As the season gets ready to change, many of our winter waterfowl visitors are getting ready to head back to their summer grounds. In Quantico, VA, tundra swans gather in Chop Creek to feed on underwater grasses and prepare for the long journey ahead. These majestic and gregarious birds will soon fly thousands of miles back to Canada and Alaska to mate and raise their young.
In other Bay news…
- Chefs in Baltimore and Washington D.C. take delight in using one of the Bay’s unique winter fisheries: yellow perch. For January, February, and March, these fish can be cause as they make their way to the Chesapeake’s shallow waters to spawn.
- This winter, almost 500,000 acres of cover crops were planted in Maryland on farms across the state. Cover crops like winter wheat, rye, and barley not only hold nutrients and soil on the fields to prevent pollution running into waterways, but also help improve soil quality for the farmer. Though planting these crops can cost more money, farmers think that the improvement to the soil is worth the investment.
- The EPA recently made comments on plans made by Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania to clean up their waterways and improve the health of the Chesapeake. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation made its statements on Monday, calling for more accountability to ensure the implementation of these plans.
- Gerald Winegrad, a former Maryland state senator, believes that even though animal waste in the Chesapeake watershed is a huge source of pollution, it still remains largely unregulated and creates large problems for the Bay.
- Senator Ben Cardin recently discussed Bay issues with state lawmakers on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.
Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities for the Bay
February 23 – Elkton, MD and Fruitland, MD
- Congressman Andy Harris, who represents Maryland’s 1st District, will host town hall meetings in Fruitland and Elkton to hear from his constituents. If you live in his district, please attend and make sure Congressman Harris understands the need for clean water in the Chesapeake.
February 24 – Hampton, VA
- Join CBF for breakfast from 7:30 – 8:45 in the morning. This Clean Water Breakfast will detail water quality problems in the urban Hampton areas and how they are being solved by the Bay pollution limits, or TMDL. The event is free and includes breakfast, but your RSVP is required.
February 26 – Richmond, VA
- Help clean up Belle Isle, part of the James River Park System. Join us at 1:00 to pick up trash and give back to this incredible resource for Richmond citizens!
February 27 – Dendron, VA
- The Surry County Planning Commission will host a public hearing to discuss the proposed coal-fired power plant to be built by Old Dominion Electric Cooperative (ODEC). Come out and voice your opinion! This event is free and open to the public.
February 28-29 – Christiana, PA
- CBF is hosting a free farmer workshop for farmers in Chester and southern Lancaster counties to learn more about financial assistance opportunities such as the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) and the Buffer Bonus program. This workshop will take place at the Dutch-Way Farm Market Banquet Room from 9:30 am to 2:00 pm. Please RSVP!
—Adam Wickline
Photo: © Bill Portlock/Chesapeake Bay Foundation
If you have an upcoming Bay-related restoration event and you need volunteers, please let us know: awickline@cbf.org. Do you enjoy working with fellow Bay Lovers to help save the Chesapeake? Become a CBF Volunteer to receive notifications about upcoming volunteer opportunities.
Crustaceans tastier than pork? Lies, I say! Lies and slaendr! I put the following pork products up as superior to any crustacean: tacos al pastor; barbecue pork (the truest form of barbecue); and, most of all, prosciutto and other salumi. And furthermore, butter makes everything better, but lard makes it best.
Posted by: Tanner | 06/03/2012 at 08:13 PM