U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Rivers to Harbor Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnership Baltimore,

Over the course of the next 10 years, the Partnership will grow from the communities around the Middle Branch and Masonville Cove into the key watersheds of , , and the through: • Expanding youth employment opportunities and conservation careers • Enhancing connectivity and accessibility of green spaces • Restoring and protecting green space through habitat restoration and land protection projects that provide wildlife habitat, climate change resiliency, and Karen Mullin community recreation and education. Community Garden Planning

What began as the restoration of an Since it’s designation in September 2013, Partners abandoned area near Baltimore Harbor has The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Living grown into a nationally recognized partnership Classrooms Foundation, the Maryland Partners include the U.S. Fish and Wildlife connecting the city’s residents to the outdoors. Port Administration, and the National Service, Greater Baltimore Wilderness The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service designated Aquarium have leveraged over $1.9 million Coalition, Maryland Department of Natural Masonville Cove, as the nation’s first at Masonville Cove through a variety of Resources, USGS, City of Baltimore, Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnership on grants. Approximately 14,500 student and Maryland Environmental Service, GreenPort September 26, 2013. more than 660 teachers have participated in of Baltimore, Chesapeake Conservancy, environmental education programs. Baltimore’s National Aquarium, Living The Maryland Port Administration built the Classrooms, and Parks & People Foundation. Masonville Dredged Material Containment Given the successes at Masonville Cove Facility, east of the cove on the Patapsco Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnership, the Learn more at Baltimore Rivers to Harbor River as a repository for material dredged partners have created a plan for an expanded Urban Refuge Partnership. from Baltimore Harbor to maintain shipping “Baltimore Rivers to Harbor” Urban Wildlife channels. To mitigate impacts from the Refuge Partnership. Collaborating with construction of the facility, the local community community-based organizations, government worked with MPA on three objectives: restore agencies, and other institutions, the Service Masonville Cove; establish an environmental will connect residents with green corridors education facility at the site; and secure seed and waters. Building funding for environmental education. stronger connections to nature and wildlife For more information, contact: will enhance the social and economic vitality National Wildlife Refuge System The Masonville Cove Environmental Education of Baltimore communities and will provide U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Center opened in 2009. In October 2012, a the foundation for a shared regional ethic of 5275 Leesburg Pike portion of Masonville Cove’s nature area was environmental stewardship. Falls Church, VA 22041-3803 opened to the public. The nature area includes www.fws.gov/urban walking trails and offers opportunities for bird watching and fishing from a designated pier. A floating dock was installed for kayakers and canoeists.

PARTNERSHIP September 2016