Watershed Assistance Collaborative Welcomes Regional Specialists

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Annapolis, Md. - Maryland’s Watershed Assistance Collaborative (WAC) is pleased to welcome two new regional specialists to assist local governments and communities in achieving their watershed protection and restoration goals. Jennifer Dindinger and Amanda Rockler, who will serve the Eastern and Western Shores respectively, will coordinate with State, federal and non-profit organizations to provide watershed planning, implementation and restoration assistance, foster enhanced coordination and outreach, and ensure project evaluation and success.

"We want this partnership to set a precedent for focusing funding and resources at the local level,” said Frank Dawson, DNR Assistant Secretary for Aquatic Resources, “and the expertise that Jennifer and Amanda bring to the Collaborative, along with their regional focus, will be vital to our success.”

Jennifer Dindinger comes to the Collaborative from Harry Hughes Center for Agro-Ecology in Queenstown, MD, with a Master’s degree in Environmental Policy from Bard College, and
Amanda Rocker, who most recently worked for the City of Rockville as a Water Protection Specialist, has a Master’s Degree in Sustainable Landscape Design from George Washington University.

The Watershed Assistance Collaborative was established in 2008 to connect local communities to the financial and technical resources they need to undertake comprehensive watershed restoration projects in Maryland. The partnership is comprised of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources; the University of Maryland SeaGrant Extension, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Environmental Finance Center, and the Chesapeake Bay Trust. The Collaborative is funded in part by the EPA’s Chesapeake Bay Program and NOAA’s Coastal Zone Management Act.

For more information, contact Carrie Decker of DNR’s Chesapeake and Coastal Program at 410-260-8723 or cdecker@dnr.state.md.us.

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April 21, 2009

Contact: Megan Rhoads 410-260-8001 mrhoads@dnr.state.md.us

Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 449,000 acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic and cultural resources attract 12 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov