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Volume
5, Issue 3 |
February
2013 | |
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IN THE ZONE
is a service from the
Maryland Department
of Natural Resources' Chesapeake & Coastal Service
(CCS) that delivers
timely information, tools, and resources to those who
live, work, and play in Maryland's coastal
zone. |
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CCS
SPOTLIGHT: TOWN
OF BERLIN APPROVES GROUNDBREAKING STORMWATER UTILITY
Stormwater
financing service offered through the Watershed
Assistance
Collaborative
The
town of Berlin passed historic legislation on January
28, 2013 that will help reduce flooding and clean up
area rivers and streams. The new ordinance will create a
stormwater utility for Berlin,
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Photo by UMD's Environmental Finance
Center
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dividing
the cost of managing stormwater among the town's
property owners and helping the town leverage federal
and State grants for additional, related
enhancements.
"I
applaud Berlin for its progressive action in moving
Maryland toward restoring our Chesapeake and Coastal
Bays," said Governor Martin O'Malley. "Through this
utility, the people of Berlin are doing their part to
protect our State's natural treasures for generations to
come."
The
utility will generate $570,000 annually for capital
projects to help curb flooding, reduce erosion and
polluted runoff, and combat property damage. Berlin
decided to institute a utility in response to a
University of Maryland Environmental Finance Center
(EFC) study on how the town should best handle
stormwater and flooding issues. Click here to read the full
press release.
As a partner of the Watershed Assistance Collaborative, the
Environmental Finance Center helps municipalities assess
various financing options to promote best practices in
stormwater management while addressing multiple
community priorities such as increased green space,
decreased infrastructure costs, and improved water
quality. A feasibility study for the town was
completed in 2011. In addition to building a financing
strategy, the Unit also helped conduct community
outreach on the need for sustainable financing for
stormwater management.
For more information on
stormwater financing and other services available
through the Watershed Assistance Collaborative, please
contact Jennifer Raulin with the Chesapeake &
Coastal Service at 410-260-8745 or jraulin@dnr.state.md.us. |
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STREAM RESTORATION CHALLENGE TO
AWARD MORE GRANTS
Solicitation for
proposals under the Stream Restoration Challenge
re-opened by Gov. O'Malley
The
Stream
Restoration Challenge is once again accepting
applications from local governments, school systems, and
non-governmental organizations looking to carry out
projects to improve
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| Photo by Lori
Livingston |
Chesapeake
Bay water quality and create service learning and
environmental literacy activities for students.
"The
Stream Restoration Challenge will help our students and
other citizens understand watershed issues and the
importance of establishing and protecting healthy,
thriving forests along our streams, rivers and bays,"
said Governor Martin O'Malley. "Through these projects
we are not only improving water quality today, we are
also inspiring the stewards of tomorrow."
After
the Challenge launch and initial call for proposals in
August 2012, the State selected 29 submissions. The chosen
projects will establish or extend 360 acres of critical
streamside forests, and engage and educate more than
13,300 students in every phase of the restoration
process. Proposals are chosen based on how effective,
efficient and economical they will be, and the level of
student participation they will support.
The
Arbor Day Foundation has partnered with the program to
help provide tree seedlings for the restoration
projects. The Foundation and its partners work
nationwide to inspire people to plant, nurture and
celebrate trees.
"We're
excited to join Maryland partners and residents in
answering the call of the Stream Restoration Challenge,
a high-impact replanting effort vital to the
conservation of the Chesapeake Bay," said Dan Lambe,
vice president of programs for the Arbor Day
Foundation.
Click
here to view the
Request for Proposals.
For
more information on the Stream Restoration Challenge or
the Request for Proposals, please contact Gabe Cohee
with the Chesapeake & Coastal Service at 410-260-8753 or gcohee@dnr.state.md.us. |
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REGENERATIVE
STORMWATER CONVEYANCE SYSTEMS FIELD DAY
Federal
regulatory managers and staff tour seven RSC systems
across the Bay watershed
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Photo by
Catherine
Shanks
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On
January 23rd, State and Federal agency regulatory
staff toured 7 sites where Regenerative Stormwater
Conveyance Systems (RSC) are either in place or
proposed, including Howard's Branch in Anne Arundel
County, a system that has been in place for 10 years.
During the tour, a variety of
sites were selected to show the practice components,
approach and application. About 30 people participated
in the event, braving one of the coldest days in
January. Researchers and stream restoration
practitioners also attended to share their experiences
and answer questions throughout the day. The tour
provided an excellent opportunity to discuss experience
in designing, installing and monitoring this type of
restoration approach.
The
RSC approach has also been referred to as coastal plain
outfalls, regenerative step pool storm conveyance, and
biofiltration conveyance. The recent report
by the Chesapeake Bay Program's Urban Stream
Restoration Panel separated RSCs into two separate
categories of stream restoration - Dry Channel RSC and
Wet Channel RSC. Dry channel designs rely on a
combination of a sand filter, micro bioretention, and
wetland micro-pools. They involve restoration of
ephemeral streams or eroding gullies using a combination
of step pools, sand seepage wetlands, and native plants.
These applications are often located at the end of storm
drain outfalls or channels. Wet channel RSCs are located
further down the perennial stream network and use in
stream weirs to spread storm flows across the floodplain
at moderate increases in the stream stage. Wet channel
RSC may also include sand seepage wetlands or other
wetland types in the floodplain that increase floodplain
connection or interactions with the stream.
RSC
technology is growing in popularity for addressing
stream and storm conveyance erosion issues.
RSC applications are a growing tool in the
menu of options for counties, municipalities and other
organizations to use to meet the Bay TMDL pollution diet
requirements and State and local Watershed
Implementation Plan (WIP) goals.
For
more information on RSC systems and other DNR
restoration efforts, please contact Catherine Shanks
with the Chesapeake & Coastal Service at
410-260-8718 or cshanks@dnr.state.md.us. |
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MONTGOMERY
COUNTY AWARDED GRANT FROM CHESAPEAKE &
ATLANTIC COASTAL BAYS TRUST FUND
County Department
of Environmental Protection receives $19.8M for
stormwater management projects
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Future Park Place Green Street
Location | The
Montgomery
County Department of Environmental Protection has
received a grant from the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust
Fund to construct and implement storm water
management projects in the Anacostia River and Rock
Creek Watersheds, in coordination with other local,
state and federal partners. Click here to read the full press
release.
Funding for these projects were provided via
capital funds administered through the Trust Fund.
The addition of capital funds in SFY13 boosted the
Trust Fund to $63M, providing much needed funds to local
communities to support their restoration goals.
The Trust Fund's proposed budget for SFY14 includes an
additional $27.5M to directly fund projects associated
with the implementation of Local Watershed
Implementation Plans. For more information on
this project or the Trust Fund, please contact Jennifer
Raulin with the Chesapeake & Coastal Service at
410-260-8745 or jraulin@dnr.state.md.us. |
NEW
BOARDWALK DEDICATED AT JUG BAY WETLANDS
SANCTUARY
450-foot
wetlands boardwalk increases access at county
park
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Photo by South River
Source
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Jug
Bay Wetlands Sanctuary's Glendening Preserve has a new
boardwalk that affords spectacular views of the marshes
along the Patuxent River. The boardwalk, which can be
accessed from the Cliff Trail, was constructed with the
help of volunteers and through grants from NOAA and the
Friends of Jug Bay.
Click
here to read more about the boardwalk
dedication.
The Jug
Bay Wetlands Sanctuary is one of three
components of the Chesapeake Bay National
Estuarine Research Reserve
(CBNERR-MD).
Operated by the Anne Arundel County Department of
Recreation and Park, the Sanctuary is 1,600 acres of
tidal freshwater wetlands, forests, meadows, and fields
along the Patuxent River. It is located in Lothian,
southern Anne Arundel County, 20 miles east of
Washington D.C. and 18 miles south of Annapolis.
For more information on the boardwalk dedication or
stewardship activities at CBNERR-MD sites, please
contact Chris Snow with the Chesapeake & Coastal
Service at 410-260-8731 or csnow@dnr.state.md.us. |
STAKEHOLDERS MAP
RECREATIONAL USES OF MARYLAND'S ATLANTIC OCEAN AND
COASTAL BAYS
Workshops hosted
by CCS to help inform regional ocean and coastal
planning decisions
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| Photo by Chris
Cortina |
Maryland's
ocean waters and the Atlantic Coastal Bays are rich in
natural resources and teeming with human activity. Many
of those activities are increasing - especially
shipping, energy development, and tourism. In order to
ensure continued enjoyment of our resources and to
support healthy growth, now and in the future, Maryland
recognizes the importance of engaging all ocean users to
create a comprehensive understanding of the resources
and demands off our coast. A better understanding of
how, where, and when Maryland's waters are used for
recreational activities will help the state, and the
Mid-Atlantic region, better plan for existing and
emerging uses and ensure the enjoyment of our waters for
generations to come.
On
January 9 and 10, Chesapeake & Coastal Service staff
partnered with NOAA's Coastal Services Center, The
Nature Conservancy, and representatives from neighboring
states involved in the Mid-Atlantic Regional Council on
the Ocean (MARCO) to conduct two day-long recreational
use mapping workshops at Wor-Wic Community College in
Salisbury, MD. Over 30 invited stakeholders, with
a keen interest in Maryland's coast, attended the
workshops to share information on how the public uses
the Atlantic coast and Coastal Bays so recreational uses
could be mapped to inform coastal and ocean planning
efforts for Maryland waters. Stakeholder groups
represented included: commercial and recreational
fishing; charter and recreational boating; the US Coast
Guard; the National Park Service; state resources
experts with the Natural Resources Police, Fisheries;
local government; Non- governmental organizations;
citizens and business owners.
The
mapping workshops were conducted using a technique that
allows users to draw and annotate areas important to
them on a map that is projected on a wall or screen. An
electronic pen enabled each participant's drawings
to be captured directly into a Geographic Information
System (GIS), later supplemented with notes taken by
staff. This technique, called Participatory GIS (PGIS),
has already been used in Virginia for the same purpose
and was conducted in Delaware shortly after Maryland's
workshops. New Jersey is slated to conduct its PGIS
workshops in 2013.
In
the months following Maryland's workshops, CCS staff
will be reviewing and processing the data and notes
collected. Participants will be invited to review and
comment on a draft product before the information is
made available to the public and to planners to help
reduce conflicts on our coastal waters, maximize
efficiency, and enhance environmental and economic
productivity. The final GIS layers produced from the
workshops will be added to Maryland's Coastal Atlas and to MARCO's
online regional mapping portal.
All
partners involved in planning and hosting the events
were extremely pleased with the turnout and workshop
outcomes. The diverse representation of stakeholders
should result in robust and highly informative data
sets.
For
more information on these workshops or Maryland's ocean
planning efforts, please contact Catherine
McCall with the Chesapeake & Coastal Service at
410-260-8737 or cmccall@dnr.state.md.us. |
MARYLAND
ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST TO HOST LAND TRUST ROUNDTABLE:
THE CHALLENGE OF CAPACITY
Informal
roundtable will discuss the long term survival of small
land trusts
 The Maryland
Environmental Trust (MET) is hosting an informal
roundtable discussion on the capacity and long term
survival of small land trusts.
Attendees
will explore what capacity means for land trusts,
including the future of monitoring permanent
conservation easements and stewardship funding.
Who:
Land trust staff, board members, volunteers; Others
interested in land conservation
What:
Latest in a series of MET Roundtables
When:
Thursday, March 14 from 12 to 2 p.m.
Where:
Boordy
Vineyards, 12820 Long Green Pike, Hydes (Baltimore
County)
Cost:
Free. MET will provide
lunch.
Reservations
are required and seating is limited so please RSVP by
March 7, 2013, to Michelle Johnson at mjohnson@dnr.state.md.us.
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COASTAL
TRAINING PROGRAM TO HOST RESTORATION TRAINING AT
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND-COLLEGE PARK
"Project
Design and Evaluation: Restoration Framework" training
will be offered as part of the Society for Ecological
Restoration's Annual
Conference
 The Maryland Coastal
Training Program in partnership with the Society for
Ecological Restoration-Mid-Atlantic (SER) and the NOAA
Coastal Services Center is hosting the training "Project
Design and Evaluation: Restoration Framework," as part
of SER Mid-Atlantic's Annual Conference on March 28-30,
2013 in College Park. The training is offered
on March 28, 2013 and you have the option
of attending just the training or the whole conference.
This
interactive, full-day workshop offers restoration
practitioners valuable knowledge, skills, and
tools to design targeted projects
with successful outcomes. The
workshop is not intended to present the
nuts and bolts of restoration planning, but rather a
planning framework that will increase project
success.
When: Thursday,
March 28, 2013, 9:00 am-5:00 pm
Where: Riggs
Center, University of Maryland - College Park
To
Register:
Click
here to register for the training. Space
is limited, so register early.
Cost:
$55
Click
here to learn more about the SER Mid-Atlantic's
conference.
To
learn more about the "Project Design and Evaluation:
Restoration Framework" training or Maryland's Coastal Training Program
please contact Sasha Land with the Chesapeake &
Coastal Service at 410-260-8718 or sland@dnr.state.md.us. |
THE WATERSHED ASSISTANCE COLLABORATIVE
(WAC) ADDS TWO NEW WATERSHED
SPECIALISTS
Amy
Scaroni and Krisztian Varsa join the Watershed
Restoration Specialist Team
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Photo by UMD Extension
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In
partnership with the University of Maryland Sea Grant
Extension Program, the Watershed Assistance Collaborative is
providing "on the ground" personnel to local and county
governments and their partners to accelerate nonpoint
source pollution reduction efforts. Watershed Restoration Specialists also
work with communities to foster outreach, capacity
building and ensure project evaluation and
success.
One
of the two newest Watershed Restoration Specialists, Amy Scaroni (Ph.D.), began
work in November for the Upper Eastern
Shore Cluster and is located at the Wye Research and
Education Center. With degrees from Penn State, College
of Charleston, and LSU, Amy has studied
both the science and policy issues surrounding
watersheds, water quality, and sustainable development
in several very distinct regions of the
Country.
Originally
from central Pennsylvania, Amy is excited to return to
her roots in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. She
already feels at home in her new role, noting, "I look
forward to serving the communities of the Eastern Shore,
and feel very fortunate to work in a beautiful region
with such warm and welcoming people." She comes to
us most recently from NOAA Sea Grant in Silver Spring,
Maryland, where, as a Knauss Sea Grant Fellow, she
worked to elevate Sea Grant's impacts in the theme areas
of Healthy Coastal Ecosystems and Safe and Sustainable
Seafood to national prominence. In her free time, you
will likely find Amy wandering the woods, paddling the
shoreline, eating local cuisine, and documenting it all
with her camera.
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Photo by UMD
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Also joining the Watershed Restoration
Specialist team is Krisztian Varsa
who is working out of the Baltimore
County Extension Office and is covering the Northern
Maryland Cluster. Krisztian graduated from Cornell
University with an M.R.P. in Urban Planning and is
excited to return home to Maryland's
watersheds.
Krisztian
joins us most recently from Missoula, Montana where he
enjoyed introducing students to technical knowledge as
the director for the Computer Aided Design Program for
Missoula College. When returning to Maryland Krisztian
stated, "I am humbled to join this passionate and
effective team of Watershed Restoration Specialists and
look forward to collaborating with Northern Cluster
communities and organizations to improve our local
waterways and the Chesapeake Bay." When he is not
"extending" you can find Krisztian growing vegetables,
in the stream fly fishing, and getting involved in
community events in Baltimore.
Click
here to learn more about how your county's watershed
specialist can provide assistance in your community.
For more
information on the Watershed Restoration Specialists or
the Collaborative, please contact Jennifer Raulin with
the Chesapeake & Coastal Service at 410-260-8745 or
jraulin@dnr.state.md.us. |
CCS
WELCOMES A NEW NATURAL RESOURCES
TECHNICIAN
Jackie
Koehn joins Habitat Restoration and
Conservation group
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Jackie on
site. |
The Chesapeake & Coastal
Service is pleased to welcome Jackie Koehn
to our team as CCS's new Natural Resources
Technician.
Jackie graduated from Elon
University in 2010 with a B.S. in Environmental Studies
and a double minor in statistics and in leadership. In
August of 2012, she graduated from the University of
South Carolina with a Master's of Earth and
Environmental Resource Management. The objective
of Jackie's thesis was to better quantify
hydrologic function between the Four Hole Swamp
floodplain and adjacent upland by measuring and mapping
shallow water table dynamics and hydrology over a
seven-month period. Her interests include wetland
ecology and conservation, watershed management, and
stream restoration.
As the newest member of the CCS
team, Jackie will be assisting the Shoreline
Conservation Program with data collection, field
inspections, permit applications, compiling reports, and
other duties. Jackie can be reached at
410-260-8799 or jkoehn@dnr.state.md.us. | |
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Feel
free to contact us with any comments, questions or ideas for
future IN
THE ZONE
e-mails. 
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A
publication of the Maryland Coastal Zone Management Program
pursuant to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Award No. NA12NOS4190169. This publication is funded (in part)
by a grant/cooperative agreement from the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The views expressed herein
are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the
views of NOAA or any of its
sub-agencies. | | |
