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.

 

 

 

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!!!

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!

Volunteers started their day extra early Sunday morning to work an important water stop along the route for the Zooma 1/2  marathon.  We had 12 folks show up ready to set up tables, fill water cups and cheer runners along.  Thanks to everyone who came out to help and thank you, Kerri, for rallying!  Couldn't have done it without you!!!  For our efforts, the Federation will receive $250 from Zooma!!

Front Row, L to R: "Chip" Wilson, Bill Snyder, Kerri Reilly  / Back Row, L to R:  Sarah, Kate Fritz, Robin Nuskind, Cindy Wallace, Patricia Hicks, Bill Tham, Issy  /   Not pictured:  Bridget Gallagher, Dick Lahn, Richard Snyder

Last Thursday, Diana and I, with the help from John and Lori Orme, and four other dedicated volunteers:  Kevin Green, James Cunningham, Doug and Regan Karr - collected about 200 cages from our Marylanders Grow Oysters program and planted them on the sanctuary reef in Glebe Bay.   We got an early start, but the heat of the day and the threat of thunderstorms, caused us to finish before they were all collected.  Never fear, we'll be back out there soon to collect the rest.  Most of the oysters collected looked really good - showing growth of 1 1/4" to 2".   

The Oyster Recovery Partnership now has an oyster shell collection program.  Wether you're a business that serves oysters or are a private citizen having an oyster roast, through this program, you can return your shells and help provide habitat for future oysters.

Click here to read more about the program. 

 

 

 

The flower spikes of this native grass come to life by creating a pink "cloud-like" effect on the planting area while in bloom.
Easy to grow and provides interest in all four seasons.
Ht: 18-24". Zones 5-8.

This field is on Harness Creek Rd - beautiful to see in person! There are specimens planted at the Chesapeake Ecology Center on the Adams Academy campus in Annapolis.

 What's growing on your oysters may not be algae......

It could be Bryozoans

Bryozoans are minute, tentacle-bearing, moss-like animals that form colonies permanently attached to rocks, pilings, ropes, etc. Individual bryozoans are microscopic, but colonies appear as soft, fuzzy, greenish-brown layer and can be mistaken for algae. Bryozoans are filter feeders!  We like them!!

 

Algae growth is less fuzzy and usually more strand-like. 

 

Latest and greatest from AA County, with influence from Watershed Stewards Academy!  It's an online raingarden procedure!   Included is a raingarden worksheet in Excel, to help figure out size, amendment amounts, etc.  Also with good soil links, and other raingarden guides.

Check it out!

http://www.aacounty.org/dpw/highways/raingarden.cfm