Local Governments, Decision-makers and Coastal Residents Gathered in Annapolis to Learn How Other Communities are Addressing Coastal Issues

 

Photo by Chris Cortina.

On Thursday, November 29, 47 participants representing local, state and federal governments, universities, consultants, and nonprofit organizations attended this interactive workshop at Quiet Waters Park in Annapolis, Maryland sponsored jointly by the Chesapeake and Coastal Service (CCS) and the Coastal and Watershed Resources Advisory Committee (CWRAC). The purpose of the Coastal Communities Exchange was to serve as a venue to highlight projects completed or underway in Maryland's coastal zone (many of those supported by CCS funding made possible through NOAA grants); to share ideas and lessons learned; to discuss best practices; and to share products and outcomes that might be applicable to - or replicable in - other coastal communities.

 

The Coastal Communities Exchange featured the following:

• Brice Gamber, Chair of CWRAC, provided a welcome and opening comments.  
• Frank Dawson, Assistant Secretary of DNR, described the importance of CWRAC and the Coastal Zone Management Program at DNR in addressing Maryland's coastal management issues.
• Queen Anne's County spoke about the multi-agency collaboration within their county and its importance seeing environmental projects through to completion.
• Kent County spoke about partnering with local watershed organizations to help Kent County's restoration goals.
• The Town of Berlin presented a feasibility study they performed with the help of the University of Maryland's Environmental Finance Center on the creation of a stormwater utility.
• Zoe Johnson with DNR's Office for a Sustainable Future discussed planning for climate change in Maryland and showed the areas that would be most impacted by climate change and sea level rise.
• Calvert County spoke about their efforts to develop a shoreline development guide for both citizens and contractors.
• The Furbish Company gave a presentation on their SmartSlope and Ecocline stormwater management technologies.
• Lastly, new CoastSmart Planner Kate Skaggs engaged attendees in a spirited discussion about an assortment of coastal environmental issues of concern to many of the attending citizens, members of local governments, and watershed groups.

All presentations will be uploaded to the CCS website in the coming weeks.

 

CWRAC, established in 1976, is an advisory committee comprised of representatives of local government, concerned local citizens, special interest groups, state and federal agencies and academic institutions. Located administratively under the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, CWRAC acts as an independent advisory body to the Secretary of Natural Resources and to Maryland's Coastal Program on policy issues affecting the coastal areas of Maryland.

 

For more information on how to get involved with CWRAC, e-mail Chris Aadland at

TEACHING ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS IN MARYLAND

CCS Taking Action with Environmental Education

 

 

Photo by Paula Mansfield.

"I really hope we find a water penny!"

 

"A caddisfly, it's a caddisfly. Look at its home!"

"Oooo, that water is cold!"

 

Students' excitement is obvious to teachers, parents, and DNR staff and volunteers as they guide students in collecting and identifying benthic macroinvertibrates to assess the health of the stream nearest their school.

 

This fall, nearly 240 Maryland 4th-6th graders participated in TEAM DNR's Streams programs. TEAM (Teaching Environmental Awareness in Maryland) has designed this interactive program to educate students about Maryland stream habitats and the macroinvertebrate community living within them. In the classroom, TEAM staff and volunteers lead students in several hands-on activities, helping them to identify stream macroinvertebrates down to taxonomic order by looking at specific body features. They also learn about the habitat requirements of each species and scientists use them as indicators of stream health.

 

Streamside, students conduct a field investigation of a local stream. They collect and identify these 10 particular benthic macroinvertebrates that they have seen in the classroom in a field setting. Our 10 macroinvertebrates, such as mayfly larvae, riffle beetle larvae, or black fly larvae, are either sensitive, moderately sensitive or tolerant of pollution. A find of mostly mayflys, caddisflys, and water pennys could predict that their stream is relatively clean, as these are pollution sensitive insects. When they have identified and recorded their finds in the stream, they formulate conclusions about the condition of the stream and make recommendations for future action. For many streams near schools, the pollutant factors are abundant and the students name things like nearby railroad tracks, traffic, animal waste, or trash as culprits in preventing a pristine stream. Because Maryland's streams serve as the capillaries and arteries carrying water, life, and pollutants to the Chesapeake Bay, the students then think of possible solutions, like stream cleanup, buffer planting, or making their parents aware of the importance of stream health.

 

TEAM DNR is part of the Aquatic Resources Education (ARE) Program in DNR's Chesapeake and Coastal Service. The goal of the ARE Program is to instill the respect for the aquatic resources and rights of others by cultivating ethical behavior of Maryland's aquatic resources. To learn more about volunteering with TEAM or requesting TEAM programs check out the website, http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/education/teamdnr.