Federation Blog

If you missed the MPT special last night  - click here to see the on-line video.   

From CAFOs (concentrated animal factory operations), small farmers, private lawns, to wastewater treatment plants and septic systems, to power plants - they are all sources of pollution to the Chesapeake Bay watershed.  This program highlights recent efforts by Kathy Phillips, the Assateague Coastkeeper and Michael Helfrich, the Lower Susquahanna Riverkeeper; two of thirteen Chesapeake Waterkeepers fighting for our right to clean water.

If you want to better understand terms like 'stormwater runoff', manure management systems, TMDLs, and CAFOs, be sure to take a look.

This program was partially funded by The Campbell Foundation. South River Federation provided video footage.

 

 

 

Driving up Muddy Creek Road this morning, stopped, waiting for the light at 214 to turn green, I noticed a healthy stand of trumpet vine (Campsis radicans) in bloom.  Its bright orange flowers are showy are hard to miss, but looking a little more closely, I saw two hummingbirds (I think they were ruby-throated (Archilochus colubris)) flitting in and out of the blossoms, sipping their nectar.

It's rare enough to see one hummingbird, but to see two together is quite a treat.  If you've got trumpet vine growing up a nearby trellis or tree, keep your eyes peeled and you may spy one of these little marvels yourself.

 

 

Ok; over the past two days several people have pulled up next to Remedy (Riverkeeper boat) and asked me "where the He## are the Blue Crab?"

Upon analyzing our water quality data this week and consulting with my source at DNR; the South River water quality is now not the best for our Blue Crabs.  The current water temperature is hovering around 85°F at the bottom, the dissolved oxygen is now around 2-3mg/l, and the salinity is 10 (salinity is a unitless number).  Therefore the Blue crabs are in search of better dissolved oxygen and cooler water.  Sorry All, I do love my Blue Crabs too!-- Diana

Yesterday's tidal water quality monitoring started at 7:00am with an air temperature of 87°F and ended at 4:30pm with an air temperature of 102°F.  This was a very HOT and unconfortable montitoring day - but me and my two great interns got it done!  I have created a GIS plot of the water clarity in meters, the legal threshold for the South River is 1 meter to support bay grasses.

 

The South River Federation's Riverkeeper Tidal Water Quality montoring is in mid-season currently.  Some of you may have see us out there sampling the water quality.  I have been ask many questions about when and where we sample.  I have provided a GIS map of our current tidal stations.  I have 7 main stem stations, then 14 stations in each of the tidal creeks.  

Tonight is the first of four public hearings on DNR's public regulatory hearings which is part of the implementation of Governor Martin O'Malley's Oyster Restoration and Aquaculture Plan. Governor O'Malley and DNR submitted the proposed regulations in May after months of public discussion, DNR open houses and robust input from thousands of citizens following the Governor's announcement of the plan in December 2009.

These public events will feature an overview of the proposed regulations by DNR staff followed by opportunities for individual comments. Comments may also be submitted online at fisheriespubliccomment@dnr.state.md.us or by mail to:

MD-DNR Fisheries Service
Oyster Recovery
Tawes State Office Bldg
580 Taylor Ave. B-2
Annapolis, MD 21401

DNR staff will be available from 5-6pm to answer questions. All hearings will begin promptly at 6pm.

Tonight's meeting is at Anne Arundel Community College, Pascal Center for the Performing Arts, 101 College Parkway, Arnold, MD 21012

Click here to read complete article and for additional hearing dates.

Six hardworking volunteers joined Diana and I today to collect and plant more than 25 bushels of oysters from the Marylanders Grow Oysters program.  Oysters from Warehouse, Almshouse, Beards and Pocahontas Creeks, and Limehouse Cove were collected from cages and transported to a sanctuary reef in the river.  Most of the oysters showed significant growth!!  Good news for our River! Thanks to Matthew Costa, Vicki and Matthew Magnolia, Noel Gasparin, Kevin Green and Lloyd Lewis - for your hours of hard work today!!

Also thanks to Dale Legal and Matt Schmit for their help coordinating the collection in Pocahontas Creek and to Lynn Hoot for her help in Warehouse Creek! 

Volunteers have always been and continue to be the lifeblood of the Federation's efforts!!

More news on oyster restoration efforts yet to come.  Now it's time for a bath and rest!  Thanks again everyone!!!

It's rare that you'll hear me touting the virtues of invasive plants.  Very rare. But during this time of year, I'm willing to make one exception.  In late June or early July, the wineberries (Rubus phoenicolasius) are out in full force, and if you can find them when they're ripe, they're an exquisite, locally-grown, organic (most likely) treat.

Whether popping them in your mouth by the handful, or putting them on top of an ice cream sundae, these deep red berries are sweet relief in the dog days of summer. As a rule, the darker the berries, the riper (and sweeter) they are.  

Wineberry bushes are often found at the edge of disturbed forests, or along road edges where they haven't been completely shaded out.   A visit to one of our local parks late last week confirmed that now is the time to go out and start harvesting if you're a fan of these juicy treats.

Eating the berries yourself has the added environmental benefit of keeping those seed-laden morsels from wildlife who have helped to spread the invasive plant far and wide through their droppings.

 Disclaimer: Before you eat any wild fruits or berries, please make sure that you have properly identified them.   It is possible to get sick (or worse) from eating poisonous plant parts.

Thanks to everyone who came out to Harbor Hills community beach for our annual Kayak Sojourn, Picnic and Wade-In.  Erik and Rob lead the group on a wonderful paddle up Flat Creek then up towards the headwaters.  Temps were a little high, but a good time was had by all.  17" was depth for the wade-in, which was surprising considering all the boat activity that day.

Thanks to everyone who made it such a success: Harbor Hills Community, Whole Foods, the Lower Western Shore Tributary Team, SeaWatch International, Annapolis Canoe and Kayak and all the volunteers who helped.

We recognized several volunteers who have demostrated a special commitment this year:  Bridget Gallagher, Beverly MacWilliams, Andrew Muller and Lloyd Lewis.  Thanks for all you do to help the Federation!