the Clean Water Act because ity, are the basis for permits issued bring tangible, measurable benefits to ing effort are different facets of the the limits, formally known as total to regulated dischargers stating how the District’s waterways,” DC Water same approach toward cleaner water. maximum daily loads or TMDLs, did much of a pollutant can be present in spokesman Vincent Morris said. “This is just one more piece in the not set daily discharge maximums. their wastewater. The statement also said that such puzzle to keep it moving in the right Instead, the TMDLs were based in One of those regulated dischargers, an effort will require “sound science direction,” he said. part on equations that allowed the DC Water, runs the world’s largest and data-based approaches spanning The District also is in the process waterways to exceed the numeric daily advanced water treatment facility on multiple generations and coordinated of rewriting its so-called trash TMDL standard in a 24-hour period as long the banks of the Potomac River at Blue efforts” between government agencies for the Anacostia River after the as certain averages were maintained Plains. It interceded as a defendant on and the public. Natural Resources Defense Council over a 30-day period. The document the case, arguing on the EPA’s side. To help reduce the amount of E. successfully argued in a lawsuit that said this approach allowed for more DC Water had sued the EPA in 2015 coli entering the city’s rivers, DC the TMDL, which detailed how much variability, but the plaintiffs disagreed. over an earlier version of the E. coli Water is in the midst of a $2.7-billion trash must be removed from the river, “A TMDL, on the face of it, should TMDLs, contending that the limits Clean Rivers Project required by the falls short of establishing a maximum represent the maximum total amount were too stringent. The EPA then EPA to curtail the city’s long legacy for how much trash can enter the river of a pollutant that can be added to a issued a revised rationale for the limits, of combined sewer overflows. Those in the first place. Until then, trash is waterbody on a given day and still and DC Water dropped its suit. overflows have routinely gushed still being removed from the river in have it comply with water quality DC Water officials said they are sewage-laden stormwater into nearby accordance with the previous TMDL.

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MDSWM.com 12 Bay Journal • October 2019 MD denies permits for solar projects that sought to clear forests ≈ Move will also protect to justify any decrease in water qual- Columbia and Virginia affiliate of the high-quality streams and an ity,” the agency announcement said. Solar Energy Industries Association, said ‘important bird area’ The projects’ rejections come amid that “clear cutting for forests is not an continuing friction in Maryland over industry best practice.” By Timothy B. Wheeler the siting of renewable energy projects, “We’d like to see projects with greater Maryland regulators have blocked particularly solar. community support and environmental two large solar power projects in Charles The General Assembly earlier this stewardship move forward,” Murray said. County that together would have year boosted the state’s renewable It’s unclear what could happen next. A cleared 400 acres of woodlands. Some energy goals, from 25% by 2020 to lawyer for the family that owns the tract environmentalists hailed the decisions 50% by 2030. Of that total, 14.5% is targeted for the Georgetown project had while others lamented them, highlighting to come specifically from solar. But said that if the project fell through, the tensions in the state over the siting of some rural and suburban counties — trees still could be harvested and the land renewable energy projects. responding to complaints about the sold for development. The Maryland Department of the loss of farmland or scenic landscapes The Audubon Society’s Curson said he Environment announced Aug. 28 that it — have taken steps to limit the amount hoped that wouldn’t happen. had denied a wetlands and waterways or location of solar development in “What I would hope,” Curson added, permit to put about 100,000 photovoltaic their jurisdictions. “is that a conservation purchase could be panels on a mostly wooded tract near La In August, Gov. Larry Hogan arranged.” Plata that would have sold electricity to issued an executive order forming a Curson and other opponents of the Georgetown University. task force to develop what he called Georgetown project say they support solar The MDE also said that a second “consensus-based recommendations” energy, but they want to see it steered to project planning about 80,000 more solar on the siting of new solar and wind non-agricultural sites such as rooftops and panels a few miles away did not meet the energy projects in the state. former industrial “brownfields.” state’s requirements for protecting a high- Kimberly Golden Brandt, director Industry advocates counter that those quality stream flowing by that heavily of the smart growth program with sites are often too costly to develop. It’s forested site. That project would have pro- Preservation Maryland, said she unrealistic, they say, to expect to meet the duced power for the Southern Maryland thinks more state guidance is needed. state’s solar energy goals if projects are Electric Cooperative, or SMECO. She noted that Charles County had not allowed to convert at least some of the MDE Secretary Ben Grumbles said approved both of the solar projects state’s farmland. that the projects posed “an unacceptable now blocked by the MDE. “The only affordable form of solar trade-off for the environmental benefits of “What’s the next project that’s energy is in fields,” said Montgomery clean energy.” going to come in and [have] hundreds County Del. Kumar Barve, chairman of “While Maryland strongly supports of acres of forest approved for clear- the House Environment and Transporta- the increased use of clean and renewable ing?” she asked. tion Committee. He said those who claim energy sources,” Grumbles said, “these The Maryland Department of the Environment Solar industry representatives have to support solar energy only if it avoids two proposed projects would harm the has denied permits for two solar energy proj- reacted coolly to the governor’s move, taking farmland “want to eat omelettes nearby high-quality stream in Charles ects proposed for Charles County. (Lucidity noting that their industry would have [but] don’t want to break any eggshells.” County and threaten our continued Information Design, LLC) only one of the 15 seats on the task Mike Tidwell, founder of the Chesa- restoration progress in the Chesapeake force. But they also said they were not peake Climate Action Network, noted Bay watershed.” concern about the consequences the concerned by the Origis Energy USA, the Miami- project construction could have had on denial of the two based developer of both projects, did not Wards Run, which flows through the site Charles County respond to requests for comment. on its way to the Potomac River. projects. The larger of the two projects, on The MDE declared that Origis had “It’s not a huge Shugart Valley Place, would have produced “failed to document and demonstrate surprise to see nearly half of the electricity consumed by that a serious effort was made to avoid, those particular Georgetown University. The proposal was minimize and mitigate or otherwise offset projects and that a centerpiece of the university’s efforts to the [project’s] effects on water quality.” particular company shrink the carbon footprint of its District of Alison Prost, Maryland executive get an unfavorable Columbia campus. director of the Chesapeake Bay Founda- outcome,” said But the plan drew fierce and wide- tion, applauded the MDE decision and Cyrus Tashakkori, ranging opposition because it called for said she hoped it would set a precedent. president of Open clearing 210 acres of trees in Charles While Georgetown’s embrace of solar Road Renewables, County’s Nanjemoy Peninsula. The Audu- is “admirable,” she said, “clean energy a Texas-based bon Society has identified the 537-acre site should never require clearing high- company develop- as part of an “important bird area” on the quality forests.” ing other large- peninsula because of the habitat the woods The other solar project, on Ripley scale solar projects provide, particularly for species that need Road, had not generated nearly as much in Maryland. Relatively young trees grow in an area that had been cleared on undisturbed forest to nest. pushback, and the state Public Service Tashakkori the 537-acre mostly wooded tract where Origis Energy USA had “This is really good news for the forest Commission had conditionally approved said that industry proposed installing 100,000 solar panels. (Dave Harp) birds that live at this site,” said David the project more than a year ago. But the representatives Curson, interim executive director of MDE announcement said the developer have been working for the past couple of that Origis had pledged to permanently Audubon Maryland-DC. The peninsula had not met a key condition, requiring years with state and local officials, legisla- preserve more forested acreage elsewhere harbors the largest contiguous forest in that Mill Run, which flows through that tors, and farm and conservation groups to make up for what it would clear — Southern Maryland, he said, where spe- 300-acre site, be protected from any harm to address siting concerns and develop woodlands that could now wind up cies such as the wood thrush, prothono- caused by the clearing of 190 acres of “best practices” for solar development in developed in the future. tary warbler and Eastern whip-poor-will trees there. Maryland. “How is that a win?” Tidwell asked. have been seen. “MDE does not consider the economic David Murray, executive director “We’ll get no solar now, and the trees Environmentalists also had voiced or social benefits of the proposed project of the Maryland, Delaware, District of could be cut down, too.” Bay Journal • October 2019 13 Deluge of development spurs call for Rappahannock research ≈ Entrepreneur wants to create “The idea is to turn this whole river facility that would forge stronger into an ecological destination,” he said. ties between river, scientists and The project has the enthusiastic support of Virginia Tech, the University growing community of Mary Washington, the Friends of the By Jeremy Cox Rappahannock and others. With financial Fredericksburg, VA, faces a support from Cox, researchers from those “coming storm.” institutions began fanning out down the That’s how Henry “Buck” Cox river and across its 2,700-square-mile describes the new homes, office parks watershed this summer, gathering an and businesses forecast to pelt down on elaborate scientific snapshot of ecological his boyhood hometown in the coming life before the “storm” fully arrives. decades. Cox and the scientists involved in The population of Fredericksburg the project hope their findings help local and the four counties that border the officials make land use decisions that Rappahannock River in the region — protect the Rappahannock — and the Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania and Chesapeake Bay downstream — from Stafford — have swollen by more than increased pollution. 50% since 2000, census figures show. The long but narrow Rappahannock That number is projected to grow another watershed winds from the Blue Ridge 30% by 2040, creating a sprawling Mountains in the western half of the metropolitan area of almost 500,000 state to the Chesapeake Bay. It drains people within a few dozen miles of the Ed Whelan, foreground, and Henry “Buck” Cox take in the view of the Rappahan- stormwater from just 7% of the state, but bucolic waterway, according to University nock River in a building that could be transformed into a research and education the river flows through one of its fastest- of Virginia demographers. facility. (Dave Harp) growing regions: the Fredericksburg area. “We have a massive amount of growth The area’s growth, experts say, can be that’s happening,” Cox said. “It’s going to living on the entrepreneurial side of centered research facility. traced to spillover from the ever-booming be a battle to stay ahead of the effects.” environmentalism, wants to help the The facility would be a clearinghouse District of Columbia to the north and He worries about a future in which region and his beloved Rappahannock for research on the 195-mile Chesapeake from Richmond, the state’s capital, to the forests are hacked down to make way chart a different course. He and a Bay tributary, Cox said. He also envisions south. for new subdivisions, and endless miles business partner are funding a clutch of it as a place that would offer classes “It’s just creep from these various of asphalt and concrete shunt ever more academic studies they hope will guide and excursions to help forge stronger urban and suburban areas around DC,” nutrient-laded stormwater into the river. development decisions and build the connections between the river and the Cox, a 69-year-old who made a foundation of a new, Rappahannock- growing community. Research continues on page 14 Want a diversified investment Restoring the portfolio with a low carbon footprint? native balance Your Money, Your Values.

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Research from page 13 consultant firm, has donated said Daria Christian, executive director $200,000 to jump- of the Friends of the Rappahannock, a start the work. conservation group. “People are willing to David Sample, make the drive to have a less expensive a Virginia Tech place to live.” environmental The river is also a draw, particularly engineer professor, for newly retired residents, said Hamilton is leading an Lombard, a University of Virginia investigation demographer. of stormwater “A lot of people are retiring there runoff. He plans to because they want riverfront property monitor pollution or access to it,” he said. “So, I think loads at five sites you’re going to see a disproportionate in the city of concentration of development along the Fredericksburg, river.” each representing a Perched on the Rappahannock’s different type southern shore, Fredericksburg has of predominant evolved into the focal point of the land use. development boom. His goal is to “Fredericksburg is just going to keep update the runoff attracting people,” said Ed Whelan, a real loads that were estate developer and lifelong resident. developed in a “We’re right off [Interstate] 95. People are national study moving into cities all over the country. in the 1980s and They want the old buildings. They want Graffiti blares from the bare concrete walls of a former hydroelectric plant in Fredericksburg, VA. It is one are still used in to go back in time.” of a handful of sites being considered for the home of a future research center focused on the Rappahannock computer models, The construction of new roads and River’s health. (Dave Harp) including the one subdivisions on or near the riverbank, used to guide though, has intensified problems with 95 had gone 50 miles west of here. It’s a might take, he looks 150 miles southeast the Bay restoration. Sample suspects sediment and bacteria in the waterway, traffic jam all the time.” to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s his results will generally show that Christian said. Cox remembers days from his Brock Environmental Center in Virginia stormwater has become cleaner, in part While nutrient pollution continues to youth when the Rappahannock was a Beach, which the nonprofit group because of the reduced smokestack be the greatest problem facing the Bay and serene getaway. He would spend his touts as “one of the world’s greenest emissions of nitrogen oxides. many of its rivers, sediment — dirt swept free moments fishing for shad and buildings.” To build the Rappahannock If that is the case, he said, future into the water from freshly tilled farms and striped bass, lighting campfires on cool version, Cox estimates he will need to developers might be able to downsize — construction sites — is a one-two punch evenings and paddling a canoe until his raise about $10 million. and save money on —infrastructure against water quality. Floating particles arms gave out. He has cobbled together about designed to catch and treat stormwater. block sunlight from aquatic grass beds, After graduating from Virginia Tech $1 million so far — $750,000 in cash But, he added, such gains in water quality causing them to die off; the decomposition in 1973 with a bachelor’s degree in and the rest in pledges — he said. may be wiped out by the increasing process consumes oxygen in the biology, Cox found work as a pollution But he is confident he can turn his amounts of rainfall induced by climate water. Sediment particles also act like monitor with the State Water Control dream into reality because there are change. His research will help clear those Ubers for nutrients, offering rides well Board. But he had larger ambitions. so many questions yet to be answered clouds of uncertainty. downstream from their pickup points. He returned to the university to get his about the watershed’s health — and so Another study led by Durell Scott, also Owing to its abundance of farms master’s and a doctorate in environmental much at stake. of Virginia Tech, aims to clarify which and hilly terrain, the Rappahannock engineering. “We want to show people the future in water-management tools work best for watershed loses more sediment per square One business venture begat another. anything we do here,” Cox said. both human use and the environment. mile — 329 tons per year — than any Today, he owns a firm called Advanced He laid out his dream while driving at But first, he and his team are cruising other major Bay tributary. Oxidation Technology, which holds a a golf cart’s pace amid midday traffic in the river, taking water samples. That The conversion of forests to housing patent on a formula that breaks down the city. No one seemed to mind the white information will show where the river or farmland is a big factor, Christian said. oil and grease deposits in municipal pickup’s leisurely presence. His purpose is most polluted and where those “When they’re cleared, the soil is open to sewer systems. He and his wife live in was to show off the possible locations contaminants are coming from. erosion.” Blacksburg, nearly four hours away. But for the research center: a plot east of The Fredericksburg area’s growth Meanwhile, the portion of the river Fredericksburg remains a big part of town owned by the University of Mary presents a case study that couldn’t be around Fredericksburg is designated Cox’s life. Washington, a graffiti-stricken former duplicated in a lab, Scott said. by the state as impaired for two types “We have a lot of friends here,” he hydroelectric plant owned by Whelan, “The Rappahannock is one of these of bacteria: E. coli and fecal coliform. said while driving his pickup truck down and the Friends group’s headquarters. river systems that’s typical of other That pollution is largely tied to failing a highway just outside town recently. Cox anticipates the facility containing river systems in the mid-Atlantic,” the septic tanks and poor farm management, “It’s home.” classrooms, the latest in ecologically biological systems engineering professor particularly the widespread failure to He serves as a board member on his friendly construction and water-based said. “It’s growing population-wise. fence off cattle from ditches that flow into alma mater’s alumni advisory committee. activities for families, such as kayak There’s still some farming in the upper the river, Christian said. So, partnering with the university was a rentals and boat cruises. If Whelan’s part of the watershed, but there’s a lot Although Whelan, the real estate natural choice when it came to pursuing downtown site is selected, he wants to of pressure from development. Then, developer, is as much responsible for his vision in Fredericksburg, he said. reserve part of the industrial-looking you have the downstream water and the Fredericksburg’s growth as almost In addition to securing $200,000 for building for a restaurant with expansive Chesapeake Bay and how that’s important anyone — having invested millions into the studies that launched this summer, river views. for fisheries.” a blocklong downtown revitalization Cox has been spending much of his days That’s all in the future, if the More studies are planned or project — he has mixed feelings about drumming up more donors and trying money can be raised. But some of the under way. All are driving toward the trend. to acquire riverfront property for the scientific research is already under way. the same destination, Cox said: a “I never was a big growth guy, and I’m proposed river center. The Wetlands Research Initiative, a more-sustainable Fredericksburg and still not,” Whelan said. “I wish [Interstate] When he pictures the form his dream Gainesville, VA-based environmental healthier Rappahannock River. Bay Journal • October 2019 15 Researchers find sunscreen chemicals in Chesapeake oysters ≈ Antibiotics, natural and what his earlier study synthetic hormones also found in the Gwynns Falls, detected in water, sediment and Blaney said, but researchers were still surprised by the bivalve tissue concentrations they found By Timothy B. Wheeler on the Lower Shore. One The Chesapeake Bay’s oysters sunscreen ingredient they already have plenty of challenges to found reached levels that deal with — nutrient and sediment other studies have shown pollution, parasitic diseases and can harm water fleas and harvest pressure, to name a few. corals. The researchers One thing they won’t have to worry suggested such findings about is getting sunburned. A new warranted further study study finds Bay bivalves are apparently to see if sunscreen ingesting sunscreen ingredients from contaminants could affect the water and sediment around them. Bay creatures, including A team led by researchers from the the economically important University of Maryland, Baltimore blue crab population. County, found ultraviolet ray-filtering “These results emphasize chemicals used in commercial the need to investigate sunscreens, along with antibiotics the potential toxicity of and endocrine-disrupting hormones, estrogenic hormones and in Bay water, bottom sediments and UV-filters to ensure the oyster tissue taken from the mouth sustainability of not only of the Chester River and three water oyster populations, but bodies on the Lower Eastern Shore. also restoration efforts The study, produced in in the Chesapeake Bay,” collaboration with researchers from UMBC researcher Lee Blaney (left) works in his lab with engineering student Donald Ocasio their paper concluded. “As the University of Maryland School (2017). (Marlayna Demond / University of Maryland, Baltimore County) Chesapeake Bay oysters of Medicine, U.S. Forest Service and are widely consumed by Maryland Department of Natural Researchers collected water, contaminants in more rural areas like humans, the occurrence of these Resources, appeared in the August sediment and oysters and mussels from the Lower Shore. The sample sites there priority [contaminants] in oyster tissue, issue of the journal, Science of the two sites in the Chester River in 2016, are downstream from a smaller waste- along with the continuous exposure to Total Environment. then sampled 12 sites the next year at water plant in Princess Anne, which diverse antibiotics, also raises potential “Every day, we use these specialty the mouth of the Manokin River and discharges 1.26 million gallons daily. human health concerns.” chemicals, like antibiotics, like in Holland Straits and Kitts Creek. But there are also 29 large chicken Blaney said technology exists sunscreens, to improve our personal The research work has been funded farms in the watershed that produce that could filter out or chemically health, and these molecules go down by grants from the National Science about 3.7 million birds annually, treat all of these contaminants from the drain and eventually get discharged Foundation and Maryland Sea Grant. the paper noted. It suggested that wastewater. “But these things cost a lot out into the Chesapeake Bay,” said Other studies farm runoff of money,” he added. Lee Blaney, the study’s lead author have found contaminated The UMBC researcher said other and an associate professor of chemical, pharmaceuticals with animal as-yet unpublished data he’s gathered biochemical and environmental and sunscreen Technology already exists that manure might from samples taken elsewhere engineering. ingredients in be a source, or around the Bay find sunscreen “Until recently, no one has tried more populated could filter out or chemically household septic chemicals as well. to measure them in the Bay and see watersheds, treat all these contaminants from systems leaching “We find these everywhere,” he said. if they’re at levels that could have especially into groundwater Though sunscreen ingredients impacts…,” he added. “We found downstream wastewater. “But these things cost and streams. aren’t as persistent as some other that, indeed, these chemicals are out from wastewater a lot of money,” said Lee Blaney, At least one contaminants impacting the Bay there and at levels that have presented treatment of the antibiotics watershed, like polychlorinated concerns in other places.” plants. In an the study’s lead author and found in the biphenyls (PCBs), or per– and poly- The impacts on the Bay’s creatures, earlier study, associate professor of chemical, Manokin is not fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), Blaney as well as human health, are unknown. Blaney said he given to people, said it’s clear they do linger in the But one antibiotic was measured found those biochemical and environmental the paper noted. ecosystem at least for a while, and in at least one place at a level high contaminants engineering at the University of Two of the drugs more are getting into the water all the enough to make potentially disease- in sediment detected have time. causing bacteria resistant to treatment, and crayfish Maryland, Baltimore County. been found in “We’re not trying to tell people, researchers found. And the sunscreen in Baltimore’s poultry litter in ‘Hey, don’t wear sunscreen!’ ” Blaney chemicals reached levels that have Gwynns Falls, a other countries. said, because those compounds help been implicated in the die-off of corals stream that doesn’t get any intentional They’re banned for use in chickens in prevent skin cancer. Rather, he said, he in tropical waters. wastewater discharges. The sources the United States, but are permitted for hopes research will prompt the public “Are there environmental impacts there could include sewage leaks as limited use in cattle and swine. and policy makers to consider the on oysters? We don’t know that,” well as runoff, he suggested. “We’re not trying to point fingers, environmental and health implications Blaney said. But, he added, “we figure It’s not especially surprising that just saying we’re detecting things,” of chemicals used widely in food, it’s better to get out ahead of the issue” these chemicals turned up in the Blaney said. In addition to farm runoff, cosmetics and other personal care to determine if these contaminants Chester, with a wastewater plant upriver sources could include household septic products. are accumulating in sediment or discharging 2 million gallons daily. systems, he said. “Ultimately, they go down the living creatures and warrant further But Blaney said he and his colleagues The sunscreen levels measured in drain,” he said. “It makes sense to start investigation. hadn’t expected to spot the same the Bay were generally lower than thinking about them now.” 16 Bay Journal • October 2019 Outreach strategies cropping up to help growing number of female farmers ≈ Studies find that women are a little bit of credit,” she said. more open to conservation, “Being with a bunch of women stewardship practices allowed me to share honestly. I admitted I was there to figure it By Ad Crable out. That was good enough for One of the biggest changes to the face them and that was a freeing thing. of agriculture and forestry these days It’s OK if I call myself a farmer or in Chesapeake Bay states is women. a shepherd because to be a farmer That new demographic is leading some you don’t have to have a degree or environmental groups and government have it in your blood.” agencies to launch new strategies for The success of learning circles engaging female decision makers in and other efforts has swept up projects that help water quality. local and federal farm agencies The unprecedented numbers tell into the movement. Federal part of the tale. Approximately 59% of farm agencies, for example, now farmland in Maryland is now owned or list women ag producers as an co-owned by women, or a woman makes “underserved population.” decisions on the farm. Women hold those The U.S. Department of roles on 54% of farmland in Virginia; Agriculure Natural Resources 55% in Pennsylvania, 53% in West Vir- Conservation Service reaches out ginia and 60% in New York, according to to women at learning circles and the federal 2017 Census of Agriculture. now provides money for them During the 5-year survey period, the to meet in Bay states. “Learning number of male farmers declined by 1.7% circles provide a great atmosphere nationwide while female ag producers for open communication and leaped by 27%. open the door for us to meet them According to the American Farmland Women who own or help run farms and forests gather at one of the American Farmland and them to meet us,” said Casey Trust, the trend toward more female Trust’s “learning circles.” According to the trust, the numbers of women who control Iames, a federal women’s emphasis management of farms is likely to increase. agriculture and wooded land is rapidly growing. (American Farmland Trust) program manager with USDA Over the next 20 years, about 70% of the NRCS in Virginia. nation’s farmland is expected to change health of the land they will pass on to technical and financial help. The momentum of the learning circles hands, and women will take the reins at another generation. So they are launching The formula has worked remarkably is inspiring other efforts. an even greater rate, the trust says. women-only outreach programs. well. A study of learning circles in Illinois In Lancaster County, Jenna Mitchell of Many farms in Bay states have at least For a broader adoption of conservation and Indiana found that 72% of the women the nonprofit Alliance for the Chesapeake some woodland, and more women are practices on the farm to take hold, “we who attended made conservation changes Bay was surprised a year ago when she becoming decision makers of that land, need women in the game,” said Gabrielle on their farms. Soil health and winter called up an Amish farmer to try to too. The percent of women who own or Roesch-McNally, executive director of cover crops are big topics in Bay learning talk him into a streamside buffer and he manage woodlots doubled across the American Farmland Trust’s Women for circles. immediately handed the phone over to his United States between 2006 and 2013, the Land initiative. “[Women] just can’t believe that there wife. When it came time to pick out native according to a survey by the U.S. Forest More women may be owners and are women in the same boat as they are,” plants at a nursery for the buffer, it was the Service. decision makers of farmland, but they said Margot Mays, the trust’s mid- wife and her mother who showed up. In some cases, wives, who generally also encounter gender barriers in what has Atlantic conservation and stewardship “We learned about how really, really live longer than their husbands, inherit long been a man’s world. And they are manager, who has led learning circles. passionate they are about this stuff, which farms and woods. Daughters are taking sometimes hamstrung by self-perceptions Often, groups of women continue to is great,” Mitchell said. “Out of that, my more of an active interest when they that they don’t know enough about farm- meet, and the trust has a goal of creating a team has an opportunity to work with inherit a family farm with siblings. They ing or managing a forest to ask for a seat national network of women landowners. Amish wives, mothers and maybe even are becoming more active entrepreneurs at the table. That was certainly the case for Marli daughters.” in making a living off the land and some, That’s the chief reason for the trust’s Hickins, who was thrust into managing a To further reach this conservative who have long toiled on family farms, are popular “learning circles” (farmland.org/ 200-acre farm in the Shenandoah Valley audience, the Alliance designed a native insisting on a bigger voice. learning-circles-for-women-landowners) of Virginia after moving to her husband’s plant recipe book with information “Women have always been in a for women in the Bay states. Since 2014, family farm and then losing her spouse in about plants that attract wildlife and supportive role in agriculture but they the trust has offered 38 learning circles a plane crash. pollinating insects and birds. They always have been in the background,” in Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania Though she grew up on a college will introduce the books at newly said Lisa Graybeal, who owns and and New York. More will take place in campus in Texas with no farming experi- formed garden clubs for Amish women, manages a 1,400-cow dairy operation Berks County, PA, on Oct. 22; in Chester ence, over time she introduced sheep for earmarked for the spring. with her father and brother in Lancaster County, PA, on Oct. 23; in Virginia’s their meat, goats for their milk, ducks “We know that women are tradition- County, PA. “The men are out front and Spotsylvania, Orange, Culpeper and for eggs and rabbits for meat. She began ally more interested in conservation,” visible on tractors but women are doing Louisa counties on Oct. 25; and in to consider herself as a shepherdess but Mitchell said. “The more we can educate a lot of bookwork and hidden jobs. My Lancaster County, PA, on Nov. 6. shied away from calling herself a farmer. the wives, hopefully the more we can grandmother worked her ass off. Based on a model that started in “I don’t think I would have had the make some moves with those interested in “More and more women are coming the Midwest by the Women, Food and confidence to go to the local feed store,” best-management practices on the fields back to work on the farm but are insisting Agriculture Network, learning circles are she said. “I was a landowner but I felt like and in the pasture and in the barnyard.” on a more active role.” groups of 12–20 women usually new to I was kind of playing at it. A lot of people Other groups are targeting women Conservation, farmland preservation farming or forestry or who own or rent in this area do really serious farming, and who control woods. and environmental groups are encouraged their land. They find solidarity in shared I didn’t have the credentials.” An effort run by the USDA Forest by studies and surveys that find women experiences, take a field trip to see a That changed when she attended her Service called Women Owning Wood- are generally more conservation– and woman-owned farm, share knowledge, first learning circle. “It’s amazing that lands (womenowningwoodlands.net) stewardship-minded and accepting of and are introduced to local and state there are so many people in my situation. practices that improve and sustain the agricultural agencies that can provide When I came away, I felt like I had gained Outreach continues on page 18 Bay Journal • October 2019 17 Bay scientists studying environmental, economic uses for hemp ≈ Backers cite its benefits for whether hemp humans, soil and water; others proves to be a question environmental claims better plant for the environment By Ad Crable in Bay states A Gold Rush mentality has erupted will depend across Chesapeake Bay states as the on the amount lacy fan-shaped leaves of more than of fertilizer 50,000 acres of industrial hemp spring and chemicals from the landscape for the first time needed to grow since World War II. quality plants. Bay states and the federal govern- For now, those ment are removing barriers to growing are unanswered the misunderstood plant, which was a questions. staple crop from Colonial times and then And, because banned for little more than its likeness to hemp grows a mind-altering cousin, marijuana. around the same Now, hemp is again being embraced time as main- amid bold claims that include a possible stream crops economic life preserver for strug- such as corn gling farmers and an environmentally and soybeans, it friendly cash crop that could help cannot be used reduce nutrient pollution in the Bay. as a winter cover Nearly 2,800 farmers and entrepreneurs crop to help had hemp in the ground this summer Samuel Fisher, an Amish farmer in Chester County, PA, walks among the rows of his first hemp crop. (Dave Harp) reduce nutrient in Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, runoff. West Virginia and New York. indeed a miracle plant that offers all of Flowers As for needing fewer pesticides, Hemp backers are convinced that the Earth-friendly benefits and human emerge Eric Williams, a spokeswoman for the the plant is a sustainable alternative to health claims promoted by supporters. from a Virginia Department of Agriculture plastics, cotton and fossil fuels, touting Advocates say that the plant stores hemp plant and Consumer Services, noted that the possibility of more than 25,000 more carbon than it needs to grow, growing on when hemp is grown for its flowers and natural products that range from which makes it a possible tool for a Pennsyl- CBD oil, which constitutes the great plant-based concrete and pain-salving fighting climate change. Early research vania farm. majority of plantings so far, plants are lotions to animal feed and biofuel. also suggests the plant is better than (Dave Harp) spaced farther apart and weed growth But much is still unknown about mainstream crops in sucking up phos- can be a problem. hemp’s future economic and environ- phorus from manure and poultry litter In Pennsylvania, it is being planted Samuel Fisher, a Plain Sect farmer mental impact. In the Bay watershed, spread on fields before it can wash off on abandoned strip mines to see if in Chester County, PA, who is grow- scientific research is under way to and pollute local waterways. it can take root in the depleted soil. ing hemp for its flowers as a source determine if high-quality hemp can Hemp grows fast, tall and thick, Minnesota has a state-run pilot project of CBD oil, said his experience so far even be grown in the region’s climate outcompeting weeds and reducing the studying hemp as a mass-produced shows that the crop needs plenty of and soils and to learn whether it is need for herbicides, proponents boast. alternative to corn and soybeans to nutrients from fertilizer. Insects have improve water quality. not proven a problem but threats of Because it grows fast and profuse fungus and bacteria have been. with a robust root system, hemp may “For dairy farmers who are strug- Hemp cultivation in the Bay region make an excellent streamside buffer to gling, it could either keep them in Maryland on research and eco- ≈ The cultivation of stabilize banks and catch manure and business or put them out of business ≈ 847 growers, 161 nomic development. hemp for commercial soil runoff, some have claimed. very quickly,” Fisher said. “You can’t processors, 36 dealers ≈ June 2019 legisla- use was approved in But some studying hemp aren’t just plant it in a field and pretend ≈ 8,500 acres tion gives farmers the March 2019. seeing it as an environmental panacea it’s going to grow and come out two of hemp cultivation first chance at permits to ≈ The biggest concen- for the Bay states. months later to harvest it. We have two permitted grow commercial hemp. tration of growers are Ryan Davis of the Alliance for the to three people in the field every day.” ≈ 2019 is the first tobacco farmers hit hard Chesapeake Bay said that the group “I think we’re going to quickly year Maryland has Pennsylvania by declining sales and took a look at hemp for riparian buf- learn that it’s like a lot of crops we deal allowed cultivating ≈ 324 growers at 828 tariffs imposed by China. fers but rejected it because hemp is a with. Insect and disease pressure will hemp for commercial locations seasonal crop and dies back in winter. be prevalent,” added Lancaster County use. ≈ Struggling dairy West Virginia Also, a monoculture of one plant is not hemp farmer, Christopher Harnish, ≈ Many growers farmers and Plain Sect ≈ 158 growers good for an ecosystem, he said. who is growing a little more than 3 are struggling tobacco farmers who embrace ≈ 2,531 acres of “I have concerns about the crop itself. acres in a field used last year for corn. farmers. labor-intensive crops hemp cultivation The mid-Atlantic is a tough place [to Dr. John Fike, a Virginia Tech hold a significant permitted grow hemp] because of the weather and associate professor of crop and soil New York number of permits. ≈ Hemp licenses climate. We have a lot of humidity and environmental sciences who has ≈ 490 growers, 118 tripled in 2019, the warm evenings that promote disease,” researched the plant, said there are a processors Virginia second year hemp was said Andrew Ristvey, an Extension number of “hemp mythologies.” ≈ 19,932 acres ≈ 955 growers, 191 allowed to be grown specialist for commercial horticulture He said claims of reduced pests and of hemp cultivation processors, 55 dealers commercially. with the University of Maryland. less fertilizer needed are simply not true. permitted ≈ 10,000 acres — Data provided by Ristvey added that he is encouraged Referring to studies on growing ≈ The state is of hemp cultivation the state agricultural by research showing that hemp grown hemp on compromised land to clean spending $10 million permitted agencies for fiber may remove phosphorus, a type of nutrient, from the soil. But Hemp continues on page 18 18 Bay Journal • October 2019

Outreach from page 16 Another initiative, Women and their Female farmers Woods (delawarehighlands.org/watw), gather at one of mainly offers a website pooling resources has run retreats on forest stewardship in the “learning and information but also runs workshops New York and Pennsylvania. circles” held and retreats to educate women about “A lot of the questions, when we ask across Chesa- sustainable forestry in Bay states. what programs are wanted, go beyond peake Bay states “Forestry is just kind of traditionally the typical ‘how much value is in my and the Midwest a male industry. Girls aren’t necessarily woods?’ It’s more of ‘how do I enjoy by the American growing up learning from their dads my property, how do I put trails on my Farmland Trust. how to cut down a tree. Women maybe property?’ ” said Amanda Subjin of The number have a feeling of not feeling welcome,” the Delaware Highlands Conservancy, of women who said Katherine Hollins, who works for part of a coalition of private and public own or make The Sustainable Family Forests Initiative partners. Topics range widely, from decisions on at Yale University. chainsaw safety to controlling invasive farms is grow- “A man might look at it from a plants, forest ecology, estate planning ing, and groups business standpoint. For women, it’s and how to encourage migratory birds. are trying to tap conservation. A lot of them don’t know Often, participants share their chal- their conserva- where to start,” added Barb Breshock, lenges in working with the land. “One tion ethic. (April recently retired from the West Virginia of my favorite parts is just introducing Opatik / Ameri- Division of Forestry and a leader of women and giving them time to show can Farmland several workshops. their scars from digging up barberry.” Trust)

Hemp from page 17 up the soil, such as polluted industrial Potential Uses sites and strip mines, he said, “You can grow it on marginal land but you get a for Industrial Hemp marginal crop.” Advocates of hemp say there He said hemp can be grown with are more than 25,000 possible no-till farming methods but that herbi- uses of industrial hemp beyond cides are needed to control weeds. the current considerable and Some have expressed concerns growing CBD oil market. Here that if hemp becomes a profitable cash are some most likely to see a crop that farmers and landowners will market. pull out of government conservation ≈ Hemp CBD oil can be used programs that set aside farmland for to treat a variety of ills including streamside buffers and instead plow the anxiety, inflammation, chronic land for hemp. joint pain, epilepsy, headaches But officials in Bay states say that and sleep disorders. is not happening, at least not so far. ≈ Hemp seeds and oils can be Most hemp is being grown in former used for cooking oil, baking flour, tobacco and alfalfa fields and other yogurt, beer, snacks and high- areas already in production. protein animal feed for pets and “No one is clearcutting wooded livestock. acres for hemp,” said Shannon Powers, ≈ Hemp fiber is similar to spokeswoman for the Pennsylvania but lighter than plastics for Department of Agriculture. packaging. The automobile The hemp boom comes at the same industry is exploring products time that the region’s dairy and tobacco Christopher Harnish, left, and his brother, Bryan Harnish, both of Lancaster such as dashboards, door panels farmers are reeling from low prices, County, PA, examine their first-year crop of hemp plants, which can grow to and mirror frames to reduce tariffs and falling demand. Though they 20-feet tall. (Dave Harp) plastics and install a lighter are a savvy and conservative bunch, material that could improve gas some can’t help but hope that the arrival regulate hemp, now that it is no longer industry has a head start by years? mileage. of hemp is a fortuitous blessing. considered a dangerous, controlled “There’s just an awful lot of ≈ Hemp fiber can be used for “I’ve had more than one dairy substance. To date, the federal Food unknowns,” Fike stressed. “Will clothing, animal bedding, kitty farmer say ‘I’m going to grow this and Drug Administration hasn’t this be a flash in the pan or the next litter and to absorb oil. stuff to try to save my dairy opera- approved the use of any pesticides big thing or just another crop? That ≈ Hemp fiber is used as a tion,’ ” Fike said. to treat hemp or decided which CBD remains to be seen.” core for insulation, paneling and But it’s too early to predict how health claims can be verified. And Even hemp cheerleader Erica Stark, home building blocks. It is being much of a lifeline hemp might be for while the 2018 federal Farm Bill made chair of the National Hemp Associa- sold as Hempcrete. farmers. hemp eligible for crop insurance, the tion, advised caution, though she sees ≈ Fast-growing and tall hemp Markets and processing facilities for guidelines have yet to be put in place. hemp’s future footprint as huge. can be planted in streamside most of hemp’s projected uses, espe- Skittish ag-lending banks are not “Certainly, we love the enthusiasm out buffers. cially the line of products derived from yet handing out loans for harvesting there and we want to get everybody ≈ Hemp is touted as a biofuel. fiber and seeds, have not emerged on a and processing equipment. excited, but we also need to be realis- ≈ Heating hemp plants wide scale yet. Research is still taking Most of the growers in the Bay tic. It’s not going to happen overnight.” produces a soil amendment place to determine which varieties states are experimenting with hemp on Ristvey offers his own prediction. known as biochar that absorbs can be grown in Bay states and how only a few acres. When and if hemp “It won’t be a magic bullet. I suspect it water and stores greenhouse successfully. takes off, will farmers in the region be will be just one of those crops that will gases. And everyone is still waiting to able to compete with 500-acre spreads add to the palette of agriculture that we — Ad Crable see how the federal government will in the Pacific Northwest where the have in the United States.” Bay Journal • October 2019 19

Oysters from page 1 he could. He pulled 500 bags of oysters out of the hammered by it.” river and hauled them The condition of the Bay’s oysters by boat and trailer — matters economically, ecologically and 40-plus road miles — to culturally. They’re a money maker for another leased area off the region’s seafood industry. They’re Eastern Bay. The slightly important water filterers, and the reefs higher salinity levels they build provide habitat for fish and there gave the bivalves other Bay creatures. And, they’re part of “a shot in the arm.” the traditional fabric of life around the By late spring, as Bay, a staple at many family, church and rains began to ease, community feasts in fall and winter. salinity started creeping Now, with commercial harvests of back up, and he and his wild oysters down in both Maryland and crew moved the oysters Virginia, watermen in the two states face back to the Chester. But new catch restrictions this fall, imposed Budden continues to use at least partly to give the beleaguered Eastern Bay as a place bivalves a chance to recover from their to grow out oysters just freshwater woes. before taking them to Oyster farmers, meanwhile, are brac- market. ing for another off year, after seeing a dip in production in 2018 — breaking what Restoration had been steady growth in each of the two setbacks states’ aquaculture industries. The hatchery hiccup And government agencies and envi- also set back oyster ronmental nonprofits had to delay or scale restoration efforts in back oyster restoration work, as low salin- Maryland, which with ity disrupted the supply of hatchery-bred Virginia has pledged oyster larvae for seeding rebuilt reefs. Scott Budden, foreground, along with Sean Corcoran, center, and Sam Saviertka, all with the Orchard to rebuild the bivalve Point Oyster Company, cull oysters for market on Shipping Creek near Stevensville, MD. (Dave Harp) populations and habitat Hatchery hiccups in five tributaries in each Oysters are like Goldilocks when it help this year’s class much. The facility Maryland Watermen’s Association and an state by 2025. Virginia generally counts comes to salt — they don’t like too much, spawned its last oysters of the season on oyster farmer himself, said he lost close on natural reproduction to stock the reefs or too little. They’re happiest in brackish Sept. 18. to 95% of the market-size oysters he had it has built or expanded, but in Maryland, to moderately salty water, with salinity The hatchery woes at Horn Point and growing on leased bottom in the Potomac, federal and state agencies depend on Horn ranging from 10 to 28 parts per thousand. other private facilities around the Bay where salinities dropped below 5 ppt in Point to for larvae or spat on shell. But oysters don’t reproduce well or had a ripple effect for aquaculture, oyster the spring. Closer to the river’s mouth, Officials had at one point planned grow much if salinity drops below that restoration and even the public fishery. where salinities were a little higher, to plant spat this year in all five of the floor. And they can die if it stays under 5 “People didn’t get seed as early as mortality was around 35%, he said. Maryland tributaries targeted for large- ppt for weeks or months at a time. they wanted to get seed. In some cases, The small, young oysters weathered scale restoration. The Little Choptank At Stingray Point near Deltaville, VA, they didn’t get as much seed as they the freshet better, he said, with only and Tred Avon rivers need a final round salinity was 8 ppt in March, half of what’s wanted to get,” said Mike Oesterling, about 5% dying. of seeding to finish up projects that began normal that time of year. Up the Bay, executive director of the Shellfish “They didn’t grow, but they didn’t three to four years ago. Harris Creek, where the water tends to be fresher, salini- Growers of Virginia. “So that puts die,” he said. They started growing though essentially completed in 2015, ties dropped to deadly levels late last year everyone a little behind.” again in August, he noted, as the salin- was in line for some light overseeding of and stayed that way well into the spring. ity levels rebounded. But he doesn’t thin spots. Officials even hoped to begin Hatcheries, which draw local water Oyster farmers scramble expect many to reach marketable size plantings in the St. Mary’s and Manokin to spawn oysters in captivity for use in Oyster farmers in both states felt the until sometime next year. rivers, where restoration plans are still aquaculture and ecological restoration, impact. In Virginia, the top producer of In Virginia, the Bay’s salinity is being fleshed out. struggled to produce larvae or get them to oysters on the East Coast, the harvest generally high enough that oysters Much of that work got scaled back survive long enough to settle on shells as from aquaculture was down by one reproduce well in the wild. Growers or shelved until next year. So did “spat” or “seed.” third, to 248,347 bushels, according to there only have to put down shell before Marylanders Grow Oysters, the popular No hatchery had more trouble than the preliminary figures from the Virginia spawning begins in late spring to catch program under which about 1,500 one run by the University of Maryland Marine Resources Commission. Grow- freshly hatched larvae. But in Mary- waterfront property owners voluntarily Center for Environmental Science at its ers surveyed by the Virginia Institute of land, conditions are less favorable, and raise young oysters in cages from their Horn Point laboratory near Cambridge. Marine Sciences reported that heavy rains many oyster farmers get their spat from piers for planting in sanctuaries. The facility, one of the largest on the East and unusually low salinities were impact- hatcheries, often the one at Horn Point. “Most of the sanctuary spat are Coast, produced a record 1.8 billion spat ing their oyster plantings and sales. But its troubles this year forced many typically produced in the first half of the in both 2016 and 2017. Maryland’s smaller oyster farming growers to approach other, private hatchery season,” explained Chris Judy, But this year, persistently low salinity industry grappled with even lower salini- hatcheries, with limited success. the Maryland Department of Natural in the Choptank River delayed spawn- ties. Growers there managed to produce Some had to do even more. Scott Resources shellfish program manager, ing until August, said Stephanie Tobash just 57,543 bushels last year, down 22% Budden’s Orchard Point Oyster Co. raises “but this was when the hatchery had zero Alexander, who manages the operation. from 2017, according to the state Depart- bivalves in the Chester River, where production.” As a result, Horn Point only managed to ment of Natural Resources. That was salinities aren’t that high even in normal The Chesapeake Bay Foundation produce about 10% of its usual output. the first drop in production seen since years. Early this year, as rains kept had hoped to contribute to the effort by “That’s science for you,” Alexander Maryland revamped its shellfish leasing coming down, he saw salt concentrations producing 25 million spat on shell, said said. “We made the most of what we laws around 2010 to revive aquaculture. dropping into the danger zone. senior scientist Doug Myers. Four-fifths could.” Until then, the industry’s output had been “I’d never seen salinity levels that low of that was to go on the Maryland sanctu- She hopes next year will return to growing so steadily that it was on track to in winter,” he recalled. ary reefs, under a $3 million, three-year normal. By late September, the salinity overtake the state’s fading wild harvest. Some of his oysters in the Chester had risen to 12 ppt but it was too late to Robert T. Brown, Sr., president of the died, but Budden tried to save as many as Oysters continues on page 20 20 Bay Journal • October 2019

Oysters from page 19 grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The other 5 million spat were planned for CBF’s oyster gardening and other initiatives. CBF normally buys oyster larvae from the Horn Point hatchery and sets them on shell or reef balls at a facility in Southern Maryland. The problems at Horn Point left CBF 13 million spat shy of its goal, Myers said, despite scrambling around to find other sources of larvae. “It’s been a rough year,” said Stephanie Westby, NOAA’s oyster restoration program manager. “But you know, with climate change, these kind of extreme weather episodes may be the new normal, unfortunately.”

Faltering fisheries Public fisheries in Maryland and Virginia also suffered. In Maryland, the DNR works with local watermen’s committees to replenish reefs thinned by harvest. But Horn Point’s problems reduced the amount of hatchery- spawned juvenile bivalves available. Nearly 49 million spat got planted on 48 acres, about a third less than last year, according to the DNR’s Judy. Spat on shell oysters were loaded in mid-September at the Horn Point Lab oyster hatchery in Cambridge, MD, destined for the sanctu- Meanwhile, salinities north of the Bay ary on the Tred Avon River. Hatchery problems, attributed to low salinity, delayed restoration plantings. (Dave Harp) Bridge and upriver in major tributaries declined to the point that shellfish in the harvests a bit. the season, which ends March 31. of the Maryland Oystermen Associa- water grew very little — or died. The public fishery season tradition- The agency also scaled back the daily tion, “especially after the tremendous In the Potomac River, the extended ally opens Oct. 1, and that’s when maximum number of bushels that amount of freshwater events of last year freshet devastated a promising experi- watermen using hand or patent tongs could be harvested by 20% to 33%, that set the Bay and restoration activi- ment in rotational harvesting, said Martin can start plucking oysters from the depending on the type of gear used. ties back severely.” Gary of the Potomac River Fisheries bottom. But the commission delayed The limits were aimed at making Still, Mullin and other watermen Commission. Since 2013, watermen had until November when watermen the fishery sustainable in eight to 10 say they’re frustrated by the emphasis been planting juvenile oysters annually on can work reefs over with dredges or years, but the freshwater woes figured on curtailing harvests instead of doing reefs or bars above Cobb Island, he said, mechanized hand-scrapes. explicitly into at least one rule change. what they contend could help sustain or with plans to harvest them in three years The delay gives the oysters more The DNR temporarily barred improve the fishery. They have pushed for and then every four years afterward. time to reach the 3-inch minimum harvests in several places around the reopening some of Maryland’s 51 oyster Virtually all of the bivalves planted marketable size, officials explained. Bay, including much of the area north sanctuaries to rotational harvest and for there got “crushed,” as Gary put it. Virginia’s new harvest rules also of the Bay Bridge, where few oysters replenishing worn-down harvest reefs The Maryland Department of Natural require that dredge boats stop working survived the freshet. with large quantities of old shell dredged Resources’ annual survey of oyster by noon on two out of the four months The DNR projected that its package of from the Bay bottom. Environmentalists reefs in the fall of 2018 found more than when they’re allowed on the water. Last restrictions could reduce the harvest by have opposed such moves, arguing that by 90% of the oysters in that area of the year’s season allowed them to continue as much as 26%. Last season’s harvest of themselves they won’t make the fishery river had died. until 2 p.m. 137,000 bushels was already down 25% sustainable long-term. Gary said he’s waiting for the DNR “Generally,” said Andrew Button, who from the 2017–2018 catch. Meanwhile, with oysters still reeling survey crew to return in October to oversees the state agency’s conservation The Chesapeake Bay Foundation from the prolonged surge of freshwater, find out if any of the oysters there are efforts, “it’s a more resource-conservative expressed skepticism about the efficacy of the seafood industry in both ends of the still alive. season.” the restrictions. The environmental group Bay is preparing for another gloomy year. Downriver, near the Potomac’s Most watermen seemed resigned to had urged tighter limits and pointed to the “We’re not going to have as many mouth, low salinity inhibited the the restrictions, but some complained it DNR’s own analysis, which found that market oysters this year,” said Tommy oysters’ growth but didn’t kill them. was unfair to cut back on only certain reducing the harvest by one day a week Kellum of W. E. Kellum Seafood in “We were thankful that we didn’t types of harvest gear. would have “little conservation value.” Weems, VA. “It’s a Mother Nature event. lose any down there,” Gary said. “If we’re in that bad of shape with Just one in four watermen harvest It’s not like an occurrence we could have Farther south in Virginia, reef the oysters, let’s just shut it all down oysters five days a week at the start prevented or managed for.” surveys found that many oysters didn’t in October,” said Charles DeMarino, a of the season, according to a DNR But most say they think that with a grow much over the last year, either, waterman based out of Cape Charles on presentation, while by the end of the little more “normal” — meaning drier — and some in deeper water had died. the Eastern Shore. season only 5–10% do. weather, the Bay’s oysters will rebound, Last season’s wild harvest was the New restrictions took effect this But, watermen say they’re expecting along with aquaculture, restoration and state’s smallest since 2012–13, with just fall in Maryland as well, mainly in a leaner harvest from the DNR rules, perhaps even the fishery. 209,032 bushels landed, according to response to a study last year that found and that the minority who work the “Long term, this is just a bump in preliminary data gathered by the Vir- a long-term decline in the fishery, with water full-time may feel the pinch more the road,” said Stephan Abel, executive ginia Marine Resources Commission. most areas being overharvested. than the part-timers. director of the Oyster Recovery Partner- Hoping to give Virginia’s oysters The DNR reduced from five to “The majority recognized some belt ship, a Maryland nonprofit that works on a chance to recover, the commission four the number of weekdays when tightening was going to be needed,” restoration with state and federal agencies took steps in August to scale back oysters could be harvested throughout said Jim Mullin, executive director and other nonprofits. Bay Journal • October 2019 21

WIPs from page 1 Since 2010, when the U.S. Environ- mental Protection Agency established the latest Bay cleanup goals, known as the Bay’s Total Maximum Daily Load or “pollution diet,” 85% of the nitrogen reductions have come from upgrading wastewater treatment plants. But there A Plain are few plants left that need upgrades. Sect farmer In the six years from now to the end plows his of 2025, when all cleanup actions are field in to be in place, state plans call for about Lancaster 82% of the remaining nitrogen reduc- County, tions to come from agriculture and 5% PA. Almost from stormwater. But progress in these a quarter of areas has been difficult. the state’s Unlike wastewater, where reduc- nutrient tions can be required through permits, reduction getting nutrient reductions on farms is must come more difficult, often requiring one- from that on-one advice from technical support county. providers, usually from county, state (Ad Crable) or federal agencies, as well as funding assistance to install any recommended nitrogen reduction goal by a wide the major sources of nutrients, are placed to support the farmers, the farmers conservation practice. mark and identified an annual funding on crops each year. But many crops, would engage,” said Swanson, of the Reducing runoff from development shortfall of $324 million. It sends more such as corn, use nitrogen inefficiently, Bay Commission, which has been is problematic because there is more nutrients to the Bay than any other and sometimes unused portions of the heavily involved in Farm Bill issues. developed land each year — much of it in state, and failure to meet its goal — applications run off the fields. “So as long as you can figure out the areas not covered by stormwater permits with a shortfall that is about the same Nitrogen also comes from crops funding streams, conservation can be — and it is hugely expensive to retrofit amount as the entire nitrogen reduction such as soybeans that don’t need had in the Bay watershed.” runoff controls into urban areas built sought from Maryland — would mean fertilizer but directly “fix” nitrogen out A new five-year Farm Bill approved before such measures were required. the Chesapeake would not attain water of the atmosphere and put it into the by Congress this year will likely result quality standards by a wide mark. soil. Nutrients also reach waterways in some increased funding, but not to Providing assurance? Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan sent a directly from the manure of cattle and levels seen during the Chesapeake Bay The cleanup plans submitted by the letter to EPA Administrator Andrew other livestock that leave waste in or Watershed Initiative, she said. states in August are supposed to show Wheeler and Pennsylvania Gov. Tom near a stream. Altogether, agriculture State programs generally provide how states would meet the nutrient Wolfe, saying Maryland had “alarming accounts for about half the nitrogen less money and are more variable from reduction goals outlined in the Bay’s pol- concerns” about Pennsylvania’s progress reaching the Bay. year to year, although Maryland does lution diet. The plans also are supposed and calling on the agency to offer a Over the years, state and federal have dedicated annual funding. Across to offer enough detail about programs “robust demonstration” that it will use its agencies have promoted a wide range the watershed, conservation districts and funding to provide “reasonable oversight authority to spur greater action. of “best management practices” to help report that demand for help from farm- assurance” that they will succeed. William Baker, president of the reduce runoff, from building covered ers typically exceeds funding. After the EPA reviewed draft plans Chesapeake Bay Foundation, said his manure storage facilities and better Even if funding is available, it this summer, the agency asked states organization would “seriously consider managing fertilizer and manure applica- usually requires a match from a farmer. for more detail about how they would our legal options” if Pennsylvania does tions to fencing livestock out of streams. That’s become more difficult, conserva- support significantly higher implemen- not ramp up its effort. Progress has been made, but adopting tion districts and environmental groups tation rates for runoff control on farms The challenge in reducing nutrient some of the most effective runoff control report, as the farm economy has been and developed lands. That call was runoff from farms and developed land techniques, such as buffers or stream- hurt by bad weather, federal trade poli- echoed in comments from conserva- has stymied other Bay states as well — bank fences, takes land out of production cies and other factors in recent years. tion districts, agricultural trade groups, but Pennsylvania has more of both than — which many farmers resist, especially “If the farm economy is not healthy, environmentalists and others. any other state in the Bay watershed. when struggling to make a profit. our ability to provide assistance in Little additional detail emerged in Pennsylvania achieved only 8% of Federal and state programs his- implementing the WIP goals will likely final plans issued on Aug. 23, though. its nitrogen reductions from agricul- torically have helped farmers pay for become a greater challenge,” said the The EPA will be reviewing the ture during the last decade, but hopes runoff control practices, but levels Montgomery Soil Conservation District plans over the coming months. If the to get 93% from farmlands between have fluctuated over the years. in comments on the Maryland plan. agency concludes that they do not now and 2025. The federal government has histori- State and federal funding also has provide “reasonable assurance” of suc- The numbers for Maryland and Vir- cally been the largest source of conser- lagged behind the need for technical staff cess, it can take a variety of actions, ginia tell similar tales. Virginia achieved vation money, but its support decreased to help farmers design and implement such as increased oversight or redirect- only 6% of its nitrogen reductions from after the Chesapeake Bay Watershed practices. That work is considered critical. ing funding, among other actions. farm operations during the past decade. Initiative, a 2008 Farm Bill program “Farmers may have all the cost- There is no set timetable for the From now to 2025, it is counting on 77% that prioritized spending on the Bay share funds they need to implement a EPA to release its conclusions. of reductions coming from farms. watershed, expired several years ago. best management practice, but without Evan Isaacson of the Center for Progres- Maryland got 18% of its reductions As a result, by 2016 and 2017, the the knowledgeable people to assist, the sive Reform, an advocacy group, asserted from agriculture over the last decade, number of federally funded farm conser- likelihood of increased implementation in a blog post that the latest plans “fail to but expects 55% to come from farm- vation practices implemented annually is low,” the Delmarva Poultry Industry come close to providing the public with the land by 2025. in the Bay watershed has declined by said in comments on state WIPs. That reasonable assurance that EPA demanded half, according to a recent study by the view is echoed by many others. of the states when the Bay TMDL was The farmland challenge U.S. Geological Survey, which tracked A 2017 report by the Bay Commis- launched at the beginning of this decade.” Stemming the flow of nutrients from implementation of Farm Bill programs. sion called the shortage in technical Pennsylvania’s plan took the brunt farmland has long been elusive. Huge “The Chesapeake Watershed Initia- of the criticism because it missed its amounts of fertilizer and animal manure, tive proved that if you had the money WIPs continues on page 22 22 Bay Journal • October 2019

WIPs from page 21 staffing and resources” at the county level, the Maryland Association of support staff a “red flag” for the Bay Soil Conservation Districts said in its cleanup effort. comments on the state plan. Because of that shortfall, “farmers While Maryland’s plan acknowl- may not receive the assistance they edges that meeting goals will require a need to reach the pollution reduction “substantial increase in effort,” it also goals for which the agricultural sector insists that it has “sufficient resources” is responsible under the Bay cleanup.” in place to meet the goals and no new And it cautioned the gap “will grow statewide fees or taxes are required. still larger as the region works to meet Erik Fisher, CBF’s Maryland its 2025 cleanup goals for the Bay.” assistant director, said he would like to see more details from the state. But, Plans lack detail he said, it is also possible that the state None of the plans provides clarity has implemented more on-the-ground on how states would increase fund- actions than have been tracked, mean- ing for either cost-share or technical ing its gap for coming years is smaller support on the orders-of-magnitude than data suggest. needed to meet Bay restoration goals. It is also possible, he said, that the Virginia outlined more than 50 actions state has adequate money to meet its Planting cover crops is one of the management practices used to control nutrient that could help meet the goals, including agricultural goals but might need to pollution runoff from farms. (Dave Harp) increased and more stable state funding, spend it differently. Much of Mary- as well as legislation requiring farmers land’s funding is earmarked to subsi- Its plan outlines a variety of ways actions it expects from its largest coun- to write and implement nutrient manage- dize the planting of nutrient-absorbing to help close a projected $324 million ties in half for the next several years. ment plans that guide fertilizer application cover crops each fall. annual funding gap. Several of the Virginia’s stormwater permits would not and to exclude livestock from streams. While such crops can reduce runoff, options would require support from achieve the state’s goals until after 2025. Whether the legislature would back they have to be replanted — and subsi- the General Assembly, which has been Both states are expecting overperfor- such efforts is unclear, though lawmakers dized — each year. In effect, the money reluctant to provide much aid in the past. mance from wastewater treatment plants have backed modest funding increases “buys” the same nutrient reduction every “Agriculture is an integral part of the to help make up for shortfalls in the in recent years. The plan does not say year, or the nutrient reduction benefit ends. commonwealth’s culture and economy,” stormwater sector through 2025. exactly how much money is needed. Fisher said he would like to see more said Harry Campbell, CBF’s Pennsyl- But the plans acknowledge that this “The challenges will be significant,” money steered toward practices such as vania executive director, who noted that strategy will only work for a while. The said Peggy Sanner, CBF’s Virginia streamside forest buffers or water-filter- many actions in the plan would help both surplus reductions from wastewater assistant director and senior attorney. ing wetlands which, once established, farmers and local waterways. plans will diminish as the region’s popu- “It is achievable. A lot will depend can clean water for decades. Still, he said, “Pennsylvania’s elected lation continues to grow and treatment on our legislators and our regulators “We really believe it is a question leaders have failed to adequately invest facilities have to handle more sewage. enforcing it. But there is a lot of sup- of how this money is getting spent,” he in helping implement those practices on Another problem, and a potentially port for the program.” said. “Over the long-term for this plan the more than 33,000 family farms in bigger one, is controlling runoff from Maryland may be in the best shape, to succeed, we think a greater share the watershed.” developed lands outside of towns mainly because it has the largest dedi- of these funds needs to go these more and cities whose runoff is covered by cated funding source which provides permanent practices.” The development dilemma stormwater permits. tens of millions of dollars annually for Although Pennsylvania has more Stemming the flow of nutrients from Those are often more rural areas, its agricultural programs. But those agricultural land and more farms — and developed land is equally problematic where runoff is increasing as develop- programs still have not delivered the more related runoff — than any other throughout the region. Except in the ment sprawls over the countryside. Such rate of nitrogen reductions required by state in the Bay watershed, it has long District of Columbia, which has spent places account for a substantial amount its watershed implementation plan. lacked any reliable cost-share programs to hundreds of millions to address it, that of the runoff from developed lands in “The reality is, the [watershed help farmers install conservation prac- source of runoff has been gradually both Pennsylvania and Virginia. implementation plan] for agriculture tices. The farms tend to be small, so the increasing. Joe Wood, CBF’s Virginia staff cannot be achieved with current outreach challenge in the state is huge. In its plan, Maryland actually slashed scientist, said he was hopeful that areas with stormwater permits would ultimately reach their goals, and that some might do so before 2025. But in Pivoting Toward Agriculture: By the Numbers areas without those permits, “I can’t

MD PA VA DE NY WV say with confidence we will get there.” The WIPs have helped to highlight 2018 nitrogen load to the Bay 52.75 M lbs. 107.36 M lbs. 58.16 M lbs. 6.66 M lbs. 14.27 M lbs 7.72 M lbs.3 the importance of managing runoff 2025 nitrogen load to the Bay from unregulated areas, which has 44.72 M lbs. 83.29 M lbs.1 49.57 M lbs. 4.46 M lbs. 12.53 M lbs.2 7.49 M lbs. as outlined in state WIP generally been overlooked in the past. Avg. annual nitrogen reduction “Now, at least, there is discussion 93,600 lbs. 47,700 lbs. 68,100 lbs. 67,700 lbs. 100,500 lbs. 16,200 lbs. from ag, 2009-18 about it,” Wood said. Avg. annual ag nitrogen from ag 595,900 lbs. 3.2 M lbs. 950,000 lbs. 313,600 lbs. 80,060 lbs. 55,700 lbs. Virginia and Maryland still hope needed from 2019-2025 that wastewater — the workhorse of the % of total remaining nitrogen 55% 92% 77% 99.9% 27% 90% cleanup effort so far — may continue to reduction needed from ag overperform in coming years and help Source: Figures are from the Chesapeake Bay Program’s Chesapeake Assessment Scenario Tool. meet watershed implementation plan Note: The District of Columbia is not included in the table because it has no agricultural land and has already met its 2025 goal. goals if other sectors fall short. WIP = Watershed Implementation Plan submitted to the US EPA in August 2019 Reductions likely wouldn’t be as M = million great as in the past. But, Wood noted, 1 Does not meet 2025 Bay target of 73.2 million lbs. “every little bit helps.” 2 Does not meet 2025 Bay target of 11.53 million lbs. 3 The question is, with such an West Virginia has already met its 2025 goal but opted to achieve additional reductions. upstream struggle ahead, whether little bits will be enough. Bay Journal • October 2019 23 Chesapeake restoration goals a greater challenge for PA ≈ The state’s latest Bay cleanup Pennsyl- That means Pennsylvania must engage plan still fails to meet pollution vania’s thousands of farmers and hundreds of objectives Depart- local governments to secure future nutri- ment of ent reductions. Pennsylvania has 33,000 By Karl Blankenship Environ- farms, more than any other state, as well Perhaps it was fitting that on a morn- mental as more runoff from developed land, ing when he felt an illness coming on, Protection much of it coming from small communi- and a marching band was creating an Secretary ties not covered by stormwater permits. unrelenting din outside the window, Pat Pat But the first four county plans to be McDonnell sat down to explain Pennsyl- McDonnell completed, covering Lancaster, York, vania’s Chesapeake Bay cleanup plan. has spent Adams and Franklin counties, failed to After all, nothing about the state’s consider- meet their nutrient reduction goals. Still, Bay involvement has been easy. The able time if they implement actions outlined in state doesn’t touch the Chesapeake, but working their plans, it would reduce the amount is its largest polluter. Half of its landmass on the of nitrogen reaching the Bay by almost drains into the Bay, but less than a third state’s 10 million pounds — nearly twice what of the state’s population lives there. the state as a whole has accomplished cleanup Nonetheless, when asked how much since the TMDL went into effect. of his time the Chesapeake consumes, plan. “I Pennsylvania’s plan has been more McDonnell, the state’s environment came into specific about financial needs than plans of secretary, replied: “A lot.” this job as other states. About $197 million a year in “I came into this job as an air and an air and state and federal money has gone toward energy guy and have primarily been energy guy Bay-related efforts, but the plan says a water quality guy for the last three and have another $324 million a year is needed. years in terms of the work,” he said. primar- McDonnell said the funding gap The state has fallen so far behind in ily been includes not only state money, but its Bay cleanup obligations that it has a water also federal and local funds, as well threatened the success of the regional quality guy as investments from farmers who effort and spurred the U.S. Environ- for the last share the cost in implementing runoff mental Protection Agency to ramp up three years control practices. But, “we do need its oversight in recent years. in terms of funding,” he added. It’s unclear whether the state’s latest the work.” Getting money from the Republican- cleanup plan will help the situation. (Dave dominated legislature, which has often Released Aug. 23, it fails to meet Harp) been at odds with the Democratic gov- the state’s pollution reduction goal ernor, has been a challenge and funding for nitrogen by more than 9 million to the Bay from 112.71 million pounds credit for cleanup actions already taken. for environmental programs has been pounds a year. a year in 2009 to 73.18 million pounds McDonnell said, and others agree, declining over the years. Even legisla- The plan also outlines a $324 in 2025. that Pennsylvania’s new plan has put tion that has passed in both Maryland million-a-year shortfall in the funds Through 2018, Pennsylvania had a huge effort into working with local and Virginia to regulate lawn fertilizer needed to meet its goals. taken only enough actions to reduce governments to develop county-based has languished in the Pennsylvania The EPA established goals for nitrogen runoff to 107.36 million pound plans to garner local support for initial General Assembly for eight years. reducing nutrient pollution in each a year, according to computer model implementation. Many criticized the But the state has had self-inflicted jurisdiction in the Bay watershed in estimates from the state-federal Chesa- cleanup plan Pennsylvania created after problems, too, including trouble get- 2010, when it issued the Chesapeake peake Bay Program. Most of that enters the TMDL was first issued in 2010 as a ting millions of dollars in federal grant Bay Total Maximum Daily Load, often the Bay through the Susquehanna River top-down document drafted by officials money out the door to support cleanup called the Bay’s “pollution diet.” The and a smaller portion from the Potomac. out of touch with on-the-ground realities. work. On Sept. 10, the EPA sent a TMDL targets the nutrients nitrogen Because of its poor performance, the It contributed to the Pennsylvania letter to McDonnell dictating how and phosphorus, which are responsible state’s remaining reduction is more than Farm Bureau helping to initiate an unspent money was to be used. for algae blooms that cloud the Bay’s is required from the rest of the water- ultimately unsuccessful suit challeng- McDonnell said the state is trying water and fuel its oxygen-starved shed combined from now through 2025. ing the TMDL. to do a better job of targeting where “dead zone.” Nitrogen has proven the In an interview, McDonnell Now, the Farm Bureau has been an money is spent, putting initial empha- most problematic to control. acknowledged the state’s shortfall in active participant in developing the sis on the first four counties that The TMDL allows for more federal meeting Bay commitments, but he latest plan, along with conservation developed pilot plans. oversight than earlier cleanup plans disputed that its plan was incomplete. districts, local governments and others. “With Lancaster County, it’s no that first aimed at cleaning the Bay by “I disagree with the characteriza- “We are going to have to engage in secret it is almost a quarter of the 2000 and then by 2010. Both fell well tion,” McDonnell said. The state, he this parcel-by-parcel and site-by-site, lift,” he said. “We are very focused on short of their goals. insisted, is not getting credit for some which is why the county action plans providing resources in these kinds of If the EPA concludes that Pennsyl- actions that are helping to reduce pol- and the local engagement are so impor- areas to not only improve the water vania’s new plan does not provide rea- lution, such as reclaiming abandoned tant,” McDonnell said. “It is bringing quality in those counties, but to meet sonable assurance that it will reach its mine lands, fixing streams tainted by exactly the people we need into the our Bay obligations.” goal, the agency can take a variety of acid mine drainage or constructing discussion, into the room, to help both Indeed, McDonnell contends that additional actions. Among the options wetlands for mitigation projects. “The drive the message and drive the action.” if the state can start getting more are increasing oversight, extending projects that we have done have been It’s a major challenge. Less than a conservation practices on the ground, regulatory authority over more entities, undercounted,” McDonnell said. tenth of Pennsylvania’s nitrogen comes and people see improved local stream and requiring more pollution reduc- Further, he said farmers and others from wastewater treatment plants — health, it will spur more action. tions from dischargers with permits, have implemented far more runoff control which have been the go-to source for “We are having positive impacts in such as wastewater treatment plants. practices than the state is getting credit pollution reductions in Virginia and terms of programs we are having,” he Under the TMDL, the state needs to for. Other states also contend in their Maryland — and most of Pennsylva- said. “There is a need to accelerate that for reduce the amount of nitrogen it sends plans that they are not getting enough nia’s plants have now been upgraded. sure, and that is what the plan gives us.” 24 Bay Journal l Tr avel l October 2019

Turkey Hill Trail stuffed with views of Susquehanna, birds tion of the Turkey Hill Trail through the preserve leads to the top of Turkey Point. A short side trail along the landfill fence leads to a wooden observation deck. Here, in 1802, architect and artist Benjamin Henry Latrobe sat with his easel and painted a watercolor of the view at the Susquehanna’s widest point. You can view an image of the painting on a plaque on the deck. The view hasn’t changed much. Still visible are the string of small islands and mudflats known as the Conejo- hela Flats. Each spring and fall, tens of thousands of shore- birds rest and dine on buried insects on the islands as the birds wing to and from breeding grounds in Arctic Canada and Alaska and wintering grounds in South and Central America. It’s a birdwatchers’ mecca, and the islands have been designated an Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society. On the platform, you also are dwarfed by two wind turbines just beyond a fence. You are so close you can hear the distinctive swishing sound of the 135-foot-long blades cutting the air. Most visitors, when standing almost under- neath the 397-foot-tall turbines, are surprised to learn just how big the windmills are. Beyond the turbines, barely visible, are a few rooftops of the Turkey Hill Dairy, famous for its ice cream and iced teas. From the summit of Turkey Point, the trail follows the wooded ridgetop of the River Hills for about a mile, paral- leling and looming above the Susquehanna. Parts of it follow a grassy swath outside the landfill perimeter. It’s an opportunity to observe a landfill up close and personal, if you care to. It’s still active, and hikers occasionally com- plain of odors when the wind is out of the east, which it A couple and their dog enjoy a late- Where can you find the largest pawpaw rarely is. There is one crossing of Mann’s Run, but hikers summer view of the Susquehanna patch north of Maryland, trace an old rail- generally don’t find it difficult to hop rocks across the River at the Star Rock overlook in the small stream. Chestnut Grove Natural Area section road bed along the Susquehanna River, hear Suddenly, you emerge from woods at a high point to of the Turkey Hill Trail in Lancaster the swoosh of wind turbines and meander find a vast sea of grasses, flowers, wetlands, copses of trees County, PA. and a shallow pond carved from the expanse. This unex- through vast flowering meadows? pected open area is the Chestnut Grove Natural Area, a And where, on the same hike, can you get a bird’s-eye 170-acre preserve with another unusual story. Story & Photos view of one of the most important migratory stops for This is the site of a former farm that the waste authority bought before scraping off 7 feet of topsoil to cover trash By Ad Crable shorebirds and take in two killer views of the Susque- hanna at its widest point, one in the exact spot where at the adjacent landfill. With the top layer of earth gone, the architect of the U.S. Capitol stood and took brush to the site underwent a three-year ecological restoration. The canvas in 1802? focus was to establish 85 acres of undulating prairie grass- Well, surprisingly, on either end of Lancaster County’s landfill in Pennsylvania. The 6.3-mile Turkey Hill Trail loop manages to com- press all of those experiences in the unlikeliest of settings. The trail, which is rated easy to strenuous with a couple of steep climbs, revolves around Turkey Point (known lo- cally as Turkey Hill), a Lower Susquehanna landmark that juts into the river, causing it to curve gracefully around it. It’s one of the highest points on the river and is be- coming even more so as the Frey Farm Landfill expands vertically. To minimize its impact on the river viewshed, the landfill, when closed, will be cloaked in trees and grasses. It would have been easy enough to let Turkey Point become known as just a dump, but the Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority has spent consider- able money and effort to preserve and even create new natural areas on either side of the landfill. Using easements from the waste authority and Norfolk Southern Corp., the Lancaster Conservancy created the The Turkey Hill Trail in Pennsylvania has the largest Turkey Hill Nature Preserve. A steep, initial 1-mile sec- pawpaw patch north of Maryland. 25 Bay Journal l Tr avel l October 2019

The overlook atop brisk walk with her chocolate Lab in Turkey Point on training. the Turkey Hill “I mean, is there a prettier place in Trail in Lancaster Lancaster County?” she asked. “You’ve County, PA, has got easy trails, you’ve got hard trails. a view of the You have a mix of terrain. You have Conejohela Flats geocaching, runners, dog people. It’s mudflats and so freaking wholesome!” islands in the The natural area is roughly the Susquehanna halfway point of the loop. The trail River. The flats are leaves the natural area abruptly and a celebrated rest takes a short but steep jaunt to yet stop for shorebirds. another strikingly different setting. The overlook is You emerge from the woods onto the also the exact spot Enola Low Grade Rail Trail. where the architect This wide, pressed-stone rail trail of the U.S. capitol takes you back 2.5 miles to the trail painted the view in terminus between the Susquehanna 1802. and sheer cliffs. Unlike the rest of the Turkey Hill Trail, there are no dra- matic ups and downs, or even turns. That’s because when this Atglen and Susquehanna spur of the old Penn- sylvania Railroad was built between 1903 and 1906, it was an engineering marvel. Blasted from riverside cliffs, the 29-mile Low Grade has no slope lands seeded with thousands of na- The morning I was there, I studied Rock Overlook, a collection of rocks steeper than 1% and no curve greater tive grasses and wildflowers. Other a migrating yellow-legged shorebird that jut from a wooded knoll on the than 2%. At the time, it was celebrated features include wet meadows and marching stiffly across the pond’s property and afford a 180-degree for being second only to the Panama oak savannas. About 30 acres of shallow waters. Drunk on the cor- view up and down the Susquehanna. Canal for the amount of earth moved. farm fields are being reforested. nucopia, various songbirds feeding Both sides of the Susquehanna are Around 200 immigrant laborers In the fall, showy summer flowers on flower heads and grasses flitted mostly undeveloped here, thanks to a were killed during construction, many give way to more muted autumn constantly ahead of me at eye level. private-public initiative that has seen by premature dynamite blasts or fly- displays and colorful grasses. The The droning of cicadas, grasshoppers thousands of acres of former utility ing debris. River Hills that border the meadows and other insects blended with bird- lands protected for the public. The trail section has many open will don foliage colors and take over song for pleasant background music. The natural area’s draw is eclectic. views of the river and bald eagles are the limelight. Melded with the moving vegetation, On a weekday morning I met only a common. Look for where Mann’s Run The variety of habitats and near- the natural area became an animated few other visitors. One was there for crosses. There are several little water- ness to the Susquehanna — a major place indeed. the first time because he heard it was falls skittering over bedrock before migratory flyway — have made Even the area’s namesake has been a good place to find snakes. Another the stream is abruptly shot into the the natural area a favorite stop for brought back, with an experimental was there for the first time also and river by a concrete viaduct. birders. Case in point: the Lancaster grove of young American chestnut was hoping to have the place to him- You know you’re nearly back at County Bird Club has identified 218 trees tended to by the American self. He nearly did. your car when you pass a restored species of birds so far in 2019 at Chestnut Foundation. The hirdt encounter was nearby 1947 Pennsylvania Railroad caboose. Chestnut Grove. One stop not to be missed is Star resident Cabell Kladky, getting in a What a diverse trip it’s been.

Tackle Turkey Point The most popular starting point for the 6.3-mile Turkey Hill Trail circuit hike in Lancaster County, PA, is from the large parking area of the Enola Low Grade Rail Trail, located at 2501 River Road, Conestoga, PA. There are restrooms at the trailhead. The trail can also be accessed at its midpoint in the Chestnut Grove Natural Area. A parking lot is located at 43 Chestnut Grove Road, Conestoga, PA. The purple-blazed Meadow Trail leads to the Turkey Hill Trail in less than 1,000 feet. The natural area has 4.5 miles of trails to explore. Some trails are suitable for handicapped visitors. The Turkey Hill Trail and Chestnut Grove Natural Area are open from dawn to dusk seven days a week. Both permit dogs on a leash. For information on the Turkey Hill Trail and Chestnut Grove Natural Area, go to lcswma.org/waste-gives-back/public-recreation. You can find information on The 170-acre Chestnut Grove Natural Area has a sea of native the Turkey Hill Trail at lancasterconservancy.org/preserves/turkey-hill. grasses and flowers and 4.5 miles of trails. 26 Bay Journal l Tr avel l October 2019

Sinuous, woodsy Barren Creek is fit to be plied 50 feet here [on Barren Creek] you have a brand-new view,” she said. “Even if there’s nothing around the corner, you’re still wondering what’s around the corner.” Wool joined me for a trip down the creek on a day when summer seemed on the verge of autumn. The morn- ing air was cool but soon gave way to mild sunshine. With some notable exceptions, the summer’s flowers had packed it in for the season. The broad, flaglike leaves of spat- terdock, a type of water lily that grows abundantly along much of the creek, had gone brittle and yellow. A few paddle strokes into our journey, a bald eagle, as if on cue, appeared overhead. “I hired him,” Wool joked. “There’s a handler on the other side” of the trees. It didn’t take long for nature to take center stage. The growl of traffic on U.S. Route 50 — unseen but certainly heard near the boat ramp — gave way to a gentle hum of crickets and splashing of paddles. The occasional boom from a nearby rifle range was the only audible reminder of humanity’s presence. The wildlife made its presence known in ways alternate- ly subtle and dazzling. Belted kingfishers darted around us, painting blue reflections on the surface of the rippling water. Great blue herons stood like statues, waiting for their meals to come to them. At one point, something swished violently near the starboard side of my humble vessel. Because most of my outdoors experience hails from Florida, my brain quickly Lisa Wool, executive director of interpreted the eruption as an angry alligator, and I yelped the Nanticoke Watershed Alliance, like a scorned puppy. Rarely has someone gotten so slips her kayak through a stand of A street lined with homes built in the early worked up over a fish (in this case, probably a gar). spatterdock in Maryland’s Barren 1900s slopes downhill to the fraying edge of A mound of sticks suggested that beavers can be found Creek. in these waters. We lingered at the site, but, seeing no town. A two-lane bridge carries traffic across furry little heads pop up, we plied on. Around another a ribbon of flat water. There’s a boat ramp on curve, a flock of mallards took flight. Barren Creek offers three distinct landscapes along its the opposite side with one of those newfan- serpentine path. By Jeremy Cox gled kayak launches with rollers. From its headwaters just east of Route 50 to right Photos by Dave Harp around the boat ramp, the atmosphere is suburban. The The ramp supplies the only public access to Barren waterway is wide, almost resembling a pond in places. And Creek, so it is where most paddlers initially meet the wa- it’s shallow. At low tide, expect to find too little water east terway. It is not a breathtaking first impression. of Mardela Springs to support even a kayak. To be sure, no marinas, condominium towers or While the section upstream from the ramp is decidedly trendy restaurants crowd the waterfront in Mardela Springs, population 347, on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. But the signs of civilization along this stretch of Barren Creek are conspicuous: the residential roofs winking above the banks; the freshly clipped lawns; the rumble of old school buses, now laden with watermelons instead of children. Paddlers, however, will be rewarded once they round the first bend downstream. Barren Creek is one of those riverine destinations — increasingly hard to find — where the physical trappings of modern life are so near yet seem so far away. The creek drains into the Nanticoke River, a major Chesapeake Bay tributary that forms much of the bound- ary between Dorchester and Wicomico counties. But it by no means is in a hurry to get where it’s going; the 4-mile journey from the boat ramp to the river twists and turns like an aquatic version of San Francisco’s famous Lom- bard Street. The snaking is a feature, not a bug, said Lisa Wool, executive director of the Nanticoke Watershed Alliance, a Iris bloom along Barren Creek on Maryland’s Eastern community-based conservation group. Shore, where paddlers will find a surprisingly tranquil “I sometimes get bored [kayaking] in a pond, but every haven not far from U.S. Route 50. 27 Bay Journal l Tr avel l October 2019

Lower Barren Creek makes a wide, serpentine path through the marsh as it approaches the Nanticoke River on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. A paddle trip from a launch at Mardela Springs to the mouth of the creek takes about 2 hours. Paddlers who don’t want to make a return trip can leave a car at nearby Vienna. front country, there are no outfit- and farms — it’s not without conse- A change for the better may al- can have myriad benefits, including ters nearby. Exploring Barren Creek quence. ready be under way, though. In 2016, the restoration of wildlife habitat is strictly BYOB (Bring Your Own The water was a silty, brownish floodwaters washed out the only and sediment flow. It’s unclear Boat). color during our trip, and, Wool dam on the waterway. The privately whether Barren Creek is heading In the middle, where Wool and said, that’s pretty typical. Nutrients owned structure, located just east of toward a rebirth, Wool said. I spent most of our time, the banks and soil tend to run off the sur- Route 50, had separated the upper But she hopes so. end of the creek from the lower end “Within five minutes of leav- shift inward. The homes are replaced rounding land during heavy rains. by red maples and loblolly pines. for more than two centuries. County ing the dock, it is so peaceful and It feels like a wilderness hike — on Ten years of water-monitoring show officials plan to replace the road so quiet,” she said after we’d gotten the water. that the creek’s health is improving, that once topped the dam but allow back ashore. “It is still really pristine So, it was jarring when we were but 2018’s record-breaking rainfall the water to flow through culverts and so full of wildlife and so full greeted on one bank by a canta- reversed some of that progress, beneath instead. of fish. You feel like you’re in the loupe patch instead of trees. Later, a she said. In many waterways, dam removal middle of nowhere.” Google Earth search betrayed broad sheets of cropland lurking within a few dozen yards of the creek for most Paddling Barren Creek of its length. The trees show up as a l Where to go: The lone public access point buffer of varying, dark-green widths. The last segment finds the creek is a boat ramp at 500 Bridge St. in Mardela opening into a vast marsh. Springs, MD. Those who travel this far often Distance: 4 miles from the boat ramp to continue onward into the Nanticoke, l where they make a right turn upriver the mouth of the creek (a one-way, 2-hour and paddle another half-mile to the paddle) quaint town of Vienna on the op- posite shore. That is, if they’re willing l Information: Barren Creek is part of the and able to fight the current in the federally designated Nanticoke River much-larger river. Drop off a car Water Trail. You can find details at here beforehand if you don’t want PaddleTheNanticoke.com. to double back to Mardela Springs by kayak. If Barren Creek’s distinguish- A turtle takes a sun bath on a log in Maryland’s ing trait is its contradictions — a Barren Creek. celebration of nature amid town life 28 Bay Journal • October 2019 Your donations have helped us branch out in our coverage Susan & Gregory Rager Mary Sierra There’s no greater Fallentimber, PA Owings, MD sign of the Bay Journal’s James Reed Tracy Lynn Sigmann success than the compli- Halifax, PA Kennedyville, MD ments and donations Tom Reed Webb Smith received from readers Annapolis, MD Glen Allen, VA like you. Your gifts to Phillip Reed Eric Smith the Bay Journal Fund Richmond, VA Red Lion, PA continue to make our Gary Reinoehl C. 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ontinued from 28 Thomas Hickey C Newark, DE Richard Beam Oxford, PA Joe Horchar Nottingham, MD Kenneth E. Bright Madison, MD Mary Ann Jackson Kennett Square, PA Audrey E. Brown Easton, MD Denise Jackson Baltimore, MD Tom Calicchio Gulf Stream, FL Robert Jennings Roy & Deborah Cox Nellysford, VA Baltimore, MD Scott D. Johnson Joyce Danko Pikesville, MD Berwick, PA Steve Jones Harry Dean Cambridge, MD Springfield, VA Joseph Kalista Carl & Rosalie Du Poldt Bel Air, MD Edgemont, PA Carl Kanaskie Rachel & Craig Flanagan Millersville, PA Lusby, MD David Kantner Frederick Foote III Cornwall, PA Seaford, DE Cathy Keifer Carole Fox Gaithersburg, MD Rockville, MD Robert Knowlton Lisa & Jim Golle Arlington, VA Lebanon, PA Elizabeth Kokes Jack Hardy Belcamp, MD Essex, MD Eric Kolstrom Willian Hitch Fort Howard, MD Indian Head, MD Frank Kujawa Douglas & Renee Howard Nottingham, MD White Hall, MD Alice Lang Charles Hurd Royersford, PA Chestertown, MD Asters bloom along the bank of Maryland’s Nassawango Creek, a tributary of the Pocomoke River. The creek is the subject Tony Langbehn Sandra Irwin Bowie, MD Waldorf, MD of a forthcoming Bay Journal film. (Dave Harp) Robert Leedy David A. Karpa Gettysburg, PA Hampton, VA Carol L. Metzger Joseph G. Stickel Michael & Cheryl Bosler Robert Eshleman Joppa, MD Pasadena, MD Arnold, MD Lancaster, PA Richard Lewis Bert W. Kenyon Emporium, PA Hyattsville, MD Thomas Miele John Swartz Paula A. Bounds Paul Farragut Enola, PA Annapolis, MD Henderson, MD Ellicott City, MD T. U. Liles John H. King Keysville, VA Cape May, NJ Richard Ochs Peter Swinehart Charles W. Bower Louis Forster Baltimore, MD Boyds, MD Media, PA Bonita Springs, FL Jeanette Line Lackawanna River Corridor Falls, PA Association Douglas M. Olsen Anthony Webster Tim Brady Edgar Freed Scranton, PA Chestertown, MD Deal Island, MD Brookeville, MD Camp Hill, PA Catrina Liptak Hollywood, FL Tom & Chris Langley David Peterson Christine West Jack Brubaker Ray Gallagher Felton, PA Media, PA Annapolis, MD Lancaster, PA Baltimore, MD Robert Liskey Middle River, MD Ann Lasky Betty Jean Rehill Don West John Cantilli Edward P. Gibbs Annville, PA Severna Park, MD North Chesterfield, VA Cranford, NJ Virginia Beach, VA Lord Fairfax Soil & Water Lee Linebaugh Victor Riggio Richard Westergaard J. Frank Collins Laurel Glasco Conservation District Hanover, PA Queen Anne, MD Newfield, NJ Nottingham, MD Newport News, VA Strasburg, VA Mr. & Mrs. Herber K. Lodder Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Roff Mark Wynn Stan Cooley Josephine B. Grabl Claude Matthews Lutherville, MD Frederick, MD Arnold, MD Baltimore, MD Mechanicsburg, PA Aylett, VA David Lucas Era Saunders Elliot & Catherine Myrowitz Don Crook Ronnie Gray William McCoy Emporium, PA Hampton, VA Parkton, MD Joppa, MD Odenton, MD North Chesterfield, VA G. Barry Lucey Michael Schmitt Jean C. Alexander Renee Cross Louis Haber Jean Meyers Thurmont, MD Baltimore, MD Silver Spring, MD New Windsor, MD Havre de Grace, MD Glen Burnie, MD Charles & Barbara Magness Steve Schreiner C. B. Allwein Nancy Dennis A. Hall Mr. & Mrs. John E. Murray, Sr. White Hall, MD Columbia, MD Mount Gretna, PA Berwick, PA Harrisburg, PA McClure, PA Edward Mazurowski Caroleanne Snitge Michael Armstrong John Eller Dency Hanna Sondra Musser Silver Spring, MD New Cumberland, PA Woodbridge, VA Midlothian, VA Salisbury, MD Chambersburg, PA Pam McAfee William & Marie Stacy Judi Bean Vivian Ellison Wayne Harman Gene Naus Leesburg, VA Baltimore, MD Seaford, DE Farmville, VA Towson, MD Reading, PA Thank You To These Philanthropic Donors The Curtis and Edith Munson Foundation 30 Bay Journal • October 2019 Let’s go to bat for the Little Brown Bat! Bay Naturalist, on each night. (Nursing page 40, highlights females will eat up the importance of to 110% of their bats and, unfortu- weight.) How much nately, gives us the does a little brown lowdown on white- bat weigh? nose syndrome, A. Up to 0.5 ounce A. They honk. which has killed B. Up to 0.75 oz. B. They fly in a millions of bats in C. Up to 1 oz. formation. North America D. Up to 1.25 oz. C. Their keen sense since it was first 3. A little brown bat of smell warns them documented here in can eat 1,200 insects when they get too 2006–07. The disease in an hour. How does close. has been particularly it capture them? D. They pick up This little brown bat has white-nose devastating for the A. Directly with its the infrared heat from fungus on its wings as well as its nose. little brown bat. How teeth each others’ bodies. (Marvin Moriarity / U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) much do you know B. It uses its wing 6. The name, about the little brown tips to capture insects white-nose syn- B. Help protect them. bat and white-nose and bring them to its drome, comes from bat habitat by D. Report unusual syndrome? Answers mouth. the furry white minimizing light bat activity to your are on page 33. C. It uses its tail growth on the around your state natural resource to capture insects infected bats’ noses, house, reducing agency. 1. Just how little is a and bring them to its ears and wings. What tree clearing and E. All of the above little brown bat? mouth. are other symptoms getting involved Want to help by A. 1.5 to 3 inches D. All of the above of this disease? in projects that building a bat box? with a 9-inch 4. Little brown A. Hibernating protect or restore Download plans at wingspan bats can fly as fast as bats wake up several wetlands and ≈ dnr.maryland. B. 2 to 3.5 inches 21–22 miles per hour. times during the waterbodies, gov/wildlife/Pages/ with a 10-inch What is their usual winter, which raises which attract plants_wildlife/bats/ wingspan speed? their metabolism and A healthy little brown bat (Peter Pearsall / U.S. insects that, in batboxes.aspx C. 2.5 to 4 inches A. 6 miles per hour burns fat that was Fish and Wildlife Service) turn, attract bats. ≈ potomacriver. with an 11-inch B. 9 mph supposed to sustain C. If there are org/resources/get- wingspan C. 12 mph them during the 7. White-nose 8. How can people unwanted bats in involved/water/build- D. 3 to 4.5 inches D. 15 mph winter. syndrome is caused help to prevent white your house, contact a-bat-box with a 12-inch 5. How do little B. Bats fly outside by a… nose syndrome from your local natural ≈ shaverscreek. wingspan brown bats prevent in daylight. A. Bacteria spreading? resource agency. org/2017/06/09/help- 2. Little brown bats mid-air collisions C. They cough up B. Fungus A. Stay out of caves They know how to bats-build-a-bat-box can eat up to half of when they are hunt- white phlegm. C. Parasite or mines where bats remove or exclude their body weight ing in the same area? D. Both A & B D. Virus roost. bats without harming – Kathleen A. Gaskell

ground. How many of the B. Glittering In fact, some species you don’t know) alone and A. Back wavelength three vampire bat species C. Guano have better eyesight than you should be fine. B. Echolocation live in the Chesapeake D. Turpido humans. What can these D. All of the above C. Prey radar Bay Buddies watershed? (Those living 4. Why do some bat species see that we can’t? 9. How are bats differ- D. Sonar bounce in zoos don’t count!) droppings sparkle? A. Ghosts ent from birds? 11. Bats provide many A. 0 B. Infrared light (colors Bats A. They contain the A. When compared services for humans. ! B. 1 below the light spectrum undigested exoskeletons to their body sizes, bats’ Which of these is true? C. 2 (outer covering) from the that are emitted by heated brains are larger than birds. Bat Week is celebrated D. 3 things) A. Some bats can eat insects they eat. B. Both are warm- thousands of insects in a the last week in October. 2. Bats have not B. The bat’s digestive C. Ultraviolet light blooded. single night. The last night in October changed much since they juices contain chemicals (high-energy colors above C. When flying, birds is Halloween. What do first appeared in the fossil that glow in the dark. the light spectrum that is flap their entire forelimbs, B. A colony of 150 big these two things have in record around 50 million C. They are extra wet visible to humans) while bats flap their brown bats can eat up to common? Bats play an years ago. The ancestors and reflect moonlight. D. X-rays spread-out fingers. 18 million or more crop- important role in pollinat- of what other mammal D. Scientists haven’t 7. True or false? Bats D. A & C devouring root worms ing cacao plants, from each summer. appeared around this figured it out yet. hear better than any other 10. When bats hunt, which we get chocolate. time? 5. Only one Bay state land animal. they make a noise (that C. Devices to help the Can you imagine a Hal- A. Camels has an official state bat. It 8. How are bats like humans can’t hear) then blind navigate are based loween without chocolate B. Elephants is the: cats? wait for it to bounce back. on bats’ ability to detect bars? Talk about scary! C. Rhinoceroses A. Maryland moth bat A. They have belly If the sound bounces back, prey in the dark. This quiz treats you to D. All of the above B. Pennsylvania buttons. the bat is able to determine D. Unless some seeds other bat facts. How many 3. Bat droppings were pipistrelle B. They groom them- if it detected prey and pass through the digestive will trick you? Answers are used to make gunpowder C. Virginia big-eared bat selves — a lot. pursue it or move on if tract of a fruit-eating bat, on page 33. during the Civil War. What D. West Virginia flying C. Although it is very the sound doesn’t bounce they will not sprout. 1. Only vampire bats are are bat droppings called? weasel rare, they might carry back. What is this form of E. All of the above able to easily move on the A. Battling 6. Bats are NOT blind. rabies. Leave bats (and cats communication called? — Kathleen A. Gaskell Bay Journal • October 2019 31

Commentary • Letters • Pers pectives Ignoringorum science won’t make looming climate calamity go away ByF Tom Horton to accommodate them. Even more directly than Always, I’ve assumed knowledge climate change, the book equals power. If you do the science challenged the “grow or that makes sense of a mysterious die” ideology that per- world, it enables you to comprehend meates every aspect of your problems and you’ll eventually most nations’ economic solve them. policies. I’ve seen it work here on the Chesa- In the decades after peake Bay to restore rockfish, stabilize Limits was published, blue crabs, improve water quality and it was often dismissed make the case for protecting oyster as having predicted a reefs and wetlands. disaster that never hap- The progress is always messy, pened. Indeed, it didn’t involving politics and economics, and happen in those few never as “clean” as the underlying sci- decades, and the authors ence. But, warts and all, it’s progress. never said it would. In Knowledge equals power. It has their worst-case sce- sustained me through some dark nario, our unsustainable environmental times. But what if it’s ways wouldn’t begin not always, or no longer, true? What if to degrade prosperity knowledge turns out to have no sway until 2015. More likely, over the two overarching environ- it wouldn’t begin until mental crises of our time — climate much later in the 21st change and the exhaustion of natural century. resources — both of which will erode Events like tidal flooding on Hoopers Island could become more common in the future, despite Despite decades of hopes for a saved Bay? scientific knowledge about the factors that cause it. (Dave Harp) science amply document- I’ll start with climate change, the ing the unsustainability subject of a discussion-provoking, The Collapse of Western Civiliza- of humanity’s consumption and popu- 49-page work of fiction that we give tion is only partly a critique of unregu- lation growth, “we failed totally to get our Environmental Studies students at lated capitalism. Its authors are experts the concept of “overshoot” accepted as the university where I teach. on the history of science, and they a legitimate concern for public debate,” I hope it’s fiction, anyway, because offer insight as to how Western science wrote Dennis Meadows, one of the it’s called The Collapse of Western also let its knowledge be overpowered authors, in the 2004 update. Civilization, authored in 2014 by by a free-market ideology and too I called Meadows a few years ago, highly regarded science historians, much faith in technological solutions. hoping he’d speak at a Bay Journal Naomi Oreskes and Erik M. Conway. The scientists had become too conference examining the impact of It’s a tale told by a Chinese historian “siloed,” too reductionist to be skilled growth on the Chesapeake Bay. He in the late 24th century who is trying at the systems analysis that sees politely declined. He no longer felt it to understand how the world could broader patterns. Under pressure from was worth working on anything but have let it happen. Great civilizations, well-funded doubtmongers, climate the local environment where he was he knows, have risen and collapsed for Chesapeake Born scientists became ultra cautious in retired. millennia, from the Byzantine to the sounding alarms until it was too The global population was 4 billion Mayan and Roman. and calamitous weather became the late, insisting on “scientific rigor” in when Limits was first published. It’s But this collapse, which unfolded new normal. the extreme to put off controversial close to double that now, yet scarcely a through 2093, was unlike any other, This is ironic, the authors say, conclusions. single environmental group, let alone because we had the knowledge to because it was arguably the opposite Its title notwithstanding, Collapse our political leaders, wants to talk prevent it. The horrific potential of style of government — the hyper- is a lively read, invoking satire like the about it. runaway climate change was long and capitalist, free-market-worshipping enactment of “sea level rise denial” And, wouldn’t ya know, population accurately predicted, the causes well regimes — that proved most vulner- legislation as well as exploring why it’s increase is also well-documented as a documented, along with solutions. And able to denial of climate change, to so easy to “sell” doubt. major driver of greenhouse gases, like yet we were powerless to stop it. letting the corporate titans of the And while one can take comfort CO2, that cause climate change. China came out relatively well. “carbon combustion complex” dis- that it’s only fiction — at least for a I still have faith in science, because (Collapse, you’ll be heartened to know, credit science. little while longer — Oreskes and what else would I advocate — is not extinction; merely mammoth These countries conflated unfet- Conway recall an earlier work that “unscience”? But I have less faith in suffering and dying and centuries tered economic growth with personal sadly is not fiction and which ques- science’s ability to win the day absent of clawing back to civilization.) The liberties. They abhorred limits, and tions even more profoundly whether profound changes in our economic heavy-handed, centralized Chinese climate change mitigation seemed a knowledge is power: Limits to Growth, ideology of endless growth. style of government proved most giant limit to economic expansion and published in 1972 and updated in 1992 Tom Horton has written about capable of ameliorating the impacts of therefore, freedom. and 2004. the Chesapeake Bay for more than climate change (quickly relocating 250 But as the crises grew, it demanded The team of scientists who penned 40 years, including eight books. He million people as seas rose 25 feet); the more and more of the reviled limits — that seminal book coined the term lives in Salisbury, where he is also a Chinese were also best able to quell rationing, one child per couple, forced “overshoot”: humans living unsustain- professor of Environmental Studies at social turbulence as famine, disease relocation and martial law. ably, beyond the resources of the Earth Salisbury University. 32 Bay Journal • October 2019

Commentary • Letters • Pers pectives EC meetingorum recognizes innovation, acknowledges work ahead By RFachel Felver The District of Columbia took a unique approach in planning their Once a year, members of the Phase III WIPs, choosing to focus Chesapeake Executive Council gather on the importance of investing in together to discuss the successes and their residents through green job challenges of restoring the Chesapeake training programs to help meet Bay. A mere 30 miles from the shores their pollutant reduction goals. of the Bay, this year’s meeting site, Queen Richardson of the Alli- Oxon Hill Manor, played host to repre- ance of the Chesapeake Bay spoke sentatives from Delaware, the District to the Council about her personal of Columbia, Maryland, New York, experience with DC’s green job Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West training programs. Richardson Virginia (watershed jurisdictions), as described her experiences with well as the U.S. Environmental Protec- RiverCorps, a five-month job tion Agency and the Chesapeake Bay training program aimed at getting Commission, on Sept. 5. young adults, ages 18–24, experi- Oxon Hill Manor not only overlooks ence with the green sector, and the Potomac River, one of the major the Green Zone Environmental tributaries flowing into the Bay, but is summer internship program that at the intersection of three significant further exposed her to critical stakeholders in Bay restoration — environmental issues and topics. Maryland, Virginia and the District of These experiences eventually Columbia. led to her position as a RiverSmart As the coordinator of the Executive Homes program assistant with the Council meeting planning committee, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay. I have the unique advantage of seeing Richardson reflected that she “did all of the components that go into not expect to be doing this type of making this meeting a success each Queen Richardson, RiverSmart Homes program assistant with the Alliance for the work” but is so happy that she’s year. The planning committee is made Chesapeake Bay in Washington, DC, speaks during the Chesapeake Executive Council been given the chance. up of representatives from all the Bay meeting. “My message to the leaders of the Chesapeake Bay Program and all residents of “A healthy resilient ecosystem is watershed jurisdictions, the EPA, Bay the watershed is that a healthy, resilient ecosystem is not just about the pounds of pollu- not just about the pounds of pollu- Commission and the three Chesapeake tion reduced. It’s about connecting youth to their communities and natural places, even tion reduced,” Richardson reminded Bay Program advisory committees in the middle of a city, and creating pathways to careers that will last a lifetime.” (Will the council. “It’s about connecting representing scientific and technical, Parson / Chesapeake Bay Program) youth to their communities and citizen, and local government interests. natural places, even in the middle This year, we knew that our number lands, are two areas our partnership of a city, and creating pathways to careers one focus would be on the Phase III sorely needs to improve. In 2017, that will last a lifetime.” Watershed Implementation Plans. The only 56 miles of buffers were planted The resounding message at the 2019 meeting came at a pivotal time throughout the watershed, achieving meeting was one that celebrated the as the watershed jurisdictions had 6% of the goal to plant 900 miles of success of each watershed jurisdiction submitted their final Phase III WIPs to buffers per year. Also in 2017, only in their accomplishments of complet- the EPA only two weeks earlier. 9,103 acres of wetlands were restored, ing their Phase III WIP. But it also The Phase III WIPs outline the meeting 11% of the goal to create or carried a reminder that there is still a actions that each watershed jurisdic- re-establish 85,000 acres of wetlands. lot of work ahead of us. Reducing pol- tion intends to take to reduce pollu- Skip Stiles, executive director of lution is necessary for a clean Bay, but tion flowing into the Bay. Each has Wetlands Watch, reminded the council it’s not the only factor. Actions on land a specific target, or the amount of meeting many of the outcomes, there that “forest buffers are critical for a have just as much value in restoring pollution that needs to be reduced for are a few that need some help. number of reasons.” He touted their and maintaining a healthy watershed, a clean and healthy Bay, to meet by The planning committee chose importance by listing such attributes as and the impacts of climate change 2025 under the Chesapeake Bay Total speakers for this year’s meeting that their ability to stabilize stream banks, can’t be overlooked. Maximum Daily Load, or Bay TMDL. would address some of the outcomes provide wildlife habitat, cool waters In the end, it was Executive Council In addition to the Bay TMDL, that need attention, while also high- and meet nutrient reduction goals. But Chair and Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, the partnership is governed by the lighting some of the more innovative he also acknowledged the many road who said it best, “this partnership Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agree- approaches that watershed jurisdic- bumps along the way, whether it be stands at a critical juncture, with seven ment — 10 goals and 31 outcomes tions plan to take to help reduce their permits, funding or other issues. jurisdictional plans and the goal of that offer the full spectrum of what is pollutant loads. Stiles remarked that without an clean water in sight. After three decades needed to ensure a healthy watershed Most importantly, the chosen speak- acceleration of wetland restoration of collaboration with our federal and and restored Bay. These outcomes ers would make the connection of the and buffer plantings, it is extremely regional partners, we are witnessing detail everything from brook trout to importance of using pollutant reduction unlikely that the watershed jurisdic- significant improvements toward clean environmental literacy, and the major- strategies in their Phase III WIPs that tions would meet their Bay TMDL water and increased resiliency, but there ity of them offer multiple benefits in would meet both Watershed Agreement goals. Additionally, he noted how is more work to be done.” addition to helping to improve water outcomes and Bay TMDL goals. critical these two practices are for the Rachel Felver is the Chesapeake Bay quality. While Bay Program partners Planting forest buffers and restoring future of our watershed as climate Program Communications Director at are making significant progress in wetlands, especially on agricultural continues to change. the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay. Bay Journal • October 2019 33

Commentary • Letters • Pers pectives PA legislatorsorum need to put the money where the boots are – on farms ByF Bill Chain priorities in the state’s watershed Pennsylvania’s final watershed implementation implementation plan to clean up the plan. state’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay In addition, the watershed and meet its commitments Keystone 10 Mil- under the Chesapeake Clean Water lion Trees Partner- Blueprint by 2025 is under review by ship, spearheaded the U.S. Environmental Protection by the Chesapeake Agency. Let’s be clear: The plan is Bay Foundation, inadequate in many ways. It doesn’t has an important cut nitrogen pollution nearly enough, and ambitious and there is a significant funding gap goal of planting 10 that legislators have not identified million new trees ways to fill. before the end of But for those who rightly worry 2025. about the state’s ability to meet its But it’s not pollution reduction goals, I have some just about the good news. Many Pennsylvania farm- money. We also ers get it. need to invest in I manage the agriculture program technical staff and for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s resources. We need Pennsylvania office. I go to a lot of people working farming events and trade shows, and I The sun sets over a farm in Lancaster County, PA. If the state is to succeed in reducing water pollution in outreach and stand shoulder to shoulder with a lot of in its share of the Bay watershed, it will need to make substantial investments in more 33,000 farms and education; and we farmers. 1,000 local governments that share the landscape. (Ad Crable) need people with By and large, most of the conversa- the expertise to tions I have with farmers are very help farmers implement conservation turn a profit. Bottom line, they are a busi- help farmers design and build effective positive. Farmers recognize that they measures. They are working diligently, ness. Just like any other business, their conservation practices. Pennsylvania’s have an impact on water quality in at capacity, and really want to make a decisions need to make financial sense. final watershed implementation plan their communities and are interested in difference. Without the help of public dollars, estimates more than 70 additional improving it. This is the culture and climate in conservation practices that can take agricultural staff and technical assis- Many farmers are ahead of the Pennsylvania farm country right now five, 10 or even 20 years to provide a tance specialists are necessary to meet game and are really proud of the that makes me optimistic we can meet return on investment to the farmer are the plan’s goals. progress they’ve made implementing our Blueprint goals. a tough sell. Especially now. Low com- Everyone wants Pennsylvania’s conservation practices. They’re excited But, there’s another side of the modity prices and turmoil in interna- farmers to succeed. Agriculture is to stop by and talk about the cover coin. The fact remains that we lack the tional markets are hitting farmers hard. one of Pennsylvania’s most important crops they planted and the organic necessary commitment and resources As the Bay Journal reported, many are industries, and many people move to matter they’ve added to their soil from state legislators to finish the job. struggling just to make ends meet. Pennsylvania because they enjoy the through soil health management. Pennsylvania farmers want to help The Pennsylvania Farm Bill signed rural charm of farm country. The boots When we have heavy rains that clean up the their waterways. They’re into law this year provided roughly $6 on the ground — the farmers and the bring 2 or 3 inches of water down in willing to invest their time, land and million for programs to help farmers conservation community — are lead- a couple hours, farmers are proud to effort. We need legislators to provide implement conservation measures. It’s ing the way. It’s time state legislators see the runoff is basically clear; it’s not the funding and technical assistance a positive improvement we can build invest in them carrying away their soil. that allow them to do so. on, but legislators still have a long Bill Chain is senior agriculture I can also say there is real commit- Farmers are a lot of things — they way to go to close the funding gap. In program manager for the Chesapeake ment from our county conservation practice animal husbandry, they’re plant comparison, Virginia is investing $73 Bay Foundation Pennsylvania Office. districts, the folks who work out of pathologists, they’re accountants and million in a cost-share program to help the U.S. Department of Agriculture they’re often conservationists. But they its farmers clean up waterways. offices and our local nonprofits to can do none of these things if they can’t State legislators and the EPA, as the Chesapeake Challenge lead federal partner in the Bay cleanup Answers to effort, should also work with the USDA to identify ways to direct more federal Let’s go to bat Let Us Know Farm Bill dollars to Pennsylvania. for the little brown bat! The Bay Journal welcomes letters pertaining to Chesapeake Bay Again, there have been positive steps on page 30. issues. Letters should be no more than 400 words. Send letters to: Editor, in this direction. Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) 1. C. 2. A. 3. D 4. C. 5. A Bay Journal, 619 Oakwood Drive, Seven Valleys, PA 17360-9395. helped to secure new measures in the 6. D 7. B. 8. E E-mail letters to: [email protected] 2018 Farm Bill that make it easier for Bay Buddies Letter writers should include a phone number where they can be farmers to install forested buffers along Answers to Bats! on page 30. reached. Longer commentaries should be arranged in advance with the streams. It is important for programs like 1. A. 2. D. 3. C. 4. A. 5. C editor. Call: 717-428-2819. these to target key areas in Pennsylvania 6. C 7. True. 8. D. 9. D. Views expressed are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect to reduce agricultural pollution, espe- 10. B. 11. E those of the Bay Journal or Bay Journal Media. cially counties — like Adams, Franklin, Lancaster and York — identified as 34 Bay Journal • October 2019

Info for these workdays: lot. Bring lunch. Info: [email protected], [email protected]. 301-283-0808, (301-442-5657 day of ≈ Drop in Gardening: 9 a.m.–12 p.m. WorkdayMake sure that when Wisdom you par- event). Carpoolers meet at the Sierra Oct. 26. Meet at Children’s Garden. ticipate in cleanup or invasive plant Club MD Chapter office at 9 a.m. Individuals / families, ages 13+ Gloves, removal workdays to protect the and return at 5 p.m. Carpool contact: tools, water provided. Bring a hat, Chesapeake Bay watershed and 301-277-7111. its resources that you also protect sunscreen. No registration. yourself. Organizers of almost every ≈ Project FeederWatch Training: workday strongly urge their volun- Magruder Woods Volunteer Opportunities 10:30–11:30 a.m. Nov. 7. Adults. Learn teers to wear long pants, long-sleeved Help Friends of Magruder Woods how to count birds for science. Then, shirts, socks and closed-toe shoes 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. the third Saturday in York County, PA, parks meet at the Nature Center for a 1-hour (hiking or waterproof). This helps to October, November and December Volunteer opportunities at Nixon shift, Wednesdays and Thursdays, Nov. minimize skin exposure to poison ivy remove invasive plants in the forested County Park near Jacobus, PA, include: 13 until April 2. No registration. and ticks, which might be found at swamp in Hyattsville, MD. Meet at the ≈ Exploration Forest: The Nature Info: [email protected], the site. Light-colored clothing also farthest end of the parking lot. Info: Play Area needs to be monitored on cromwellvalleypark.org, 410-887-2503. makes it easier to spot ticks. Hats are [email protected], 301-283- a regular basis for hazards such as strongly recommended. Although 0808, (301-442-5657 the day some events provide work gloves, thorny plants or poison ivy. MD Volunteer Angler Survey not all do; ask when registering. of event); or Colleen Aistis at ≈ Project FeederWatch: 9 a.m.– Anglers of all ages can become Events near water require closed- 301-985-5057. 4 p.m. Nov. 12, 13, 19, 20, 26 & 27 and citizen scientists by helping the toe shoes and clothing that can get Dec. 3, 4, 10, 11, 17 & 18. Nixon Park Maryland Department of Natural wet or muddy. Always bring water. Become a VA Master Naturalist near Jacobus. Project FeederWatch Resources collect scientific data Sunscreen and an insect repellent Virginia Master Naturalists are a is a citizen science program in which through the Volunteer Angler Survey. designed to repel both deer ticks and corps of volunteers that help manage participants count the number and Anglers record information from mosquitoes help. and protect natural areas through identify species of birds visiting the their catch such as species, location Lastly, most organizers ask that plant and animal surveys, stream feeders from November through and size directly to the survey on volunteers register ahead of time. monitoring, trail rehabilitation and Knowing how many people are going early April. The data is forwarded to their smartphone. Biologists use this to show up ensures that they will teaching in nature centers. Basic Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology and data to develop, plan and implement have enough tools and supervisors. training covers ecology, geology, becomes part of a nationwide data management strategies. The artificial They can also give directions to soils, native flora and fauna, set that tracks winter bird population reef initiative, blue crab, freshwater the site or offer any suggestions for and habitat management. Info: trends. Beginners are welcome. fisheries, muskie, shad and striped apparel or gear not mentioned here. virginiamasternaturalist.org. Volunteers are asked to commit to one bass programs have upgraded to hour every other week. mobile-friendly methods. Participants Adopt-a-Stream or Pond Info: Andrew at 717-428-1961. are eligible to win quarterly prizes. for newsletters and events, developing The Prince William Soil & Water Info: dnr.maryland.gov/Fisheries/Pages/ photo archives and supporting office Conservation District in Manassas, VA, Help with watershed education survey/index.aspx. staff. Volunteers donating more wants to ensure that stream cleanup The Prince William (VA) Soil and than 100 hours of service per year volunteers have all of the support Water Conservation District needs Thurmont, MD, tree planting receive a complimentary 1-year and supplies they need for trash help with Meaningful Watershed Stream-Link Education is looking for family membership to CBEC. Info: removal projects. Participating groups Education Experiences 9 a.m.–1 p.m. volunteers of all ages to help plant trees [email protected]. receive an Adopt-A-Stream sign in Oct. 30 and 31 at Windy Knoll 9–11 a.m. Oct. 19 & 26 in Thurmont, recognition of their efforts. For info, Farm in Nokesville, VA. Help MD. Info: streamlinkeducation.org/ Anita Leight Estuary Center to adopt a stream or get a proposed Third- graders cycle through four plantings or Lisa Baird at 443-538- Anita C. Leight Estuary Center in site, visit [email protected]. stations: pollination/pollinators, pond 6201, Abingdon, MD, needs volunteers, ages Groups can register their events at aquatics, soils and stream buffers. [email protected]. 14 & older, for its Invasinators Workday trashnetwork.fergusonfoundation.org. Lunch is served after students leave. 2–4 p.m. Oct. 27, weather permitting. Would-be volunteers are asked to list CBL Visitor Center Help remove invasive species and American Chestnut Land Trust their station preference. Info: Pam Volunteers, ages 16 & older, are install native plants around the center. The American Chestnut Land Popovich at 571-379-7514, needed at the Chesapeake Biological Wear sturdy shoes, long sleeves and Trust in Prince Frederick, MD, needs [email protected]. Laboratory’s Visitor Center on work gloves. Registration is required: volunteers for invasive plant removal Solomons Island, MD. Volunteers must 410-612-1688, 410-879-2000 x1688, workdays 9–11 a.m. Thursdays and 10 Howard County Conservancy commit to a minimum of two, 3– to otterpointcreek.org. a.m. to 12 p.m. Wednesdays. All ages The Howard County Conservancy 4-hour shifts each month in the spring, (16 & younger w/adult) are welcome. needs leaders for elementary and summer and fall. Training sessions are Little Paint Branch Park Training, tools and water are provided. secondary school hikes. No experience required. Info: [email protected]. Help the Maryland-National Capital Registration is required. Info: 410- is necessary. Volunteers choose which Park and Planning Commission remove 414-3400, [email protected], hikes they would like to do. There is no Volunteer at CBEC invasive species 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. the acltweb.org. minimum or maximum requirement. The Chesapeake Bay Environmental last Saturday in October, November and Volunteers are also needed for various Center in Grasonville, MD, has volunteer December at Little Paint Branch Park Creek Critters app events. Info: Carole at 410-465-8877, openings for those who only want to in Beltsville. Learn about native plants. Audubon Naturalist’s Creek Critters [email protected]. drop in a few times a month or help Sign in for a safety orientation. Gloves app lets people check their local out on a more regular basis. Openings and tools are provided. Info: 301-442- streams’ health through finding and Cromwell Valley Park include: helping with educational 5657, [email protected]. identifying small organisms that live Volunteer opportunities at Cromwell programs; guiding kayak trips or hikes; in freshwater, then generating health Valley Park in Parkville, MD, include: staffing the front desk; maintaining trails, Ruth Swann Park reports based on what they find. The ≈ Habitat Restoration Team / landscapes and the Pollinator Garden; Help the Maryland Native Plant free app can be downloaded from Weed Warrior Days: 2–4 p.m. Oct. feeding or handling captive birds of Society, Sierra Club and Chapman the App Store and Google Play. Info: 12 & 26; and Nov. 2 & 23. All ages prey; maintaining birds’ living quarters; Forest Foundation 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. anshome.org/creek-critters. (12 & younger w/adult). Help remove and participating in CBEC’s team of the second Saturday in October, To learn about partnerships or invasive species, install native ones wood duck box monitors and other November and December remove host a Creek Critters event: and maintain habitat. Service hours wildlife initiatives. Other opportunities invasive plants at Ruth Swann Park [email protected]. available. Meet at Sherwood House include participating in fundraising in Bryans Road. Meet at Ruth Swann parking lot. Registration not required. events, website development, writing Park-Potomac Branch Library parking Bulletin continues on page 35 Bay Journal • October 2019 35

the important functions of watersheds, are available, first-come, first served. Info: pwswcd.org/capsules. The Bay JournalNew regrets Submission it is not advance. Guidelines See below. always able to print every notice it ≈ Submissions to Bulletin Board Learn if your yard is Bay-Wise receives because of space limitations. must be sent either as a Word or Pages Master Gardeners in Prince George’s Priority is given to events or programs document, or as simple text in the body County, MD, are part of Bay-Wise, a that most closely relate to the of an e-mail. PDFs, newsletters or other program that offers free consultations preservation and appreciation of the formats may be considered if there is Bay, its watershed and resources. Items space and if information can be easily Bulletin from page 34 on sound environmental practices for published in Bulletin Board are posted extracted. county residents to help certify their on the online calendar; unpublished ≈ Programs must contain all of Resources landscapes as Bay-Wise. They look for items are posted online if staffing the following information: a phone healthy lawn maintenance, efficient permits. Guidelines: number (include the area code) or Boating safety instruction watering and pest control, and native ≈ Send notices to e-mail address of a contact person; Boating safety classes are required trees and plants that provide shelter [email protected]. Items sent the title, time (online calendar for operators of recreational boats in and habitat for wildlife as well as to other addresses are not always requires an end time as well as a start forwarded before the deadline. time), date and place of the event or Virginia, Maryland and the District suggest approaches to reduce pollution. ≈ Bulletin Board contains events program. Submissions must state if the of Columbia, as well as most other Homeowners who demonstrate that take place (or have registration program is free, requires a fee, has states. Those who missed the Coast these practices receive Bay-Wise deadlines) on or after the 11th of the age requirements, has a registration Guard Auxiliary courses have online signs. Homeowners can also evaluate month in which the item is published deadline or welcomes drop-ins. alternatives: their property online using the MD through the 11th of the next month. ≈ November issue: October 11 ≈ Virginians: boat-ed.com/virginia Yardstick, which tallies their pollution- Deadlines run at least two months in ≈ December issue: November 11 ≈ Marylanders: boatus.org/maryland reducing gardening and landscaping ≈ DC residents & nonresidents: practices. To have a yard certified, boat-ed.com/districtofcolumbia though, homeowners need to have the in Baltimore for native plants, Test for chemicals in water ≈ Comprehensive list of training Master Gardeners visit and evaluate animals and people, the Baltimore Prince William County, VA, and the options: uscgboating.org/recreational- their landscape. Info: Esther Mitchell: Biodiversity Toolkit identifies state’s Department of Environmental boaters/boating-safety-courses.php [email protected], or visit extension. ambassador animals that represent Quality need volunteers to join their ≈ Free boating safety tools & umd.edu/baywise/program-certification. habitat types within, and historic to Chemical Water Quality Monitoring materials from the Coast Guard Click on “download the yardstick” to a community. It facilitates sharing Teams, who collect chemical data Auxiliary: Info/Search engine: evaluate a landscape and/or vegetable resources for supporting specific from local streams. The DEQ will train recreational boating safety outreach. garden. wildlife needs; monitoring and the volunteers techniques to collect and collection of citizen science data; and read the data. Monitoring sites are Bilingual educator resources Turf / lawn programs developing a culture of conservation accessible for easy data collection. Bilingual educational programs For information on the Prince and stewardship. The toolkit Info: [email protected]. are available in English and Spanish William (VA) Soil & Water Conservation contains 20 ambassador wildlife from the Interstate Commission on District’s 12 Steps to a Greener Lawn / species representing four habitats. MD Recreation & Clean Water Fund the Potomac River Basin. Contact: Building Environmental Sustainable Turf These animals represent a variety of Anglers, boaters and hunters potomacriver.org/resources/educator. BEST Lawns low-cost, research-based conditions that are present in high- who obtain registrations or licenses programs for lawn education, contact: quality environments for human, plant through the Maryland Department of Wetlands Work website 703-792-4037, [email protected]. and animal health. The multi-platform Natural Resources’ Compass online The Chesapeake Bay Program’s toolkit helps partners prioritize registration system can contribute to website, Wetlands Work, Floatable monitoring program community greening projects based the Maryland Outdoor Recreation and wetlandswork.org, helps to connect The Prince William Soil & Water on representative species, citizen Clean Water Fund to support fish and agricultural landowners with people Conservation District in Manassas, science data and spatial analysis wildlife habitat, clean water, wetlands and programs that can support VA, needs volunteers to help assess that includes social, economic and and K-12 student field trips throughout wetland development and restoration and trace trash in streams in an effort ecological indicators. Info: fws.gov. the state. When a customer checks on their land. to reduce nonpoint source pollutants out, an additional line in the shopping in urbanized and industrialized areas Wildlife education trunks cart will say “Maryland Outdoor Stormwater class in relation to the County’s Municipal The Maryland Department of Recreation and Clean Water Fund.” The Alliance for the Chesapeake Separate Storm Sewers (MS4) permit. Natural Resources is offering a variety The $10 already on the line can be Bay has released the online Municipal Cleanup supplies are provided. Info: of wildlife education trunks for use made larger, smaller or zeroed out. Online Stormwater Training Center’s [email protected]. by teachers, home-school educators, The Fund is also available under Dig Once Course. Developed by the naturalists, scout leaders and other “Merchandise” on the main menu. Local Government Programs staff Marine debris toolkit instructors. These free, interdisciplinary The money is equally distributed in and the University of Maryland’s The National Oceanic and tools are designed to interest students grants to nonprofit entities through the Environmental Finance Center, the Atmospheric Administration’s Office in local wildlife while building on Chesapeake Bay Trust and the DNR, course offers local leaders ways to of National Marine Sanctuaries and disciplines like art, language arts, with an average of 95 cents of every integrate green infrastructure into the NOAA Marine Debris Program math, physical education, science and dollar spent on programs. community capital projects such have developed a toolkit for students social studies. Each trunk contains as road construction, and school and educators in coastal and inland an educator guide with background Mount Harmon Plantation and park improvements. Interactive areas to learn about marine debris information, lesson plans and hands-on Mount Harmon Plantation in lessons, videos and knowledge and monitor their local waterways. K–12 activities, as well as supplies, Earleville, MD, is booking fall and checks in a user-friendly format This toolkit is a collaborative effort books, furs, replica tracks, videos and spring field trips for school groups. provide communities with tools to to reduce the impact on marine other hands-on items. Trunks subjects The Early American History program better communicate about, build and ecosystems through hands-on citizen include aquatic invasive species, bats, covers the lifestyle, culture, agriculture enhance local stormwater programs. science, education and community black bears, furbearers, white-tailed and trade of a tidewater plantation Info: mostcenter.org. outreach. Info/search engine marine deer and wild turkeys. Trunks are with manor house tours, colonial debris monitoring toolkit for educators. available at seven locations around demonstrations, crafts and games and Watershed education capsules the state and can be borrowed on a a nature walk to the Prize House. Or, Prince William (VA) Soil and Water Baltimore Biodiversity Toolkit first-come, first-served basis for up to teachers may select the Tidewater Conservation District’s Watershed To help meet the need for high- two weeks. Info/search engine: Wildlife Capsules, which teach students about quality and accessible green space Education Trunks. Bulletin continues on page 36 36 Bay Journal • October 2019

13 & younger. analyze how animals have adapted to healing plants during walk. Make ≈ Wee Naturalist Preschool survive. Learn how changes in habitat balm, tea to take home. Fee: $7. Program: 9:30–11 a.m. Nov. 13. Ages affect animals, their survival. Dress for ≈ Hiking Sticks: 1–3 p.m. Nov. 3 3–5 w/ adult. Explore nature together short hike, outside activities. [P] Adults. Make one of humanity’s under the guidance of a naturalist. Fee: ≈ Bird Walk: 8–10 a.m. Oct. 23 earliest tools: it digs up roots, defends $10/child. [C] Ages 16+ Bring binoculars, good against snakes, collects fruit, helps Preregistration is required for walking shoes, water. hikers. Fee: $7. each program. Info: marylandnature. ≈ Bicycle Ride: 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m. ≈ Light My Fire: 1–3 p.m. Nov. Bulletin from page 35 wildapricot.org. Oct. 26 [T] All ages. Take in the natural 9 [N] Ages 7+ Learn how to make area’s wildlife, plants, historical sites homemade fire starters out of History & Ecology. Both programs Bull & Oyster Roast on 12-mile guided tour. Bring a bike, everyday materials. Test them out on a run about four hours. Picnic lunches Mount Harmon’s Annual Bull & snack, water bottle, helmet. Ride is campfire w/s’mores. Fee: $5. welcome. Fee: $8/student. Info: 410- Oyster Roast takes place 5–9 p.m. Nov. weather-dependent. ≈ LBJs - Little Brown Jobs: 1–3 p.m. 275-8819, [email protected]. 2 at the plantation in Earleville, MD. ≈ Whose Clues? 10–11 a.m. Oct. Nov. 10 [N] Ages 12+ Little Brown The fundraiser also features silent and 27. Meet at Education Classroom at the Jobs — sparrows, finches & wrens — Events / Programs live auctions, manor house tours and Wildlife Viewing Area. Ages 5–7. Hike remain active in the fall. Learn about, live bluegrass music. Tickets are $70/ to search for evidence of wildlife in the search for them. Fee: $4. Paddle trip on Bull Run person; $500/reserved table for eight. forest. Ages 12 & younger must be The Prince William (VA) Trails & Info: mountharmon.org, 410-275-8819, ≈ Nature Tots / Colors of Fall: accompanied by an adult. Except where Streams Coalition invites the public to [email protected]. 10:30–11:30 a.m. Oct. 29 [C] Ages noted, programs are free and require canoe or kayak the Bull Run 3–4. Learn about leaves. registration. Info: 410-887-2503, 9 a.m.–12 p.m. Oct. 19. Paddlers Patuxent Research Refuge ≈ Wildlife Holiday Bazaar: 9 a.m.– [email protected], start at the Stone Bridge parking lot Upcoming programs at the Patuxent 3 p.m. Nov. 2 [C] Baldy’s Bargains cromwellvalleypark.org. Online in Manassas National Battlefield Park Research Refuge’s North Tract [T] and features new & gently used items, registration: cromwellvalleypark. and paddle 5.75 miles to the Bull National Wildlife Visitors Center [C] in children’s activities. Vendors will also campbrainregistration.com. For Run-Occoquan Trail parking area on Laurel, MD, include: sell environmentally themed items. All disability-related accommodations, call the Fairfax County side of Bull Run. ≈ Nature Tots / Afraid of the Dark? proceeds support the Wildlife Center 410-887-5370 or 410-887-5319 (TTY), Currents are present at this part of Not me! 10:30–11:30 a.m. Oct. 15 and Research Refuge. No registration. giving as much notice as possible. the run and there is a shallow area [C] Ages 3–4. Learn about nocturnal All programs are free, donations where, depending on the water level, animals’ adaptations. are appreciated. Except where noted, Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum participants might scrape the bottom ≈ Family Fun / Creepy Critters: events require registration. Programs Upcoming offerings at the of their boats or even have to get out Drop-in program runs 10 a.m.–1 p.m. are designed for individuals and/or Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in and pull their boats a short distance. Oct. 18 & 19 [C] All ages. Owls, families. Let the refuge know if there St. Michaels, MD, include: The trip is free; registration is required. bats and spiders are not creepy! are any special needs that need to ≈ Open Boat Shop: 5:30-8:30 p.m., Info: pwtsc.org/event/paddling-trip-on- Learn about them through hands-on be accommodated. Info: 301-497- Oct. 17, Nov. 14 and Dec. 12. Novice bull-run, [email protected]. activities. No registration. 5887, fws.gov/refuge/Patuxent/visit/ woodworkers, who can bring a small ≈ Creepy Critters Night Hike: 7:30– PublicPrograms.html. woodworking project or ideas for a VA film fest accepting entries 9 p.m. Oct. 18 & 19 [C] All ages. future project, will receive guidance The 10th RVA Environmental Explore the forest. Look for spiders, Cromwell Valley Park from an experienced shipwright and Film Festival is accepting entries moths, bats, nocturnal animals. Upcoming programs at Cromwell woodworker, along with assistance from around the state for the 2020 ≈ Discovering Lichens: 10–10:45 Valley Park’s Willow Grove Nature with CBMM’s machinery and tools. Virginia Environmental Film Contest. a.m. Oct. 19 [C] Ages 10+ Slow Center [N] and Primitive Tech Lab [P] Participants must be 16+ unless Submissions are due by Dec. 31. The walk stops to examine lichens. Bring in Parkville, MD, include: accompanied by an adult. Fee: $35 festival showcases films that raise water bottle, magnifying glass (some ≈ Bird Walks: 8–10 a.m. Oct. 19 & per session. Preregistration required: awareness of environmental issues magnifiers will be available to borrow). 26 and Nov. 2 & 9. Meet at Willow cbmm.org/shipyardprograms. relative to all residents of Earth. Walk is weather-dependent. Grove Farm Gravel Parking Lot. Bring ≈ Maryland Dove Blocks: Two-day Selected entries will be screened Feb. ≈ Forest Discovery Tram Tour: 11:30 binoculars if possible. No registration. workshop meets 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Oct. 9 at the Byrd Theater in Richmond. a.m., 1 p.m. & 2 p.m. Oct. 19 & 26 [C] ≈ Friction Fire: 1–3 p.m. Oct. 19 [P] 19 & 20. Help shipwrights build blocks Admission to the festival is free and All ages. 45-minute ride highlights how Ages 13+ Learn how to make a friction for the rigging of the new Maryland open to the public. Prizes, including a forest is an interconnected community fire. Fee: $5. Dove, Preregistration required. Fee: the $1,000 grand prize, will be of plants, animals. Trams stops for ≈ Spooky Stories Campfire & $100. Info: cbmm.org/pullandhaul. awarded that day. Info: facebook.com/ discussion of wildlife encountered on S’mores: 7:30–9 p.m. Oct. 25 [N] Ages Meanwhile, the CBMM’s working pg/rvaenvironmentalfilmfestival/posts. the trail. The ride is free, but tickets are 8+ Swap somewhat scary tales around Shipyard will be constructing the required and available on a first-come, a campfire. Fee: $5. Dove’s successor through 2021, full Natural History Society of MD first-served basis. ≈ Visit the Nature Center Day: public view. Info about Maryland Upcoming programs offered by the ≈ Owl & Kestrel: 12:15–12:45 p.m. 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Oct. 26 All ages. Dove and CBMM’s efforts to build the Natural History Society of Maryland Oct. 19 & 26 [C] All ages. Learn about Exhibits, animal, talks with the new vessel: marylanddove.org. include: the acrobatic American kestrel, the naturalist, apple cider, ginger snaps. No ≈ Schooner AJ Meerwald: 3–5 p.m. ≈ Bird Banding: 7:30–9:30 a.m. stealthy eastern screech owl. registration. Free. Oct. 21. The official tall ship of New Oct. 15. Observe the capture of wild ≈ Songbird Viewing Area Dedication ≈ Wizards, Wands & Broomsticks! Jersey, a restored 1928 oyster schooner birds, their banding and release back Ceremony: 1–1:30 p.m. Oct. 19 [C] All 1–3 p.m. Oct. 27. [N] Ages 6–13 w/ will offer dockside tours (included into the wild. This project works with ages. Area will allow school groups, participating adult. Make a sedge w/admission) on Oct. 21. While the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center photographers, visitors to see songbirds broom, decorated stick wand. No docked at CBMM (Oct. 21–23), AJ to evaluate the health of the avian up close. No registration. younger siblings. Fee: $7. Meerwald will run also joint education community. Banding is cancelled if it is ≈ Story Time: 10:30–11:15 a.m. Oct. ≈ Night Out w/Nature - Falconry: programming with CBMM’s education raining or temperatures are over 90 or 21. Meet at Education Classroom / 7–9 p.m. Nov. 1. Meet at Sherwood staff. Info: cbmm.org, 410-745-2916. below 50. Free, but a suggested donation Wildlife Viewing Area. Ages 3–5. Nature- House. Adults. Falconer Jenna Krebs ≈ OysterFest: Oct. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. of $5 helps to cover materials cost. themed stories, crafts. will discuss what it takes to become a 26. The event features oysters served ≈ Speaker Series / Cephalopods - ≈ School’s Out Mini-Camp: Habitats falconer, how to train a bird of prey. a variety of ways, along with other Intelligent Magicians: 7–9 p.m. Oct. & Adaptations: 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Oct. Dessert included. Fee: $10. local fare, craft beer, spirits, live music, 16. Families. Tom Piscitelli will discuss 22 [C] Ages 8-11. Games, hands-on ≈ Nature’s Medicine Chest: 1–3 octopuses. Fee: $15/ages 14+; $5/ages activities explore various habitats, p.m. Nov. 2. [N] Ages 13+ Learn about Bulletin continues on page 37 Bay Journal • October 2019 37

campfire. Fee: $7, pay at door. Gunpowder Valley Conservancy, has ≈ History & Mystery of Raab Park: ≈ Pumpkin Chunkin’ Hike: 10 –11:30 overseen efforts to plant thousands 1–3 p.m. Oct. 27. Meet at the parking a.m. Oct. 20. All ages. Walk the of trees on hundreds of acres of the lot on Hoff Road for 2-mile hike Discovery Trail to see what creatures Gunpowder watershed. He’ll share his with steep terrain. Learn how miners have moved into jack-o-lanterns journey to live each day contributing removed, shipped ore. Learn about left from the Halloween Hike. Later, to a healthier world for future the efforts to conserve bats living pumpkin chunkin’ begins! Free. generations and lead an audience in mine shafts. Wear proper hiking ≈ Drop-in Program / Meet a Critter: discussion on how our actions impact attire. Bulletin from page 36 12:30 p.m. Oct. 20 All ages. Up-close future generations. Free, donations ≈ Kids Nature Play: Drop in any encounter. appreciated. No registration. time from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Nov. cruises aboard 1920 buyboat Winnie ≈ Children’s Garden Club: 10:30– ≈ Tricks & Treats on the Ridge: 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22 & 23. Nixon Park Estelle; oyster stew competition; 11:30 a.m. Oct. 26. Ages 5–8. Cook, 1–2:30 p.m. Oct. 26. All ages. Come in near Jacobus. Dress-up, use puppets, cooking presentations; oyster-slurping create, explore while learning how a a costume for half-mile walk in woods touch & feel natural objects, take part contest; Chesapeake Bay retriever and garden is connected to humans, the to pick up a plant/animal fact, treat at in short scavenger hunts. Explore play oystering demonstrations; children’s wild world. Fee: $5/child. various spots (bring bag). Participants stations inside the nature center. activities; Chesapeake-themed games; ≈ Days Cove Fall Foliage Kayak: 11 will be assigned a starting time when ≈ Owl Prowl: 7–8 p.m. Nov. 10. scavenger hunt; building a model boat a.m.–2 p.m. Oct. 26. Meet at Mariner registering. Walk-in guests will be Nixon Park near Jacobus. Ages 10+ ($3); the CBMM’s exhibit, Oystering Point Park in Joppa. Experienced accommodated only if there is an open Learn about owls, hike to call for on the Chesapeake; and Waterman’s paddlers, ages 12+ The 4-hour roundtrip slot. Fee: $5/participating child w/up them. Preregistration required: 717- Wharf, where visitors can tong or paddle visits junction of Big and Little to 2 chaperones per paid participant. 428-1961. nipper for oysters. Admission is $5/ Gunpowder falls to look for eagles, Additional guests $2 each. Unless noted otherwise, events are active members of the military (with beavers, changing foliage. Fee: $13. ≈ Squirrel Tales: 1–2:30 p.m. Oct. free and do not require registration: ID); $18/adults; $15/ages 65+ and ≈ Pontoon Boat Trip / Halloween 27. Ages 4+ Story, outside exploration, 717-428-1961. college students or retired military Dinner Cruise: 5–6:30 p.m. Oct. 26. craft. Fee: $3. (both with ID); $6/ages 6–17; free/ages Ages 8+ (16 & younger w/adult) Dress ≈ Animals in Autumn: 1–3 p.m. Irvine Nature Center 5 & younger. Food, drinks, cruises cost for the occasion for a “spirited” cruise, Nov. 2 & 3. Ages 4+ Explore the park, Upcoming events at Irvine Nature extra. For safety reasons, non-service seasonal dinner on the river. Fee: $15. meet the center’s animals up-close to Center in Owings Mills, MD, include: dogs must be kept home for this event. ≈ Trail Running Series: 10–11 a.m. learn what they do in fall to get ready ≈ Tales & Tails: 10–11 a.m. Fridays. Proceeds support CBMM’s education, Oct. 27. Ages 10+ (16 & younger w/ for winter. Fee: $2. All ages. Story, songs, puppet show, restoration, exhibition programs. Info: adult) All skill levels/paces welcome. ≈ Autumn Campfire & Hike: 7–9 animal friend. Free. cbmm.org/oysterfest. 2-mile course is an out-and-back, p.m. Nov. 9. Ages 4+ Take a hike, then ≈ Scout Day: 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Oct. ≈ Fall Speaker Series / Messing single track. Free. meet at fire for apple cider, s’mores, 20. Stations encourage Scouts to About in Boats: 2 p.m. Nov. 6. Van Ages 12 & younger must be autumn tales. Fee: $5. create swaps, go on a geocaching Lennep Auditorium. CBMM President accompanied by an adult for all ≈ Finding Your Way: 1–3 p.m. Nov. adventure, learn what Irvine has to Kristen Greenaway shares stories of programs. Events meet at the center 10. Ages 10+ Learn the orienteering offer at stations. Visit Irvine’s animal her boating adventures, from living and require registration unless basics, then test these skills on the trail. ambassadors. Fee: $5/scout; free/ aboard a 32-foot wooden yacht as a otherwise noted. Payment is due Fee: $5. leaders & parents. child, to sailing with an all-woman at time of registration. Info: 410- Ages 15 & younger must be ≈ Hoot’s Halloween Party: 1–3 p.m. crew in the inaugural two-month 612-1688, 410-879-2000 x1688, accompanied by an adult. All Oct. 20. All ages. Come in costume Auckland-Fukuoka (Japan) Yacht Race, otterpointcreek.org. programs require advance registration for games, crafts, trick-or-treating for to competing in the annual 300-mile unless otherwise noted: info@ Hoot-errific Trail Mix. Fee: $10. WaterTribe Everglades Challenge. Fee: Oregon Ridge Nature Center OregonRidgeNatureCenter.org, ≈ Pumpkins on the Green: 7–11 $7.50. Preregistration encouraged. Upcoming events at Oregon Ridge 410-887-1815. Payment must be p.m. Oct. 25. Irvine’s 11th annual Info: cbmm.org/speakerseries. Nature Center in Cockeysville, MD, made within one week of registration. casual “un-gala” event includes ≈ Fall Speaker Series / At the include: Events take place rain or shine unless live music, dancing, wine tasting, Helm of Kalmar Nyckel: 5:30 p.m. ≈ Shoots & Letters: 10–11 a.m. a rain date is specified. Programs are live and silent auctions, local food, Nov. 13. Van Lennep Auditorium. Oct. 17 (Acorns), Oct. 24 (Bats), for individuals & immediate families. brews. All proceeds support Irvine’s Capt. Lauren Morgens will discuss Oct. 31 (Spiders), Nov. 7 (Nocturnal Groups can schedule programs by environmental education programs. her role as the first female captain of Animals). Ages 3+ Outdoor adventures, calling 410-887-1815. For disability- Bring a smart device for bidding. Kalmar Nyckel, an accurate replica activities. Fee: $2/child. No registration. related accommodations, call 410-887- Tickets are $150. Info: Lindsey at 443- of a 17th-century Dutch pinas, and ≈ Bookworm Story Time: 11–11:45 1815, 401-887-5370 or 410-887-5319 738-9222. the official tall ship of Delaware. Fee: a.m. Nov. 1. Toddlers to age 6. Story, (TTD/Deaf). ≈ Drop-in Science Saturdays & $7.50. Preregistration encouraged. activity, outdoor experience. Free, Sundays: 10 a.m.–12 p.m. Oct. 26 Info: cbmm.org/speakerseries. donations appreciated. No registration. York County, PA, Parks (Nature Stamping) & Nov. 3 (Leaf ≈ Senior Stroll: 10:30 a.m. Oct. 19; York County, PA, Parks invites the Wreath). All ages. Explore the natural Anita Leight Estuary Center Nov. 2 & 16. Adults. Leisurely walk public to these programs: world of science. Self-guided activities Upcoming programs at the Anita on paved, 0.3-mile Marble Quarry ≈ Hawkwatch: Drop-in from could include crafts, hands-on C. Leight Estuary Center in Abingdon, interpretive trail. Free, donations 10 a.m.–1 p.m. Oct. 12 & Oct. 19 exhibits. Free. MD, include: appreciated. Rocky Ridge Park’s Oak Timbers ≈ Scales & Tall Tales: 1-3 p.m. Nov. ≈ Kayak Cruising on the Creek: ≈ Bird Walk: 8–9:30 a.m. Nov. 8. Parking Lot, North Overlook in York. 9. All ages. Visit the Native American 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Oct. 17 & 31. Adults. Bring binoculars or borrow a Learn to ID hawks in flight. Bring site for tribal tales of local wildlife Adults. Explore Otter Creek, upper pair. Free, donations appreciated. binoculars, field guides, lawn chairs. A with a spooky twist! Meet some of the Bush River. Fee: $12. ≈ Nature QuestFest at Lake Roland: few loaner binoculars will be available. animals mentioned in the tales. Fee: ≈ Halloween Hike & Campfire: 12–2 p.m. Oct. 20. All ages. Festival Free, no registration. $10. 6–9:30 p.m. (Preregister for half-hour includes live animal encounters, face ≈ Stream Discovery: 2–4 p.m. ≈ Lunch & Learn / Marvelous time slot to begin 0.75 mile hike. painting, dam tours, raffles, crafts. Fee: Oct. 13. Nixon Park near Jacobus. Marshes: 12–1:30 p.m. Nov. 13. Adults. Allow 1 hour for hike, campfire.) Oct. $5. Free for those who have completed Hands-on, feet-wet activity includes Join naturalist and Irvine’s manager 19. Ages: old enough to handle slightly 5 or more Nature Quest trails. collecting, examining, discussing of public programs, Diana Roman, spooky hike in night woods. Meet real ≈ Council Speaker Series / stream insects. Rain boots, sneakers, for a look into the world of marshes, “scary” animals up close, hear their Restoring Creation: 7–8:30 p.m. or water shoes recommended. No swamps, wetlands. Lunch provided. story from a Halloween character. Oct. 21. Adults. Charlie Conklin, open-toed shoes or bare feet. Free. Fee: $20. Music, roasted marshmallows await at vice president of operations at the Registration required. Info: explorenature.org. 38 Bay Journal • October 2019 WOW program helps female forest owners branch out By Holly May for education, encouragement and positive action. Examples of Facebook WOW: a palindrome that behaves posts include plant identification, like a verb, an interjection or a noun herbicide application, grapevine and is typically associated with great control, wildlife pictures, potential excitement, admiration or success. workshop topics and new state and For landowners in West Virginia, federal assistance programs. this word serves all three functions: The overarching WOW program is the WV Women Owning Woodlands a collaborative project of the National program, or WOW, is a budding group Woodland Owners Association and that provides opportunities for female the USDA Forest Service Cooperative landowners to learn about sustainable Forestry Office. The project “strives forest management, communicate to bring topical, accessible and current their experiences and inspire natural forestry information to woodland resource stewardship on private lands. owners and forest practitioners through Women live an average of 4.8 news articles, blogs, events, resources years longer than their male partners, and personal stories. We support and the percentage of family-owned women in forest leadership, women forests where a woman is the primary who manage their own woodlands, and decision maker doubled from 2006 to all who facilitate the stewardship of 2013. But women are significantly less forests.” For information, visit likely than men to participate in land womenowningwoodlands.net. management activities, mostly for lack Our own Alliance for the of knowledge. Female natural resource Chesapeake Bay staff member, Jenny professionals throughout the United WV WOW workshop attendees make introductions, talking about their land and McGarvey, shadowed a WOW-TELE States, in an effort to cut through this experiences with forestry and land management. (Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay) (Tools for Engaging Landowners) unnecessary doubt, are establishing workshop in October 2017. In fall 2018, a new generation of informed both Breshock and McGarvey attended landowners through WOW and other the Women and their Woods Retreat in similar trainings. Pennsylvania hosted by the Delaware In West Virginia, the WOW Highlands Conservancy and their program is taking root and branching many partners. Each walked away out under the steady leadership of Barb with new strategies and approaches for Breshock and the support from key engaging landowners. partners, including private forestry For Breshock, it helped hone her consultants, environmental organiza- approach to the WV program. For tions, the state Division of Forestry, McGarvey, it included adopting a the U.S. Department of Agriculture programs, will help cultivate an cognitive mapping exercise to help Forest Service and the West Virginia emerging group of women who are visualize land management goals and University Extension Service. ready to make educated decisions for adapting the practice for a wide variety Breshock, a retired assistant state their families and their land. of audiences. forester for the DOF, said that “there Breshock’s intent is to develop a Breshock has been pleasantly was likely a need for women landown- dynamic series of workshops, adapting surprised by the wide age range of ers to have resources to draw from and to meet the educational needs and attendees — from 20-somethings to the means to connect and share their operational challenges of female multiple generations of mothers and experiences. I hope I can convey my forest landowners. In addition to the daughters — as well as their willing- expertise and forestry knowledge to plants and animals on their properties, ness to travel for the chance to improve other women.” She has had experience workshop surveys indicate that women stewardship and encourage fellowship. with other women-focused trainings, Barb Breshock, WV WOW organizer want to learn more about the financial In the future, she would like to and “has seen the benefits.” and leader, demonstrates how take an side of forestry; from estate planning incorporate more demonstration and The kick-off workshop, which took increment bore to determine tree age. to timber sale contracts to negotiations solution-oriented workshops on private place in late May 2019 at Watoga State (Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay) with consultants and contractors. forestlands. Park in Pocahontas County, provided The second workshop took place As word of WV WOW reaches the perfect backdrop for appreciating identification, measure the height in August at the Zero Grade Trail in other areas of the state, Breshock the woods, water and wildlife of West and diameter of trees and check out Tucker County’s Fernow Experimental hopes to provide scholarships to cover Virginia. Female forestry professionals different forestry treatments for Forest. Attendees observed the the travel, food and registration costs provided an introduction to forest wildlife habitat improvements. results of decades of applied forest for some participants. ecology, bird watching and a shiitake During my 20 years in the field management and learned about basic Size does not matter for WV mushroom propagation workshop. of natural resources, the majority management systems, types of timber WOW — participants need not own The introductory chainsaw of my professional relationships harvests and the role of prescribed fire big tracts of land; they need only bring safety and operation course was led are networked through the family in oak forest types. their questions, sense of humor and by Johnny King, service forester patriarch. As one of the instructors for WV WOW aims to create a safe, enthusiasm to learn. For information and chainsaw safety instructor the weekend, I found our conversations friendly and nurturing environment, about the WV WOW program, visit for the DOF, and its participants insightful and meaningful — strong as well as promote communication wvforestry.com/landowner-assitance wholeheartedly agreed that he was the and intelligent women looking for networks for women who make land or contact Breshock at breshock@ right man for the job. solutions to overcome barriers and management decisions. The workshop hotmail.com or 304-934-6777. A field tour through the nearby accomplish land management goals design considers inclusivity and Holly May is the watershed Calvin Price State Forest gave on properties that they control. equality. The active, and private, forester for the Alliance for the attendees a chance to practice tree VW WOW, and other comparable Facebook group serves as a platform Chesapeake Bay. Bay Journal • October 2019 39 For wren & writer, home is where the birdhouse hangs By Mike Burke human “structures,” from the pockets of work coats left outside, Well before sunrise in early May clothespin baskets, buckets or just it started: a loud chattering, burbling, about any object that affords them cascading torrent of notes. From just a space to build their nests. outside our bedroom window, the Nest construction starts birdsong filled the early morning air. with the male. He will place a It would continue virtually all day and few sticks in possible nesting go on well into the summer. sites, then show his prospective Our avian alarm clock was at mate his handiwork. If she is it again. The house wren, one of impressed, she will select the America’s most well-known songsters, best option and further nest was busy attracting a mate and construction commences. Both establishing his territory. His warbling, birds work on the nest, with the trilling song would periodically change female putting the finishing soft to a harsh, raspy scold when anything lining in place: spider webs, hair, (or anybody!) approached his prized feathers, fluff from some seeds mate or nest. and so on. House wrens (Troglodytes aedon) Many eastern house wrens are small, compact birds. Just 4 inches have two broods annually. They long and weighing a mere 0.4 ounces, typically don’t use the same nest the bird has a remarkably loud voice. and often don’t have the same The native Chippewa’s name for the partner for nest number two. Each bird translates to “making big noise for nest will have six or seven eggs its size.” That’s an accurate description that are incubated by the female and one of the reasons so many for 12–13 days. nonbirders know this tiny dynamo: After they hatch, the chicks, When males are around, they are hard which are born helpless, stay to ignore. in the nest for another 17–18 The house wren’s big voice is days. Both parents feed the certainly its most obvious field young an assortment of beetles, attribute. Otherwise, the rather drab grasshoppers, crickets, spiders, brown little bird would be easy to ants, and moths and butterflies. miss. Although they produce They breed almost anywhere there many offspring annually, house are trees and shrubs. House wrens wrens have a high mortality rate can be found throughout the Western and their longevity is short — Hemisphere, from Canada to Chile. probably about 6 years. Many of the populations are resident, Current estimates show a very while others are short-distance slight annual increase in numbers. migrants. They boast a healthy worldwide Ornithologists count 31 separate population that Partners in Flight subpopulations. They inhabit a larger estimates at 160 million birds. range from north to south than any In late June, after the first other songbird in the hemisphere. House wrens have an affinity for birdhouses. If none are available, they will use cavities in trees or brood of our backyard birds had Our nesting house wrens were of snags or crevices in rocky outcroppings. (Louis Agassiz Fuertes / U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) fledged, we awoke one morning the eastern variety. They breed from to the familiar cascading song New Brunswick across to Ontario in of a male house wren. The birdhouse Canada, and down to Tennessee and was about to serve as home to a second over to the Carolinas. In October, they In late June, after the first brood brood. The process started with the head to the southeastern United States, of our backyard birds had fledged, male pulling out much of the dirty Mexico or Caribbean for winter. nesting material left behind by family Light brown with a pale gray chin, we awoke one morning number one. He would add new sticks neck and belly, eastern house wrens to the familiar cascading song in a matter of days. have dark-and-light barring on the My wife and I were in the process wings and tail as well as the back part of a male house wren. of cleaning out our own house, getting of their undersides. A hint of cinnamon The birdhouse was about to serve ready to move to a smaller home. The on the rump and tail are the only house wren’s second nesting was an concessions to color. A flat head and a as home to a second brood. especially bittersweet affair for us. We tail that is often cocked up accentuate had lived at the Cheverly house for the bird’s compact build. nearly 30 years. This would be our final House wrens from other regions been home to several generations of time hosting a new clutch of birds. look similar, but differ slightly in house wrens and at least one family of Our yard had seen lots of birds over coloration, with darker birds in cool, house sparrows. the years and given us a host of avian humid areas and paler versions in House wrens have an affinity for memories. But it was time to turn the warm, arid regions. Our backyard birds were using a birdhouses. If one is not available, house over to a younger set. A new The sexes look alike, and they have birdhouse we had attached to the back they will use cavities in trees or snags, generation was waiting. similar plumage year-round: no flashy deck of our former house in Cheverly, crevices in rocky outcroppings, and Mike Burke, an amateur naturalist, breeding feathers for these birds. MD. Over the years, that nest box has so on. They will also use lots of other lives in Mitchellville, MD. October 2019 Volume 29 Number 7 The Bay Journal NONPROFIT ORG. P.O. Box 222 U.S. POSTAGE Jacobus, PA 17407-0222 PAID DULLES VA PERMIT # 234

The Bay Journal is printed on 100% recyclable/recycled paper using vegetable-based inks. www.bayjournal.com Bats, our best weapon against insect pests, need magic bullet to fight disease By Kathy Reshetilofff The fungus has also been detected but with no confirmation of the disease, in the With Halloween quickly approaching, western small-footed bat, eastern red bat, images of bats are appearing everywhere. silver-haired bat, Rafinesque’s big-eared bat, October also happens to be Bat Apprecia- Townsend’s big-eared bat, the endangered tion Month. Virginia big-eared bat, the endangered Bats are exquisite animals. No other Ozark big-eared bat and Mexican free- animal compares to Earth’s only flying tailed bat. mammal. Like all mammals, bats have All of these species range within all or hair and their young are born live and feed part of the Chesapeake watershed except on milk. But unlike other mammals, the for cave bats, gray bats, long-legged bats, fingers on a bat’s hand are elongated and Mexican free-tailed bats, Rafinesque’s connected by skin to form a wing. big-eared bats, western long-eared myotis, There are more than 1,300 species of western small-footed bats and Yuma bats. bats that range in size from the bumblebee A network of state and federal agencies, bat, which weighs less than a penny, to the universities and organizations is working to golden-crowned flying fox, which weighs investigate the source, spread and cause of 2.6 pounds and has a wingspan of up to 5.5 white-nose syndrome to develop strategies feet. Except for Antarctica, bats are found to minimize its impact on bats. Scientists on every continent, living in caves, temper- have developed ways to detect P. destruc- ate forests, deserts and tropical rainforests. tans on bats and in the environment, using Bats eat vast amounts of insects, includ- The tri-colored bats perform a great agricultural service by eating grain moths as UV light and molecular analyses. ing some of the most damaging agricultural they emerge from corn cribs. (Ann Froschauer / U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) Research is looking at biological treat- pests. Others pollinate plants, ensuring ments, altering hibernation conditions to the production of fruits that support local studied the roosting requirements of bats in slow fungal growth or improve bat survival, economies. Fruit-eating bats in the tropics order to provide artificial homes. Some bats and vaccines to boost bats’ resistance to the disperse seeds that are critical to restoring use these bat houses quite successfully. disease. Researchers are also looking into rainforests. Even bat droppings (called In the last decade a new threat, white- molecular and genetic tools to reduce the guano) are valuable as a natural fertilizer. nose syndrome, has emerged. Named for ability of the fungus to cause disease. As primary predators of night-flying the white fungus that sometimes appears What can you do? insects, bats help to control many of our on the muzzle and other body parts of ≈ Minimize disturbance to natural most annoying pests. One insect-eating bat hibernating bats, white-nose syndrome has bat habitats by reducing outdoor lighting, eats as many as 3,000 insects a night during fat. Heart rates slow drastically and body killed millions of bats in North America. curtailing tree clearing and protecting the summer. Some bats consume crop temperatures drop to 40–60 degrees First documented in New York in the winter streams and wetlands. pests, including cucumber beetles, June Fahrenheit. To control body temperature, of 2006–07, the syndrome has spread rap- ≈ Build a bat house in your yard. beetles, leafhoppers, cutworm moths and bats often roost together in great numbers. idly. The presence of white-nose syndrome ≈ Report unusual bat behavior to your corn earworm moths. Without these natural Disturbance is a major threat to many has been confirmed in 31 states and five state natural resource agency. Unusual bug zappers, farmers would lose billions of bat species. Disturbing a maternity colony Canadian provinces. behavior includes bats flying during the day dollars in lost crop revenue as well as need can cause mothers to drop their young or Researchers associate white-nose when they should be hibernating (Decem- to increase their use of costly pesticides. move them to a less suitable site. Waking syndrome with the fungus, Pseudogym- ber through March) and bats roosting in To hunt at night, bats developed echo- bats during hibernation causes them to burn noascus destructans, which thrives in cold sunlight on the outside of structures. Bats location, which helps detect objects. They the precious fat reserves they have stored to and humid conditions characteristic of flying in the middle of the day is unusual. produce sounds at high frequencies, and survive the winter. caves and mines used by bats. Bats with Bats unable to fly or struggling to get off the by listening to the echoes of these sounds, Preventing people from entering white-nose syndrome exhibit uncharacter- ground should be reported. bats are able to discern objects. Using the maternity caves and winter hibernation istic behavior during cold winter months, ≈ Do not go into caves and mines where reflected sounds, they form pictures in their caves is critical. Because bats use these including flying outside during the day and bats are known or suspected to hibernate. brains just like we do when we interpret caves seasonally, entry may only have to clustering near the entrances of hibernacula ≈ Honor cave closures and gated caves. reflected light with our eyes. be restricted during certain months. A cave (caves and mines where bats hibernate ≈ Researchers and cavers should follow Bats in temperate regions either entrance can be gated or fenced, preventing during the winter). decontamination guidelines to reduce the hibernate or migrate during the winter. people from entering while allowing bats to As of July 2019, 12 cave-hibernating possibility of spreading the disease. More than half of the 47 bat species in the fly in and out. bats, have been confirmed with the disease: For news on white-nose syndrome United States hibernate in caves in winter Bats are also threatened by loss of big brown bat, cave myotis, the endangered research, visit whitenosesyndrome.org. To and move to trees and buildings in summer. feeding or roosting habitat, usually wooded Indiana bat, eastern small-footed bat, little learn how to protect bats, call Bat Conser- Some bats live in caves all year but have areas near water sources. As traditional brown bat, endangered gray bat, long- vation International, 800-538-2287. different summer and winter roosts. roosts in trees and caves have been legged bat, the threatened northern long- Kathy Reshetiloff is with the U.S. Fish During hibernation, a bat’s metabolism destroyed, many bats are seeking shelter eared bat, western long-eared myotis, Yuma and Wildlife Service’s Chesapeake Bay slows so that it uses very little of its stored in man-made structures. Scientists have bat, southeastern bat and tri-colored bat. Office in Annapolis.