Chesapeake Bay Foundation Blog

New Online Tool Helps Local Groups Track Water Quality

Riverkeepers, watershed associations, and other groups that track water quality should be interested in IMRivers. This interactive mapping tool is very impressive! Unfortunately, there's no information on their website about costs, so I'm waiting to hear back from Dr. Wansoo Im, the tool's creator.

One of the latest groups to start using the tool is the San Diego River Park Foundation.

Some other organizations have started using IMRivers for other purposes: the Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership's map lets you view images along the river's shoreline; the Delaware & Raritan Canal Community created their own interactive photo album, and Chatham High School is using it to map its student-led water quality testing project.

Open Competition for Chesapeake Clean-Up Funds

One of the biggest questions surrounding Maryland's new 2010 Trust Fund, created this year to help restore the health of the Chesapeake Bay, is how the $25 million allotment will be distributed. Yesterday, Gov. O'Malley announced a new competitive process that lets local governments, community groups, non-profit organizations, academic institutions, and private enterprises to apply for grants from the fund.

What do you think? Is the new process an improvement over business-as-usual?

Farm Bill Funds Could Help the Bay -- But Action is Needed

Chesapeake Bay-area farmers who need help to incorporate methods of reducing nutrient pollution from their farms could get that help from the Federal Farm Bill. But it's not a done deal. Watch this story from WJZ-TV to see what's at stake, then join us in contacting your representatives in Congress to urge them to support the farm bill.

Update on WAMU Interview

You can catch Will Baker's interview with Kojo Nnamdi here. Note: The Chesapeake Bay segment is the last one of the hour, so when you open your audio player, advance to the 39:58 mark (click on image for larger view).

The debate is hot in PA

Pennsylvania newspapers are filled with articles about municipalities who are frustrated about the costs of cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay. The cleanup is federally mandated--but unfunded, and if a 2010 deadline for meeting these mandatory water quality standards isn't met, the federal government could come down harder with even stricter standards. But local jurisdictions don't know how they're going to come up with the hundreds of millions of dollars it will take to comply. CBF has joined the call for the Rendell administration to provide funds to municipalities struggling to meet sewage treatment upgrade requirements.

If you live near Harrisburg, you might want to attend tonight's panel discussion on the Chesapeake Bay cleanup and its effects on sewage bills. The discussion will be held from 5 - 7 p.m. at the Holiday Inn West, 5401 Carlisle Pike, Mechanicsburg. Panel participants include Kathleen McGinty, secretary of the Dept. of Environmental Protection; John Brosius, deputy director of the Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Association; and Scott Wyland, lawyer for the Capital Region Council of Governments.

The Times, Are They A Changin'?

Maryland’s newly-formed Oyster Advisory Commission (OAC) yesterday released its first report with initial recommendations about how the state should be managing its oyster resources.

You might not guess it, but this is exciting stuff. I know, I know… another commission, another report… and where are the oysters? What’s going to be different this time??

Well, for starters, the Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources and his team did a great job of naming new—but knowledgeable—faces to the commission. I'm not just saying this because CBF Maryland Executive Director, Kim Coble, is a member of the team. Everyone seems to be very committed to seeing the issues through fresh eyes and seeking new solutions.

The report's findings, recommendations, and even the vision statement are only preliminary, because the oyster Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)* isn't due out until this spring. That will provide more comprehensive information for the commission.

But—preliminarily—the OAC is recognizing some key things. One, that there is a difference between restoring oysters for their ecological value (that is, planting them onto sanctuaries where they can provide filtration and habitat value), and restoring the oyster industry (that is, keeping our watermen working). Both are laudable goals, but they are two very different things. 

Two, the OAC found that to date, federal and state oyster funding has primarily been used to support industry restoration, with less than a quarter of the funding supporting ecological restoration. This is clearly out of balance since one of the reasons we want to bring back the oyster population is to improve the health of the Bay. 

Moving forward, the Commission advocates ramping up the scale of ecological restoration, while helping the oyster industry transition into farming native oysters (aquaculture). Throughout the world aquaculture has proven to be more profitable and self-sustaining than harvesting wild oysters. In fact, we only have to look as far as Virginia to see that some of their watermen have transitioned to aquaculture and are doing nicely. And while creating a profitable industry, those oyster farms are providing some water filtration benefits to the Bay.

Let’s get in on that!

*The state/federal environmental impact statement regarding native and non-native oysters in the Chesapeake has been a long time coming, but it is considered the most comprehensive analysis to date of the oyster situation in the Chesapeake Bay.

Stephanie Reynolds is CBF's Maryland oyster restoration scientist.

Saving the Bay from the Bench

Excerpt of a Baltimore Sun Op/ed written by Kim Coble, Executive Director of CBF's Maryland Office.

When citizens want to change how the government protects the environment, they generally work toward changing legislation, regulations or government leaders. Rarely do people think about judges.

But they should.

Maryland's judges are thoughtful people whose primary experience is with criminal and business law. But they are often unaware or insufficiently educated about the environment and the laws meant to protect it. Too often, these judges do not have a fundamental understanding of the complexity and importance of our natural resources...Lacking a larger understanding, they can be overly sympathetic to claims that protecting our water, air and land should be subordinate to an individual's property rights...As a result, in recent years, we have seen cases in which the legislature had to go back and rewrite legislation to repair damage done to environmental laws through misinterpretation by the court system.

...The courts and other judicial institutions (as well as many local planning offices) have chosen to ignore the cumulative impact of the next shopping center, apartment complex or industrial park. Each case is reviewed independently, and thus the courts look only at the impact of just this "one" case: One parking lot. One gazebo. One bed of underwater grasses destroyed. One wetland lost.

It's an argument developers routinely deliver, with amazing success. But the cumulative effects of these "ones" is death by a thousand cuts for our environment, our rivers and streams, and our bay.

...Sadly, the cost of mounting a legal challenge to each case is beyond the financial ability of most citizens. And special-interest organizations, willing to act on behalf of concerned individuals, are rarely even allowed to appear because of an overly narrow interpretation of who has "standing" - that is, who has the right to appear before the board or court.

...Judges who respect our natural resources and the common good, who have a demonstrated record of protecting the public interest, can help preserve and restore the land, air and water that belong to all citizens.

Maryland has good environmental laws. They could be stronger, but even the strongest and most well-crafted laws are only as good as those who enforce them.

Read the complete Op/Ed here...and recommend it when you're done.

General Assembly Approves $50 Million for Bay Cleanup

You deserve a Million Thank You's!!!
Click here for YOUR Thank You!

Last night in a marathon session, the Maryland General Assembly ended its three-week special session by earmarking $50 million per year to clean up the Chesapeake Bay. The funds will be used to reduce pollution and bring the State closer to meeting its 2010 Bay-restoration commitments.

The legislature adopted the House's plan, which will fund the cleanup efforts through the existing motor fuel tax and the car rental tax. No new taxes were created for this fund.

As anyone following the Green Fund issue can attest, it's been a tough road. We couldn't have done it without the thousands of concerned citizens who baked crab cookies, sent postcards, and made phone calls to their elected leaders to let them know clean water is a critical issue they want to see addressed.

Del. Maggie MacIntosh, who sponsored the House Bill, has been an incredible advocate for our Bay. CBF thanks her, the rest of the General Assembly, and Governor O'Malley and his administration for passing this legislation. We look forward to working with them in the upcoming session on the next step—legislation to ensure the funds are used effectively and efficiently to get the Bay off of the federal "dirty waters" list.

House Passes Bay Funding; Next Stop--Senate

Yesterday, the Maryland House of Delegate passed the Chesapeake Bay 2010 Trust Fund (House Bill 23), with a vote of 102-31. We're getting so close!

But hold on, more challenges are ahead. The Senate must also vote on the bill. So now is the time: If you haven't contacted your Senator, please call them now and urge them to support the Bay cleanup fund passed by the House (mention House Bill 23). If you have contacted your Senator—THANK YOU—and remember, it doesn't hurt to remind them of how important the Bay is to each and every one of us!

Green Fund Update

The Maryland House of Delegates heard testimony on the Green Fund Bill (HB 23) on Nov. 2 in the Environmental Matters Committee. The hearing went well with many proponents, including groups as diverse as the Maryland Homebuilders Association to other environmental groups. Governor O’Malley's  administration testified, saying it “strongly” supports the Green Fund.

The Maryland Farm Bureau and Delmarva Poultry Industry along with the Marine Trades Association of Maryland, Association of Soil Conservation Districts, Sportsmen Foundation, and the Partnership for Sustainable Forestry are also among those who showed support for the Green Fund bill, which would reduce pollution to Maryland's rivers, streams, and the Bay.

Chair Del. Maggie McIntosh convened a work group after the hearing to work on the legislation. The discussion revolved around the administration’s suggested amendment to have the state's BayStat group manage the resources; the bill's original proposal outlined how much of the funds would go to the three agencies primarily responsible for Bay cleanup. The administration said it prefers the flexibility of the BayStat approach to allow for spending flexibility from year to year, depending on the needs.

On Friday, Senate President Mike Miller dropped his own bill to create a Chesapeake Bay Trust Fund (SB 28). The bill does not provide a funding source for the Trust Fund, but President Miller has said he is looking for a  source to bring in $30 million to $50 million per year.

After the hearing, The Baltimore Sun reported that the Green Fund was "dead" in the Special Session because of Senate opposition to the Green Fund bill, but many pundits and people close to the process say this is not the case. What may be the case is that the Senate will not pass the House version of the Green Fund because it doesn’t like the funding mechanism, but will instead create its own funding source during the Special Session. If the House passes a bill that includes directives on where the money goes, the two bills would go to conference committee. In conference, the bills might be melded into one bill with a Senate funding source and House policy measures. Keep your fingers crossed.

Two weeks ago, we had no idea where we were headed on the Green Fund, but with the help of thousands of Marylanders and partner groups concerned about the Bay, we now have the Senate President dropping his own bill to create a dedicated fund to cleanup the Bay. And it is the only bill he is sponsoring. The debate has shifted from “should we do this?” to “how are we going to do this?”  Thanks to all of those who have contacted their legislators and asked them to support the Green Fund!

The session may run another 5 to 10 days with the Senate voting first on the revenue package. As much is still in flux especially slots, and new service taxes, anything could happen. But we are very hopeful we will eventually come away with a new funding source for the Chesapeake Bay.

If you want to help, call your State Senator today and ask them to support dedicated funding for Bay conservation programs. To learn who your Senators are and to get a phone number, visit http://mdelect.net/.

I Can See Clearly Now...But What About Tomorrow?

This weekend I went to the Magothy River Association's (MRA) annual "Magothy River Celebration" and wade-in. It was my first wade-in, and not owning a pair of white sneakers I kept a keen eye on my toes. I was pleasantly surprised when we progressed beyond the MRA-planted SAV bed before our feet disappeared from view. The official measurement: water clarity to a depth of 39 inches--up three inches from last year.

The SAV bed didn't have any effect on the water clarity, as the wild celery season is past. The most significant impact has likely been this summer's drought, lessening the amount of runoff and sediment into the river.

Two years ago, however, the difference in water clarity by the grass beds "was amazing!" Claudia Donegan, team coordinator for DNR's Lower Western Shore Tributaries Team, told me. She came out to take the official measurements. At that time, MRA had planted redhead grasses near Little Dobbins Island.

"The plants slow down the velocity of the water and the sediment drops out, making it clearer," she explained.

The MRA is also active in another water quality effort--restocking the Magothy with oysters. This month's Bay Journal carries a story about CBF's aquaculture efforts on the York River. While the article focuses on the potential for aquaculture to help Virginia's trouble oyster industry, back here we were talking about cleaning up the river. According to Dick Carey, who coordinates the organization's oyster restoration efforts, we need at least 125 acres of oyster beds to clean the Magothy; there are currently about 10. Planting a maximum two million spat per acre, that means we need 125 million healthy, reproducing oysters! Not only that, with a 50% mortality rate, we need to plant twice that amount to have a chance at success.

The widespread improvement of water clarity following a short-lived influx of dark false mussels in 2004 shows the significant impact these mollusks can have on our waters. But it's clear (no pun intended) that it will take strong leadership and commitment if it's ever to become a reality.

(Kim Ethridge is a CBF staff member and a member of the Magothy River Association) 

Chesapeake Bay to Benefit from $900,000 Elizabeth River Cleanup

(from Environment News Service)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency plans to award more than $900,000 to the Elizabeth River Project to help clean up 25 acres of sediment contamination in the Money Point section of Chesapeake, VA. The project is one of 16 selected across the country to receive a share of $13.36 million in funding to restore and protect watersheds.

"Clean Marinas" Bring Water Quality Stewardship Home

via The Capital

Three cheers for our local Annapolis City Marina and the Third Street Marina! They have become two of the latest "clean marinas" certified by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Four other marinas were also recognized this week:

Sunset Harbor Marina, Essex (Baltimore County)

Choptank Marina, Preston (Caroline County)

Point Lookout State Park Marina, Scotland (St. Mary’s County)

Port of Salisbury Marina, Salisbury (Worcester County)

With this week's honorees, the total number of certified clean marinas in the state is now 119, which is about 19 percent of the roughly 600 marinas and boatyards across the state. Some of the best management practices implemented at Annapolis City Marina include stormwater management in the parking garage, a spill response kit at the fuel dock, and a marine sewage pump-out station.

For more information on becoming a "Clean Marina" visit DNR's website at http://www.dnr.state.md.us/boating/cleanmarina/. Boaters who want to join in protecting our waterways can join CBF's Boaters for the Bay and DNR's Maryland Clean Boater Program.

Bad Water Quality at Vacation Beaches

  The water at American beaches was unsafe for swimming a record number of days last year, according to the 17th annual beach water quality report released Tuesday by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). Using data just collected from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the report, “Testing the Waters: A Guide to Water Quality at Vacation Beaches,” tallied more than 25,000 closing and health advisory days at ocean, bay and Great Lakes beaches in 2006. The number of no-swim days caused by stormwater more than doubled from the year before. Click here for the full report.

“Vacations are being ruined. Families can’t use the beaches in their own communities because they are polluted. Kids are getting sick – all because of sewage and contaminated runoff from outdated, under-funded treatment systems,” said Nancy Stoner, director of NRDC’s water program.

In addition to compiling data on 3,500 U.S. beaches, the report this year takes an especially close look at the nation’s highest risk beaches—those that are either very popular, very close to pollution sources, or both. Two of the unhealthiest beaches were on the Chesapeake Bay—Hacks Point in Cecil County and Bay Shore Campground and Beach in Kent County.

To see the NRDC summaries for the states within the Chesapeake Bay watershed, visit the following links: Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New York.

To check water quality at 100 of the most popular beaches in the U.S., visit the NRDC Your Oceans website.

You can also check Earth 911 for the latest water quality and beach reports.

The Baltimore Sun reports that so far this year, Maryland's 81 coastal beaches are failing water-quality standards at about the same rate as last year.

What are your beaches like?