Soil Health Practices Increasingly Helping Farmers Hit Pay Dirt Destroyed This,” He Told the ≈ Cover Crops, No-Till Audience, Now Riveted

June 2020 Volume 30 Number 4

Soil health practices increasingly helping farmers hit pay dirt destroyed this,” he told the ≈ Cover crops, no-till audience, now riveted. “In practices reduce runoff, tilled soil, without air spaces, erosion and need for the water is running off into herbicides and pesticides the Bay. Leave the soil alone!” By Ad Crable said the 75-year-old Bupp. Relatively quiet and driven As he has dozens of times by farmers themselves, a revo- since stumbling into the lution of sorts is happening in benefits of cover cropping agriculture in the Chesapeake and no-till farming nearly Bay region: soil health. It’s a 50 years ago, Pennsylvania way of improving the soil that farmer Leroy Bupp set up his reduces runoff pollution in props for a talk on soil health the Bay region while helping at a large Chesapeake Bay farmers turn a profit. conference. Farmers have tilled the There were goofy moments, earth into submission since like calling out volunteers Biblical times. But now, grow- from the audience to replicate ing numbers are spreading the how worms breed. But the gospel about a fundamental real wow moment came when shift in which soil is left he dropped two clods of unplowed and covered with soil — one from his no-tilled, a diverse mix of plants in all cover-cropped farm and one seasons. from a neighbor’s convention- “This soil health movement Most underwater grasses didn’t fare as well last year as this horned pondweed which sur- ally tilled field — into beakers is big, growing and critical,” Grass rounds a boat in a tributary to the Tree Avon River. The latest survey shows the Chesapeake of water. said Lamonte Garber of the crash Bay lost at least a third of its critical underwater meadows in 2019. See article on page 13. The neighbor’s dirt quickly Stroud Water Research Center, dissolved and fell to the a world-renowned freshwater bottom, showing how easily it research facility in Pennsyl- would be whisked away in a vania. rainstorm. But Bupp’s handful Instead of constantly pump- Ready for a dip, but what’s in the water? of dirt stayed clumped together ing fertilizers and pesticides ≈ Tainted stormwater poses bacteria Disease Control and Prevention say “there is no even as holes from worms, into worn-out soil, a more risks, but researchers say the risk of evidence to date” that a person exposed to it in bugs and air passages soaked hands-off approach encour- COVID-19 in open water seems low this form can contract the disease. up some of the water. ages an underground living There are, however, still plenty of reasons to “Mother Nature made soil By Whitney Pipkin be concerned about swimming or recreating in work, then with tillage we Soil continues on page 20 There are plenty of reasons to stay out of some water that has recently been polluted by sewage or Chesapeake Bay waters, particularly after a heavy stormwater runoff. As swimming season begins, rain. When stormwater hits local waterways, it experts who study waterborne diseases say that may be carrying bacteria, toxins, animal waste and catching the coronavirus from water contact is even raw sewage. Can it carry the coronavirus too? probably among the least of those concerns. Some researchers are tracking the virus’ pres- “Sewage was already dangerous. That’s why we ence in sewage as an indication of how many people have these standards about recreational waters,” might be infected in a given area. They are also said Mark Mattson, Waterkeeper for Canada’s

hustling to answer a secondary question: If the virus Lake Ontario and president of the nonprofit Swim

LANC., PA 17604 PA LANC., can be detected in sewage, could it also be in water- Drink Fish.

PERMIT 280 PERMIT ways that are tainted with sewage after it rains? Mattson said he’s more concerned about people

PAID The short answer is yes — but probably not in being able to prevent virus transmission by main-

U.S. POSTAGE U.S. a form that could infect additional people. While taining a social distance on busy beaches than he

NONPROFIT ORG NONPROFIT Bay Journal, P.O. Box 222, Jacobus, PA 17407-0222 PA Jacobus, 222, Box P.O. Journal, Bay the virus that causes COVID-19 can be detected in untreated wastewater, the U.S. Centers for Water continues on page 22 2 Bay Journal • June 2020

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, Bay Journal recognized by regional press associations circulation 35,000, is published monthly except in midsummer and midwinter. It is distributed free of charge. Bundles are available The Maryland-Delaware snakehead populations. for distribution. Material may be reproduced, with permission -DC Press Association and Copy/design editor Kathleen Gaskell and attribution. Publication is made possible by grants through the Virginia Press Associa- won second place in the headline cat- the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Chesapeake Bay tion recently announced egory for Lawyers not cannons the big Program Office, the Campbell Foundation, the National Oceanic the winners of their 2019 guns in latest round of oyster wars, which and Atmospheric Administration’s Chesapeake Bay Office, the media awards, and we have accompanied an article in the January- Sumner T. McKnight Foundation, the Rauch Foundation, the some bragging to do — a February issue about oyster aquaculture Fair Play Foundation, the Shared Earth Foundation, the Virginia total of nine awards. disputes. Environmental Endowment, anonymous donors, and by reader In the Maryland-Delaware In the Virginia Press Association contributions. Views expressed in the Bay Journal do not -DC contest, our staff was selected for Awards, Jeremy won second in the video necessarily represent those of any funding agency or organization. the top two awards in the environmen- category of our division (specialty pub- tal reporting category in our division lications) for his Fox Island video, while For mailing list additions/changes, please use the form on this (non-dailies, 20,000+ circulation). First I won third place in the health, science page or contact: Bay Journal, P.O. Box 222, Jacobus, PA 17407-0222 place went to Whitney Pipkin for her and environmental writing category for E-mail: [email protected] September story on scientists witness- my November article on mycobacteriosis BAY JOURNAL MEDIA ing a live dolphin birth in the Potomac infections in striped bass. River. Second place went to Jeremy Cox Every month, I see the results of Bay Journal Media is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization with and Tim Wheeler for their October our small but excellent team, and I’m a mission to further public education and awareness of issues article on the negative impact of last honored that others have acknowledged affecting the Chesapeake Bay and the mid-Atlantic environment year’s storm-related low-salinity levels it, too. I hope you continue to enjoy the by creating and distributing journalistic products. In addition on the Bay’s oyster population. work we produce. to producing the Bay Journal, Bay Journal Media operates Photographer David Harp won the Bay Journal News Service, which distributes Bay Journal second place in the general news photo Thank you, Bay Journal readers! articles and original op-eds about the Chesapeake Bay or regional category for his photos accompanying It turns out that award judges were environmental issues to more than 400 newspapers in the region, our September article on the release of not the only ones recognizing our work. reaching several million readers each month. hatchery-raised endangered Chesapeake Readers like you are, too. logperch into the Susquehanna River in Given the uncertain economic condi- Karl Blankenship, Executive Director Lancaster County, PA. tions, we were concerned about how our Andrew Nolan, CPA, Chief Financial Officer Jeremy also won first place in the annual spring fundraising campaign STAFF growth and land use category for his would fare. It turned out that we didn’t October article about concerns that the need to worry — it produced the best- Editor: Karl Blankenship ([email protected]) location of a new Bay bridge crossing ever results for our spring mailing. Like Managing Editor: Lara Lutz ([email protected]) had already been decided by Maryland all nonprofit organizations, we’re facing Associate Editor/Projects: Timothy B. Wheeler ([email protected]) transportation officials. budget uncertainties this year, so I can’t CONTACT US Bay Journal News Service Editor: Tim Sayles ([email protected]) Jeremy also won first and second place overstate how thankful we are that so by mail: Copy/Design Editor: Kathleen A. Gaskell ([email protected]) in the multimedia category for his videos many people were willing to invest in The Bay Journal Staff Writer: Jeremy Cox ([email protected]) accompanying stories about the closure of our work at this time. 619 Oakwood Drive Staff Writer: Ad Crable ([email protected]) the Fox Island Education Center, which is Thank you, Bay Journal readers, for Seven Valleys, PA Staff Writer: Whitney Pipkin ([email protected]) falling victim to sea level rise, and about coming through! — Karl Blankenship 17360-9395 Photographer: Dave Harp ([email protected]) environmental concerns over surging ADVERTISING by phone: Marketing & Advertising Director: Jacqui Caine ([email protected]) 717-428-2819 Sign Up for the Bay Journal or Change your Address BOARD OF DIRECTORS TheBay Journal is distributed FREE by Bay Journal Media, Inc. 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From left: The Madison Cave isopod (Antrolana lira) is an eyeless, translucent crustacean that in 1982 was listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act. The Virginia cave where it lives has finally been permanently protected. See article on page 8. (David Liittschwager & Susan Middleton / 1993)

Janes Island State Park on Maryland’s Eastern Shore offers a campground, hiking trails, and an expansive marsh for paddling. See article on page 26. (Wendy Mitman Clarke)

WHAT’S INSIDE

News 21 Bay crab population decreases, but numbers still ‘robust’ • Dredge survey suggests crustaceans should be readily 4 Pipeline projects draw criticism for ‘environmental available through summer racism’ • Residents of minority neighborhoods say they bear the brunt of risks from natural gas infrastructure Travel 6 VA menhaden season starts with reduced harvest cap for 24 Conowingo Islands paddle sure to rock your world Bay • New Chesapeake limit set to avoid federal shutdown of entire fishery for species in state 26 Meander through marshy curves at Janes Island State Park 8 Cave, home to unique blind isopod, gains permanent Columns protection • VA, cave group pool resources to purchase watery home of rare creatures 38 Steward’s Corner • Organization critical to a tree planting 10 Size counts: Smaller Bay stripers die at twice the rate event’s success of big fish along coast • Results from electronic tagging 39 On the Wing • Cape May warbler: Don’t let this fascinating unclear on cause and raise call for more study bird’s name fool you 11 Hogan vetoes pesticide ban in favor of regulatory phase- 40 Bay Naturalist • Do you like to eat and breathe? Thank a out • Environmentalists contend state rule leaves loopholes pollinator 12 EPA faces suit over slow pace of cleanup progress in PA, NY • Downstream states want agency to be more forceful Puzzles & Events 13 Chesapeake’s grasses hart hit by heat, high flows in 2019• 23 Chesapeake Challenge • A whopping whale of a quiz SAV in higher salinity water fared the worst for you 14 Sustainability sells: Firms funding farms’ conservation 23 Bay Buddies • Whales! measures • On-the-ground practices improve consumer demand and bottom line 35 Bulletin Board • Virtual Learning • Volunteer Opportunities • Events • Activities • Resources 16 WV environmentalists criticize proposal to relax water WE’RE JUST protections • Standards would be dropped for chemicals Forum A CLICK AWAY known to cause cancer, harm liver and lungs or are fatal in Commentary • Letters • Perspectives higher doses Visit us online: 32 Outdoors act could come to the rescue in uphill battle to bayjournal.com 17 Upper Susquehanna Coalition wins Arbor Day Award • save Fones Cliffs Like us on FaceBook: NY-based group has planted more than 10,000 trees in state Chesapeake Bay Journal and PA 33 Chesapeake Born • Social distancing at its finest now or send us a Tweet: appearing on a website near you @ChesBayJournal 18 Coronavirus victims include restoration, monitoring of Bay • Social distancing, budget cuts hinder researchers and 34 COVID-19 crisis underlines poultry industry’s impact on watermen health, the Bay 4 Bay Journal • June 2020 Pipeline projects draw criticism for ‘environmental racism’ ≈ Residents of minority Mountain Valley Pipeline, both neighborhoods say they bear the hung up by legal challenges. brunt of risks from natural gas There’s also the Southside Connector, a high-pressure infrastructure transmission line already buried By Tamara Dietrich beneath densely populated Virginians calling in to the State neighborhoods in South Hampton Corporation Commission on May 12 Roads. pulled few punches: “environmental Industry insists that natural racism,” “sacrifice zone,” an “unfair and gas infrastructure is safe. They unjust project.” contend that pipelines, compres- Many struggled to get through, repeat- sor or pumping stations and gas edly dropped from the call-in queue for plants can be built, operated and public comment by technical glitches. maintained to limit or mitigate But they kept calling back, hammer- damage to the environment and ing against a proposal to install yet more natural resources. They also say natural gas infrastructure in the state — that purported risks of explosions, 24 miles of 30-inch pipe, three compres- noise, methane leaks and particu- sor stations and two large gas plants. late matter are overblown. The $346 million Header Improve- VNG declined to answer ment Project (HIP) proposed by Virginia questions for this article about the Natural Gas would impact neighborhoods HIP or provide information on an in the city of Chesapeake and several Lynn Godfrey, a Chesapeake, VA resident, stands near the proposed site of the Gidley Compres- environmental justice analysis, counties — Fauquier, Prince William, sor Station. The station would be part of a larger $346 million natural gas project, proposed by which it said it will conduct after Hanover, New Kent, Caroline and Charles Virginia Natural Gas, which would impact the city of Chesapeake and several counties, as well receiving SCC approval. City — as well as about 68 streams and as 68 streams and rivers, 150 acres of wetlands and 313 acres of forest. (John Clark) In testimony for the SCC hear- rivers, 150 acres of wetlands and 313 ing, Patrick Winnubst, a senior acres of forest. emphasized environmental justice, too. In heard the public testimony as well as an environmental specialist for VNG’s It would particularly impact majority- March, Gov. Ralph Northam established a evidentiary hearing for industry represen- parent corporation, Southern Company minority communities where residents permanent advisory Council on Environ- tatives the next day. Gas, assured commissioners that the claim they’re sidelined in the decision- mental Justice, and in January a federal Because of the technical difficulties company will work with environmen- making. They want to know why the appeals court tossed out an air permit to during the hearing, though — held virtu- tal regulatory agencies and obtain all infrastructure is being foisted on them build a compressor station in Union Hill, ally because of COVID-19 restrictions appropriate approvals and permits. and what health and environmental a historic African-American community — the SCC extended the public comment Kenneth W. Yagelski, Southern repercussions would be visited on their in Buckingham County founded by freed- period and will schedule another virtual Company’s director of gas supply, con- families because of it. men and freedwomen after the Civil War. public hearing. firmed its commitment to “meeting or This is the essence of environmental “That was a hallelujah moment,” said Ken Schrad, SCC’s director of exceeding all applicable federal, state justice, a concept that grew from activism Lynn Godfrey, a community outreach information resources, said a decision on and internal safety guidelines during in the 1960s and gained its name in the coordinator with Sierra Club’s Stop the the project “is not imminent.” and following construction.” 1980s. Environmental justice is now at the Pipelines campaign. “That definitely was “Indeed,” Yagelski said, “safety heart of debates over how pollution, cli- a victorious moment for environmental Safe…or not first is the No. 1 value that drives the mate change and environmental hazards justice and for the Union Hill community, The HIP is one of several conten- company’s approach to all of our daily disproportionately impact the vulnerable who fought a valiant fight against a tious fracked natural gas projects in operations.” and the voiceless. Goliath.” Virginia. Two high-profile ones are But physician and environmental Recent actions in Virginia have Now in the fight over the HIP, the SCC the Atlantic Coast Pipeline and the health advocate Brita Lundberg has studied and co-authored several Bernadette “BJ” reports on health risks to local com- Brown speaks to a munities from fracked natural gas group gathered in development. Her most recent article, Richmond on May The False Promise of Natural Gas, 17, 2019, to protest appeared in the New England Journal a proposed natural of Medicine in January. gas compressor “Gas is associated with health and station in Union environmental hazards and reduced Hill, a historic social welfare at every stage of its life African-American cycle,” Lundberg wrote. “Fracking community in Buck- is linked to contamination of ground ingham County, and surface water, air pollution, noise VA, founded by and light pollution, radiation releases, freedmen and ecosystem damage and earthquakes. freedwomen after “Transmission and storage of gas the Civil War. In result in fires and explosions. The January, a federal pipeline network is aging, inadequately court rejected an maintained and infrequently inspected. air permit needed One or more pipeline explosions occur to build the station. every year in the United States. (Nina Ernest/South- “Gas compressor stations emit toxic ern Environmental Law Center) Justice continues on page 5 Bay Journal • June 2020 5

Justice from page 4 Foundation, said it’s tough for citizens to and carcinogenic chemicals such as find information and benzene…and formaldehyde. Wells, navigate what can be a pipelines and compressor stations are daunting process even disproportionately located in low- for professionals. income, minority and marginalized “A lot of citizens communities, where they may leak aren’t aware of the gas, generate noise, endanger health projects that are hap- and contribute to environmental injus- pening,” Lilley said. tice while producing no local benefit.” “They aren’t aware of Such reports have mobilized some the impacts they will residents when they learn that natural have on them. And gas infrastructure is coming to their for a long time, many neighborhood. people have been told to ignore a lot of the Virginia frontier impacts because these When Godfrey, a Chesapeake native, entities come with moved into her home several years ago, jobs, they come with she saw streets dug up and pipe being financial commit- laid. She and her neighbors thought they ments.” were water pipes. “It’s not only But they were part of the Southside frustrating, it’s scary,” Connector, nine miles of steel buried Rollins said. “I can under or near a string of historic black understand that busi- neighborhoods to connect two major nesses need to operate. interstate pipelines routed into South I understand that power Hampton Roads from the north and west. needs to be generated. “Its whole route comes straight That’s the world we live through working class and African- Virginia Natural Gas has been criticized for its proposal to build a new compressor station in Chesapeake, in. But my concern is American neighborhoods,” Godfrey said. VA. Mary Finley-Brook, a professor at the University of Richmond, said that approximately 6,500 people for the people who live “I don’t know how nefarious it is. …I are living within in a one-mile radius of the site, and 65% are people of color. (Image / Stephen Metts) there. No one’s protect- can’t tell you whether they sat down and ing them.” said, ‘We’re going to build it this way industry with too much clout. and her husband moved their family The county has no 24-hour firefight- and we’re going to get the least resistance “Virginia is a frontier in terms of natu- recently to neighboring New Kent. ing and emergency services, she said, no because these are the most vulnerable ral gas infrastructure, and not in a good Rollins found out about the gas project way to handle the level of fires that gas populations.’ That’s oversimplifying it. way,” she said. when a letter arrived plants and gas lines can generate, and But that has been a trend. It’s been a trend “They’ve got such at her church from no effective way to notify citizens in an nationally.” a glut that they’ve “It’s not only frustrating, it’s scary. the climate group emergency. The Atlantic Coast Pipeline would got to keep pushing Mothers Out Front. “We’re pretty much already set- route in another pipe, spurring off the on and have this I can understand that businesses “We kind of ting ourselves up for failure if, indeed, main line farther west. expansion to need to operate. I understand hesitated a little bit, something happens,” Rollins said. The gas lines would converge at a new justify what they’ve that power needs to be generated. because we didn’t compressor station that VNG wants to already done. know,” she said. Overburdened build in Chesapeake. The station would “This is a point That’s the world we live in. But my “We were just a little Many residents of Chesapeake and go up at the site of the current Gidley Gate in time where the shocked. We thought Charles City County think their com- metering and regulation station, also near gas companies concern is for the people who live they had the wrong munities already bear their fair share a populated area. realize they have to there. No one’s protecting them.” person initially.” of environmental risk: Chesapeake has With years under her belt as a public go as hard as they She began high-powered gas lines and some of health, environmental, social and eco- can to get this stuff —La’Veesha Allen Rollins researching the gas the worst air pollution in the state, and nomic justice advocate, Godfrey got busy. out before people Charles City County native plant design, the neighborhoods around the proposed She found out what she could about the start realizing the emissions and health compressor station already rank high Southside Connector, then the HIP, and climate implica- risks, and how it in environmental justice screening for spread the word. In December, she was tions and the water and the air implica- would be supplied and monitored. She proximity to a Superfund site and waste- hired by the Sierra Club. tions. There’s a race against time.” learned C4GT would go within 2.5 miles water discharges. Charles City County is Mary Finley-Brook, a professor at of her family, and she joined the Con- home to a regional mega-landfill with a the University of Richmond, studies Frustrating, scary cerned Citizens of Charles City County. history of violations. environmental justice implications of The HIP would build a compressor She also found out the project has been in “These communities are overbur- natural gas development. The proposed station in Prince William County and the works since 2014. dened,” Lilley said. “And they’re feeling Chesapeake compressor station, she said, expand the existing Ladysmith compres- “So it’s been six years that they could as though their lives and their com- is cause for alarm. sor station in Caroline County. have gotten with the black population munities don’t matter, because they’re “(It’s) being put by 6,500 people in Charles City County would not only and had these conversations to get frequently chosen. VNG said several a one-mile radius,” Finley-Brook said. get new gas lines, but two large gas plants feedback,” Rollins said. “And it hasn’t times in the application, ‘We’re picking “That is huge population density, and within 1.1 miles of each other: the C4GT taken place.” these sites because we already have that just doesn’t happen normally. That’s and the Chickahominy. Construction She considers local leaders ill- infrastructure there.’ a huge red flag. And the fact that 65% of faces stiff financial hurdles, though, in equipped to oversee such large projects, “And that’s exactly the point of envi- them are people of color, it’s shocking. part because of COVID-19. relying instead on industry officials ronmental justice — these (proposed) And 31% are low-income.” Charles City County’s population is and the Virginia Department of Envi- sites are there because these communi- The decision-making process for majority-minority — about 55% people of ronmental Quality, “which is already ties have been chosen to be the home pipelines in Virginia over the last five color. La’Veesha Allen Rollins, a design understaffed and overworked.” to these facilities, no matter what the years, she said, is “absolutely broken,” firm intern, grew up there. Most of her Taylor Lilley, environmental justice impact to their health is. And that can’t with too little transparency and an family still lives there, although Rollins staff attorney with the Chesapeake Bay be allowed to go on.” 6 Bay Journal • June 2020 VA menhaden season starts with reduced harvest cap for Bay ≈ New Chesapeake limit set to the entire East Coast, and avoid federal shutdown of entire it is allowed to take 90% of fishery for species in state the overall harvest permitted in Virginia. The rest of the By Timothy B. Wheeler state’s catch is sold for use as The purse net fishing season for bait in other fisheries. Atlantic menhaden kicked off May The company said last 4 as usual in Virginia, but with a year that it had exceeded much-reduced limit on how many of the Bay cap because rough the commercially and ecologically weather had made it unsafe valuable fish can be taken from the to pursue the fish in Atlantic Chesapeake Bay. waters. The Virginia Marine Resources But Omega has long Commission unanimously adopted a challenged the basis for the new regulation April 28 that requires Bay catch limit. It maintains this year’s Bay menhaden harvest be that there is no scientific cut by nearly half from what it was in justification for the cap, and 2019. The move, which affects just one a company spokesman last company’s fishing fleet, was made to week referred to previous head off a federal shutdown in June of statements by commission all menhaden fishing in the state. officials acknowledging that. In December, U.S. Commerce Secre- A scientific review in tary Wilbur Ross had declared Virginia The Virginia Marine Resources Commission has adopted a new regulation that requires this 2017 found that the entire out of compliance with an interstate year’s Bay menhaden harvest be cut by nearly half from what it was in 2019. (Dave Harp) East Coast menhaden stock fishery management plan that caps the was not overfished, and the Bay harvest of menhaden at 51,000 The Atlantic States Marine Fisher- able commercial fishery and popular commission at that time increased the metric tons per year. He imposed a ies Commission, which regulates recreational catch. allowable catch in coastal waters. But moratorium on fishing for menhaden in recreational and commercial harvests Omega, a division of a Canadian it reduced the Bay catch at the urging state waters effective June 17. of migratory fish from Maine to fishing company, has a processing of conservationists and recreational That federal action came after a fishing Florida, has capped the Chesapeake plant in Reedville, VA, that “reduces” anglers. fleet working for Omega Protein Corp. Bay menhaden harvest since 2006 for menhaden into animal feed and The groups have long contended netted 67,000 metric tons of the fish from the benefit of other species. The small nutritional supplements. Its seven that the abundance of menhaden in the the Bay last year, more than 30% more oily fish are a food source for other fishing vessels account for about than what it was permitted to catch. fish, including striped bass, a valu- three-fourths of the fish taken along Menhaden continues on page 7 Bay Journal • June 2020 7

Menhaden from page 6 April 28, Commissioner Steven states commis- Bowman praised its “swift and sion in writing Chesapeake affects the fish that feed decisive action” to bring the state into that the morato- on them, particularly striped bass. compliance. It avoided a moratorium rium is with- Technically, Virginia had been out that would have hurt not just Omega, drawn, effective of compliance since 2018 with the but the bait fishery and all other fisher- immediately, interstate commission’s menhaden ies that depend on menhaden for bait. according to management plan because it did not “We strive to be a conservation John Ewald, adopt the lowered Bay harvest cap. leader,’’ Bowman said, “and we spokesman for The state’s General Assembly retained will continue to manage this fishery the National authority to regulate menhaden and based on the best available science Marine Fisher- refused repeatedly to pass legislation to ensure a healthy future for the ies Service, part imposing the lower limit. The Atlantic coastal communities who depend on of the Com- states commission held off taking sustainable fisheries and a healthy merce Depart- enforcement action but declared the Chesapeake Bay.” ment. state out of compliance once Omega Under the VMRC rule, the harvest Omega exceeded the cap. is to be capped at 51,000 metric tons — intends to oper- Threatened with the federal the limit set by the Atlantic states com- ate “in full com- moratorium, state legislators voted mission. But because Omega exceeded pliance” with earlier this year to transfer author- that cap last year, the allowable catch all state and ity over menhaden to the Virginia for this year has been reduced to 36,196 federal fisheries Marine Resources Commission, which tons. Rules set by the Atlantic states regulations, regulates all other fisheries. The state commission require this year’s cap to be spokesman Ben commission then crafted new rules for lowered by the amount exceeded in the Landry said. the menhaden fishery, including the previous season. Meanwhile, lower Bay harvest cap. The VMRC is to notify the Landry said, Chris Moore, senior regional eco- Atlantic states commission of its the company system scientist for the Chesapeake actions, according to deputy VMRC “remains Bay Foundation, called the legislature’s commissioner Ellen Bolen. Robert hopeful that action a “huge victory” for conservation. Beal, executive director of the Atlantic the [Atlantic “After years of advocacy, finally states commission, is expected states commis- the largest fishery in Virginia is being to forward a recommendation to sion] will one managed by experts at the VMRC, just the commerce secretary to lift the day review the like every other saltwater fishery in moratorium once he determines the usefulness and A fishing fleet working for Omega Protein Corp., harvests the small, the state,” Moore said last week in a state is in compliance. fairness of the oily fish for processing into animal feed and health supplements. statement. If Ross agrees with Beal, he will Chesapeake But they also serve as a vital food source for other fish and wildlife. After the VMRC vote on Tuesday, notify both Virginia and the Atlantic Bay cap.” (Dave Harp) 8 Bay Journal • June 2020 Cave, home to unique blind isopod, gains permanent protection ≈ VA, cave group pool resources Neck Dunes. shrimp. to purchase watery home of rare The state Department of Conserva- Such rare, tion and Recreation owns most of the colorless creatures creatures preserves, but several are owned by are the norm in By Whitney Pipkin other nonprofits or individuals. The Virginia’s under- Deep in the bowels of a cave in the most recent landscape added to the ground caves, and hills of Augusta County, VA, lay pools program before Cave Hill was the veg- about 200 species of brilliant blue water. Snowflake-like etated rock formations at Bald Knob in depend on them for mineral deposits floated on their surface. Franklin County in 2016. their sole habitat. But what captivated the biologists who “Because there is no dedicated “But, of all the dipped their hands into these crystal- funding source to establish natural couple hundred clear waters in the 1950s was what lived areas, and limited state resources species we have beneath the surface: paperclip-size overall, partnerships like the one [in caves], the creatures so rare that scientists and land- to protect Cave Hill Natural Area Madison Cave owners would work for many decades to Preserve are critical to protect the isopod is prob- preserve the hollows they call home. commonwealth’s biodiversity,” said ably the most This year, their conservation quest Jason Bulluck, director of the Virginia unique from an became reality. The Cave Conservancy of Natural Heritage Program. evolutionary point the Virginias purchased Madisons Saltpe- Madisons Cave will not be open to of view,” Orndorff tre Cave and the 88 surrounding acres and the public because of its sensitivity, but said. “It has this partnered with Virginia to turn it into the the surrounding property will provide really old lineage Cave Hill Natural Area Preserve. opportunities for public fishing, The Madison Cave isopod (Antrolana lira) is an eyeless, trans- going back to It is the latest member of the state’s boating and walking along the South lucent crustacean that in 1982 was listed as threatened under marine ancestors, network of natural area preserves, River. After coronavirus restrictions the federal Endangered Species Act. while everything created in 1989 to protect rare plants, are lifted, visitors can see similar cave (David Liittschwager & Susan Middleton / 1993) else has a surface animals and environments. It has structures at nearby Grand Caverns in water ancestor.” conserved nearly 60,000 acres since the town of Grottoes, considered one of protection for many reasons, but an Orndorff said the isopod could be then, from the forest and wetlands at the cave-filled region’s top attractions. unusual isopod is the headliner. The traced back an estimated 60 million Crow’s Nest in Stafford County to the The groundwater-flooded nooks of Madison Cave isopod (Antrolana lira) years, when one of its ancestors left the Chesapeake Bay shoreline at Savage Madisons Cave have been targeted for is an eyeless, translucent crustacean, coral reefs in the Atlantic Ocean and originally an ocean-dwelling species swam inland toward what would be the Partners in that adapted to these freshwater environs Shenandoah Valley’s aquifer. the effort over “eons of geological time,” accord- Today, the waters of the Shenan- to establish ing to Wil Orndorff, karst protection doah Valley still flow toward the ocean the Cave coordinator for the state Department of through an intricate and somewhat Hill Natu- Conservation and Recreation. mysterious geological system known ral Area “The Madison Cave isopod is as karst. Formed from the dissolution Preserve perhaps the most unique creature of of soluble rocks such as limestone, visit Madi- the Shenandoah Valley,” he said of karst is characterized by abundant sons Cave the species, which was listed under sinkholes and caves that drain land in Augusta the federal Endangered Species Act in and transport water. Karst is a defining County, 1982 as threatened. geologic feature in western Virginia, VA. While The rare isopod is the only species which boasts more than 4,000 caves, the cave in its genus and the only freshwater some more accessible than others. will not cirolanid isopod — some might Western Virginia is also a head- be open to describe them as aquatic pill bugs — water region for the Chesapeake Bay. the public identified north of Texas. Its known And in these permeable karst areas, because of range is limited to pools in a belt of pollutants from the surface generally its sensitiv- caves stretching from Lexington, VA, reach groundwater more quickly. ity, the sur- to Charles Town, WV. That makes them a prime example of rounding This isopod is in good, if equally the water quality concerns that arise property rare, company at the Cave Hill site, throughout the Bay’s watershed, where will provide which state scientists consider to be land use decisions impact water qual- opportuni- a “biological hotspot.” The caves are ity downstream. ties for home to six globally rare invertebrates, “Anything that happens on the public earning the state’s highest ranking for surface is carried into the cave systems fishing, biodiversity significance. This means and can alter the conditions that boating that, for most of the animals, there are were natural or pre-existing in those and walk- 10 or fewer locations on Earth where systems,” Orndorff said. ing along they’re known to occur. The caves also To date, the pools in Madisons Cave the South contain some species that are still new that support these species contain River. to science and have yet to be formally some of the cleanest water Orndorff (Virginia described, Orndorff said. has seen. Monitoring over the past Depart- Among the creatures identified at decade shows that the water’s tem- ment of Madisons Cave are two pseudoscorpi- perature, conductivity and turbidity Conserva- ons (they resemble scorpions but lack basically never change. For turbidity, tion and the stinging tail), a cave spider and which measures the water’s transpar- Recreation) the state-threatened Madison Cave amphipod, which looks like a tiny Cave continues on page 9 Bay Journal • June 2020 9

Cave from page 8 ing the river, would have been special to any of the people who experienced ency, “anything below a 10 is crystal the area over time. clear, and we’ve never had a reading “If you tried to put yourself in a above one,” Orndorff said. native’s frame of reference, it would And, for those who aren’t as pas- have been a pretty spectacular place just sionate about protecting cave species on its own, even without these crystal- as he is, Orndorff adds the reminder clear pools of water,” Ficco said. that these same water systems provide The pre-colonial history of Cave Hill residents with their drinking water. is fairly obscured by heavy use in recent “You’d be surprised how often I’ve centuries. European settlers mined the flushed dye down someone’s toilet and caves for saltpetre nitrogen deposits, that had it show up in their well,” he said. were used to manufacture gunpowder, The Steger family that owned which turned the caves into economic Madisons Cave and its surrounds for engines through much of the 1800s. decades understood the property’s Prominent early Americans might significance. Virginia biologists had a have been familiar with these caves, long relationship with the family going too. Thomas Jefferson was believed back to when renowned cave expert to have visited Cave Hill, which was Tom Barr first discovered the rare owned by a man thought to be a cousin isopod in 1958. His protégé, John Hols- of James Madison. inger, a founder of the Virginia Cave In recent weeks, even Virginia’s cave Board who made the isopod discovery experts haven’t been able to return to with Barr, carried the preservation Passages in Madisons Cave provide windows into the karst aquifer of Virginia’s Madisons Cave. The state has further torch during his tenure, garnering Shenandoah Valley. The mineral calcite, or calcium carbonate, is floating on the limited access due to concerns about endangered species protections for the water’s surface. (Dave Socky) coronavirus transmission between isopod in the 1980s. humans and bats. But, under the new The state made several attempts perpetuity,” Orndorff said. “It was a established to mitigate impacts from a protections, the cave and its creatures are over the years to formally conserve the long relationship that finally came to Waynesboro DuPont plant’s mercury even less likely to change anytime soon. property, and the Steger family saw fruition.” pollution into the South River water- “It’s a real balance to protect the themselves as stalwart stewards in the The Cave Conservancy of the shed leading up to the 1950s. resource and provide education and meantime. Virginias, which will own and manage Mike Ficco, chairman of the Cave outreach for the citizens,” Orndorff “It came down to not one specific the property, bought the land from Conservancy, said the beauty of the said. “The main thrust is to protect the moment but just, over time, realizing the family this year with funding site makes it easy to see why the Steger biodiversity, and then public access that the conservation community was from a DuPont settlement program family found parting with it difficult. is designed to get people out there so trustworthy and that we would do our for restoration projects in the South He and Orndorff also said they think they can develop an appreciation for best to preserve this for Virginians in River watershed. The settlement was the cave, perched on a bluff overlook- these things.” 10 Bay Journal • June 2020 Size counts: Smaller Bay stripers die at twice the rate of big fish along coast ≈ Results from electronic Acoustic agers was catch-and-release, a popular tagging unclear on cause and trans- sport fishing practice, because scientists raise call for more study mitters have found that a significant percentage of inserted fish die after being hooked and returned By Timothy B. Wheeler in striped to the water. That mortality is highest in Striped bass that stay year-round in the bass summer, when warm water and lower Chesapeake Bay are dying at nearly twice caught oxygen levels add to the stress of being the rate of those that migrate each year and caught and handled. to the Atlantic Ocean, a new study has released The restrictions imposed in the Bay, found. The cause or causes aren’t clear, on the which halve the allowed daily recreational but the lead researcher said that it needs to Potomac catch to one fish of 19 inches or longer, be addressed to right a troubling decline River have been a bitter pill for anglers. in the prized finfish. were In Maryland, the fishing season is also An electronic tagging study led by tracked closed for two weeks in late August, when scientists from the University of Mary- over a the water tends to be warmer — though land Center for Environmental Science four-year not as warm as in July or early August. found that large mature striped bass leave period. Even though Atlantic striped bass the Bay every year to roam coastal waters Smaller are all members of the same species, until the next spring. Those smaller, fish stayed Secor said the finding that fish spawned younger fish that remain in the Chesa- in the Bay in the Bay behave differently based peake died off at the rate of 70% a year. year- on size could warrant treating them “The mortality rate is alarming,” said round, as a separate subgroups of the coastal Dave Secor, a professor at the UMCES while population. The migration of larger fish Chesapeake Biological Laboratory in larger along the coast was part of what helped Solomons. “If fish are dying at greater ones striped bass recover in the 1980s, the than 50% or 60% a year, that’s a problem.” left study notes, when “extremely intense” The study, published in the journal when fishing pressure in the Bay drove the PLOS One, appears likely to draw further spawning population down lower than it is now. attention to disease and overfishing, two season The study’s authors suggest the suspects in the decline of striped bass, ended to high Bay mortality could be linked to also known as rockfish, which are among migrate mycobacteria infections, which have been the most sought-after fish in the Chesa- up and found to afflict the vast majority of striped peake and along the Atlantic coast. down the bass in the Chesapeake. UMCES scientists implanted acoustic Atlantic A different tagging study of resident transmitters in 100 striped bass from the coast. striped bass estimated that 64% died in Potomac River and tracked their move- (UMCES) 2017, similar to the 70% mortality rate ments over four years. Signals emitted by observed the latest research. their tags were picked up as they swam by a firmer handle on which fish migrate, mortality rate seen for migratory striped The die-off seen in 2017 was attrib- receivers stationed in the Bay and along which do not and where they wind up. bass suggests something is happening to uted mainly to mycobacteria, but Secor the coast — a kind of E-Z Pass network “The scale of this is unique,” Secor fish that stay in the Bay. said the frequent catch-and-release of for fish, as Secor described it. said, because it relied on collaboration The mortality rates seen in the study fish that are too small to be kept may The telemetry data revealed that fish with a number of partners. “We couldn’t are similar to the estimates the Atlantic also be playing a role in increasing 32 inches and longer left the Bay as soon have done this study otherwise.” States Marine Fisheries Commission mortality. Even if most fish survive as spawning ended in spring and migrated While it’s been thought that only large relied on in determining in 2019 that being caught and released with care, he as a group north to near-shore waters off female striped bass migrate out of the striped bass have been overfished in noted, that fish may get hooked more Massachusetts, where they are a favorite Bay, Secor said the study found that larger recent years. The Congressionally than once. “If you’re bringing a fish up to target of recreational anglers. They tagged male fish also joined the exodus. authorized panel, which regulates migra- the boat several times…cumulatively it headed south in late fall, returning to the Over time, the receiver network tory fish in coastal waters from Maine to can be significant,” he said. Potomac by the next spring to spawn. stopped detecting signals from some fish, Florida, called for new fishing restrictions For a time-lapse video showing the That migratory pattern is well known, which the scientists took as evidence to reduce striped bass mortality by 18%. tagging operation, visit youtube.com/ but the tagging study helped scientists get that they had died. The much lower 37% Of particular concern to fisheries man- watch?v=Kzl-y9e-LMs&feature=youtu.be.

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400 Fourth St Annapolis, MD boatyardbarandgrill.com 410-216-6206 Watch on BayJournal.com or on YouTube Bay Journal • June 2020 11 Hogan vetoes pesticide ban in favor of regulatory phase-out ≈ Environmentalists contend spokesman Jason Schellhardt. state rule leaves loopholes But the state rule contains a catch- all exemption not in the legislation: By Timothy B. Wheeler The agriculture secretary can allow A widely used pesticide found to other unspecified uses of chlorpyrifos pose health risks for children and through the end of 2021. That would wildlife is due to be phased out in only be permitted “as an absolute Maryland next year, but the state’s last resort,” Schellhardt said, in cases lawmakers may still have the last word where no other product is effective. on making sure it’s done. The Smart on Pesticides Coalition, After two years of debate, the General an umbrella group of community, Assembly finally overcame industry environmental, faith and public health objections and passed legislation in organizations, called Hogan’s veto March that would ban aerial spraying “extremely misguided.” It contended of chlorpyrifos by Oct. 1 and forbid all that the state’s agriculture department uses of it by the end of 2021. It was lacks the funds or expertise to one of just a handful of environmental enforce or defend a regulatory ban on bills to pass in this year’s legislative chlorpyrifos. session, which was cut short by the “MDA’s regulations would allow coronavirus pandemic. for delays, exemptions and loopholes But on May 7, Gov. Larry Hogan resulting in continued exposure of this vetoed the measure, saying the toxic chemical,” the coalition said. lawmakers’ action had been rendered “MDA could change its regulations moot by a Maryland Department of at any time, and opponents could file Agriculture regulation adopted shortly lawsuits challenging the regulation.” after their vote. Environmentalists Chlorpyrifos has been used since 1965 to prevent insect damage to crops, such as Sen. Clarence Lam, a Howard disagree and want legislators to over- the soybeans shown here, but research has found that it can damage the health of County Democrat who was the lead ride the governor’s veto. children and wildlife. (Dave Harp) sponsor of the legislation, said the On the market since 1965, chlor- regulations are “not sufficient to pyrifos (pronounced klor-PEER-uf- that the chemical is needed and already “and will protect the independence protect the public from the harms of foss) has been used to prevent insect restricted in use. and integrity of MDA’s robust chlorpyrifos…It is important that the damage to corn, soybeans and other This year, state lawmakers science-based regulatory authority and General Assembly overrides this veto crops. It’s also been used to treat golf moved early to enact the ban. framework.” when it is able to meet next.” courses, lawns and utility poles as well Then Agriculture Secretary Joe The state regulation mostly mirrors Citing the need to limit spending as to fog mosquitoes and to kill ants Bartenfelder announced in February the vetoed legislation. Both would amid budget gaps created by the coro- and roaches indoors. that his department was working forbid aerial spraying of chlorpyrifos navirus pandemic, Hogan also vetoed a Research has mounted, though, on “reasonable and responsible starting Oct. 1 and ban most other uses bill that would have funded an effort to indicating it can damage the brains and regulations” to phase out chlorpyrifos. after Dec. 31. The pesticide could still have Maryland’s universities and other nervous systems of young children and Environmentalists accused the be used to treat snap beans and fruit state institutions buy more locally can harm bees, fish, birds and other administration of trying to torpedo trees through June 30, 2021, and the grown food. wildlife. the legislation. The department agriculture secretary could extend that He allowed several other After a lengthy study, the U.S. officially took no position on it, but until the end of next year. environmental bills to become law Environmental Protection Agency was the announcement came as lawmakers State agriculture officials say without his signature. Among them preparing to ban it until the Trump were preparing to vote on it. The state the use of chlorpyrifos in Maryland were measures prioritizing state administration blocked the move regulation, rushed through on an has declined dramatically, and a funding for long-term farm runoff in 2017. That led environmentalists emergency basis, took effect March 27, leading U.S. manufacturer, Corteva control practices, banning fire-fighting to sue and press states to ban it. In just after lawmakers left Annapolis. Agriscience, will cease production in foam containing toxic per– and Maryland, legislation failed two “This regulatory action is in the 2021. It is now mainly used to treat poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), years in a row amid pushback from best interest of the agriculture industry fruit trees, though some treated expanding fisheries for invasive farm groups, golf course owners and and the environment,” Hogan said in seeds are used to grow crops snakeheads and tweaking the state’s pesticide manufacturers, who argued a veto message to legislative leaders, for canning, according to MDA oyster management plan. 12 Bay Journal • June 2020 EPA faces suit over slow pace of cleanup progress in PA, NY ≈ Downstream states want agency to be more forceful Nutrient pollution By Karl Blankenship from The 37-year-old Chesapeake Bay farmland cleanup effort in May edged closer to a continues legal showdown over the lagging pace of to be the pollution control efforts in Pennsylvania largest and New York. form of Attorneys general for Maryland, pollution in Virginia, Delaware and the District of the Chesa- Columbia joined with the Chesapeake peake Bay. Bay Foundation in sending letters to the All states in U.S. Environmental Protection Agency the water- saying they intended to file suit over its shed face failure to force greater pollution reduction significant actions from the upstream states. challenges The attorneys general contend that their in reaching own states have made large investments pollution to curb pollution to the nation’s largest reduction estuary, but that the EPA needs to use its goals legal authority to compel their northern by 2025. neighbors to do significantly more. (Dave “Maryland has engaged in heroic Harp) efforts and made huge sacrifices,” said Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh. Total Maximum Daily Load, set a limit expensive. and CBF representatives held out little “But this is a struggle we cannot win on the amount of the nutrients nitrogen Critics, though, have contended hope that would happen. without the commitment of our neighbors and phosphorus that could reach the Bay that just the threat of such steps could The move was swiftly criticized in and more importantly without the engage- and still maintain healthy water quality. spur states to invest more money in Pennsylvania. ment of the United States Environmental States were to write plans showing farm runoff controls measures, such “The Chesapeake Bay partnership Protection Agency. The EPA has flat-out how they would reduce nutrients to meet as planting stream buffers or nutrient- and plans were always intended to be a walked away from that responsibility.” those limits. If they fell behind schedule absorbing cover crops. collaborative effort among the seven juris- EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler in implementing their plans, the EPA “EPA’s failure to hold Pennsylvania dictions in the watershed,” said Deborah shot back that the threatened legal action could take a variety of actions. and New York accountable undermines Klenotic, a spokeswoman for the state was “without merit” and that “all the Pennsylvania and New York have the very integrity of this historic Department of Environmental Protec- states have room for improvement, and all fallen far behind schedule, in part because federal-state partnership,” said Will tion. “This lawsuit would undermine the the states need to make more progress on agriculture is their primary source of Baker, president of the Chesapeake Bay cooperative spirit of that partnership.” their commitments for 2025.” nutrients. While all states have made Foundation. She said the state has launched numer- A spokeswoman for the Pennsylvania significant head- Baker, ous initiatives in recent months as part of Department of Environmental Protection way in reducing speaking at a an effort to accelerate its pollution control warned that any lawsuit would “distract discharges from Pennsylvania is not the only news conference efforts, but she added that “a lawsuit of and divert federal and state agency wastewater treat- announcing the this nature would further distract and resources” from its pollution control ment plants, all state challenged to reduce polluted action, noted that divert federal and state agency resources efforts. have struggled agricultural runoff by 2025. While other cleanup actions from our effort and fail to advance our Wheeler spoke at a news conference to control runoff taken since 2010, common goal to improve water quality announcing the EPA’s award of $6 million from farms and state plans meet their goals on paper, though short of here in Pennsylvania and in the Chesa- in funding to support the implementation developed lands. they rely on implementing practices meeting goals, peake Bay.” of agricultural pollution controls in areas The problem had improved Pennsylvania is not the only state of the Bay watershed where it would have is particularly at rates that vastly exceed what they Bay water qual- challenged to reduce polluted agricultural the greatest impact, with most of it — acute in Penn- have done in the past. ity. “The EPA runoff by 2025. While other state plans $3.7 million — going to Pennsylvania. sylvania, which seems intent on meet their goals on paper, they rely on “We are trying to work with everyone has more farms snatching defeat implementing conservation practices at in trying to solve the problems for the Bay and stormwater— and contributes more from the jaws of victory,” he said. rates that vastly exceed what they have while other people are out there trying to nutrients to the Bay — than any other Added Virginia Attorney General done in the past. Most of the plans were create headlines and discontent with their state. Mark Herring, “the Trump EPA is rubber- criticized for not clearly showing how that state partners,” Wheeler said. Last year, in an updated version of stamping plans that are plainly inadequate would happen. Still, the added funding was less than 1 their cleanup plans, both states failed and allowing some watershed states to do Liam Migdail, communications direc- percent of the annual budget shortfall that to submit strategies that met their 2025 less than they are supposed to.” tor with the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, Pennsylvania officials have identified in targets. Pennsylvania’s plan achieved only On May 18, the states and the founda- declined to directly comment on the their Bay cleanup plan, which illustrates about 75% of its nitrogen goal, and New tion filed letters with the EPA formally potential legal action and acknowledged the magnitude of the challenge ahead. York’s reached about 67%. announcing their intent to file suit. They the state has “a long ways to go” to meet The states and EPA have worked since The EPA cited those shortcomings were joined by the District of Columbia, its goals. 1983 to restore the Chesapeake Bay. As when it reviewed the plans at the end of Anne Arundel County in Maryland and But he commended the state’s plan for part of that, they set — and missed — the year, but it did not take any specific the Maryland Watermen’s Association. trying to involve the farm community in cleanup goals for 2000 and 2010. actions against the two states. Actions Delaware sent a letter two days later. developing “a realistic approach about When it became clear the 2010 goal could include such things as withhold- The law requires that federal agencies how we’re going to get there. If you look would be missed, the EPA worked with ing grant funding or forcing wastewater be given 60 days formal notice of such at what Pennsylvania has to do compared the states to establish a new 2025 goal. treatment plants to achieve even more action to try to resolve issues before a suit to the other states in the Bay watershed, it That plan, known as the Chesapeake Bay reductions — which would be hugely can be filed, though the attorneys general is a heavy lift.” Bay Journal • June 2020 13 Chesapeake’s grasses hard hit by heat, high flows in 2019 SAV in higher salinity water PA notable increases last year. But the ≈ Susquehanna Submerged Aquatic Vegetation fared the worst 0 20 Miles River widgeon grass there is mixed with other MARYLAND in the Chesapeake Bay species By Karl Blankenship “What we’ve seen in those areas Baltimore Chester Overwhelmed by record high River Salinity Zones is that they are really increasing in flows and warm temperatures, the Annapolis DE Tidal Fresh Mesohaline diversity,” said Brooke Landry, a LIMIT OF Washington, DC Oligohaline Polyhaline Chesapeake Bay’s vast underwater CHESAPEAKE BAY biologist with the Maryland Department WATERSHED Choptank meadows last year suffered their River of Natural Resources and chair of the largest drop since surveys began, with Patuxent Tidal Fresh Oligohaline Mesohaline Polyhaline Bay Program’s SAV Workgroup. “So River MD 85.3% 87.2% 23.2% 35.2% acreage plummeting at least 33% from Po maybe these areas aren’t as susceptible to Nanticoke of Goal of Goal of Goal of Goal ma River c Riv 2018. er C to these changes like big monospecific H E Pocomoke S But the declines were not uniform A Bay stands of widgeon grass would be.” P VIRGINIA E A throughout the Bay. Underwater grass K But in other mid-salinity areas, those E

Rappahannock B beds in many fresh and low-salinity River A other species largely disappeared after Y areas of the Chesapeake and its tidal VA Tropical Storm Agnes devastated the

Richmond Y tributaries held their own, while o Bay’s grasses in 1972. They haven’t rk Chesapeake Bay R i beds in mid– and high-salinity areas ve come back. Jam r 35.9% of Goal es Ri 2019: 66,387 suffered the brunt of the impact. ve Also hard-hit was the very salty r Acres Mapped “We see a lot of little losses in a 110 polyhaline region in the Lower Bay, LIMIT OF CHESAPEAKE BAY lot of places, and little gains in a lot WATERSHED Norfolk 100 which lost 35% of its grasses. of places,” said Christopher Patrick, 90 Grass coverage in that region has assistant professor of biology at the 80 been trending downward since the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, 70 mid-1990s, and the roughly 11,800 which conducts the annual aerial 60 acres observed last year is approaching survey of the Bay’s grass beds. “And 50 the all-time low mapped in 2006. then we’ve had a couple places that just 40 The polyhaline is dominated by TOTAL ACREAGE MAPPED ACREAGE TOTAL DATA 30 eelgrass, which is near the southern had a really bad year.”

The Bay lost a bit more than 33,000 NO 20 edge of its range in the Chesapeake. It acres of submerged aquatic vegetation, 10 suffered a double hit — the grass does or SAV, erasing nearly a third of the 0 not tolerate warm temperature, and plants from the shallow waters around ’86 ’87 ’88 ’89 ’90 ’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05 ’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15 ’16 ’17 ’18 ’19 both 2018 and 2019 were unusually the Bay. NOTE: NO DATA AVAILABLE FOR 1988. SOURCE: VIRGINIA INSTITUTE OF MARINE SCIENCE LUCIDITY INFORMATION DESIGN, LLC warm. Also, eelgrass requires more The loss was probably larger, light than most other underwater scientists say, but it wasn’t fully upper Potomac River were among dominate most of the Bay and contain grasses, so it was further stressed by documented: Bad weather kept them those seeing significant gains. The most of its potential underwater grass murky water that persisted through from completing the survey in 2018. Susquehanna Flats, now the largest habitat. much of those years. The 66,400 acres of Bay grasses bed in the Chesapeake, held steady The mid-salinity mesohaline area Reduced salinities associated with mapped last year represented just despite high flows coming from the was hit the worst. It decreased 56% the high flows likely stressed the plants 35.9% of the Bay Program restoration Bay’s largest tributary. from 2018, from 62,900 acres to 27,900 as well, scientists say. goal of 185,000 acres. “It looked good,” said Cassie acres. The higher than normal flows Grasses are considered one of the Gurbisz, an assistant professor of Huge grass beds in Tangier Sound and warmer temperatures — both most important indictors of Bay health environmental studies at St. Mary’s lost more than two-thirds of their grass predicted to continue as the climate because they require clear water to College in Maryland, who has been coverage, accounting for almost half of changes — suggest that eelgrass may survive. Chesapeake nutrient reduction working on the Susquehanna Flats for the Baywide loss. Other large beds in eventually disappear from the Bay. goals are aimed at improving water years. “The water was clear. It looked the Honga River on the Eastern Shore This was the third time since 2005 that clarity enough to reach the underwater pretty much like it always looks.” were cut by more than half. eelgrass has suffered a large dieback grass restoration acreage target. Scientists said the nature of the The mesohaline is dominated after unusually warm weather. Still, scientists feared the loss could flows during 2019 may have helped by widgeon grass, a species that “We were hoping to get to a point have been even greater. According to the beds survive. Normally, high-flow is notorious for its boom-and-bust where water clarity had improved the U.S. Geological Survey, 2019 had years are associated with hurricanes characteristics, disappearing quickly enough that eelgrass might withstand the highest volume of river flows since or tropical storms that send a deluge of when conditions are poor, but bouncing the added stress of that increased the monitoring of river flows into the water downstream. In 2011, the flood back rapidly when they improve. temperature,” Landry said. “But it Bay began in 1937. of water that poured into the Bay from “It just blows us away that we see clearly hasn’t impacted water clarity High freshwater flows are typically the Susquehanna after Tropical Storm such dramatic changes in widgeon enough at this point to counteract the bad news for underwater grasses. They Lee literally ripped apart grass beds on grass,” said Bob Orth, a VIMS scientist unpredictability of climate impacts and carry large amounts of sediment that the flats. who has overseen the annual survey climate change. I think that is the story.” can smother beds and cloud the water. “When you get super high flows you since it began in 1984. “This happens Underwater grass beds are They also flood the Bay with nutrients can get scouring, but we don’t know in other areas, too. It’s not just the important food for waterfowl, as well that are flushed off the land, spurring what the threshold needs to be in order Chesapeake.” as hiding areas for juvenile blue crabs algae blooms that block critical to get scouring,” Gurbisz said. Last Part of the problem, scientists say, is and many types of fish. They are also sunlight. year’s flows appeared to have been that beds in those regions used to also a critical component of the ecosystem Surprisingly, grass beds in fresh and well under that threshold. include multiple other species, such in their own right, pumping oxygen low-salinity areas of the Bay — areas Many freshwater species of grasses as eelgrass, redhead grass and sago into the water, trapping sediment and that receive the full force of river flows also form canopies. That is, their pondweed. The presence of several buffering shorelines from the erosive entering the Chesapeake — generally leaves brush the surface of the water, more durable species likely helped impact of waves. held their own or even expanded. which allows them to absorb sunlight buffer the impacts of a bad year. No one knows how much The Anacostia River, parts of even if the water turns murky. They point out that parts of the underwater grass was once in the the upper tidal Rappahannock The story was dramatically different mesohaline, such as the Chester, Severn Chesapeake. Some think there may River, Mattawoman Creek and the in the mid– and high-salinity areas that and Magothy rivers in Maryland, had have been up to 600,000 acres. 14 Bay Journal • June 2020 Sustainability sells: Firms funding farms’ conservation measures ≈ On-the-ground practices improve consumer demand and bottom line By Ad Crable Chris Landis, a seventh-generation dairy and organic poultry farmer in Lancaster County, PA, had been up until 1 a.m. cutting hay by headlight to beat forecasted rain. Because dairy cows wait for no one, he was up again about four hours later, milking them. Then he grabbed a broom and pushed fallen hay on a concrete runway back within eating distance of Holstein cows in the farm’s new heifer barn. The 32-year-old farmer embraces the need for conservation on the farm — his father was among the first in the county to fence cows away from streams. He tore down the old lean-to barns because he could see that the manure inside them, sometimes mixed with rainwater, washed downhill into the grass, polluting a stream or filtering into groundwater. Nearly half of the $150,000 required to build new barns with a manure and stormwater collection system was paid for by a program started by Landis’ corporate boss, Turkey Hill Dairy, the well-known maker of milk, ice cream and iced tea. Another corporate icon, Perdue Farms, paid for a new pasture and shade for his free-range chickens. Large corporations that do business in Chesapeake Bay states are spending unprecedented amounts of money to help supply line farmers like Landis combat air and water pollution. The growing trend is being driven by the Chris Landis, a seventh generation farmer in Lancaster County, PA, attends to his calves in their new barn. The structure, demands of environmentally conscious which captures manure and stores it, thereby preventing runoff, was partly financed by a project started by Turkey Hill Dairy consumers, as well as the companies’ to make sure its dairy farmers are farming sustainably. (Ad Crable) investors and sometimes their employees. clients to use cover crops, a practice Perhaps foremost is a class of devices into grocery stores and point at As a result, corporate financial aid that reduces nutrient pollution. consumers in the digital age who are an apple or cucumber and get a reading for environmental work is filtering On the Delmarva Peninsula, informed and demand that the products of the level of minerals and nutrients. down to growers in Bay states corporations are paying to help poultry they buy be sustainably made all the “They want to purchase products from brand names like Campbell farmers transport excess manure out way down the supply line. they feel good about,” said Kate Fritz, Soup, Land O’Lakes, Philip Morris of the Bay watershed where it can be “Doing the right thing by our executive director of the Alliance for cigarettes, Perdue Farms, Tyson used on fields with less risk of water environment is not disputable anymore. the Chesapeake Bay. “And they are Foods, Turkey Hill Dairy, Nestle and pollution. The vast majority of people want the willing to pay a little more.” Walmart. Across the Bay watershed, corpora- business doing the right thing,” said “They are buying with their The money is helping to fund tions have paid for streamside buffers John Cox, chairman of the board of pocketbook more and more,” agreed on-the-ground conservation practices on farms and programs that promote Turkey Hill Dairy, which now requires Jenny Ahlen of the Environmental for dairy, grain, poultry and tobacco soil health. Two power utilities have 180 of its dairy farmers in Pennsylvania Defense Fund, which has partnered farmers in Bay states. donated money to help dairy farmers to have conservation and manure with such retail giants as Walmart The approaches vary. Some in Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylva- management plans and is helping to pay and Tyson’s Foods in on-the-farm livestock farmers are getting financial nia switch from barnyard feeding to for needed best management practices. improvements. “Companies are seeing help to use feed that has fewer rotational grazing, which helps grasses “Consumers now want to know how real growth opportunities. They are nutrients, which reduces the nitrogen store greenhouse gases. their food is grown, and they want it finding from consumers what they and phosphorus in animal manure And it’s not just on land. Northrop more nutritious,” said Steve Groff, a want and that is becoming a great that pollute the Bay and its rivers. In Grumman, a Virginia-based aerospace Pennsylvania cover crop consultant. motivator.” Pennsylvania, a tobacco company company, is working with the Groff’s clients include Wrangler It’s now a world where a company’s paid to produce prototypes for horse- Chesapeake Bay Foundation to develop Jeans, which wants its cotton grown environmental practices and drawn, no-till planters that their Plain a tool to monitor oyster reef habitat. sustainably. stated goals receive unparalleled Sect growers could use to help reduce A convergence of factors has led to In his upcoming book, The Future- transparency, noted Turkey Hill’s Cox. erosion. In another project, local ag a peak in corporate involvement in Bay Proof Farm, Groff notes that shoppers retailers are trained to encourage states, experts say. will soon be able to take handheld Partners continues on page 15 Bay Journal • June 2020 15

Partners from page 14 And the younger workforce these days, containing many millennials, is demanding their If a company doesn’t deliver, chances are it will employers go green. They are willing to relocate Corporate Support be called out. “The ability to hide your business to places to join a company they feel good about, Here are some environmental initiatives in the behind platitudes is getting real thin. You can’t even if the job may pay less. Chesapeake Bay region that involve corporations: just run nice ads because your consumers will To gain credibility, many companies are ≈ Turkey Hill Dairy, Maryland & Virginia Milk find out about it,” Cox said. partnering with environmental groups and Producers Cooperative Association, Alliance for the Among those to initiate the modern corporate nonprofits. Chesapeake Bay. As part of a plan for sustainable milk environmental responsibility was Walmart, One is the The Sustainability Consortium, a production, Turkey Hill requires its milk suppliers when the nation’s second-largest retailer in 2005 nonprofit formed with seed money from Walmart in Pennsylvania to have state conservation plans and announced it would move toward zero waste, in 2009 that helps companies launch and rate provides incentives for those that implement needed use 100% renewable energy and sell products their sustainability practices. They have more best management practices. Dairy farmers are then paid that “sustain our resources and environment.” than 1,000 partners all over the world. a higher premium for their milk. The Alliance, which The company has required changes far down “A lot of other nonprofits work on the has provided financial assistance and secured grants, their supply line. It expanded its goals in 2013 to consumer side. Because we are not consumer- says implementing all of the conservation practices reduce nitrogen use on farms. based, the companies we deal with really are needed on a majority of the farms could cost $5 million That set in motion other green initiatives by interested in changing some of their practices,” or more. food and beverage companies. said Erika Ferrin, senior director of marketing, ≈ communication and development. Nestle, Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Coop- But many corporations set environmental Another nonprofit helping corporations go erative Association, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay. goals without realizing that it would take Six pilot farms in Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania changes and money for improvements far green is the Environmental Defense Fund, the will be used to build a model for conservation practices down the supply line, said Lindsay Reames group that sued the federal government in 1965 that can be replicated on all 900 farms that supply milk of the Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers in the eventually successful campaign to ban Cooperative Association, which is involved in DDT. In the Bay region, the group has partnered to Nestle. two partially corporate-funded projects to get with Walmart, Tyson’s Foods, Campbell Soup ≈ Giant Food Stores, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay. conservation measures installed on dairy farms Co. and Land O’Lakes to guide green practices. The partners are seeking grants to help dairy farmers in Pennsylvania, Virginia and Maryland. “There are often times that companies worry implement conservation practices that supply milk to Now, Reames said, corporations understand they wouldn’t be taken seriously if they do it on Giant stores in Virginia, Maryland and the District of they have to help finance on-the-farm their own,” said Jenny Ahlen, the New York- Columbia. The project includes the in-store education improvements to achieve pollution reductions. based company’s supply chain director. “We can of consumers that their milk is coming from sustainable “And farmers say, ‘Hey, you’re not just saying validate to some extent the action and results sources. this!’” she said. they are having on the ground.” ≈ WGL Energy, Sterling Planet, Chesapeake Bay Foun- Corporations are increasingly hearing from Landis noted that in a time when farmers are dation. So far, $1.5 million collected from the two utilities stockholders and investors about sustainable struggling financially, corporate assistance is and another $2.2 million in federal grants have been used practices. According to The New York Times, welcomed. “It’s definitely piquing these guys’ by CBF to fund farm projects such as soil health, stream- BlackRock, the world’s largest investment fund, interest,” he said. “I think it’s going to push side buffers and rotational grazing to reduce greenhouse has put companies on notice that it expects them somebody to pull the trigger on a project that gas emissions and improve water quality. to serve a social purpose. they’re a little apprehensive about.” ≈ Perdue Farms. The company has spent $80 million to recycle nutrients from poultry litter and hatchery waste and paid $2.3 million to the Maryland Transport Program to move excess litter to where it is needed. All contracted suppliers and poultry farmers in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and New York are required to follow all environmental laws and have up-to-date nutrient management plans. The Perdue Foundation has donated $10,000 to the Eastern Shore Waterkeeper to install conservation practices on a farm and to identify cost-share sources for other poultry and grain farmers. The company is working with the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay to secure a grant to help poultry farmers put needed conservation measures on their farms. ≈ Tyson Foods, Environmental Defense Fund. In 2019, the two entered into a partnership to work with supply line farmers to adopt practices to reduce nitrogen and soil loss from 2 million acres of corn fields in Pennsyl- vania and the Midwest. ≈ Altria Group, National Fish and Wildlife Founda- tion. The owner of Philip Morris cigarettes financed the building of a horse-drawn no-till tobacco planter prototype so Plain Sect farmers would use no-till farming when growing tobacco. ≈ Campbell Soup Co. The company, which owns a Pepperidge Farms plant in Lancaster County, PA, works with local wheat farmers to adopt practices to reduce soil and nutrient runoff to make sure the ingredients that end up in Goldfish crackers are sustainably grown. ≈ Land O’Lakes, Environmental Defense Fund. Local A stream crossing for cattle is installed on a farm in Lancaster County, PA. Financial aid from cor- ag retailers are trained to encourage their client farmers porations increasingly is being funneled to farmers as consumers demand that products come from to use no-till planting and cover crops. sustainable agriculture. (Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association) 16 Bay Journal • June 2020 WV environmentalists criticize proposal to relax water protections ≈ Standards would be dropped per billion in rivers, lakes and other economic output. With a value of nearly for chemicals known to cause “surface” waters that can be used by $3 billion in 2017, chemicals are by far the cancer, harm liver and lungs or utilities to supply water. top type of manufactured good. The chemical is believed to harm the A major sticking point between the are fatal in higher doses liver, kidneys and respiratory system, environmental and industrial factions By Jeremy Cox according to the U.S. Centers for Disease has been the way that the state calculates Environmentalists are slamming a Control and Prevention. health risks from toxic pollution. West Virginia Department of Environ- State officials say the recommended In its latest proposal, the DEP has mental Protection proposal to loosen changes come directly from criteria set by sided with environmental groups, who water-quality safeguards on more than the Obama era U.S. Environmental Pro- pushed the state to use the EPA’s national a dozen toxic pollutants. The revisions tection Agency in 2015. That list includes fish-consumption rate of 22.2 grams per include a 10,000-fold leap on the limit 94 pollutants. Many of the revised federal day, or just less than an ounce. Industry for a chemical linked to liver and lung standards are more stringent than West groups argue that state residents eat less damage. Virginia’s protects. Some are weaker. fish than the national average, so higher The agency in March recommended The DEP plans to form an advisory levels in those fish would be acceptable. updating the fish-consumption and panel that would begin meeting in June The West Virginia Manufacturers drinking-water protections for 24 pollut- to study the remaining 70 pollutants Association has backed off asking the ants. If approved by the state legislature on the EPA list and recommend any state to account for residents’ higher-than- next year, the changes would relax modifications to their criteria for the 2022 average body weights and lower-than- pollution limits for one or both types of legislative session. average water consumption rate. Both exposure for 13 of those contaminants. Among the contaminants on the factors could lead to allowing higher A coalition of 19 conservation groups state’s waiting list: ethylbenzene, a pollutant levels. The now-discarded is calling on the state to reject those gasoline additive and cancer-causing stance drew harsh rebukes from inside changes and only endorse revisions agent emitted at 39 sites statewide, In West Virginia, state water quality regula- and outside the state. One headline read: for the 11 pollutants that would receive and dinitrophenol, an herbicide that is tions must be ratified by lawmakers instead “U.S. group says ‘big’ residents don’t stricter standards under the proposal. potentially fatal in high doses. of being handled through the executive need safer water.” One of the most dramatic changes The alliance of conservation groups, branch.(Upstateherd / CC BY-SA 4.0) About 80 people participated in a would be for a chemical known as led by the West Virginia Rivers Coalition, virtual town hall hosted by the DEP about “1,1 dichloroethylene,” which is used opposes the formation of the study group, Coalition’s executive director. the proposal on May 19. In a process in plastics, such as food wrappers and saying it would cause needless delay. Many of the pollutant standards on upended by the coronavirus quarantine, carpet backing. The new rules would “By not making these updates, we’re the books in West Virginia haven’t been environmental leaders, state delegates and boost the acceptable concentration unnecessarily leaving people at risk,” said updated in more than 30 years. The concerned residents patiently waited to be from 0.03 parts per billion to 300 parts Angie Rosser, the West Virginia Rivers state stands alone in the Chesapeake unmuted over a Zoom connection to share Bay watershed with its requirement that their opinions. All 18 people who spoke water-quality regulations be ratified by were critical of weakening the standards. lawmakers instead of being handled “I cannot believe we have to have solely through the executive branch. discussions about limiting the poisonous An effort to update about 60 of the materials that are dumped into our rivers state’s 94 water-quality standards failed to and streams,” said Margaret Worth, a pass in Charleston last year. In a compro- lifelong resident of Pocahontas County. mise, lawmakers “It’s embarrassing. tapped the DEP to It’s demoralizing.” review the list and “I cannot believe we have Del. Evan make recommenda- to have discussions about limiting Hansen (D-Monon- tions. The agency galia) urged the expects to finalize the poisonous materials agency to complete the proposal by the that are dumped criteria for all of end of August. into our rivers and streams.” the remaining The state’s pow- pollutants this year erful manufacturing —Margaret Worth without turning Angie Rosser, lobby is supporting Resident of Pocahontas County to a committee executive the proposal. for help. “I don’t director of “The criteria think there’s any the West that were proposed for adoption by the guarantee that they’ll reach an agree- Virginia DEP are protective of human health and ment,” potentially delaying action even Rivers Coali- are developed in a process that makes further, he said. tion, wants multiple conservative assumptions that West Virginia has higher rates of the state to results in very low levels,” said Rebecca chronic diseases than much of the coun- adopt the McPhail, president of the West Virginia try, including the third-highest cancer EPA’s water Manufacturers Association. death rate, said Michael McCawley, an standards Of the 24 proposed drinking water environmental health professor at West but only limits, seven would allow more pollution Virginia University. where they’re than the amounts put forward by the trade “Increasing the levels of pollutants stronger than group. that cause those kinds of reactions is not existing state The Manufacturers Association and good for the people of West Virginia,” regulations. other industry groups warn that making he told DEP officials during the meeting. (West Vir- the rules too stringent could drive away “I’d like to see more jobs created, but I ginia Waters jobs in an important sector. Manufactur- don’t want to see them at the expense of Coalition) ing represents about 10% of the state’s people’s health.” Bay Journal • June 2020 17 Upper Susquehanna Coalition wins Arbor Day Award ≈ NY-based group has planted 2015, and Brinkley was named more than 10,000 trees in state its first director. Its clients are mostly large landowners, such and PA as farmers. But planting trees By Jeremy Cox isn’t always an easy sell. Planting a tree can be its own reward. “The hardest part is the But one Chesapeake Bay watershed mindset that trees are not as nonprofit transformed the simple act into valuable as a crop,” said Troy one of the most prestigious environmental Bishopp, who works with both awards in the nation. the Madison County, NY, The Arbor Day Foundation in April district and the coalition to named the Upper Susquehanna Coalition persuade farmers to be better one of five recipients of its 2020 Arbor land stewards. “We’re basically Day Awards, which honor organizations in the salesman business.” and individuals for tree planting and Normally, conversations environmental stewardship. begin with farmers seeking The foundation applauded the New a district’s help with improv- York-based coalition for planting more ing the health of pastureland than 10,000 native trees in northern Penn- or fencing livestock out of sylvania and southern New York in 2018 streams. For Brinkley, those alone. The organization also involved are cues to start her pitch. more than 100 student volunteers in its “Nobody’s really contacting efforts while educating more than 1,500 the district for planting more people about the role that trees play in trees, but it always ends with improving water quality that year. it,” she said. The coalition has created a “sustain- The Upper Susquehanna Coalition has partnered with soil and water conservation districts in What they plant depends able, replicable and measurable program New York and Pennsylvania to plant thousands of trees along ditches and streams on private on local conditions, but some which engages a diverse group of partners properties like this one in Madison County, NY. (Troy Bishopp) tried-and-true varieties include and community members,” said Jen sycamore, red maple, river Hallaman, an Arbor Day Foundation under a conservation easement. Then, noting that much of their funding comes birch and swamp white oak. The coali- spokeswoman. “The Upper Susquehanna the couple decided to go a step further, from the New York Department of tion’s 2019 records show it planted 26 tree Coalition has most certainly demon- partnering with the Upper Susquehanna Environmental Conservation’s “Trees for species and 14 types of woody shrubs. strated leadership in this field.” Coalition to plant about 300 trees and Tribs” program. The work doesn’t stop with the last Kathleen Peters can see some of fruits shrubs along the waterway, known as The group also aims to stabilize shovel of dirt. The group is in its third of the coalition’s labors in her backyard. Herkimer Creek. streambanks and provide habitat for native year of a stewardship program in which When Peters, a graphic artist, and her At first, there wasn’t much to look at wildlife, she added. Trees shade the water, it dispatches interns to inventory the husband, a retired New Jersey state school except for the white tubes that protected keeping it cool enough to support certain trees that have been planted and to take official, moved to a 22-acre property the saplings from the teeth of deer and coldwater aquatic species, such as brook actions, when necessary, to shore up their in rural New York, the creek in their groundhogs. “But now that the trees are trout and the hellbender salamander. survival, such as standing up tree tubes backyard was surrounded by goldenrod starting to come up above the tree tubes, Across the Bay watershed, though, the and removing encroaching vegetation. and vines. it’s starting to look like the pretty thing pace of planting continues to fall short The Arbor Day Foundation has Peters worked with the Otsego Land that we wanted from the beginning,” of the Bay Program’s goal of creating been recognizing groups like the Upper Trust to protect the creek and its shoreline Peters said. 900 miles of stream buffers per year. Susquehanna Coalition through the Arbor Trees planted Since 2010, when the current restoration Day Awards since 1972. The group won along stream and program was launched, the length of in the “headwaters” category. This year’s ditch banks serve plantings has averaged about 30% of that other recipients were Larry Biles of the many purposes, total each year, officials estimate. The Kansas State Forest Service, Gabriela E. said Lydia U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Lopez of Million Trees Miami, the city of Brinkley, the and the six participating states have set Toronto and Bank of America. coalition’s buffer a 2025 deadline for putting in place the In 2018, the foundation presented coordinator. The program’s pollution-reducing actions. another organization in the Chesapeake right greenery The Upper Susquehanna Coalition region with the headwaters award. The slows the flow was created in 1992 to help extend the Cacapon Institute of West Virginia, of stormwater, reach of soil and water conservation which helps to protect water quality catching districts in the 7,500-square-mile region in the Potomac River watershed, was sediment and straddling the New York-Pennsylvania recognized for forestry programs that nutrients before border. The coalition consists of 21 include tree planting, education and they wash down- districts — 17 in New York and four stewardship. stream. Reducing in Pennsylvania. The area forms the Peters said her patch of trees has been such pollution headwaters of the Susquehanna River, the fortified with additional plantings to make is at the heart of Chesapeake Bay’s largest tributary. up for losses caused by hungry animals. the state-federal Having a nonprofit arm helps the The tallest specimens now stand at about Chesapeake Bay districts pool resources and employ a 8 feet. She hopes that as they grow, they Program. standard set of practices across the region, will keep the banks from eroding and “Nutrient and Brinkley said. Its workload includes reha- preserve her bucolic view. sediment reduc- bilitating stream corridors, implementing “My tax dollars going to an actual Buffer plantings like this in Madison County, NY, help filter tion is the reason agricultural best management practices benefit,” she said with a laugh. “It’s a stormwater and prevent erosion along stream banks, scientists we’re paid to do and restoring wetlands. good feeling that there are programs like say. (Troy Bishopp) it,” said Brinkley, The forest buffer program sprouted in this out there.” 18 Bay Journal • June 2020 Coronavirus victims include restoration, monitoring of Bay ≈ Social distancing, budget cuts off the shelf and going through the hinder researchers and watermen painstaking process of steaming them at home. By Timothy B. Wheeler, Jeremy Cox “One of the precursors to having & Karl Blankenship crabs at home is you have to have a lot Efforts to rebuild shad populations of time,” Ruth said. “Well, people have in the Chesapeake Bay watershed a lot more time right now.” took a beating. Water quality went Robert Newberry, executive direc- unchecked for the longest time in more tor of the Delmarva Fisheries Associa- than three decades. State and local tion, was flabbergasted by the prices. governments face huge budget gaps “I can’t believe it,” he said. “I’ve that could impact Bay restoration for never seen crab prices this high in years to come. my life — ever. If they’re $200 [a The impacts of the novel coronavi- bushel] coming off the boat, they need rus that has killed more than 100,000 a Brinks truck to be delivering these people nationwide continues to ripple Shad swim by window at Conowingo Dam after being lifted over the 94-foot high crabs.” Retail prices ran much higher. through the Bay region — sometimes structure blocking their spawning run up the Susquehanna River. Coronavirus But the high prices have put seafood in unexpected ways — and will concerns limited fish lift operations this year. (Dave Harp) processors in even more of a pinch, continue to do so. Environmental Newberry said, because they can’t sell restoration efforts have already been ment of Conservation and Recreation’s They managed to net 14, but 21 the meat they pick to consumers for hit and the impacts are just beginning soil and water conservation program. got through. Two were later caught as much as it costs for them to buy the to play out. Maryland officials have made only farther upstream. It marked the first crabs from watermen. With the Bay cleanup deadline limited spending cuts so far, but more documented occurrence of snakeheads Watermen say they don’t expect about five years away, many pollution are likely. above the dam. the high prices to persist through the control actions were delayed while “We don’t know where we are as far Concerned that more snakeheads season. As the weather warms, they state and county governments and as the budget,” Hans Schmidt, assistant would get through, and with the expect crabs will become more active conservation districts struggled with secretary of agriculture, recently told typical shad spawning season mostly and start filling watermen’s pots in staffing cuts and curtailed field work. members of the state’s Soil Conserva- over, fishery biologists recommended bigger numbers. “In our county conservation tion Commission. “We’re kind of at a shutting down the lifts. By that time, districts, we’ve seen some furloughs wait-and-see moment.’’ just 21 American shad had made it past Seafood disaster funds and some reduced capacity,” said Pat Holtwood, and only one got lifted over Overall, though, the seafood industry McDonnell, secretary of the Pennsyl- Shad restoration stymied Safe Harbor. is suffering. As part of the $2 trillion vania Department of Environmental One of the most unlikely victims Efforts to rear shad in hatcheries economic stimulus bill passed in late Protection. “We obviously lost at least of the pandemic restrictions were fared even worse, as biologists were March, Congress provided $300 million part of the construction season.” American shad. Once one of the Bay’s unable to safely gather shad eggs for in aid for fisheries hurt by the pandemic For now, state and federal officials most valuable fisheries, shad are now hatchery operations in Pennsylvania, as their restaurant markets dried up. say they intend to meet Bay cleanup at historic lows. Bringing them back Maryland and Delaware. On May 7, the U.S. Department of goals. “We are committed to the 2025 has been a goal of the Chesapeake “It’s hard to do the work and Commerce announced that Maryland timeframe,” said Ben Grumbles, restoration effort for decades. practice social distancing,” said Josh fisheries would be aided by $4.1 mil- Maryland secretary of the environ- But when the governors of Tryninewski, a biologist with the Penn- lion and Virginia by $4.5 million. ment. “We are continuing to make Maryland and Pennsylvania ordered sylvania Fish and Boat Commission. Matthew Strickler, Virginia’s natural real progress despite the last couple of shutdowns of all nonessential activi- Typically, hatcheries along Bay resources secretary, said state officials months.” ties, operators of Conowingo, Holt- tributaries stock millions of young were “greatly disappointed” by that But, he added, “it is fair to say this wood and Safe Harbor dams on the shad each year. This is the first time amount, saying it falls “woefully short” is a challenge for all of us.” lower Susquehanna River decided not since 1977 that none will be released. of compensating the state’s seafood Lost tax revenue stemming from to operate the lifts that usually start businesses for their losses. But federal springtime shutdowns has left state lifting migrating fish over the hydro- Crabs grab record prices officials said the allocations were based and local governments facing billions electric facilities around April 1 each The seafood industry has been hard on a five-year average of revenues of dollars of shortfalls, though officials spring. hit by restaurant closures. But seafood reported by affected operations. say it will be weeks or months before That sparked objections from markets, grocery stores and restau- The funds are meant for commercial they know exactly how that will affect environmentalists, who contended that rants offering carryout service have watermen, charter fishing captains, conservation programs. the utilities were compelled by their struggled to meet the demand for crabs oyster and clam farmers and seafood A Bay Journal survey of 18 local federal licenses to operate the lifts to as the harvest continues to lag behind wholesalers and processors who’ve governments found that more than help get fish to upstream spawning its performance from last spring. seen their business or markets hurt by half deemed it “highly likely” that grounds. Federal regulators appeared The combination of low supply the pandemic. To qualify, applicants their environmental programs would to concur. and high demand created a perverse for aid must show that they’ve suffered experience budget cuts. Many said Exelon Corp., which operates sort of “price war,” according to Jason at least a 35% loss from COVID-19 on-the-ground projects have been Conowingo Dam — the largest and Ruth, owner of Harris Seafood Co. in relative to previous years. delayed, and some said stormwater also the first hydroelectric facility Grasonville, MD. He estimates that inspection and maintenance programs encountered by migrating fish — the prices paid at the dock — which Monitoring hiatus have already been affected. sought and obtained approval from reached $220 per bushel in May, Because of the difficulty in practicing In Virginia, funding for farmers Maryland on May 12 to start lifting according to industry sources — are social distancing and taking other safety to install conservation practices was fish, and the two upriver dams fol- 60% higher than at any point in the precautions on research boats, scientists slashed about 10% this spring as Gov. lowed suit. company’s history. in Virginia halted their monthly Bay Ralph Northam sought to trim the That lasted less than four days. Before the pandemic restrictions, water quality surveys in March. Mary- state’s expenses. The lift moved 485 American shad restaurants accounted for nearly three- land did the same after February. “Compared to other agencies and upriver — 10% of last year’s total. quarters of his sales, Ruth said. But Although surveys in both states programs, we feel quite fortunate,” But lift operators also saw 35 invasive that has been at least partially offset said Darryl Glover, head of the Depart- northern snakeheads passing upriver. by a rise in people buying whole crabs COVID-19 continues on page 19 Bay Journal • June 2020 19

COVID-19 from page 18 nitrogen dioxide tremendous cost to the region’s farm- since 2005. ers, and some warn that cash-strapped resumed the last week in May, it was Analysis shows farmers will have difficulty participat- the longest gap in data collection since that March set ing in conservation programs. the Baywide water quality monitoring a record for the During the pandemic, corporations program began in 1985. lowest levels of such as Tyson Foods and Perdue Farms Bruce Michael, who oversees the the pollutant for have slowed production because of water-monitoring program at the that month during worker shortages at processing plants. Maryland Department of Natural 20 years of track- The close quarters inside the facilities Resources, said the overall impact ing. The amount have led some to become hot spots for should be minor, as the program’s was 30% lower infections. At two plants on Virginia’s 35-year history has allowed observa- than the typical Eastern Shore, for example, nearly one tions in a wide range of conditions The average amount of air pollution from nitrogen dioxide during March reading out of five workers tested positive for over time. the month of March 2015-2019. Nitrogen dioxide gets into the air from 2015–19 COVID-19, according to local health Still, he said, this year’s warm mostly from the burning of fossil fuels. (NASA) along the Inter- officials. winter followed by a long, cool spring state 95 corridor The processing bottleneck left some was an unusual weather pattern for the from Washington, farmers with nowhere to send their Bay. The absence of monitoring means DC, to Boston. market-ready chickens. In Maryland scientists will gain little information Air pollution and Delaware, nearly 2 million about how that may have impacted has been trending chickens were destroyed on their farms water quality or aquatic life. downward for instead of entering the food supply. “Every year is an unusual year in years, “but this “When the processing plants aren’t the Chesapeake Bay in some way,” is a step-change able to process and run those chickens he said. “This year, it’s been a very down because through, then that backs up what is out unusual spring, and that’s one of the of the emissions on the farm,” said Holly Porter, executive things we missed a little bit, character- reductions we’re director of the Delmarva Poultry Industry izing that.” seeing now,” said trade group. “Our chickens are only able Monitoring of nutrient concentrations Ryan Stauffer, a to get to a certain size, and you start to in many rivers and streams around the NASA research have some animal welfare issues.” watershed was also missed this spring. scientist who To keep plants from getting over- But the U.S. Geological Survey, The average amount of air pollution from nitrogen dioxide in March studies the whelmed, poultry companies have which measures the amount of nutri- 2020, while travel — and the related burning of fossil fuels — was atmosphere. been delivering fewer chicks for farm- ents entering the Bay from each of its greatly reduced to address the outbreak of COVID-19. (NASA) “This is like a ers to raise or extending the amount of largest nine tributaries, was able to grand, unintended time in between flocks. In Delaware maintain that effort through the spring, researchers have regularly trawled experiment in atmospheric chemistry.” and Maryland, the number of chicks said Scott Phillips, USGS Chesapeake the Bay to sample the abundance and Ground-level sensors tell a similar delivered between April 11 and May 2 Bay Coordinator. diversity of juvenile finfish. This year’s story. The District of Columbia metro dropped by 28% and 45% respectively. State officials said they expect trawls were canceled, Luckenbach area saw a string of healthy air days The reduced production is taking a to resume monitoring soon, as are said, and June’s cruise is uncertain. stretching from March 20 to May toll on farmers. Virgil Shockley’s two sampling programs by riverkeepers Given the lengthy data record, he said, 12, according to monitors that detect chicken houses sat empty in late May. and other groups around the region. a gap of a few months isn’t critical. ozone and particulate matter. That He didn’t expect to get a shipment of Still, some field work has gotten 54-day streak shattered the region’s birds until June 1, or 49 days after his Research on hold done. VIMS’ arrangement with local previous record of 22 consecutive last chickens departed. Typically, the Scientific research and routine watermen to sample and tag striped days, Stauffer said. “layout,” between flocks is no more surveys have been largely shut down bass carried on — but instead of going About a quarter of the nitrogen than 24 days. since March, with scientists telework- out on the boat, the VIMS staff met the reaching the Bay stems from air Any time not spent raising birds ing and focusing on data analysis, watermen at the dock and dealt with pollution. About half of that is nitrogen is time not spent making money, the modeling and other projects that can the fish there. oxides emitted from cars, power plants Eastern Shore farmer said. be done remotely. University research One of the biggest worries VIMS and other sources that burn fossil fuels. Dairy farmers who had already been vessels throughout the Bay were idled and other research institutions face, The rest is ammonia, which largely struggling in recent years have been until protocols can be worked out for Luckenbach noted, is the unknown comes from agriculture. further slammed by the pandemic. crewing them safely. impact the pandemic will have on Scientists are anxious to see if the The closure of schools and restaurants Most impacted were researchers government funding for their work. emission reductions translate into less sharply reduced demand for milk across studying time-sensitive natural pro- Budget cuts are coming, he predicted, nitrogen in the region’s waterways. the country, said Lindsay Reames, direc- cesses, according to Peter Goodwin, but the details likely won’t be known “The emissions have got to be drop- tor of sustainability and external relations president of the University of Maryland until later this year or next. ping considerably,” said the DNR’s for the Maryland and Virginia Milk Center for Environmental Science. Luckenbach said expenditures on Bruce Michael. “If we can detect that Producers Cooperative Association. “If it’s a seasonal effort and you’ve government research grants already were in our water quality monitoring, that Cows must be milked twice a day, missed this year’s window, those pro- down in April by 20% compared with would be awesome.” and that milk must get to market grams will have a significant delay,” outlays in the previous two months. Scientists don’t expect the air quality within about 48 hours. Some dairy Goodwin said. As states begin to ease stay-at-home gains to be permanent. By late May, farmers had no choice but to dump Mark Luckenbach, associate dean of orders, researchers expect to get back traffic was already returning to prepan- their milk down drains or onto fields. research and advisory services at the to the lab and into the field more often, demic levels in some parts of Virginia. “For a lot of farms, this was going Virginia Institute of Marine Science, though still with social distancing and to be the recovery year,” said Liam said the need for social distancing other precautions. Farming is hard hit Migdail, communications director required cutting back lab work and The pandemic has upended the for the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau. working remotely as much as possible. Air pollution declines region’s farming sector. “They’ve been treading water for the last Field work that was not time-sensitive One thing that benefited as activity Agriculture is the single largest couple of years, waiting to get by for that was put off. in the region ground to a halt was air contributor of nutrients and sediment good year when they could pay down The pandemic punched a hole quality. to the Bay, and reduced production their debts and get back on solid ground in VIMS’ longest-running fisheries Researchers at NASA in Greenbelt, could mean a temporary reduction to go into the future, and this pandemic survey. Every spring since 1955, MD, have been tracking atmospheric in polluted runoff. But it comes at a just pulled the rug back on all of that.” 20 Bay Journal • June 2020

Soil from page 1 and nutrient by 2025. “Our hope is it will help the Bay. We ecosystem of bugs, worms, fungi, microbes really want to try to help the scientific and bacteria to make the soil healthier and community understand what the impact of less threatening to the environment. healthier soils is on delivery of pollutants The result, over time, is a soil with a rich, to waterways,” said Garber of the Stroud intertwined web of living matter. You may Water Research Center. have heard it called soil health, regenerative No-till and PennFuture, a Pennsylvania environ- agriculture or carbon farming. cover crop mental group, now considers soil heath While no-till and cover crops are key consultant practices more important than planting ingredients, soil health is broader than those Steve streamside buffers for the state to attain its two environmentally friendly farming Groff of Bay cleanup commitments. methods and can also incorporate changes Lancaster State and federal farm agencies are to crop rotation, livestock grazing and other County, pushing to make soil heath a standard actions. PA, takes a land management practice in Bay states. “It’s using the soil not simply as a deep whiff And research institutions are rushing to medium. It’s a win-win. Farmers can cut of soil to complete studies to prove the benefits costs, and we can clean up the water,” said check its farmers have found on their own. Franklin Egan, of the Pennsylvania Associa- bouquet, In 2019, Pennsylvania added soil health, tion for Sustainable Agriculture. Though the sweet for the first time, to the seven priority each farm is different, farmers generally smell of conservation practices for farmers listed in see benefits within a couple of years, and fertil- its most recent Bay cleanup plan. soil fertility increases each year for up to 20 ity, the And a state program that gives Pennsyl- years or so without drop-offs in crop yields result of vania farmers tax credits in exchange for from cutting back on commercial fertilizer. managing using conservation practices now includes Proven dividends of this laissez-faire his farm soil health best management practices. approach include less soil runoff and fields with Elements of the soil health movement are more nutrients being manufactured by the soil health starting to take hold in the region. Pennsyl- plants themselves, reducing the need for practices. vania farmers have led the way nationally other sources of fertilizer. The protec- (Dave in bringing no-till agriculture to the fore. tive layer of plants hinders the growth Harp) In 2002, 20% of farmland in the state used of weeds, and organic matter in the soil no-till methods to grow crops. That figure discourages plant diseases. Beneficial and herbicides can be vastly reduced Resources Conservation Service, the federal has risen to 60%, according to the National insects attack crop pests. Herbicide and because crops grown in healthy soil resist government’s chief conservation agency Agricultural Statistics Service. fertilizer costs are cut — though generally pest pressure and allow natural enemies of for farmers, was formed after severe dust Maryland ranks first in the nation for not eliminated — and farmers have more pests to thrive. And, the use of cover crops storms during the Depression ravaged U.S. the use of cover crops on farms. In 2017, time for other farm chores because they suppresses the growth of weeds. prairies — a landmark example of the price the legislature created a Healthy Soils are not plowing fields. Cover crops can The constant layer of plants also sucks to be paid for poor soil management. The Program and instructed the Department of be used as feed for livestock or grazed, up earth-warming carbon. According to a agency was slow to embrace soil health but Agriculture to expand the adoption of soil saving farmers more money. 2018 study by government and university now is one of its main cheerleaders, calling health practices. Agency officials estimate Over time, as all of the underground scientists, the use of cover crops on all of it “the next frontier of conservation.” Tilling that more than half of the state’s ag fields elements team up, soil structure improves the nation’s farmland could remove 103 the soil, it says, “is like burning down the use cover crops and conservation tillage. too — increasing its ability to act like a million metric tons of carbon dioxide house” and destroying the microbiological “My impression is soil heath is pretty sponge to both hold more moisture during each year from the air. That’s equivalent community under the surface. mainstream in Maryland. Our farmers are storms and release water during dry to eliminating harmful global warming Agency handouts urge farmers not to progressive thinkers,” said Alisha Mulkey, periods. Farmers call it weatherproofing emissions from 21 million vehicles. “treat your soil like dirt.” One says, “We head of the Healthy Soils Program. their fields: A single acre can hold 25,000 That would help farming become part of believe improving the health of our nation’s Virginia ranks third in the nation in the gallons more water than one that is tilled. the climate change solution rather than be soil is one of the most important endeavors percentage of farm fields using cover crops. While not tilling soil would seem to part of the problem. Currently, agriculture of our time.” New York has spent $5 million since invite more weeds and insect pests, advo- accounts for 10% of all greenhouse gas Advocates say a soil health ethos also 2015 on climate resilient farming. Soil cates of soil health say the use of pesticides emissions in the United States, according to is badly needed to keep the nation’s soil health practices are a linchpin. And in the U.S. Environmental from disappearing. In the last 40 years, it’s 2018, legislation was passed to create a Protection Agency. estimated that one-third of all the world’s two-year soil health project. For the consumer, food-production soil has been lost to ero- The federal government is investing crops grown in fields sion. Soil is vanishing 10–100 times faster in Bay region soil health, too. Last fall, with healthier soil than it is being formed. Maryland got a grant from the National have more nutrition “There’s soil and then there’s dirt. Fish and Wildlife Foundation to launch and essential oils that Farming is a degraded resource right a $2.3-million program to get 150 more aid immune systems now and we’ve kind of accepted that as farmers to adopt soil health practices. and bodily functions. normal,” Blazure said. “We used to have Another grant and matching funds will “I just feel this the viewpoint of what can the soil do for support a $2-million program at Virginia is the future of the plant. With soil health, we realize it’s Tech to help the Virginia Soil Health agriculture and this not a one-way street. The plants and that Coalition expand soil health practices is where we need to crop are doing as much for the soil as the in the Shenandoah Valley and the lower be at a national level,” soil is doing for the plant.” Eastern Shore. The effort also will said Lisa Blazure, For the Chesapeake Bay, the movement educate consumers and producers about coordinator of a newly could be fortuitous, over time reducing the benefits of soil health. created soil health significant amounts of runoff sediment and The Stroud Water Research Center will position at the Stroud nutrients flowing into the Bay, though it is spend $2.9 million to get 4,500 farmers in A winter cover crop of crimson clover in a farm field in Water Research Center unlikely to be adopted on a wide enough Pennsylvania to turn to cover crops, no-till Clinton County, PA. It not only helps to fix nitrogen in the in Pennsylvania. scale in time to help states such as Pennsyl- soil but can be used for forage. (Lisa Blazure) The Natural vania meet its reduction goals for sediment Soil continues on page 21 Bay Journal • June 2020 21 Bay crab population decreases, but numbers still ‘robust’ ≈ Dredge survey suggests that threshold for nine of the last 10 years, a crustaceans should be readily sign that the species’ spawning pool is not in available through summer the danger zone, officials say. Much of this year’s decrease was By Jeremy Cox & Timothy B. Wheeler because of a drop in this year’s “juvenile” A survey that historically has guided class, which was down 43%. “That doesn’t blue crab management in the Chesapeake sound good for this fall and next spring,” Bay and its tributaries shows the popula- when the newcomers will finally grow large tion has dipped by nearly 32% but likely enough to harvest, said Billy Rice, a water- not enough to trigger new restrictions on man from Charles County, MD. this season’s harvest. Regulators and environmentalists The annual winter dredge survey, attribute the crab’s overall rebound to released May 20, suggests that the measures implemented in Maryland and crustacean’s numbers remain “healthy and Virginia waters after the U.S. Depart- robust,” despite the downturn, said Steven ment of Commerce declared the fishery a Bowman, head of the Virginia Marine disaster in 2008. Resources Commission, which oversees Reactions to the survey, from environ- the state’s fishing regulations. mentalists to watermen, appeared upbeat “We don’t expect this will change our when contrasted against this season’s MD Department of Natural Resources 2020 management measures for blue crab, other turmoils. State-enacted lockdowns and we will continue to manage blue shuttered restaurants to slow the spread of crabs based on the best available science,” conducts the survey jointly with the Virginia By every significant measure, this the coronavirus just days before the April 1 he added. Institute of Marine Science. “We’re in a year’s numbers pale compared with last opening of the season. Poor weather side- Officials in Maryland also emphasized place where we want to be,” McClair said. year’s study. But most were still above the lined watermen for much the first month, the population’s resilience in their remarks The overall population of 405 million was threshold that scientists consider safe to and a shortage of temporary foreign workers on the report, but they stopped short of near the average number of crabs counted sustain the population. has left many crab processors shorthanded. indicating how it might influence their during the survey’s 30-year run. For example, adult females, a key Still, demand for crabs has skyrocketed management decisions. Biologists use dredge equipment to indicator of future reproductive capacity, in recent weeks, and prices have, too. The dredge survey results suggest that capture crabs at 1,500 sites throughout the fell by more than a quarter to 140 million. Watermen say they don’t expect the crabs should be available in their “normal Chesapeake Bay from December through That is below the 215 million target set by high prices to persist through the season. capacity,” said Genine McClair, blue crab March. They were just able to complete scientists but still twice the minimum safe As the weather warms this summer, crabs program manager for the Maryland Depart- their work before the lockdowns began in total of 70 million. will become more active and start filling ment of Natural Resources. The department late March, McClair said. The female population has been above watermen’s pots in bigger numbers.

Soil from page 20 Cover microbes to keep that soil alive, healthy, crops productive and able to recycle nutrients.” and rotational grazing through farmer-to- planted Groff, who experiments with cover farmer soil health “hubs.” in farm crop mixes with up to 13 different plant Big ag business is starting to jump on fields species to enrich the soil, only stumbled the bandwagon as well. for the into the deep-rooted benefits of soil General Mills, Tyson Foods, Pepsi, winter not health. “We didn’t know about soil health Walmart, Monsanto and others are encour- only bind back then. I did it because I didn’t want aging their supply-line farmers to use soil the soil, ditches in my field.” health practices to deliver better quality but help What will it take to make soil health foods and satisfy consumer demands for insect life mainstream and the most common method healthy farming. Even Wrangler has rolled and suck of farming? out a brand of high-end jeans, called its up carbon More peer-to-peer mentoring, reinforc- Rooted Collection, made of cotton grown dioxide. ing scientific research, nudging agri-busi- using cover crops and no-till fields. (Dave ness and consumer demand, experts say. One of the remarkable things about the Harp) Also needed is finding ways to reward farm- soil health movement is that it has been ers who use soil health practices, such as unearthed and championed by farmers sor and Extension specialist in soil fertility health discovered its benefits by accident. getting more for their products or discounts themselves, with little initial support from and nutrient management. “The conversa- Thirty years ago, Lancaster County, on federal farm insurance premiums. government. tion has really changed. Credit pioneering PA, dairy farmer Jim Hershey tried no- Part of the resistance by some farmers is “The farmers believe in it because farmers.” tilling as a way to save time and fuel as simply change. “We’ve been trying to tame they’ve come up with it,” Blazure said. Even today, the movement grows he and his wife struggled to run the farm nature and make soil into a monoculture “The Pennsylvania No-Till Alliance primarily through field demonstrations by themselves. “There was nothing much for so long. We’ve always said you have to was tired of hearing my agency or Penn farmers hoping to convert their neighbors. talked about back then about keeping kill everything so we can plow the soil. And State Extension or conservation districts The Extension and NRCS are increasingly nutrients on our soil. And I thought the now we’re replacing the paradigm and it’s saying this won’t work around here holding similar field days. Chesapeake Bay was not even close to just hard,” Goodson observed. when they were having success,” said “That’s been the spark plug,” said Steve me and it’s not something I had to worry Soil health advocates also find pushback Mark Goodson, state agronomist in the Groff of Lancaster County, a vegetable about.” A lot has changed since then. from fertilizer, pesticide and equipment Pennsylvania office of the federal Natural farmer who travels the world as a cover crop Hershey was a founding member of the companies. Resources Conservation Service. and no-till consultant. “It relies on farmers Pennsylvania No-Till Alliance and has But Hershey, for one, thinks most farm- “When you hear from another farmer it’s (realizing) that it’s about our own farms and been its president since 2010. ers will see the light. “This is a revolution a lot more believable than hearing it from a we can actually grow our cash crops in a “I like to say no-till without cover crops that’s occurring and it’s very promising government person or an academic,” said way that is most cost-effective.” is still dead soil,” he said. “It’s not provid- for cleaner agricultural production. Much Charles White, a Penn State assistant profes- Like Bupp, many of the pioneers of soil ing any nutrients to the soil biology and cleaner.” 22 Bay Journal • June 2020

Water from page 1 As of mid-May, he said, most of the studies indicate that coronavirus is no is about coronavirus spreading through longer viable once it has passed through open water. And plenty of other harmful the digestive tract. One study indicated that bacteria could be present instead. fluid in the colon would be strong enough To that end, he helped create the Swim to deactivate the virus, “so by the time it Guide app, where groups collecting water gets into the stool and then wastewater, it’s quality data can post it for the public likely inactive,” Gonzalez said. to consider before engaging in water This conclusion mirrors other scien- recreation. The app is now used in nine tific findings that coronaviruses have a countries and by several Chesapeake Bay “low environmental viability” and can advocacy groups to post the results of easily be deactivated by disinfection or weekly bacterial monitoring programs. other environmental stressors. “The COVID-19 pandemic has added A spokesman for DC Water, which a new intonation to the question of runs the largest advanced wastewater whether or not you can get sick if you go treatment facility in the world at Blue to the beach,” a post about new corona- Plains in the District of Columbia, said virus risks on the Swim Guide’s website their treatment process would inactivate begins. But, it continues, the tests on the virus. which the website’s information is based “Right now, all water treatment are “already designed to provide you with processes using disinfectant would kill an indication of your health risks from any bacteria, including COVID-19,” recreational water illnesses when you go spokesman Vincent Morris said. swimming.” The virus could still be present in any In other words, the tests already raw sewage that overflows into streams flag sites that might be unsafe for water and rivers, when rain overwhelms contact because of sewage leaks or underground pipes or a treatment plant’s overflows — posing risks from bacteria, capacity. These polluted spills, called if not coronavirus. combined sewer overflows, occur in In sufficient numbers, these bacteria many communities throughout the can cause gastrointestinal illness, skin and Chesapeake region. ear infections, and some conditions that “In general, where there are combined can be life-threatening. These bacteria sewer overflows, we tell everyone to avoid can enter the human body through the the water and so do not expect to change nose, ears or other openings as well as the guidance now,” Morris said. through small cuts. The Waterkeeper Council sent out a Scientists worldwide have pivoted memo at the end of March suggesting much of their research to focus on the waterkeepers take additional precautions coronavirus, and that is true for the to protect themselves when collecting sewage and wastewater industries as well. water samples, especially near outfalls for The U.S. Environmental Protection sewage-tainted stormwater. Agency in May hailed a new study The memo mentioned that, during showing that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that the SARS-CoV outbreak in 2003, there causes COVID-19, could be detected in Researchers say the risk of contracting COVID-19 from swimming appears low, but was “documented transmission associ- urine and stool samples at wastewater the public should always use caution when recreating in water that receives sewage ated with sewage aerosols” at a sewage treatment facilities. So far, the virus has overflows during rain. (Dave Harp) treatment plant, a potential concern that turned up there in higher concentrations was reiterated by more recent coronavirus than expected based on the number of spring, the Hampton Roads Sanita- ing and verifying the coronavirus meth- research out of China. clinically confirmed cases. tion District in southeast Virginia was ods as soon as they became available,” Because waterkeepers collect water This data could help localities uniquely positioned to respond. The said Raul Gonzalez, an environmental samples that could contain sewage, the determine how many people are actually district, which provides wastewater scientist leading the effort. potential for those particles to become infected in a given area — including those treatment to 18 cities and counties in the So far, the treatment plants’ data aerosolized through a splash or spill led without symptoms — and help them track region, had recently begun using molecu- reflects that the region could have about the council to recommend gloves, masks changes in infection rates over time. lar technology to identify emerging 10 times more coronavirus cases than and other precautionary measures. But these findings also raised new pathogens that could be coming in with were being counted by clinical statistics, a Baltimore Harbor Waterkeeper Alice concerns about whether wastewater the region’s wastewater as part of a pilot number that mirrors findings from studies Volpitta said she wasn’t sure how to feel could be an additional conduit for the project started last July. in other locations. in advance of Memorial Day weekend as disease, particularly for those whose This foray into “wastewater epidemi- But the district’s technology can’t she prepared to take her first samples of work puts them in potential close contact ology” could be used to identify public tell researchers whether the coronavirus the season — equipped with a face mask, with sewage. The initial concern was for health trends in the population, from strains they find in wastewater are still goggles and gloves. wastewater treatment plant workers, but opioid use and antibiotic resistance to “alive” or able to infect additional people. Volpitta said concerns about corona- those whose work involves collecting disease outbreaks. The technology identifies the virus by its virus in wastewater are another reminder water samples that could contain traces of The technology uses DNA sequenc- RNA, but doesn’t culture the virus to see that it’s important to curb sewage leaks sewage also took notice. ing to identify the presence of certain whether it is still viable. Doing so would and overflows in the region, which make There is currently “no evidence to pathogens or chemicals while another require a lab with one of the highest levels water recreation inherently risky. date” that the coronavirus has been trans- machine allows the scientists to quantify of pathogen safety. Few exist, but one in “Today, it’s coronavirus. Four years mitted to a person via wastewater, either how much is present. The district began Arizona is conducting such a study. ago, there was Ebola, and there will be before or after the sewage moved through monitoring for coronavirus in early “It’s still too early to definitively state something else,” she said. “There are a wastewater treatment plant, according March, around the time the World Health whether wastewater contains infectious always horrible pathogens in sewage, to the World Health Organization. Organization declared a global pandemic. coronavirus,” Gonzalez said. “But we which is why we can’t let our guard down When wastewater became the latest “We were already set up to monitor have an idea of which way all the studies even after this virus starts to leave the frontier for coronavirus research this wastewater, so it was a matter of validat- are leaning.” news cycle.” Bay Journal • June 2020 23

Humpback whales are occasional visitors near A whopping whale of a quiz for you the mouth of the Chesa- English colonists were quick to A breaching peake Bay. If you took a take advantage of whales visiting humpback time machine back 10 the Chesapeake Bay. Processing whale is million to 14 million years Bay Buddies the carcass left a ton of whale a wonder ago, you would have blood and bits in the Bay, which to behold. regularly seen a variety of Whales reeked and depleted the water’s There whale species in the Bay, oxygen when they decayed. This are many which was a subtropical, led Virginia’s Middlesex Court, in theories shallow sea at that time. A. The tip of each fluke 1698, to ban the killing of whales about why Now is the time to test flaps in the opposite direc- in the Bay — one of the first legal they do this, your knowledge of whales. tion of the other. actions against water pollution in but no one Answers are on page 37. B. The fluke moves up and the Chesapeake. Answers are on knows for down instead of side to page 37. sure. 1. Whales are a(n): side. (Whit A. Amphibian C. The fluke spins in circles 1. The scientific name for the Welles / B. Fish like a propeller. humpback whale is Megaptera CC BY 3.0) C. Mammal D. The fluke is only used novaeangliae. What does this D. Reptile for steering. Flippers make mean? the whale move. A. Big-winged New Englander 2. Which species is B. Oceanic exploding star the whales’ closest living 6. True or false? There C. Large ocean angel relative on land? are no bones in a whale’s D. Sky leaper A. Elephant flukes. B. Hippopotamus 2. Humpbacks are known for C. Rhinoceros 7. What is the purpose being the most athletic whales D. Warthog of a whale’s blowhole? when it comes to leaping out of A. The whale uses it to the water (also known as breach- 3. There are two types releases the water it has ing). Their breaches are about of whales: toothed whales, swallowed after all of the as long as the whale itself. How which capture prey with fish and plankton have long is this? their teeth, and baleen been filtered out. A. About 40–45 feet whales, which capture B. The whale uses it to B. About 45–50 feet and filter prey and plank- breathe. C. About 50–55 feet ton through large filters C. The whale uses it to D. About 55–60 feet called…baleen. Baleen sing. See question 6 below. (Image collected under MMPA research permit are strips that hang from D. Both A & C. 3. On average, how thick is #17355. / NOAA Fisheries/Leah Crowe) a whale’s upper jaw, with humpback whale blubber? brushlike bristles on one 8. How does a whale A. 6 inches species as well. Which of these side that filter the food. breathe when it is under- B. 12 inches are documented incidents? Baleen are made from the water? C. 18 inches A. A snorkeling whale biologist same type of material as: A. It breathes through its D. 24 inches reported that in 2017 she was A. Bones gills. saved from a tiger shark by two B. Fingernails B. It breathes through its 4. Toothed whales, as a rule, humpbacks: One pushed her C. Skin mouth. have one blow hole. Why do away from the shark while the D. Tendons C. It has special air sacs in humpbacks and other baleen 6. In the bottom photo, a pair other used its tail as a barrier its throat. whales almost always have two of humpbacks are circling their between her and the predator. 4. All whales have blub- D. It can’t breathe under- blowholes? prey and blowing bubbles toward B. In 2009, a marine ecologist ber, a thick layer of fat just water and must hold its A. They tend to be larger them, which forces the fish into a with the U.S. National Oceanic beneath their skin. What is breath until it returns to the whales, and the two holes can tight ball, making it easier for the and Atmospheric Administration the purpose of blubber? surface. inhale and exhale large amounts whales to swallow them. What is in Antarctica saw a group of killer A. It prevents whales’ inter- of air more effectively. this technique called? whales pursuing a seal that they nal organs from freezing in 9. If a whale had ears B. One hole is used to inhale A. Bubble net fishing had knocked off an ice floe. Two cold ocean water. that stuck out, they would while the other exhales. B. Circle seining humpbacks appeared. One rolled B. It helps whales, which make the animal less C. Baleen whales’ large C. Humper hunting over on its back and swept the are very heavy, float. streamlined. In fact, their sneezes would overpower one D. Whale-pooling seal onto its chest. When the killer C. In many adult whales, ears aren’t even open to blowhole. whales closed in, the humpback blubber is too thick for the outside. But a whale’s D. One hole is a backup if the 7. The humpback’s flippers, about raised its chest, along with the predators to bite through. sense of hearing is so keen other gets clogged with plankton. a third of the length of the whale’s seal, out of the water. As the seal D. It is a source of energy that it allows the whale body, are the largest appendage in started to slide off, the humpback when sources of food are to keep track of its child, 5. Humpback whales eat the animal kingdom. About how used its flipper to push the seal low. locate food, navigate and plankton, small crustaceans and long do they grow? to the center of its chest. The seal E. All of the above. communicate with other small fish, including herring and A. 8 feet stayed there until it was able to whales in its pod. Where anchovies. What Chesapeake B. 12 feet safely swim to a nearby ice floe. 5. A whale’s tail has two is this hearing structure species is particularly enticing to C. 16 feet C. There are numerous reports lobes, called flukes, which located? humpbacks? D. 20 feet of humpbacks guarding gray meet in a v-shaped notch. A. Blowhole A. Baby blue crabs whale calves and sunfish from The tail helps the animal B. Flippers B. Menhaden 8. Humpbacks are known to be killer whales. swim, but not in the same C. Forehead C. Striped bass very protective not only of other D. All of the above. way that it helps fish. How D. Jawbone D. Yellow perch members of their pod, but other — Kathleen A. Gaskell is it different? — Kathleen A. Gaskell 24 Bay Journal l Tr avel l June 2020

Conowingo Islands paddle sure to rock your world Years ago, Roberta Upper Bear Island. All of the islands are uninhabited except for several at the downriver end of the chain that Strickler, a kayaker have a few cottages from Lancaster, PA, “I definitely think it’s almost an otherworldly feel. Cer- tainly, it’s like no other stretch of the Susquehanna,” said stood on the Nor- Devin Winand, who guides paddlers through the islands man Wood Bridge for Shank’s Mare Outfitters in nearby Long Level, PA. For the kayaker, the Conowingo Islands are a play- across the Susque- ground filled with a maze of channels to explore amid hanna River, trans- towering rocks, hidden coves, vistas, sandy beaches and swimming holes. You’ll also find huge river “potholes,” cre- fixed by an odd as- ated by a trapped rock grinding downward for hundreds sortment of rounded of years, that can be 10– 20 feet deep and wide. Get out of your boat and explore. rock islands just “They looked like this mysterious wonderland,” said downriver. paddler and photographer Seth Dochter of New Holland. “Every single island looks different. Every single channel is “It’s one of the few different.” places on the Susquehanna There are weird currents to play in and excellent fish- that still looks the same as ing. Cliffs are everywhere, some towering 200 feet above when the Indians saw it,” the water. observed her companion, For the adventurer on foot, one of the large islands, an area naturalist. Peavine Island, is usually accessible from the shoreline Indeed, the Conowingo Mason Dixon Trail on the York County, or western side of Islands — “The Boulders” the river. if you are a paddler — are Bushwhack through thick forests to scale craggy sum- unique and one of the mits for breathtaking views of the islands and explore most scenic river land- little ponds and rare plants that have adapted to constant scapes in Pennsylvania. inundation and exposure. Deposits of soil filling in cracks, They have become a crevices and potholes in the schist and gneiss metamor- popular yet uncrowded phic bedrock sprout plants uncommon to Pennsylvania. getaway for paddlers from Other plants such as Bradley’s spleenwort, American holly novice to experienced, as and arrow-feathered three awn are found near the north- well as those on foot who ern limit of their range. can often hop onto one of Wildlife is abundant also. Look for beavers, otters, deer the islands. Just below the towering Norman Wood Bridge (PA Route 372) in southern Lancaster County, about 8 A kayaker on the Susquehanna River miles upriver of the Maryland line, the cluster of about 30 marvels at a rock formation on the water-sculpted rock islands is like no other on the Susque- Conowingo Islands. (Troy Hassler) hanna. “It’s just sort of a magical little getaway and you never know what’s around the corner,” said Amy Jo Mitchell, a Pennsylvania paddler who explores the labyrinth of islands and shifting currents in her homemade kayak. Their uniqueness derives from being shaped by thou- By Ad Crable sands of years of erosion from river bedrock. In contrast, most islands in the Susquehanna were formed from deposits of silt. This difference has created a landscape both harsh and beautiful. Some are reminded of a slice of Maine. Matt Samms, a two-time member of the U.S. Canoe and Kayak Wildwater Team, likes the islands and the nearby Holtwood Whitewater Park so much that he moved to a home within sight of the islands. “It’s an awesome spot,” he gushed. “It’s so moist down there, and the soil is so fertile. There are little ponds on the islands, and the islands are so dense and jammed with rich moss. It’s like the Pacific Northwest.” The islands of varying sizes stretch from the base of the Holtwood Dam to 3.5 miles downriver. But the islands that paddlers head to are all below the Norman Wood Bridge A huge pothole in the Conowingo Islands, now broken on PA Route 372. open, was formed as swirling water drilled a trapped rock The islands range from small outcroppings to 65-acre through bedrock for thousands of years. (Troy Hassler) 25 Bay Journal l Tr avel l June 2020

The Conowingo Islands, with their sculpted faces and unique flora, are the most unusual islands in the Susquehanna River. They are located in southeastern Highlights Pennsylvania, about 8 miles upstream from Maryland. (Ad Crable) The path between the Conowingo and all kinds of birds. Bald eagles are the need to stay abreast of scheduled Islands is part all but guaranteed. Jack Ridings, Jr., water releases, listen for the warning of Lancaster likes to cruise between sirens at the Holtwood Dam and wear of the 53-mile the islands at night with a bow and a personal flotation device. Susquehanna River arrow, looking for carp and catfish. He “I’ve experienced the water level Water Trail. A map has arrowed carp weighing up to 46 go up a foot in a half hour to an hour, is available for pounds, and the state record flathead and the current changed consider- purchase from catfish of nearly 51 pounds was caught ably,” said Joe Hainey of Dover. There the Susquehanna in the area. have been water rescues for swimmers National Heritage One of the pleasures of paddling getting into trouble in the currents the islands is that you rarely run into and for people stranded on the islands Area at susquehan- personal watercraft or large power after sudden rises in river levels. naheritage.org or boats because of rocks lurking just “If you have no experience with 717-252-0229. A group of kayakers enjoys the rocks of Conowingo Islands on the Susquehanna River. (Troy Hassler) below the surface. It a retreat for moving water, and if you thought you A must see: On the quiet-water paddlers. “You don’t have were going to be paddling on a lake all that noise or the smell of diesels when day, you can get pinned up against a upriver tip of Lower Bear Island, climb up to a plateau for a pan- you’re on the water,” Mitchell said. rock,” Samms advised. oramic view of the Conowingo Islands. A half-mile downriver of the The islands’ uniqueness extends to Most paddlers launch from the boat launch you can paddle up scenic Muddy Creek for about a half its many and fluctuating water levels Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commis- mile. and currents. Though paddling is usu- sion’s Muddy Creek Access off 534 ally in calm water in summer months, Johnson Road in Delta or the adjacent For kayak rentals and guided kayak tours: Shank’s Mare Outfitters in river levels can change abruptly and Lock 15 Interpretive Park. The Muddy Wrightsville, PA, 717-252-1616, shanksmare.com; or Kayaking Made dramatically. The hydroelectric Holt- Creek boat launch has a 20-foot-wide E-Z in Conowingo, MD, 443-731-1100, kayakingmadeez.com. wood Dam just upriver of the islands ramp and docks, but you will need a To explore Peavine Island by foot, park at the Lock 15 Historic can release water at any time. So can PFBC unpowered boat launch permit the Muddy Run Pumped Storage sticker on your kayak. They cost $12 a Interpretive Park, 270 River Road, Airville. Follow the blue-blazed Facility on the Lancaster County side. year. Or, you can launch for free from trailhead for the Mason Dixon Trail near the park entrance upriver And the Conowingo Dam downriver the bank at Lock 15. It’s about a half- for about a half-mile. If the river level is low enough, you will see can drain river levels. mile upriver to reach the islands. a place to rock-jump the short distance to the island. No fires or Though not treacherous, chang- To check on scheduled releases and overnight camping are permitted on any of the Conowingo Islands, ing water levels in the narrow chan- water levels at Holtwood Dam, go to according to owner Exelon. nels between the islands can create safewaters.com/facility/10. If water changing eddies, swirls and currents is spilling over the dam, it generally Please enjoy the outdoors responsibly. Boating, hiking and fishing that can slam you against rocks if you will be rough paddling upriver for are acceptable forms of outdoor activities under current coronavi- aren’t paying attention. Paddlers who most paddlers. Kayakers should wear rus guidelines, as long as social distancing is practiced. frequent the boulders emphasized personal flotation devices. 26 Bay Journal l Tr avel l June 2020

Meander through marshy curves at Janes Island State Park the 2-mile paddle from the park’s boat launch to the island’s western shore, the reward is a 6-mile white ribbon of beach along Tangier Sound. If you’re lucky, you may have it to yourself. And with this solitude and natural beauty, you can have all of the comforts of home after a day at the edge of the wild — unless you want to camp in the wild at one of the island’s three paddle-in sites. In the mainland campground, about 100 sites are tucked within a loblolly forest, half of them with electrical hookups for RVs, as well as a handful of waterfront cabins, camp store, a small but informative nature center, boat ramp and fish-cleaning station, and canoe and kayak rentals if you don’t bring your own. Besides paddling, people come here to take their children crabbing or go fishing by paddle, powerboat or casting into the canal from land. Birders check a variety of species off their “life lists.” Meanwhile, you can climb the park’s 24-foot-high observa- tion tower to watch the setting sun fire the marsh in tones of gold, red and copper as it drops into the horizon beyond Tangier Sound. For all of these reasons, Janes Island is an extremely popular park, and we felt lucky to snag a last-minute site twice last fall. Our first trip in late September included our Chesapeake Light Craft teardrop camper, a two-person kayak and two dogs. (Several sections of the park offer pet- friendly camping.) Kayakers explore the saltmarsh Midmorning, early November, and our walk- We left the dogs at home when we returned in early at Janes Island State Park on November to enjoy some solitude and paddling. The ad- Maryland’s Eastern Shore. and-coffee ritual along Daugherty Creek ditional advantage of coming later in the season is to avoid Canal at Janes Island State Park in Maryland the bugs — for which Janes Island is rather notorious. The island has deep history. Peoples of the late Paleo- comes to an abrupt halt as a white-tailed deer lithic period settled the area about 13,000 years ago. At leaps through the marsh across the canal. that time, according to stateparks.com, sea levels were 350 feet lower than today, with mammoths, mastodons, horses Bounding over shimmering saltmeadow hay and bison roaming across land that is now Maryland’s Story & Photos and saltmarsh cordgrass, she’s headed north, Somerset County. As Tangier Sound shifted from a fresh- By Wendy Mitman Clarke water river to an estuary, humans moved into the area that a full-racked buck in lively pursuit. became Janes Island. Among later inhabitants were Native We watch the drama until they’re out of sight, thinking Americans of the Annemessex Nation. that’s the end of it — but moments later the doe is back in As recently as the late 1800s, Janes Island was still view racing south. fertile and high enough above sea level to support farming She jumps into the canal, swimming straight for us and and fishing communities. At Old House Cove — directly a few other people who’ve been equally startled to a stand- still. We yell at her to turn her back. The campground side of the canal is lined with a bulkhead as far as you can see, the tide is low, and there’s no way she could climb out. The doe reverses course, scrambles back into the marsh and takes off again, heading for the tufts of pines that mark higher ground and possible respite from the chase, though the buck follows relentlessly a quarter-mile behind. Not your average morning coffee, but that is part of the surprise and wonder of this state park near Crisfield on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay. Though its mainland campground and facilities are easily accessible by car, the park’s jewel is its namesake island right across the canal from the campground and reachable only by boat. With 2,900 acres of saltmarsh island to explore by kayak and canoe, Janes Island offers that rarest of treasures in an increasingly noisy and populated region — the ability to go off grid for a couple of days or hours; immerse in nature, water and weather; and absorb with awe an untrammeled horizon and boundless sky. The campground at Janes Island State Park in Maryland More than 30 miles of well-marked water trails perfo- offers about 100 sites tucked within a loblolly forest, half of rate and circumnavigate the island. For those who make them with electrical hookups for RVs. 27 Bay Journal l Tr avel l June 2020

Hiking, paddling, fishing and crabbing are all popular activities at Janes Island State Park in Maryland. When not impacted by the conoravirus restrictions, solo and tandem kayaks and canoes are available for rent through the park store from late April through October, weather permitting. About six weeks later we could touch the saltmarsh cord- we returned, this time grass. Now and then, we caught the ahead of a cold front that call of a great-horned owl from one across from Crisfield — a thriving on the yellow trail into Ward Creek, promised a blast of northwest wind of the hummocks that still held small farming community in the 1800s grew which cleanly bisects the island. but in the interim provided unsea- forests. We saw no other people. watermelons, apples, peaches and Fortunately for us, given our rather sonable warmth that made for ideal That night, the cold front came other crops. In 1900, a fish-processing low waterline, the first section is fully paddling. We had our pick of sites and in like a freight train and chased off plant was built at the cove’s south- protected to the south by loblolly chose one right on the canal, with one our tent neighbors by dawn. Cozy in ernmost point; today “the Stack,” a forest and to the north by marsh that distant neighbor in a tent and another our camper, we emerged to go for a 50-foot-tall brick chimney, is all that once was home to family farms called walk on the nature trail behind the in a small RV. campsites. There, we were sheltered remains. the Acre. Dogless this time, we set out up Like so many of the Bay’s offshore Once the trail opened out into from the wind among bright red the yellow trail again, watching scores sweet gums and golden persimmons, islands, time, erosion and sea level Flatcap Basin, the breeze gave us a of small baitfish leaping and rush- rise have slowly rendered Janes Island helpful push across the little bay to immense willow oaks and groundsel ing along the autumn-gold marsh trees glowing with silvery autumn from solid ground to something de- the landing on the backside of Flatcap edge, undoubtedly being chased by flowers. Beach. Here, we pulled up the kayak cidedly more sievelike. rockfish. We broke off the yellow trail For information on Janes Island I purchased a fold-out map printed and launched the dogs for a walk and off the chart (or at least, off the State Park, visit dnr.maryland.gov/ on water-resistant paper from the north up to Rock Hole, where a gut named trails). For about two hours we publiclands and click on “Find a State park’s store to guide our paddling ad- of water prevented us from going meandered in pristine silence, pad- Park.” Be sure to check for any closures ventures. On one side of the map, an farther. This was part of the 6.25-mile dling open thoroughfares and straying or restrictions related to COVID-19 aerial image shows Janes Island to be green trail, which winds through the off into branches that narrowed until and recreate safely and responsibly. a loosely connected mesh of marshy island, then up and around its north- islets, riven with guts, thoroughfares ern tip. and meandering water paths, joining We turned around and walked Old House Cove to the south all the south for about 2 miles, then sat on a way up to Rock Hole, Rock Pond and driftwood log and took in the stun- Acre Creek to the north. ning view across Tangier Sound. Daugherty Creek Channel — Though most of the osprey had dredged decades ago to provide already migrated south, we saw a Crisfield’s watermen a safer, quicker few stragglers, as well as terns, gulls, way to the Big Annemessex River — is herons, hawks and bald eagles. As for the only straight line amid the wind- humans, we encountered about four. ing tangles of water that constitute We looked for the northeastern beach the island’s main body and make it tiger beetle (one of Maryland’s endan- a paddler’s paradise. Seven marked gered species that dwells here) but trails range in length from 2–12 miles didn’t spot one. and range in difficulty from sheltered Later that evening at our campsite, canals to the open waters of Tangier I looked upward through the pines Sound and the Big Annemessex River. into an ink-black sky. It felt as if we During our September visit, we were inside a piece of jewelry, the provided entertainment (or at least darkened pines like the long, elegant suspense) at the boat ramp as we prongs of a ring, their dark tufted loaded ourselves and our two dogs tops the setting, the stars glittering Visitors at Janes Island State Park stroll along the edge of the canal as sunset into a two-person kayak and set off among the needles like diamonds. throws golden tones over the marsh. 28 Bay Journal • June 2020 We are toad-ally grateful for all of our readers’ donations In memory There’s no greater of John Ludwigson sign of the Bay Journal’s from Rose-Marie Jacobius success than the compli- Gambrills, MD ments and donations Amy Stump received from readers Baltimore, MD like you. Your gifts to Thomas Suddes the Bay Journal Fund Athens, OH continue to make our Advocate work possible, from cov- Phillip & Cynthia Chase erage of the Bay restora- Laurel, MD tion and the health of its Anne Brooke rivers, to the impacts of Norfolk, VA climate change, toxics, Richard Connelly growth and invasive Newark, DE species on the region’s Arthur & Katherine Long ecosystem. Our staff Forest Hill, MD works every day to bring Walter & Lin Pomeroy you the best reporting on Mechanicsburg, PA Sharon Bailey & Jay Gede environmental issues in Hampstead, MD the Bay region. We are Bob Bingham grateful for your dona- Simpsonville, MD tions. Please continue to Douglas Clow, Jr. support our success! Odenton, MD Harold Davis Guarantor Ellicott City, MD Alan Griffith J. 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ontinued from 28 G. Carleton Ray, Ph.D. & Herman Daly C Mary Geraldine McCormick-Ray Midlothian, VA Shelton Alley Charlottesville, VA Janet Davis Cape Charles, VA Roberta Schaff Ross Castleton, VA Gary Antonides Alexandria, VA Mike Davis Edgewater, MD George & Shirley Schmidt Alexandria, VA Louis W. Bachtell, Jr. Chesapeake Beach, MD Pat Devlin Suffolk, VA Marietta M. Schreiber Dillsburg, PA James Baird Annapolis, MD Michele Dobson Takoma Park, MD David Sears Bel Air, MD Dr. & Mrs. Robert H. Batchelor Holtwood, PA Charles Dykema Hydes, MD Bill Semenuk Norfolk, VA Melvin Bender Annapolis, MD In memory Artemas, MD Frank Sharpe of John A. Coe Judy & John Blomquist Burtonsville, MD from Vera & John England Havre De Grace, MD Soon Ballantine Slayman Urbanna, VA Palmyra, PA In memory Timothy & Celeste Brooks East Petersburg, PA Franklin Smith of Ethel Forlifer Kenton, DE from George & Nancy Forlifer Anne Brown Corriganville, MD Saint Leonard, MD A tiger Jason & Andrea Smith Nazareth, PA Ruann Newcomer George Winston W. Burks III swal- Boonsboro, MD Bedford, VA William Smyth lowtail Powhatan, VA Charles Paul Goebel Jan Crable butterfly Architect, Ltd. Salt Lake City, UT Mrs. John Stack Easton, MD feasts Yorktown, VA Kathryn Creamer on phlox Mrs. Shelby P. Guazzo Baltimore, MD Jacob Stoltzfus Maddox, MD nectar Myerstown, PA Deana Crumbling Diane Hoffman & James M. McGlone along Marvin & Andrea Storey Annandale, VA Laurel, MD Alexandria, VA the bank Duane Hunt Charles Deegan of upper Joseph Strakna Baltimore, MD Columbia, MD Beltsville, MD Barren David Jones In memory Daniel H. Street Reston, VA Creek, a Ashburn, VA of Virginia Maney Coggeshall tributary Richard Lewis from Lauren DeSimone Gregory L. Van Blargan Finksburg, MD Richmond, VA of the Montgomery Village, MD Nanticoke Dr. Lloyd Lewis Gene Downing Charles Wachsmuth Edgewater, MD Silver Spring, MD River Chester, MD Barry Mates Jane & Joseph Duffy near Lt. Col. John Walker Alexandria, VA Potomac, MD Perry Hall, MD Mardela David & Kathryn McCorkle Thomas Fisher III Springs, Dale Weammert Lemoyne, PA Chestertown, MD Glen Burnie, MD MD, on John Merriner Lissa & David Fox Mr. & Mrs. John M. Williams Beaufort, NC a warm Elkton, MD Harpers Ferry, WV April Lee Miller Megan Gallagher Steve Williams Woodbine, MD morning. Towson, MD The Plains, VA (Dave Potapskut Sailing Association Tina & Jeff Gleim Bill Wolinski Pasadena, MD Harp) Crocheron, MD Wellsville, PA Michael C. Reusing Mr. & Mrs. R. Charles Woods Keedysville, MD Goose Creek Association John Kraeuter Gary Michael Carolyn Osborne Springfield, VA Middleburg, VA Kennebunkport, ME Artemas, MD Bethesda, MD Vernon & Lucy Wright Steven Russo Greg Greisman Midlothian, VA Sydney Levitus Steven Miller Sandra Patmore Cockeysville, MD Elkridge, MD Rockville, MD Saint Augustine, FL Taylors Island, MD Jeffrey Zeller Tom Savage Michael Grim Myerstown, PA Hampton, VA Henrico, VA Sarah & Henry Lord Wayne & Delores Mills Steve Patten Baltimore, MD Hutchinson Island, FL Annapolis, MD Katherine Soltysiak Glenn & Trish Guy Supporter Bel Air, MD Leonardtown, MD Ann Macneille Sherrill Modlin Sarah W. Pearre Joseph Cours Baltimore, MD Severna Park, MD Union Bridge, MD June & Ben Stilmar Paulette Hammond West Abington Township, PA Alexandria, VA Baltimore, MD Daniel Marcin Mrs. Robert Mosher Robert Pugh Edward A. Ames Charles Sydnor Silver Spring, MD Charlton, NY North Chesterfield, VA Mr. & Mrs. Miles Cary Bronx, NY Heathsville, VA Johnston, Jr. Kennie Mauche Bob Murphy & Amy Rice Jeffrey Putt, Sr. Bernard & Josephine Bodt New Kent, VA Lusby, MD Edgewater, MD York, PA Churchville, MD Edward F. Kilduff Judy & Dave Mauriello Roger Newill Patrick & Ann Ranck Bob Boxwell Royal Oak, MD Severna Park, MD Virginia Beach, VA Quarryville, PA Lusby, MD Continued on page 30 Thank You To These Philanthropic Donors

The Curtis and Edith Munson Foundation 30 Bay Journal • June 2020

In memory Continued from 29 Andrew Reed of Lauren ”Big Boy” Ferguson New York, NY from Warren Hollaway In memory Poquoson, VA Stephen Rettig of James “Tony” Pitcher Waynesboro, PA From Buddy Williams John & Padi Hollowell Port Republic, MD Jeff & Ginny Rice King George, VA Lusby, MD Kyle Woodley Joseph Homburger Cooperstown, NY Jennifer Roach Gaithersburg, MD York, SC Glen Besa Tom Horton Salisbury, MD John Roberts North Chesterfield, VA Richmond, VA Kimberly Freeman Michael Huntley Phoenix, MD James E. Rogers Catonsville, MD Richmond, VA Douglas Kearney James R. Jarvis, Jr. Glen Burnie, MD Dan Rohrbeck Annapolis, MD Catonsville, MD Eric Wissel Noel Kaplan Springfield, VA Judy Rose Ellicott City, MD Joppa, MD Glenn Carlson Melvyn L. Kay Reston, VA Joseph Roussos Silver Spring, MD North Chesterfield, VA Eldred Cherrix Victor & Deborah Kennedy Port Republic, MD James Barry Royer Leonardtown, MD North Prince George, VA Sally Ann Cooper Connie Kirkland Oakton, VA Lawrence Schneider Columbia, MD Bethany Beach, DE Ron Gray Dave Klapka Baltimore, MD David & M. Diane Scholten Halifax, PA Mechanicsville, MD Alan Grubb James Klapka Baltimore, MD Jean Scholz Baltimore, MD Wayne, PA Keith Homza Ronald J Klauda Prince Frederick, MD Kevin Seed Fredericksburg, VA Ellicott City, MD Jerry Hopkins Phil & Lynn Klein Monkton, MD Ellen M. Smith Annapolis, MD Glenville, PA John W. Koontz Stan & Alice Kotala Altoona, PA Debbie Smith Davidsonville, MD Duncansville, PA Frank Mastro John I. Kraus Artemas, MD Joseph Southerton North Abington Township, PA Lewisburg, PA Maisy & W. Brooke Yeager Joseph & Jane Lawrence Hanover, PA Susan & Richard Sprout Wilkes Barre, PA Picture Rocks, PA Doug & Sandra Clow Mary Lepley Solomons, MD Hunt Valley, MD Rodney Stark Pocono Lake, PA Warren & Cheryl Evans Karin E. Limburg Dunnsville, VA Jeff Stauffer Syracuse, NY Chester, MD Tina Minshed Joan Locastro Stafford, VA Charles Stegman Silver Spring, MD Salisbury, MD Woody Morris Michael Lukes Harbeson, DE John D. Stewart Saint Paul, MN Norfolk, VA Virginia Phillips Warren Magruder Gaithersburg, MD Henry Stromberger Pasadena, MD Middle River, MD Ann Ray Babs Manges Shady Side, MD Sarah Taylor-Rogers North East, MD Baltimore, MD Steven P. Alpern Noah Martin Towson, MD Stephen & Carole Tevault Port Trevorton, PA Reedville, VA Anthony Adee Tom Meiser Bowie, MD Elvia Thompson A skiff is stored safely above high tide in Tylerton, MD, on Smith Island. (Dave Harp) Lexington Park, MD Annapolis, MD Anayezuka Ahidiana Howard Metzger Baltimore, MD Tim Tinker Emily Blum Chris Craig & Ed Wheeless Brad & Annette Gray Baltimore, MD Baltimore, MD M. Stephen Ailstock Baltimore, MD Harpers Ferry, WV Selinsgrove, PA William Miller Artemas, MD Tri-County Council Mary Burney Bolling Jeffery Crockett Russell Green Cochranville, PA for Southern Maryland Kathleen Amidon Washington, DC Tangier, VA Baltimore, MD Milleson’s Walnut Grove Hughesville, MD Frederick, MD Joseph & Betty Boone Glenn & Helen Davis Melissa Gross Campground David Trubey Philip Anderson New Windsor, MD Kingston, NJ Montross, VA Springfield, WV Baltimore, MD Church Creek, MD Stephen Bowler C. W. Dexter Robert Guiles Al Minutolo Steve Turnage Richard Ayers Catonsville, MD Newport News, VA Catawba, VA Crozet, VA Hague, VA Powhatan, VA Jim Brackbill Gerald Dietz Dwayne Haines & Edie Holton Muddy Run Recreational Park Bryan Vagenos, Sr. Robert W. Baker Strasburg, PA Loganville, PA Gaithersburg, MD Holtwood, PA Essex, MD Ashburn, VA Allison Burnett Edward C. Owen John Vaszko Timothy P. Dillingham Aubrey Hall Laurel, MD Nancy G. W. Baker Hughesville, MD Hopewell, NJ Urbanna, VA Rockville, MD Sugar Run, PA Jon Castro Vytautas Penkiunas Ronald Watson Shady Side, MD Perry B. Duryea III John R. Haram Annapolis, MD Michael Barbour Montauk, NY Martinsburg, WV Beaverdam, VA Abell, MD Vanessa Cieslak Neal E. Perkins Danielle Weglar & Kevin Holloway Warner Ferguson Frederick & Margaret Hardy Landenberg, PA Janet Barnes Lancaster, VA Silver Spring, MD Hampton, VA Saint Leonard, MD Washington, DC Tom Powers Thomas Filip Tim Harvey Tim Weglicki Scott Bartram Mr. & Mrs. William P. Cleveland Poquoson, VA Owings Mills, MD Yorktown, VA Alexandria, VA Ocala, FL Montgomery Village, MD Thomas & Sally Price Michael Weisner Mr.& Mrs. David Bauereis Bill Cole Robert Frantz Chris & Michelle Heaton Sperryville, VA Annapolis, MD Edgewater, MD Salisbury, MD Wilmington, NC Fredericksburg, VA Bernadine Prince Doily Fulcher C. Damon Hecker Darlene White John Beckner Will Conyngham Georgetown, DE Virginia Beach, VA Colonial Beach, VA Dallas, PA King George, VA Alexandria, VA Prince William Soil & Water Douglas Wion Norm & Sara Bell Clay Coupland Kathleen A. Fulchiron Dee Hockman Conservation District State College, PA Monterey, VA Norfolk, VA Lexington Park, MD Strasburg, VA Manassas, VA Nancy & Dick Biggs Rick Cox Ken Goldsmith Bruce & Madi Hoffmann Carl Pristavec Chestertown, MD Warsaw, VA Williamsburg, VA Jarrettsville, MD Gambrills, MD Continued on page 31 Bay Journal • June 2020 31

Continued from 30 Robert Garner Catonsville, MD In memory Arthur G. Geigley Mount Joy, PA of Helen Bass Whitehead from Willie Anne Wright Debra Gutenson Richmond, VA Lovettsville, VA Pamela & James Wroten Robert Hollenbach, Jr. Arlington, VA Dornsife, PA Ted & Charlotte Yeatman Suzanne Jenkins Dameron, MD Midlothian, VA Dr. Lawrence C. Zacharias Dorothy Jones Richmond, VA West Lafayette, IN David Kirby Friend Montross, VA Willy Uhlig Halethorpe, MD Thomas Klein Pasadena, MD Gary Visscher Silver Spring, MD Elizabeth Law Frederick, MD Mr. & Mrs. Robert M. Weekley Lancaster, VA Steve Lay Lynn Wenger Havre De Grace, MD Schaefferstown, PA Gary Lentz Susan Wilder White Marsh, MD Mechanicsburg, PA Thomas & Kathryn Manrodt Mr. A. Thomas Young Ramah, NM Onancock, VA Lloyd Mcallister Frances & Richard Younger Salisbury, MD Lusby, MD Charles McGuire Bayford Oyster Co. Leland, NC Franktown, VA Sarah Nicholas Joseph A. Breen Mechanicsburg, PA Philadelphia, PA Col. & Mrs. Geoffrey Parker Susan Christopher Prescott AZ Wicomico Church, VA Virginia Phillips Dorothy Clark A great blue heron nabs a small fish in the mill race at Wye Mills, MD. (Dave Harp) Austin, TX Charlottesvle, VA Sally Pierce John Conolly Don Schweitzer Bruce Jezek Glenda Wilson Eric & Marianne Pluchino Catonsville, MD Elkton, MD Fruitland, MD Baltimore, MD Carlisle, PA Cape Canaveral, FL James J. Potter Jeffrey Gerhart Patricia M. Soltys Robert Knowlton Ed & Amber Zygmunt Paul Rogers Baltimore, MD Robesonia, PA Hampton, VA Arlington, VA Laceyville, PA Cape Charles, VA William Pratt Greg Godon William J. Spake Cairn Krafft Dave Browne Carolyn Zeman Virginia Beach, VA Queenstown, MD Owings, MD Virginia Beach, VA Glen Burnie, MD Birdsboro, PA David A. Prescott Phyllis Gootee Lee Yohn J. Krutzler Steven Coffman Ferne Snelson Boiling Springs, PA Mechanicsburg, PA Edison, NJ Alexandria, VA Aylett, VA Lottsburg, VA David Reitz Ronald Griffin Jon Bauer Tony Langbehn Jessie A. Coleman Stephen Bono Hanover, PA McDaniel, MD Rose Valley, PA Bowie, MD Mardela Springs, MD Baltimore, MD Millard Rice William Hitch Gerard Bockstie Neal Leatherman Patrick Flanagan Warren Lee Brown Phenix, VA Indian Head, MD Nottingham, MD Glen Rock, PA Laytonsville, MD Annapolis, MD Dave & Shirley Ritondo Douglas & Renee Howard Paula A. Bounds Michael McCauley Charles Fletcher Kurt Bruwelheide Selbyville, DE White Hall, MD Henderson, MD Charlotte Hall, MD Sykesville, MD Silver Spring, MD Norma Roberts Barnett James Donald & Sara Lee Brohawn Sandy Medford Robert Kozlowski Mr. & Mrs. John K. Bryant Alexandria, VA Glen Burnie, MD Tyaskin, MD Stevensville, MD Baltimore, MD Cohasset MA James & Jean Robinson William Judkins Carol A. Brown Wayne K. Morris Shelley & Dennis Miller John & Deborah Burk Oakton, VA Burgess, VA Chestertown, MD Salisbury, MD Frederick, MD Baltimore, MD Margaret Robinson Maria Kerns John Cantilli Mr. & Mrs. John E Murray, Sr. Kevin Mock Rick Carrion Marydel, MD Harrisburg, PA Cranford, NJ McClure, PA Camp Hill, PA Earleville, MD Paul Sanborn Jim Laird Rebecca & Robert Charles Jane K. Parks Peggy Murchake Carl F. Cerco Berwyn, PA Hagerstown, MD Etters, PA Cambridge, MD Grasonville, MD Albuquerque NM Colin DeLeyer Gary Parsons Ed Reisman, Jr. Grover Chamberlain Lou Schroeder Letty Limbach Virginia Beach, VA Washington, DC Baltimore, MD Smithfield, VA Camp Springs, MD Silver Spring, MD Nancy Dennis James H. Payne, Jr. Christian Rose Stephen Clark Mary Seidel William P. Lombardi Pasadena, MD Timonium, MD Berwick, PA Manassas, VA Lutherville, MD Bel Air, MD Bill Shirley Ray Moses Ned & Lori Dickie Scott Perkins Robert Tait Wayne Davis Virginia Beach, VA Chestertown, MD Frederick, MD North Beach, MD Springfield, VA Shippensburg, PA Thomas O’Brien Robert & Brenda Elwood Sally Perry N. Vastardis Paul Derrickson Dr. Sherman Silverman Kingsville, MD Albuquerque, NM Lititz, PA Malvern, PA Broadlands, VA Silver Spring, MD Chris Owings Robert Eshleman Mary L. Pipkin John H. Walker Frederick Dreisch Chris Smack Catonsville, MD Lancaster, PA Parkville, MD Williamsburg, VA Clarksville, MD Boynton Beach, FL Al Peasley Barry Fisher Joan Quigley Lois Webber Julie Dunlap C. Allen Spicer Huntingtown, MD State College, PA Baltimore, MD Boonsboro, MD Columbia, MD Bethany Beach, DE John Pritts Mary Beth Friedel Gloria Shelmerdine Mark Lai Richard Ferenz Jule Szabo Devon, PA Oakland, MD Advance, NC New York, NY Conowingo, MD Fairfax, VA Ben Pruette Jo Frock Olivia Su Beverly McDonald Byron Firestone Mark Walther Philadelphia, PA Olney, MD Wilmington, DE Inwood, WV Mechanicsburg, PA Perkiomenville, PA Leroy Russell Jeff Greeve Daniel Tamkus Edward & Thelma Betz John & Susan Ford Sharon Wilson Avenue, MD Saint Leonard, MD Aberdeen, MD Glen Arm, MD Maryland, NY Ellicott City, MD John & Laura Jean Sadler Mo Hamilton Vicki Toye Steve Blanks Carole Fox Mr. & Mrs. Paul Bailey Grasonville, MD Hatboro, PA Fredericksburg, VA Roanoke, VA Rockville, MD Leonardtown, MD Era Saunders Charles Hogge William E. Trout III Ruth Knott Michael A Fry David Bowen Hampton, VA Hayes, VA Madison Heights, VA Marriottsville, MD Baltimore, MD Dickerson, MD 32 Bay Journal • June 2020

Commentary • Letters • Pers pectives Outdoorsorum act could come to the rescue in uphill battle to save Fones Cliffs By JoeF McCauley sition by the Rappahannock River Valley poration declared National Wildlife Refuge, and the area is bankruptcy and The coronavirus pandemic has listed by the National Audubon Society the future of the affected nearly every facet of life in the as “globally important” for migrating and property remains United States, including the workings of resident bald eagles. in question today. Congress. While legislators have rightly The cliffs were noted as a significant Will this remain a focused on providing economic relief stop during Capt. John Smith’s voyages tale of lost oppor- for millions of unemployed workers, the in the early 1600s, and the National Park tunity, or could result is that other critical legislation is Service has identified several character- this be a once-in-a- being ignored. One such piece of legisla- istics of the cliffs as having importance generation con- tion is the Great American Outdoors Act. to the Captain John Smith Chesapeake servation success One provision of the act would National Historic Trail. story? provide full and permanent funding for Chief Anne Richardson of the Rap- The answer the Land and Water Conservation Fund, pahannock Indian Tribe recently stated largely depends on which is the primary source of federal that, “Fones Cliffs and the Rappahannock whether Congress funding for national parks, national River are important to my tribe’s culture, will pass the Great wildlife refuges and national forests. history and identity. Fones Cliffs is a American Outdoors In this time of crisis, Virginians are sacred site, home to our ancestors for Act in a timely looking to our beloved outdoors for thousands of years and the site of key Chief Anne Richardson of the Rappahannock Indian Tribe fashion. Passing solace and recreation more than ever. The encounters with the English.” and Joe McCauley of the Chesapeake Conservancy visit the act now would Chesapeake Conservancy’s work to pro- Chesapeake Conservancy has made Fones Cliffs along Virginia’s Rappahannock River in 2016. immediately stop the tect the Bay region’s natural and cultural Fones Cliffs the focal point of our land (National Park Service) raiding of the Land heritage continues urgently even as we conservation activities in Virginia and, and Water Conser- cope with the same challenges faced by along with the tribe and other conserva- in federal waters rather than tapping vation fund and ensure that the program’s our neighbors, partners and supporters. tion partners, we have for years advocated taxpayer dollars. full $900 million is available every year The need for a boost in land conser- for their permanent protection. In 2012, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife for worthy projects like Fones Cliffs. vation funding is aptly illustrated by an With appropriations from the Land Service was poised to purchase a larger In this scenario, the Rappahannock iconic feature along the Rappahannock and Water Conservation Fund, the first parcel of 968 acres at Fones Cliffs. The refuge could be included on the Fish and River that has a rich story to tell both Fones Cliffs property was purchased landowner signed a purchase agreement Wildlife Service list for appropriations in of the distant past and the uncertain and added to the national wildlife refuge that was in place for 13 months before he fiscal year 2021. present. in 2019. The Conservation Fund bought grew frustrated at the lack of closure and The extremely challenging circum- Fones Cliffs stand prominently as the 252-acre tract and sold it at cost to refused to extend it. stances our society faces have also made a near pristine natural feature: striking the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Such His frustration is understandable, evident just how important public lands 100-feet-high bluffs stretched along 4 transactions are often only made possible and not uncommon: The Land and and open spaces are to our health and miles of the river in Richmond County. by the federal fund, which draws on the Water Conservation Fund, despite being well-being. There are battles being waged The cliffs are cited as a priority for acqui- public’s profit from energy development intentionally set aside for conservation, is in our nation’s medical institutions to raided every year by Congress save lives. The battle to save Fones Cliffs to pay for other items. Histori- offers life support in a different kind of cally, less than half of the total way, a permanent salve for an increas- funds have been made available ingly scarred landscape. for conservation projects. Under Adding this treasured landmark to our those limitations, no funds national wildlife refuge system will create were appropriated to complete a place for discovery and rejuvenation. the purchase, or even begin a Conserving Fones Cliffs is emblematic phased approach, to which the of the need to expand our public lands, landowner was amenable. where nature is allowed to do what it does In the ensuing years, best: heal itself — and us. this same property has been Passage of the Great American Out- embroiled in turmoil. In 2015, doors Act is the key to Virginia finally preliminary rezoning was securing protection for this icon, as well approved that would have as countless other communities fighting permitted more than 700 to save their own beloved places all residential units, an 18-hole golf across the country. This legislation has course, lodge, restaurant and broad bipartisan support, including other resort amenities. a strong endorsement from President In 2017, a newly formed Trump, and was scheduled for a vote in corporation purchased the Congress before the COVID-19 crisis property and proceeded to hit in March. It should be included illegally clear more than in a forthcoming package as soon as 13 acres of trees and other possible to aid in our nation’s coping vegetation without obtaining and recovery. Fones Cliffs stretch along 4 miles of the Rappahannock River in Richmond County, VA. They the required land clear- Joe McCauley is a Chesapeake Fellow are important for historic, cultural and ecological reasons, and conservationists hope to ing and sediment control and adviser at the Chesapeake Conser- spare them from proposed development. (Jeffrey Allenby / Chesapeake Conservancy) permits. In 2019, the cor- vancy. Bay Journal • June 2020 33

Commentary • Letters • Pers pectives Socialorum distancing at its finest now appearing on a website near you ByF Tom Horton Photographer Dave Harp and I began our cool, April morning paddle (kayaks 6 feet apart, of course) down one of the Chesapeake’s biggest ditches, 120 feet wide, stretching for miles and designed to usher rainfall with superb efficiency from nearly 100,000 acres of Maryland and Delaware farmland. A landscape of corn and soybeans and poultry could not exist without it, nor the thousands of miles of smaller ditches that feed it. Though it’s far from the Bay, deep in the interior of the Delmarva Peninsula, you could run a cabin cruiser down it. The arrow-straight Marshy Hope Ditch, which used to be the sinuous and swampy upper Marshy Hope Creek, was a staple field trip for my Chesapeake Bay class at Salisbury University. On a faculty of mostly Ph.D.s, exploring outdoors is what this bachelor’s degree guy brings to the party. Where the ditching ends, 7 or so The red and green hues of early spring greet paddlers on Marshyhope Creek, a tributary to Maryland’s Nanticoke River on miles upstream from Federalsburg, the Delmarva Peninsula. (Dave Harp). MD, we can see from our little paddlecraft how nature quickly emanating from the rivers and streams from a world with which we strive to reasserts itself, foot by foot, of their birth. Their numbers are a live sustainably. transforming a single-purpose trickle of what once handsomely fed Tom Horton has written about drainageway into a gloriously diverse native Americans and the birds and the Chesapeake Bay for more than nontidal forested wetland. animals of the whole watershed — yet 40 years, including eight books. He The transformation is remarkably the annual return still flickers, perhaps lives in Salisbury, where he is also a swift — the power of humans doing to be rekindled someday. professor of Environmental Studies at nothing but letting nature work, It is a homecoming Salisbury University. a power we too seldom exercise. underappreciated, seldom celebrated The trip, which takes a few hours, except by the great blue herons that makes for an excellent discussion of stand ready to spear the bright little humankind’s penchant for straight Chesapeake Born fish as they wiggle across a low dam Let Us Know lines and linear thinking, versus and on up through the Salisbury Zoo, The Bay Journal nature’s wont to maximize no single What would have been my next where a higher dam ends their journey. welcomes letters pertaining to thing, just life in all of its splendor. socially distant field trip, were the A woman walking her dog looked on Chesapeake Bay issues. Letters COVID-19 ended university life semester not cut short, was just a curiously. They have come from the should be no more than 400 as we knew it this spring, especially few blocks’ walk from the school to Atlantic Ocean, I said. She clapped her words. Send letters to: Editor, the field trips core to my teaching. My Salisbury’s City Park at the head of hands: “From the ocean!” Bay Journal, 619 Oakwood scattered students Zoom in now from navigation on the Wicomico River. On I thought back to a similar scene Drive, Seven Valleys, PA as far off as Boston’s Charles River. a moonlit, windless night in early May, almost 50 years ago in Washington, 17360-9395. E-mail letters to: So with a departmental budget of 50 one of spring’s great enthusiasms was DC’s Rock Creek Park, where I filed a [email protected] bucks (maybe) to pay the generous in full swing. whimsical “breaking news” report for Letter writers should include Mr. Harp, I filmed my first “virtual” You could hear them thrashing the Baltimore Sun. I observed then that a phone number where they field trip. the dark waters, boiling silver in the few denizens of the nation’s capital For me it was a lovely respite from moonbeams; legions of river herring knew what the herring were, or what a can be reached. Longer the shuttered society of humans — on their annual spawning run from the wonderful, vital connection they were commentaries should be “social distancing at its finest,” I ocean. Each spring, they invade every witnessing. arranged in advance with the exclaimed in the film; realizing even river and stream of the Chesapeake, Half a century later, most people editor. Call: 717-428-2819. as I said it how inadequate the virtual thrusting to the uttermost capillary still don’t know. It’s glad news that Views expressed are those outdoors is for students. Our modest ends of the watershed. generally goes unreported. I find of the writers and do not effort won’t win any film festivals, The forces that drive them are that a troubling commentary on necessarily reflect those of the but educationally, well… you can cosmic, the pull of seasons and environmental awareness, which has Bay Journal or Bay Journal view it yourself at https://vimeo. lengthening days to start, then made great strides in recent decades Media. com/409254224. currents, and finally the odors — but leaves us far too socially distant 34 Bay Journal • June 2020

Commentary • Letters • Pers pectives COVID-19orum crisis underlines poultry industry’s impact on health, the Bay By AFbel Russ Meat processing plants have been in the news recently because of the spread of the coronavirus among laborers, who frequently must work in close quarters — in dangerous, unsanitary conditions — to slaughter chickens, hogs and other livestock in the Chesapeake region and elsewhere. This is a very serious health crisis, and we should not force these plants to remain open. But this is also an opportunity to re-examine the many public health and environmental risks of industrial meat production. Concentrated Animal Feed- ing Operations and large slaughterhouses are not only a threat to workers, but also to local communities and the wider environment — especially the Bay. Let’s start with the living animals. There are more than a billion chickens and turkeys produced every year in the Chesapeake watershed, most of them spending their lives in giant confinement barns, more factory than Exhaust fans ventilate a chicken house near Princess Anne, MD. (David Harp) farm. These operations are a major source of air pollution, with profound pollution per year. Ammonia can cause from poultry operations, after settling where poultry litter is land-applied as local effects. A 2018 study by Johns respiratory problems, asthma attacks on land or water in the Bay watershed, fertilizer, often in excess. Hopkins researchers found that people and other health issues. If a poultry adds about 12 million pounds of Once chickens and turkeys are fat- who live near high-density poultry operation moves into your neighbor- nitrogen to the estuary every year. tened up in CAFOs, they are trucked production are 66% more likely to hood, the smell of ammonia alone can This is more nitrogen than all of the to one of the region’s slaughterhouses. be diagnosed with pneumonia, for destroy your quality of life and your sewage and industrial wastewater As we now know all too well, these example. property value. plants in Maryland (which released 10 slaughterhouses can be deadly to work- One of the pollutants released by Ammonia is also a serious threat million pounds of nitrogen in 2018) or ers. But they are also a huge source of poultry operations is ammonia, an to the ecological health of the nation’s Pennsylvania (9 million pounds). water pollution. As the Environmental extremely hazardous and pungent gas. largest estuary. Ammonia is a nitrogen On top of the ammonia air emis- Integrity Project documented in 2018, A recent report by the Environmental compound, and nitrogen is, of course, sions, poultry operations are also a typical slaughterhouse will dump Integrity Project estimated that poultry the leading driver of algae blooms and responsible for another 12 million hundreds of pounds of nitrogen into in the Bay watershed produces about dead zones in the Chesapeake Bay. pounds of nitrogen reaching the Bay the water every day. The industry 200 million pounds of ammonia air Our report estimates that the ammonia every year as runoff from crop fields routinely violates its water pollution permits with impunity, even though it operates under lax and outdated pollu- etter to the ditor tion limits that the U.S. Environmental L E Protection Agency refuses to update. ronment, we must pass the bipartisan The current state of affairs is Commit to combating climate change, COVID-19 S. 2302, America’s Transportation reckless and unsustainable. Industrial We’re facing an uncertain future, and young. According to Audubon’s Infrastructure Act (ATIA), and S. meat production should be regulated yet we have leaders in Congress whose Survival by Degrees report, two-thirds 2657, the American Energy Innovation like any other industry. Its workers first reaction in the COVID-19 and of North American bird species are at Act (AEIA). These bills will remove should be protected, and its air and climate change crisis is to provide care risk of extinction under a 3-degrees barriers to execute and complete clean water pollution should be monitored packages to wealthy CEOs instead of Celsius warming scenario. Today, energy projects as part of any future and limited. At the end of the day, the communities. This isn’t the rapid relief communities across the Chesapeake stimulus package. corporate owners of these factories we need to move our country forward. region are suffering from COVID-19 I urge Sens. Ben Cardin and Chris must be held accountable for the harm The coronavirus pandemic is and climate change. Van Hollen to move Maryland for- to public health and the Chesapeake teaching us to rethink and reshape our For families across Maryland, this ward, building a resilient 21st century Bay that too often hides from sight. economy in the face of climate change, means communities are struggling to put economy to support clean jobs in every Abel Russ is senior attorney at the and public health disasters. food on table as sectors of the economy county and rural community. From Environmental Integrity Project and In Baltimore, birds like the yellow- shutdown, jobless numbers rise and busi- the Eastern Shore to East Baltimore, co-author of the recent report,Poultry throated warbler and the scarlet nesses we know and love close their doors. we need a bipartisan commitment to Industry Pollution in the Chesapeake tanager have been telling us for a long The solution is clear: Congress must combat COVID-19 and climate change. Region (environmentalintegrity.org/ time that they cannot survive without take comprehensive climate action Jaime D. Sigaran reports/poultry-industry-pollution-in- the resources they need to raise their now. To protect our health and envi- Baltimore, MD the-chesapeake-region/). Bay Journal • June 2020 35

St. Mary’s County, MD, museums the second Saturday in June, July The St. Mary’s County (MD) and August remove invasive plants Museum Division is featuring WorkdayMake sure that whenWisdom you at Ruth Swann Park in Bryans Road. Wayback Wednesdays. Every participate in cleanup or invasive Meet at the Ruth Swann Park- Wednesday, a new, short video plant removal workdays to protect Potomac Branch Library parking lot. (previous weeks also available) the Chesapeake Bay watershed Bring lunch. Info: [email protected], will feature a quirky or fascinating and its resources that you also 301-283-0808, (301-442-5657 day aspect of St. Mary’s history, protect yourself. Organizers of of event). Carpoolers meet at Sierra Virtual Learning including Horse Racing in almost every workday strongly Club MD Chapter office at 9 a.m.; Leonardtown, the Black Diamond urge their volunteers to wear long return at 5 p.m. Carpool contact: CBMM Island Life & Rising Tides Disaster, Why Maryland Didn’t pants, long-sleeved shirts, socks 301-277-7111. Because the public cannot go Secede and more. Visit and closed-toe shoes (hiking or to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime facebook.com/watch/SCIMuseum waterproof). This helps to mini- Severn River Association Museum in St. Michaels, MD, (Close “the video not available” box mize skin exposure to poison ivy The Severn River Association during the COVID-19 crisis, CBMM and the video should start). and ticks, which might be found still has opportunities for volunteers is offering virtual experiences to at the site. Light-colored clothing who can work independently on bring the museum to their homes: VA Living Museum also makes it easier to spot ticks. land and water to track conditions ≈ Island Life - Changing Culture, Virtual learning programs offered Hats are strongly recommended. in the river’s watershed. As the Changing Shorelines: Originally daily by the Virginia Living Museum Although some events provide group slowly restarts its scientific planned for display at CBMM, in Newport News feature lessons, work gloves, not all do; ask monitoring operations, it is working this exhibit of photographs by animal ambassadors, adventure when registering. Events near with the MD Department of Natural Jay Fleming is now online, His challenges, live feeds and other water require closed-toe shoes Resources to develop COVID-19 photographs reveal how the activities for all ages. The programs and clothing that can get wet safety protocols to protect staff and changing environment is affecting are available on various social or muddy. Always bring water. volunteers working in the field. the cultures and shorelines of media platforms: Facebook [F], Sunscreen and an insect repellent Training in new procedures will inhabited and formerly inhabited Twitter [T] and Instagram [I]. Here’s designed to repel both deer ticks be offered as circumstances allow. offshore islands in the Bay. Visit: the schedule: and mosquitoes help. The citizen scientist opportunities cbmmislandlife.org. ≈ Diet of the Day: 8 a.m. Lastly, most organizers ask that include: ≈ Rising Tide After-School Monday, Wednesday & Friday. volunteers register ahead of time. ≈ Water Quality Monitoring: Program: 3:30 p.m. Thursdays. Learn about what VLM animals eat. Knowing how many people are Through October. Crew needed Grades 6–9. Log on to work with [F, I, T] going to show up ensures that to conduct weekly boat tours to CBMM educators on a variety of ≈ Awesome Animal Ambassadors: they will have enough tools and monitor the Severn’s health. lessons, including origami, building 8 a.m. Sunday. Meet a VLM supervisors. They can also give ≈ Water Quality Crew: Morning cardboard boats, participating in ambassador animal. [F] directions to the site or offer any river cruise collects scientific data a green energy scavenger hunt ≈ VLM Live: 11 a.m. Daily & 2:30 suggestions for apparel or gear and monitors wildlife habitat. or understanding buoyancy and p.m. Monday–Friday. Fish & animal not mentioned here. ≈ Join the SAV Navy! Set your displacement. Most sessions care / enrichment. Ask questions. [F] own hours through September. Use include a virtual field trip, inviting ≈ Nature at Noon: 12 p.m. kayak, canoe or a small boat to students to experience other places Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday. Learn resources. Go on a trash scavenger map SAV beds, identify submerged and cultures. To register / info: about nature found in your own hunt, explore the museum’s oral aquatic vegetation. Paddlers of all [email protected]. New students backyard. [F, I, T] histories collection, learn about skill levels welcome. Gear supplied. are welcome! ≈ VLM Mysteries - What is it? 4 the life cycle of Chesapeake ≈ GEMS Expedition: Explorers, For updates on when the p.m. Daily. Try to identify what the creatures or take a virtual tour of naturalists and foresters are needed museum might reopen, visit daily photo is a picture of. It could the museum’s exhibits. Earth Day for a land-based expedition to map cbmm.org or call 410-745-2916. be part of an animal or an item from Resources features lesson plans & 500 ecological features throughout VLM’s collections. Answer revealed activities and videos. Chesapeake the Severn watershed: wetlands, Tour Maryland parks the next day. [I] Bay Animals features background trees, ferns, plants, wildlife, creeks, Learn about history and ≈ Virginia Skies: 6 p.m. [T] & 8 research, worksheets, arts & crafts historical & cultural features to fascinating nature highlights — p.m. [F] Daily. Stargaze, learn stellar and videos. Maritime Heritage create a GIS map of watershed’s Harriet Tubman’s story, a corn facts. [T] features research, worksheets and ecology. snake, a wildflower hike — while ≈ Family Fun: Visit the arts & crafts. Watershed Stewardship ≈ Tell Severn’s Story? Writers, taking a virtual tour of Maryland’s museum’s YouTube channel features research, lesson plans & photographers, reporters, state parks. To view one of the 29 for nature activities, including activities, worksheets, arts & crafts memoirists needed to record story videos, put “MD DNR virtual park outdoor adventures, astronomy, and videos. of river’s wildlife, people, forests, tour” in your search engine, go living sustainably, home history, culture and sailing. SRA to DNR Offers Virtual State Park science, learning about VLM’s Volunteer Opportunities can create internships for budding Tours LexLeader and follow the awesome animal ambassadors journalists of all ages who want to instructions. and age-specific activities. Visit Mid Susquehanna reports tell a story, cover meetings, take thevlm.org. Info: thevlm.org, The Middle Susquehanna pictures, build up their clip file. Connect with nature 757-595-1900, facebook.com/ Riverkeeper Association takes Info: [email protected]. Put The Maryland Department of VirginiaLivingMuseum, reports of any concern regarding “volunteer” in the message box. Natural Resources is providing twitter.com/VLMuseum, the river or its tributaries very an assortment of free and low- instagram.com/valivingmuseum. seriously. If you have a report of MD angler survey cost programs for various grade something out of the ordinary, Become a citizen scientist levels. To learn about birds, bees, Annapolis Maritime Museum email Riverkeeper John Zaktansky by helping the MD Department scat, leaves, nature journals and The Annapolis Maritime Museum at [email protected] or call of Natural Resources collect more, put “MD wildlife education & Park is providing students, as 570-768-6300. species, location, size data on a resources” in your search engine. well as adults, with worksheets, smartphone using its Volunteer To learn about what a park ranger crafts, videos and lesson plans Ruth Swann Park Angler Survey. The data is used to does, put “Maryland Junior Ranger at its Virtual Learning Resources Help the Maryland Native Plant develop management strategies. Program - Maryland DNR” in your page on its website, amaritime. Society, Sierra Club and Chapman search engine. org/education/virtual-learning- Forest Foundation 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Bulletin continues on page 36 36 Bay Journal • June 2020

and other wildlife initiatives. Other opportunities include fundraising events, website development, SubmissionThe Bay Journal regrets it is not leastGuidelines two months in advance. See writing for newsletters and events, always able to print every notice it below. developing photo archives and receives because of space limita- ≈ Submissions to Bulletin Board supporting office staff. Volunteers tions. Priority is given to events or must be sent either as a Word or donating more than 100 hours programs that most closely relate Pages document, or as simple text of service per year receive a free Bulletin from page 35 to the preservation and appre- in the body of an e-mail. PDFs, one-year family membership to ciation of the Bay, its watershed newsletters or other formats may be CBEC. Info: volunteercoordinator@ The artificial reef initiative, blue and resources. Items published considered if there is space and if bayrestoration.org. crab, freshwater fisheries, muskie, in Bulletin Board are posted on information can be easily extracted. shad and striped bass programs also the online calendar; unpublished ≈ Programs must contain all of Activities / Events have been upgraded with mobile- items are posted online if staffing the following information: a phone friendly methods to record data. Win permits. Guidelines: number (include the area code) or MD DNR photo contest quarterly prizes. Info: dnr.maryland. ≈ Send notices to e-mail address of a contact person; The Maryland Department of gov/Fisheries/Pages/survey/index.aspx. [email protected]. Items the title, time (online calendar Natural Resources is accepting sent to other addresses are not requires an end time as well as a entries for its annual photo contest. Mount Harmon Plantation always forwarded before the start time), date and place of the Images can be: birds, fauna, flora, Help Mount Harmon Plantation deadline. event or program. Submissions insects, natural phenomena, in Earleville, MD, with the manor ≈ Bulletin Board contains events must state if the program is free, outdoor recreation, scenic house student tours, colonial crafts, that take place (or have registra- requires a fee, has age require- landscapes, weather or wildlife. hearth cooking, guided nature walks tion deadlines) on or after the 11th ments, has a registration deadline First, second and third place are and the herb garden. Special event of the month in which the item or welcomes drop-ins. awarded for each season. An volunteers assist with the manor is published through the 11th of ≈ July-August issue: June 11 overall grand prize winner will be house tours, admission/ticket sales, the next month. Deadlines run at ≈ September issue: August 11 chosen from the first-prize winners. gift shop and auction and raffle Social media users may select a fundraisers. Training is provided. “Fan Favorite” via the department’s Docents are asked to commit to 8 groups, houses of worship, schools Adopt-a-stream / pond Facebook page. Photographers, hours of service per month during and universities are invited to The Prince William Soil & Water novice or professional, may submit tour season: 10–3 p.m. Thursdays– participate. Learn about projects Conservation District in Manassas, up to three entries for $10 with Sundays, May–October. Info: 410- that are scheduled to coincide with VA, gives stream cleanup events additional entries (no limit) at $3 275-8819, [email protected]. the National Day of Service on the supplies and support they need each until Aug. 31. The contest is Sept. 11. Info: chesapeakenetwork. for trash removal projects. Groups open to residents and out-of-state VA Master Naturalists org/groups/project-clean- also receive an Adopt-A-Stream sign visitors alike, but only photos VA Master Naturalists are a stream/ projectcleanstream@ recognizing their efforts. For info / of Maryland qualify. The best corps of volunteers who help allianceforthebay.org. to adopt a stream / get a proposed overall photo receives a grand to manage and protect natural site: [email protected]. prize of $500 cash, a one-year areas through plant & animal Howard County Conservancy Register events at trashnetwork. Maryland State Park and Trail surveys, stream monitoring, trail The Howard County fergusonfoundation.org. Passport, a complimentary five-year rehabilitation and teaching in nature Conservancy needs volunteers to subscription to Maryland Natural centers. Training covers ecology, lead elementary and secondary Test for chemicals in water Resource magazine and five copies geology, soils, native flora & fauna school hikes. No experience is The Prince William (County) Soil of the 2021 calendar. First, second, and habitat management. Info: necessary. Volunteers choose and Water Conservation District and third place winners also receive virginiamasternaturalist.org. which hikes they would like to and the Virginia Department prizes. Winning entries will be do. No minimum or maximum of Environmental Quality need posted online, featured in an issue Creek Critters app time requirement. Volunteers are volunteers to join their Chemical of the magazine and placed in the Using Audubon Naturalist’s also needed for other events. Info: Water Quality Monitoring Teams, 2021 wall calendar. Visit Creek Critters app, check a streams’ Carole at 410-465-8877, who collect data from local dnr.maryland.gov/Pages/ health by finding, identifying small [email protected]. streams. DEQ will teach volunteers photocontest.aspx for rules. organisms that live in freshwater, techniques to collect and read the then creating a report based on Patuxent Refuge bookstore data. Monitoring sites are accessible Resources what is found. Get the free program The Wildlife Images Bookstore for easy collection. Info: at the App Store and Google Play. at the National Wildlife Visitor [email protected], Treat yourself to a tree Info: anshome.org/creek-critters. Center of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife pwswcd.org. Using the extra time at home To learn about partnerships/ host a Service’s Patuxent Research Refuge time to spruce up your landscape? Creek Critters event: in Laurel, MD, needs volunteers to Volunteer at CBEC Put “How to plant a container tree [email protected]. open & close the store and run the The Chesapeake Bay Maryland DNR” in your search register. Training is provided. Info: Environmental Center in engine for a YouTube video. Project Clean Stream [email protected], Grasonville, MD, has volunteer Summer is almost here and 301-497-5771. openings for people who only want Property pointers it’s time to plan a fall cleanup to drop in a few times a month as The Alliance for the Chesapeake event. Be part of the Alliance for CBL Visitor Center well as those who want to help Bay offers resources for property the Chesapeake Bay’s Project The Chesapeake Biological more frequently. Openings include: owners who want to make their Clean Stream. Volunteers in all Laboratory’s Visitor Center on helping with educational programs; landscapes more friendly: six Bay states and the district Solomons Island, MD, needs guiding kayak trips or hikes; staffing ≈ Wood you Like to Learn about pick up trash in waterways and volunteers, ages 16 & older. They the front desk; maintaining trails, Forests? Put “Alliance Websites, parks using supplies (trash bags, must commit to a minimum of two, landscapes & pollinator garden; Resources, Videos, Blogs” in your gloves) provided by the Alliance. 3– to 4-hour shifts each month feeding or handling captive birds search engine, then scroll down to Residents, local businesses, in spring, summer, fall. Training of prey; maintaining birds’ living the Forest for the Bay’s Tree Talks. environmental organizations, sessions are required. Info: quarters; participating in CBEC’s local governments, community [email protected]. team of wood duck box monitors Bulletin continues on page 37 Bay Journal • June 2020 37

Network (search engine those most other states. Online inland areas to learn about marine terms) to learn about events, or opportunities include: debris and how to monitor local opportunities that protect or restore ≈ Virginians: boat-ed.com/virginia waterways. The toolkit supports the Bay, including webinars, job ≈ Marylanders: efforts to reduce impacts on marine postings and networking. Stay boatus.org/maryland ecosystems through hands-on connected with the conservation ≈ DC residents & nonresidents: citizen science, education and world. boat-ed.com/districtofcolumbia community outreach. Info/search ≈ Comprehensive list of engine: marine debris monitoring Bulletin from page 36 Bilingual educator resources training options: uscgboating.org/ toolkit for educators. Educational programs are recreational-boaters/boating-safety- Topics include: How to Plant A available in English and Spanish courses.php Turf / lawn programs Tree, What’s That Conifer?, Live from the Interstate Commission ≈ Free boating safety tools & For information on Prince William Staking, Gray Dogwood, Boxelder, on the Potomac River Basin. materials from the Coast Guard (VA) Cooperative Extension’s 12 Poison Ivy, Black Raspberry, Info: potomacriver.org/resources/ Auxiliary: Put “recreational boating Steps to a Greener Lawn / Building Pawpaw, Blackgum, Snags, Witch educator. safety outreach” in your search Environmental Sustainable Turf Hazel, Christmas Fern, White Cedar, engine. BEST Lawns low-cost, research- Mountain Laurel, Atlantic White Track Severn River’s health based programs for lawn education, Cedar, and A Hobbyist’s Guide to Check the health of the Severn Stormwater class contact: [email protected], Maple Sugaring. River online at cmc.vims.edu/#/home. The Alliance for the Chesapeake 703-792-4037. ≈ Bouquets for the Bay: Visit Water quality data collected from Bay’s Municipal Online Stormwater NativePlantCenter.net to find the the Severn River Association’s Training Center’s Dig Once Course Floatable monitoring program perfect native species for your network of 41 monitoring stations, suggests how local leaders can Help the Prince William Soil landscape. from Indian Landing near the integrate green infrastructure into & Water Conservation District in ≈ Right as Rain Landscape: headwaters to Lake Ogleton and the community capital projects such Manassas, VA, assess and trace Learn how to design a stormwater creeks of Whitehall Bay, are posted as road construction and school trash in streams to reduce nonpoint runoff plan that will help you better on Data Explorer, a data-sharing & park improvements. Interactive source pollutants in urbanized and manage water running off your platform run by the Chesapeake lessons and videos in a user-friendly industrialized areas in relation to property. Visit the Alliance for the Monitoring Cooperative. The site format give communities tools to the County’s Municipal Separate Chesapeake Bay’s Yard Design Tool also contains SRA water quality build and enhance local stormwater Storm Sewers (MS4) permit. at stormwater.allianceforthebay.org. monitoring data for 2018 and 2019 programs. Info: mostcenter.org. Cleanup supplies provided. Info: and fecal bacteria levels collected [email protected]. Severn River speakers online by Operation Clearwater, run by Is your yard Bay-Wise? Severn River Association‘s John Professor Tammy Domansky at Master Gardeners in Prince Baltimore Biodiversity Toolkit Wright Speaker Series presentations Anne Arundel Community College. George’s County, MD, are part of To help meet habitat needs are available online. Titles include Anne Arundel County’s bacteria Bay-Wise, a program offering free of native plants & animals, the Oyster Farming in St. Jerome’s reports are also posted. consultations on environmental Baltimore Biodiversity Toolkit Creek; The Demise of Our Yellow practices to help county residents identifies species that represent Perch Fishery; Land Preservation: Watershed capsules certify their landscapes. Those habitats within and historic to a How Does it Work?; Tree Care In Prince William (VA) Soil and who demonstrate healthy lawn community. It shows how to support The Critical Area; Enjoy The Severn Water Conservation District’s maintenance, efficient watering, pest specific wildlife needs; helps citizen River – Standing Up!; Runoff, Watershed Capsules, which teach control and create habitat for native scientists monitor and collect Permits & Water Quality; Annapolis students about the important trees & plants for wildlife receive data; and develops a culture of Neck – Mud Floods, Fishing on the functions of watersheds, are Bay-Wise signs. Homeowners conservation and stewardship. Using Severn; and Will Butterflies & Bees available, first-come, first-served. can evaluate their property online 20 ambassador species from four Survive? These, and other titles, are Info: pwswcd.org/capsules. using the MD Yardstick, which habitats, the toolkit helps prioritize available at severnriver.org/category/ tallies pollution-reducing gardening community greening projects based speaker-series. Boating safety instruction and landscaping practices. To be on representative species, citizen Boating safety classes are certified, though, a landscape must science data and spatial analysis Chesapeake Network required for operators of be visited, evaluated by a Master that includes social, economic and Join the Alliance for the recreational boats in Virginia, Gardener. Info: Esther Mitchell at ecological indicators. Info: fws.gov. Chesapeake Bay’s Chesapeake Maryland, the District of Columbia, [email protected], extension.umd. edu/baywise/program-certification. Wildlife education trunks Click on “download the yardstick” MD Department of Natural Chesapeake Challenge to evaluate a landscape and/or Resources Wildlife Education Trunks Answers to vegetable garden online. are available to teachers, home- school educators and naturalists. A Whopping Whale of a Quiz Wetlands Work website Free, interdisciplinary tools are on page 22. The Chesapeake Bay Program’s designed to interest students in 1. A 2. B 3. A 4. A 5. B 6. B website, Wetlands Work, at local wildlife while building on 7. C 8. D wetlandswork.org, connects art, language arts, math, physical Did you know that whales agricultural landowners with education, science, social studies tattoos are often symbolic for people and programs that can skills. It contains an educator protection, guidance, close support wetland development and guide, lesson plans, hands-on K–12 family ties and motherhood? restoration on their land. activities, supplies, books, furs, replica tracks, videos. Subjects Marine debris toolkit include aquatic invasive species, Bay Buddies The National Oceanic and bats, black bears, furbearers, white- Answers to Whales! on page 22. Atmospheric Administration’s offices tailed deer and wild turkeys. Trunks 1. C 2. B 3. B 4. E 5. B of National Marine Sanctuaries can be borrowed on a first-come, 6. True 7. B 8. D. 9. D Humpback whale and Marine Debris Program have first-served basis for up to two (Whit Welles / CC BY 3.0) developed a toolkit for students weeks. Info/search engine: Wildlife and educators in coastal and Education Trunks. 38 Bay Journal • June 2020 Organization critical to a tree planting event’s success By Amanda Bland have been ordered and obtained, and are There are many ways to make an at the site the day of impact in your community, but it can the planting. Make be a challenge to know how to get a list of everything started. Planting trees is an incredible that has to be done to way to create and expand community refer to throughout the space, tree canopy, wildlife habitat and workday. stormwater runoff protection. Throughout the winter and spring, Post-planting I set out to organize a volunteer-based maintenance tree planting at North Brentwood Park Project mainte- in Prince George’s County, MD, as a nance is essential to part of my year assigned to the Alli- the success of a tree ance for the Chesapeake Bay through planting. In the months the Chesapeake Conservations Corps. after the planting, you This was my first opportunity to should implement your organize a tree planting. Here are steps maintenance plan and I took while preparing for an event that keep in contact with aligned with my goals as well as the all involved parties many lessons l learned along the way. to ensure that duties Aspects include working with partners, are being completed. creating a budget and timeline, site Taking time initially specifics, planting day execution and to design a thorough post-planting follow-up. Considering plan will alleviate these factors early in the process will Amanda Bland stands near trees planted adjacent to a stream in North Brentwood Park in Prince stress and ensure that save you time and energy, as well George’s County, MD. (Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay) trees receive water and as support the overall success of the proper care. project. project due to labor. Scheduling a post-planting site visit ≈ Can consolidate the purchase of is important to ensure that trees were Things to consider labor, trees, mulch and other supplies planted properly and are growing as A few basic components of the through one supplier. anticipated. Depending on the project’s tree planting will determine the steps ≈ Can increase project success by size and scope, you may need to make needed to move forward. First, nail hiring individuals skilled in proper multiple visits up to a year after the down the “when and where.” tree-planting methods. planting. Will you host a spring or fall tree Engaging volunteers planting? There are positives and nega- ≈ Enables the community to Be flexible tives to both and, depending on your participate, providing an opportunity Unexpected challenges are always location and tree species, one season to connect with local residents and Site Specifics going to arise while executing a may be better suited than the other. expand their knowledge of the benefits Every location has unique features, project. Nearly a week before a tree Determining where includes decid- of trees. and it’s important to consider them planting at North Brentwood Park ing whether the planting will take place ≈ May increase project impact when deciding on a site. These may in Brentwood, MD, all nonessential on public or private land. Planting on because community members may be include existing trees, underground gatherings were canceled to protect the land you do not own or manage may more inclined to plant trees in their utilities, nearby homes, infrastructure, health and safety of the public from require permits, land access and special yards or lead their own tree plantings. roads, soil type and sidewalks. Some COVID-19. A day that was initially approval. Planting on public land may ≈ Requires the time and materials features may improve the quality of scheduled to have dozens of volunteers create the opportunity for community needed to teach volunteers proper tree a planting, while others may pose on site quickly turned into a project involvement. When weighing these two planting methods. challenges. For example, planting that was completed by a small con- options, keep in mind that landowners ≈ May decrease a project’s cost. trees may help mitigate the stormwater tracting crew. managing tree planting projects on This is ideal for large projects that runoff in a location experiencing Although this challenge was unan- their own land will not have to tackle would otherwise exceed the budget if a flooding. In other cases, utilities, exist- ticipated, when faced with circum- permitting requirements. contractor was hired. ing infrastructure and proximity to stances such as this, it’s important to sidewalks may not be conducive to tree keep your goals in the forefront of your Partners & budget Designing a timeline heath or land stability. It’s important to mind to figure out how they can still be Once the location of the tree Creating, following and updating consider all of a site’s features before achieved. planting has been determined, it will your timeline is essential for success. designating a planting location. I believe that by adapting to become easier to decide who to include. Select a date for the tree planting as far situations and coming up with new Depending on the size, budget and in advance as possible to allow enough Executing planting day solutions, we are able to challenge scope of the project, you might want time to work through challenges that Throughout the project, it is ourselves and reach levels of impact to host a volunteer-based planting or might pop up and still keep to the essential to communicate with all of that otherwise would not have been hire contractors to complete the work. timeline. Based on the a project’s size, your partners. Monthly meetings can achievable. Consider these aspects: you may need to begin planning the help track progress and keep partners Want to have an impact in your Hiring a contractor location, size and partners five to six involved in project adjustments. Ensure community? Visit allianceforthebay.org ≈ Concentrates project logistics months in advance. Be sure to allow that all requirements have been met, to check out the staff’s blog and do-it- to one partner. Rather than having to enough time to gather supplies, line up including permits, land access and a yourself resources. communicate with various volunteers, a contractor and get the proper permits. maintenance plan. Communicate with Amanda Bland, a member of the the project manager works with Don’t forget to include pre-construction volunteers or contractors about planting Chesapeake Conservation Corps, contractors on logistics. meetings with partners and post- day logistics. Keep a list throughout is assigned to the Alliance for the ≈ May increase the cost of the planting maintenance in the timeline. the project to ensure that all materials Chesapeake Bay. Bay Journal • June 2020 39 Cape May warbler: Don’t let this fascinating bird’s name fool you By Mike Burke densities ranged from 70 pairs per square-kilometer in the 1940s, to Initial reports started to come in zero pairs in the 1950s, back up to during the final days of April. By the 148 in the 1980s. The heavy, wide- first week of May, the eBird sightings spread use of organophosphate turned into an avalanche. Birders were pesticides in 1975–76 destroyed appropriately social distancing, but that most of the pests. Consequently, wasn’t stopping them from some major the Cape May population dropped league backyard birding. The spring by 91%, hit by the double devasta- migrants were coming through, and tion of pesticide poisoning and reports of Cape May warbler sightings starvation. were hard to keep up with. Today, more targeted spraying, The male Cape May is one of the less lethal pesticides and non- prettiest wood warblers in the Ameri- chemical measures have improved cas, a real prize every year. Stuck close forest health without sacrificing to home, I wasn’t able to see one this birds. year, but I was enjoying the electronic Because of this up-and-down postings. The tiny bird is an arresting population cycle, the Cape May combination of bright yellow, jet black produces large (for warblers) and mossy green. The male also has clutches of about six eggs. During a handsome chestnut cheek patch and times of plenty, the species flashing patterns of white on wing and expands its population by as much tail. This multi-hued bird is a visual as 13% annually. delight. The female builds its nest high It is also badly named. in spruce or fir trees. She also Today, Cape May, NJ, is a birding does all of the incubating of the mecca. Sitting at the southern tip of eggs. Dad chips in once the chicks the state, bordering the Delaware Bay are hatched. Both parents feed the and the Atlantic, it is a natural funnel The chestnut cheek on this Cape May warbler tells the world that it is a male. The female young. for migrating species. In the spring, has a gray cheek. (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) Female Cape May warblers birds heading north “fall out” at Cape are a paler version of their male May, the first land they encounter after species’ Latin name: Setophaga tigrina. companions. Instead of jet black, the arduous overwater flights. In truth, it got its name solely same areas are a muted gray. The cheek In the fall, it’s the last stop for birds because the first specimen described patch is also gray. The young look like to feed and rest before embarking on in scientific literature was taken from their mothers until they reach their the return trip over the Bay or ocean. Cape May more than 150 years ago. adult feathering. Birds are ready to Sure, this warbler has been seen in its Regardless of what you call it, the breed by age one. namesake town, but so have literally Cape May warbler is a fascinating With its reliance on spruce bud- hundreds of other species. little bird. worms in its breeding territory, you A more accurate name might be Here in the Chesapeake watershed, might wonder what Cape Mays do spruce warbler, given its preference for the Cape May only stops on its way for food on their tropical wintering these conifers. Or maybe the French- elsewhere. The species winters in habitat, which lack towering spruce Canadian name, Pauline tigree (tiger the West Indies, from Puerto Rico trees. Not surprisingly, it is a radically warbler), which stresses the bird’s and Cuba west to Central America. It different diet. Unique among warblers, tiger-striped undersides and echoes the leaves the tropical forests in the early the Cape May has a semi-tubular tongue that enables it to drink nectar from tropical flowers. Maybe this bird should be called the spring, coming into Virginia in late hummingbird warbler. April and making its way up through The wintertime Cape May doesn’t New York and beyond in May. The completely forgo insects. It consumes birds are heading to the spruce-fir lots of spiders, beetles, flies and the forests that stretch from Saskatchewan like. Working its way through trees to Nova Scotia. A modest number will and shrubs, the warbler gleans insects, breed in the forests of the upper Great sips nectar and eats small fruits, easily Lakes and northern Maine. meeting its dietary requirements. Few species are as intricately What are we to make of this strange linked as the Cape May warbler and and wonderful little bird? the spruce budworm, an insect that Maybe the Cape May name for this eats conifer needles. Viewed as a warbler is just fine. major pest, the budworm (the caterpil- Names alone don’t tell us much. lar stage of the budworm moth) is a Only by getting to know the specifics widely distributed forest defoliator. It about an individual can we really get is also the primary food for Cape May at the truth. It takes a bit of effort, but warblers on their breeding territory. the reward can be another fascinating The boom-and-bust cycle of glimpse of life. Regardless of what you budworms corresponds with that of the call it, that’s a wonderful outcome. Sketches help the artist develop an eye for detail that not only helps to identify a Cape May warbler. In northern Ontario Mike Burke, an amateur naturalist, bird’s species, but its gender as well. (Mike Burke) during the last century, population lives in Mitchellville, MD. 40 Bay Journal • June 2020

Pollinator Week is June 22–28. For information on how to help, including pollinator planting guides, visit fws.gov/ and click on “Pollinators” in the navigation menu.. Do you like to eat and breathe? Thank a pollinator By Kathryn Reshetiloff States. Pollinators promote food security, provide sustenance and other resources to the assurance that an individual has a other forms of life. Honey from bees pro- Pollination ensures that a plant will sufficient supply of food rather than vides food for a wide variety of animals. produce full-bodied fruit and a full set uncertainty regarding his or her next As primary producers, plants provide of viable seeds. It occurs when pollen is meal. Without pollinators, the amount and energy that all living animals need to moved within flowers or carried from types of food produced would be greatly consume. If native plants suffer from a flower to flower by animals such as birds, diminished. Foods like tomatoes, broccoli, lack of pollinators and are outcompeted bees, bats, butterflies, moths, beetles and beans and cucumbers would not even be and replaced by invasive species, other other animals, or by the wind. This leads possible without pollinators. plants and animals — including us — are to fertilization, then seed and fruit produc- sustainable natural and agricultural also affected. tion in plants. ecosystems. Raw materials These are just some of the ways that A diverse array of plants rely on polli- Raw materials are natural resources processed and used in a variety of ways. bees, butterflies, moths, beetles and other nators, including more than 180,000 plant Carbon sequestration pollinators contribute to the natural and species, including 1,200 crops, making Carbon sequestration is the removal Each year, 6 billion tons of natural bio- of carbon from the atmosphere through mass are converted to fuel, paper, wood economic health of the world. pollinators essential to the health of plants, But just as important is how they other animals and people. the capture or storage of the gas in plants products, cotton fiber, cooking oil, herbs, and soils. Photosynthesis, the process in essential oils, cosmetics and medicines. enhance our lives. Pollinators are often Without pollinators, many plant the first types of wildlife we come into species would simply disappear. This, in which plants synthesize their food, uses The plants that produce these products atmospheric carbon dioxide and gives off often rely on pollinators. contact with, whether it’s an elegant but- turn, would influence other natural and terfly, fuzzy moth, plump bumblebee or oxygen in its place, storing atmospheric economic functions within our world. acrobatic hummingbird. We can get close carbon as biomass. The plants that rely on Soil Soil health and stability determine to watch them move from flower to flower. Biodiversity pollinators are absolutely critical to main- the protein health of plants, which helps They don’t even seem to notice us. Biodiversity is the amount of differ- taining the balance of our atmosphere and ent species in a given environment or plants fight pests and disease. When plants There is increasing evidence that many mitigating climate change, thus allowing habitat. Pollinators improve biodiversity supported by pollinators die and decay, pollinators are in decline. Here are simple us to survive and thrive. by facilitating the reproduction of necessary nutrients become available for things you can do to encourage pollinator many diverse plant species that, in Food security the next generation of life. A decline in diversity and abundance: turn, provide food and shelter for birds, Pollinators help produce one of every pollinators means less nutrient cycling and ≈ Plant a pollinator garden. mammals and insects. Biodiverse three bites of food we consume. Pollina- less fertile soil. A lack of fertile soil and ≈ Provide nesting habitat. ecosystems are more resilient against tors add $217 billion to the global econ- plant life would render large parts of our ≈ Avoid or limit pesticide use. sudden changes caused by disease, omy, and honey bees alone are responsible world unlivable. Kathryn Reshetiloff is with the U.S. natural disasters, changes in weather for between $1.2 billion and $5.4 billion Food for wildlife Fish and Wildlife Service’s Chesapeake and human activities. It also promotes in agricultural productivity in the United Pollinators and the plants they support Bay Field Office in Annapolis.