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July 8, 2025

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Ecosystem Eco Notes

Nature Conservancy Transfers Land to Blackwater Refuge to Protect Marshes

September 10, 2021 by Spy Desk
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With the recent acquisition of 150 acres this year, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has acquired a total of 870 acres of land for the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge from The Nature Conservancy (TNC) as space for local marshes to migrate to as sea-levels rise.  Without intervention, Maryland stands to lose 90% of its critical marsh habitats by 2100 under current climate scenarios.

Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, in Dorchester County, encompasses nearly 1/3 of MD’s tidal wetlands, providing critical habitat for birds traveling along the Atlantic Flyway migration route. Since the mid-20th century, roughly 8,000 acres of Blackwater’s wetlands have been lost. Tidal marshes have been migrating to higher ground, but the gain in marsh habitat is less than 3,000 acres since the 1930’s.

“TNC has helped conserve nearly half of the Nanticoke Division of the refuge, which has grown to over 2,000 acres since the first acquisition in 2011,” said Chesapeake Marshlands National Wildlife Refuge Complex Manager Marcia Pradines. “The Nanticoke is a priority area for conservation due to its ability to withstand future sea level rise, and high value for many important species from waterfowl to migratory songbirds. At the same time, the acquisition also provides a natural buffer against flooding and sea-level rise.”

The Nature Conservancy has transferred more than 870 acres to the Blackwater refuge since 2016.  The Conservancy’s role in helping the refuge protect Maryland’s marshes goes back almost 50 years and has assisted in the acquisition of nearly 5,000 acres since 1975.

“Maryland’s iconic tidal wetlands are a critical link in the natural systems of the Chesapeake Bay, an indelible part of our region’s landscape and culture,” said Tim Purinton, Executive Director of the Maryland and D.C. chapter of The Nature Conservancy.  “For decades The Nature Conservancy has been honored to work alongside the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge and our many other partners to protect them. We look forward to continuing those efforts into the future, when Maryland’s tidal wetlands will need our help more than ever.”

Maryland’s Lower Eastern Shore is home to more than 75% of the state’s remaining tidal wetlands.  These marshes provide critical protection against shoreline erosion and flooding from storms.  A 2018 study conducted by George Mason University and TNC found that tidal marshes reduced the energy of incoming waves by as much as 90% at a study site on Deal Island.

Tidal wetlands in Maryland provide vital habitat to many species of birds, including black rails, marsh wrens, black ducks, and others.  These wetlands are also crucial for protecting Chesapeake Bay water quality, sequestering and storing carbon, and providing habitat for economical important species like crabs and oysters.

The acquisition of these tracts was made possible through funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which is funded by offshore oil and gas royalties, and the Migratory Bird Conservation Act thanks to the purchase of “Duck Stamps” for $25 each by migratory gamebird hunters, bird watchers, and others interested in wetland habitat conservation.  More information about the 2021-2022 Duck Stamps can be found here and are now available to purchase at participating sites.

Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, located on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, protects over 32,000 acres of rich tidal marsh, mixed hardwood and pine forest, managed freshwater wetlands and cropland for a diversity of wildlife.  To learn more, visit our website at www.fws.gov/refuge/blackwater or follow us on Facebook @BlackwaterNWR.

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.

The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. Learn more about The Nature Conservancy’s work in Washington DC and Maryland at nature.org/maryland and follow us @Nature_DCMDVA on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: Eco Notes Tagged With: Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, Ecosystem, local news

Rod and Reef Slam Fishing Tournament Returns This October In Maryland

September 9, 2021 by Chesapeake Bay Foundation
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Anglers cast lines in the Chesapeake Bay in northern Maryland.

The Rod and Reef Slam Fishing Tournament returns for its fourth year in Maryland waters this fall from Oct. 9 to Oct. 17. 

In this unique fishing tournament, anglers who catch the most different species of finfish can win gift cards and prizes worth up to $300. The family-friendly tournament includes powerboat, kayak, and youth divisions.  The entry cost is $25 and all entrants receive a shirt if registered before Oct. 1. 

The contest is designed to highlight the diversity of fish that surround oyster reefs. To do that, anglers will fish in areas where oyster reefs have been restored in Maryland. Anglers will use the iAngler app to document their catches and fishing locations.  

Chesapeake Bay Foundation and Coastal Conservation Association Maryland are organizing the contest. 

“We’re hoping to demonstrate the value of oyster reef restoration through this tournament,” said Allison Colden, CBF’s Maryland Senior Fisheries Scientist. “Oyster reefs provide habitat to a wide range of Chesapeake Bay marine life. The reefs are important to dozens of types of fish, which hunt for food and use the space between oyster clumps for protection. The reefs are ideal for recreational anglers to target different fish species.” 

A contestant in the 2017 Rod and Reef Slam Tournament holds up a toadfish caught while fishing over an oyster reef. Credit: Will Parson/ Chesapeake Bay Program

During the past two centuries, Maryland has lost nearly all its oyster reef habitat due to overfishing, pollution, and disease. The loss of reef habitat has corresponded with less fish that frequent oyster reefs, such as sheepshead, black sea bass, and tautog. However, ongoing oyster reef restoration throughout the Bay is showing signs of success and the potential to lure more of these types of fish back into Maryland waters. Oysters are also valuable in the Bay for their natural filtering abilities. An adult oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water per day. 

“If we want more fish in the Chesapeake Bay, we need more oyster reefs,” said David Sikorski, Executive Director of Coastal Conservation Association Maryland, which works to protect the state’s marine resources. “For years now, CBF and CCA have worked together to advocate for and undertake reef restoration. During the past decade hundreds of acres of Bay bottom have been restored. Fishing in this tournament is a way for us to enjoy that progress and gather information about the types of fish gathering at rebuilt reefs.” 

All anglers who register will also be entered into the new invasive species division this year. The person who catches the longest 3-fish stringer of blue catfish, flathead catfish or Northern snakehead will be declared the winner of that division. 

Anglers can pick fishing locations ranging from the large-scale restoration tributaries on the Eastern Shore such as Harris Creek, the Little Choptank River, and the Tred Avon River to smaller Western shore restoration sites, including those in the South, Severn and Magothy rivers around Annapolis. There are more than 100 reefs to fish in the tournament that can be found using the tournament’s interactive map. 

In previous years, the tournament took place only at oyster reefs on the Eastern Shore. This will be the first year it’s expanded to restoration reefs throughout all of Maryland. 

Winners in previous Rod and Reef Slam tournaments have caught more than a dozen different species including white perch, spot, toadfish, drum, blue crabs, rockfish, and bluefish.  

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there will be no formal gathering, but a live online awards ceremony will take place to announce the winners. 

Anglers interested in participating can register on the CBF website. More information about the tournament is on the iAngler page.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: Eco Notes Tagged With: chesapeake bay foundation, Ecosystem, local news

ShoreRivers Awarded State Funding for Large Restoration Projects

September 8, 2021 by Spy Desk
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ShoreRivers is a leader in designing, funding, and managing major agricultural restoration projects to reduce the sediments and nutrients that pollute our waterways. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently awarded ShoreRivers $1.95 million to implement three such projects, all in the Chester River watershed.

Targeting high nutrient-export agricultural subwatersheds in areas prioritized for funding through the DNR Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund has proven a winning strategy for making rapid and significant progress toward meeting pollution reduction goals and habitat creation goals. ShoreRivers has continued to promote a balance between a prosperous agricultural industry on the Delmarva Peninsula and healthy, thriving waterways and wetlands. Through strong outreach, involvement in science-based agronomy and ecology research efforts, and an emphasis on innovation, ShoreRiversstrives to maintain an excellent reputation with landowners and farmers throughout the region.

Newly constructed wetland complex on a farm near Cecilton, Maryland. Maryland Department of Natural Resources recently awarded ShoreRivers $1.95 million to implement three such projects, all in the Chester River watershed.

The first farm project will address a severe gully erosion and degraded stream draining predominantly agricultural land in the Southeast Creek watershed in Queen Anne’s County. The project includes installing a step pool system and series of earthen berms in the farm field to allow rainwater to slowly infiltrate before reaching the incised gully, and restoring 250 linear feet of eroding stream bank to a more natural habitat.

The second farm project, also in the Southeast Creek watershed, will convert 6.9 acres of farm field and 1,325 linear feet of an active, incised agricultural drainage ditch to a large, natural wetland complex that features a series of berms and ponding areas and addresses a failed, eroded grassed waterway.

For the third farm project, ShoreRivers will construct a stream and wetland complex stretching nearly 6,000 linear feet and encompassing over 15 acres in the headwaters of Morgan Creek in Kent County. This restoration complex will receive and treat runoff from 482 acres of surrounding row crop agriculture. The project will add ecological uplift to the stream segment; add retention, storage, and resiliency to protect downstream forested stream habitat; provide opportunity for nutrient processing through natural stream and wetland systems; and include a 6.5-acre buffer strip of warm season grass and shrub habitat to connect two existing quail habitat areas.

In the past decade, ShoreRivers has installed 186 restoration projects in the mid to upper Eastern Shore, reducing more than 144,000 pounds of nitrogen, 17,000 pounds of phosphorus, and 5,400 tons of sediments from polluting the waterways each year.

ShoreRivers protects and restores Eastern Shore waterways through science-based advocacy, restoration, and education.

shorerivers.org

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: Eco Notes Tagged With: Ecosystem, local news, Shore Rivers

CBF Outdoor Education Program Restarts this Fall After Pandemic Shutdown

September 3, 2021 by Chesapeake Bay Foundation
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Photo credit: CBF

Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) educators are excited to welcome teachers and students back to outdoor education programs this fall. The outdoor class program was suspended in March 2020 when the pandemic began.

Since the early 1970s, CBF’s award-winning outdoor education program has guided over one million students from Chesapeake Bay watershed schools to forests, rivers, and on the Bay to teach them about the nation’s largest estuary.

“Our education program’s mantra has always been to ‘learn outside,’ so we’re thrilled to get back on the Bay as well as the watershed’s rivers and trails to teach, learn, and explore with students in person,” said Tom Ackerman, CBF’s Vice President of Education. “We are eager to make up for the opportunities students have missed with us during the last 18 months. However, our priority has always been the health of our participants.”

CBF is taking several steps to protect the health of students and educators as outdoor education programs resume this fall for the first time since the pandemic began.

Photo credit: CBF

This year’s outdoor programs will be different than in previous years due to pandemic precautions. All day trip activities will take place outdoors, where studies have shown the risk of transmitting Covid-19 is much lower compared to indoor activities. Students will be required to undergo a health check 24 hours before attending a day program and wear masks when social distancing isn’t possible, such as on boats. To protect their own health and the health of others, All CBF educators have been vaccinated.

For residential programs, when students stay overnight at CBF facilities such as Smith Islandor the Karen Noonan Center on the Eastern Shore, students and other participants must be vaccinated. At the residential centers, participants will also be required to wear masks when indoors, with exceptions made for eating and sleeping.

In Maryland, CBF provides day trip education programs at the Phillip Merrill Environmental Center and Arthur Sherwood facility in Annapolis as well as out of the Baltimore Harbor. Schools in the Washington, D.C., area have the option of joining the Potomac River program in the nation’s capital.

On these experiences, students perform water quality tests, trawl for fish, examine plankton, and learn about the history and ecology of the Bay, its tributaries, and watershed. Participation in a CBF meaningful watershed educational experience is an important part of schools’ environmental literacy programs.

Studies of outdoor education classes have found students are more engaged and develop important skills such as perseverance, self-efficacy, and leadership through their participation. Students report after learning outside they feel more confident and connected to nature.

Teachers interested in signing their class up for a fall program can visit CBF’s education website to do so. This year’s fall field experiences will take place from late September through early December. Teachers can choose from canoe, boat, or land-based experiences.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: Eco Notes Tagged With: chesapeake bay foundation, Ecosystem, local news

Shaw Bay Raft-Up Concert with The Wye River Band Saturday, September 11

September 1, 2021 by Spy Desk
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Celebrate the end of summer with the Miles-Wye Riverkeeper and the Wye River Band at the Shaw Bay Raft-Up Concerton Saturday, September 11from 4:00-6:00 p.m. Begun decades ago by the Eastport Oyster Boys to raise awareness for clean water efforts, this annual on-the-water party will feature music by the Wye River Band this year while the “Boys” take a break. Kevin Brooks of the Eastport Oyster Boys thanks the Wye River Bandfor “stepping up to the mic to entertain and keep the party rockin’ on!”

This annual benefit concert is a must for cruisers of all persuasions. Bring your dinghy, paddle board, kayak, sailboat, or power boat, and join the floating raft party behind the Wye River Band concert pontoon. This free concert will be held in Shaw Bay, near the mouth of the Wye River. See shorerivers.org/events for a map of nearby locations to launch your vessel.

Donations are kindly accepted, as all proceeds help promote the clean water initiatives of ShoreRivers on the Miles and Wye rivers. Please use our pumpout boat services while on the river to help with these efforts.

Since May 2016, the ShoreRiverspumpout boat has pumped over 85,000 gallons of waste from boaters on the Miles and Wye Rivers. The pumpout boat is funded by the Department of Natural Resources and operates in partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, MD. The vesseloperates Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, as well as holidays through late October. Pumpouts may be scheduled on VHF Channel 9 or by calling Captain Jim at 410.829.4352 or emailing POBcaptainjim@gmail.com.

ShoreRivers is a nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring Eastern Shore waterways through science-based advocacy, restoration, and education. Our local waterways are polluted by excess nutrients and sediment that run off of urban, suburban, agricultural, and commercial land. ShoreRivers is dedicated to implementing real solutions through programs and projects to improve the health of these waterways. To learn more, please visit shorerivers.org.

For updates about the Shaw Bay Concert, visit the ShoreRivers and Miles-Wye Riverkeeper Facebook pages. Or contact Rebekah Hock at rhock@shorerivers.org or 443.385.0511 ext. 206.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: Eco Notes Tagged With: Ecosystem, local news, Shore Rivers

Join Local Farmers Being Paid for Conservation Work

August 20, 2021 by Spy Desk
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Farmers in the Choptank River watershed can receive incentive payments to implement conservation practices on their property through the Envision the Choptank program with support from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Envision the Choptank is a partnership that works to find collaborative solutions to restore fishable, swimmable waters to the Choptank River while working to meet the needs of local communities.

Recently installed tree buffer on a farm in the Choptank River watershed, planted as part of Envision the Choptank’s flexible tree buffer program.

So far, Envision the Choptank has worked with farmers and landowners to install 51 acres of grass buffer, 20 acres of forest buffer, and 7 acres of wetland. These projects make up 34%the program’s goal for total practice installation, meaning there is still funding available for farmers and landowners who are interested in conservation work.

One participating farmer, Fred Pomeroy, tried for three years to install a combination wetland and field buffer project on his farm. “Envision the Choptank’s supplemental financing made the difference. The project is now complete and represents an environmental and aesthetic improvement to my family farm.” The wetland restoration program offers $3,000 per acre to offset landowner costs.

Ben Tull, a farmer in Dorchester County, was able to use the Envision the Choptank grass buffer program to easily enroll over 20 acres on his farm. “The application was very simple with a lot of flexibility. It was very accommodating to my vision of how buffers would work into our farming practices and benefit the health of the farm and the environment. Envision the Choptank afforded us the opportunity to take some less productive acres out of grain production and put them to other use without any long-term commitment on our part.” The grass buffer program offers $900-$1300 per acre depending on the grass mix planted.

In addition to a wetland and grass buffer program, Envision the Choptank offers a tree buffer program that covers full implementation cost plus a bonus of $1,000 per acre installed. Trees can be planted near streams, along ditches, or in otherwise inoperable areas of an agricultural field. Caroline County farmer Adam Chaffinch credits the program with helping him to realize his farm’s overall objectives. “We were excited to learn of the tree buffer program as the area in question didn’t meet all the requirements for other programs. Envision the Choptank helped us recognize our vision to control erosion and protect wildlife on our farm while also contributing to the important effort of protecting our local waterways.”

If you have a resource concern on your property, an unproductive area, or are just interested in farm-friendly conservation practices, consider participating in Envision the Choptank’s programs. To be eligible, the farm property must be located in the Choptank River watershed; areas within the Choptank River watershed include portions of Dorchester, Caroline, Talbot, and Queen Anne’s Counties, Maryland, and Kent County, Delaware. For more information, contact Whitley Gray at wgray@shorerivers.org or 443.385.0511 ext. 202.

ShoreRivers protects and restores Eastern Shore waterways through science-based advocacy, restoration, and education.

shorerivers.org

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: Eco Notes Tagged With: Ecosystem, local news, Shore Rivers

Waterfowl Grant Program Open for Applications

August 13, 2021 by Waterfowl Chesapeake
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Waterfowl Festival is excited to announce its fourth year of connecting financial resources with environmental needs across Delmarva through its “Community in Conservation” funding program. These grants, supported by proceeds from annual Waterfowl Festival weekend, offer non-profits and community entities the chance to receive monies for projects and initiatives at the intersection of conservation and community.

“Waterfowl Festival continues to be dedicated to supporting waterfowl habitat improvement by funding regional projects, large and small,” explains Margaret Enloe, Waterfowl Chesapeake Executive Director. “This annual grant program creates opportunities for supporting healthy populations of ducks, geese and swans and increasing people’s connection and understanding of their importance in the ecosystem. And we welcome applicants from all across the Chesapeake region.”

University of Delaware ecology students participate in a Waterfowl Hunter Education Course, a program funded by the Waterfowl Festival in 2019. Photo courtesy of the University of Delaware.

The Community in Conservation program is unique for its three-pronged approach that recognizes the importance and interconnected roles that science, education and restoration play in the effort to restore waterfowl populations and landscapes. Waterfowl Festival hopes that the broad emphasis on “community”, which draws on the long history of its annual event by the same name, will encourage organizations to think creatively about who they can serve and will help generate new ideas to bring people and regional conservation work, research and education together. In 2019, this program supported two initiatives: 1) Increasing winter food sources for diving ducks and 2) Building relationship between graduate students in environmental fields and hunters and landowners.

Interested organizations should submit a their Letter of Inquiry & Support online at https://waterfowlfestival.org/conservation/community-in-conservation by September 10, 2021. Requests must align with WC’s focus areas and make the connection between the project or initiative, the community of people engaged and waterfowl-related issues.

PROGRAM FOCUS AREAS

We will support:

  • Initiatives at the intersection of conservation and community – a broad new category meant to allow for new thinking, projects and applicants;
  • Education of current and future generations of enthusiasts, conservationists and educators;
  • Research and scientific work of graduate students, volunteer groups and non-profits that affect waterfowl populations; and,
  • Restoration & conservation projects to benefit waterfowl.

About us: Waterfowl Festival, Inc., is dedicated to the promotion and conservation of waterfowl and wildlife and their habitat within the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: Eco Notes Tagged With: Ecosystem, local news, Waterfowl Festival

ShoreRivers & CCA Maryland Seek Volunteers to Build Oyster Reef Balls

August 4, 2021 by Spy Desk
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Round one of oyster reef ball builds is on the books for ShoreRivers and the Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) Maryland. Volunteers of all ages came out in July to spend the morning constructing concrete reef balls and then helped unveil them the next day. These reef balls provide essential habitat for oysters and other animals in our waterways. The reef balls will be placed in the Choptank River beneath the Bill Burton Fishing Pier.

Photo: Volunteers of all ages are welcome to help on reef ball build days. Oysters attach themselves to the concrete and form oyster reefs that provide underwater habitat. Photo credit: Coastal Conservation Association of Maryland

If you missed the first build, don’t worry—there’s another one just around the corner. The next build will be August 7 and August 8 at Easton Point Marina (975 Port Street, Easton) from 9am-12 noon. Each build is a two-morning event. Volunteers are welcome to come for one or both days of the build, but we need lots of volunteers for the first morning. Morning one is spent constructing the reef ball mold and filling it with concrete while morning two is when the balls are unmolded and unveiled (about an hour needed).

There is a job for all ages! If you’d like to contribute to this effort to improve oyster habitat, sign up to volunteer or get more information from ShoreRivers’ Community Engagement Coordinator Amy Narimatsu, at anarimatsu@shorerivers.org or call 410.810.7556 ext 253.

ShoreRivers protects and restores Eastern Shore waterways through science-based advocacy, restoration, and education.

shorerivers.org

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: Eco Notes Tagged With: Ecosystem, local news, Shore Rivers

Julianna Brush to Receive 2021 USM Regents’ Staff Award

July 31, 2021 by University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science
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Julianna Brush

Julianna Brush, Contract and Grant Specialist at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science’s Horn Point Laboratory, has been selected to receive the 2021 University System of Maryland (USM) Regents’ Staff Award for Exceptional Contribution to the Institution. Over the course of her seven years of service to UMCES, Juli Brush has become known for her high level of commitment to UMCES, her positive impact on the work environment, and her collaborative approach.

“Juli has provided essential support to our faculty by helping them submit complex research proposals to address important environmental problems,” said Michael Roman, director of UMCES’ Horn Point Laboratory.

She has created partnerships that have helped the Horn Point Laboratory improve efficiency. Additionally, she goes above and beyond her official duties, working on a variety of UMCES committees. Included in this work is her service as Chair of the Staff Council and as an active member of the Mental Health Council. As UMCES President Peter Goodwin notes, Juli is the go-to expert on all aspects of grants and contracts, shared governance, leadership, and relationship-building.

Each award carries a $2,000 prize provided by the institutions and the University System of Maryland Foundation. Chancellor Perman and Board of Regents Chair Linda Gooden will offer notice of the awards at the meeting of the full board on Sept. 10 at the University of Maryland Global Campus in Adelphi.

The USM Board of Regents is honoring seven members of its staff at institutions across the system as recipients of the 2021 USM Regents’ Staff Awards. The awards are the highest honor presented by the board to exemplary staff members. The awards honor excellence in the following categories: Contribution to the Institution; Service to Students in an Academic or Residential Environment; Public Service to the University or the Greater Community; Effectiveness and Efficiency; and Inclusion, Multiculturalism, & Social Justice.

“Throughout this pandemic, I’ve said that our USM staff are indispensable—the foundation of everything we do. They’ve kept the System running, kept our services going, kept our people safe, kept our students succeeding,” said USM Chancellor Jay A. Perman. “But this is true of our staff whether or not we’re in crisis. So I can’t wait to come together in September and celebrate these truly extraordinary colleagues. It’ll be a special day for all of us.”

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science leads the way toward better management of Maryland’s natural resources and the protection and restoration of the Chesapeake Bay. From a network of laboratories located across the state, UMCES scientists provide sound evidence and advice to help state and national leaders manage the environment, and prepare future scientists to meet the global challenges of the 21st century. www.umces.edu

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: Eco Notes Tagged With: Ecosystem, local news

Horn Point Laboratory’s Chesapeake Champion Event September 30

July 23, 2021 by Horn Point Laboratory
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The Horn Point Laboratory (HPL) will celebrate their 8th annual Chesapeake Champion on Thursday, September 30th from 5 to 7pm. The Horn Point Laboratory is thrilled to honor Beverly and Richard Tilghman as this year’s recipients.

Beverly and Richard Tilghman, Horn Point Laboratory 2021 Chesapeake Champions

This year’s celebration will be held at the historic Tidewater Inn in downtown Easton, MD, and will feature delicious, locally-sourced foods, beverages, and demonstrations by HPL graduate students.

Chesapeake Champion is the flagship event of the Horn Point Laboratory – one of four labs that make up the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. The event hosts 150 to 200 guests who come out to celebrate a group or individual who, through their own example, exemplifies environmental contributions on the Eastern Shore.

This year’s fundraising goal of $100,000 would provide stipends for two graduate students, helping the next generation of environmental scientists in a world that needs them perhaps more than ever.

The Tilghmans are steadfast supporters of HPL’s graduate students.  “Richard and Beverly have devoted their time and effort to support and advise a variety of environmental groups on the Shore,” said Horn Point Laboratory Director Mike Roman. “They have been great stewards of the lands of Wye House, installing living shorelines and conservation easements to protect the lands and wildlife.”

Past Chesapeake Champions include: Amy Haines, the first recipient in 2013, followed by John E. (Chip) Akridge in 2014, C. Albert Pritchett in 2015, Alice and Jordan Lloyd in 2016, Jim Brighton in 2017, Jerry Harris in 2018, and the Hutchison Brothers in 2019.

Mark your calendar and join us Thursday, September 30th to honor the Tilghmans and celebrate their leadership for graduate education and a sustainable, healthier Bay. Tickets are $100/ person. Sponsorship opportunities are available.

For more information, please visit www.umces.edu/hpl or contact Carin Starr at cstarr@umces.edu, 410-221-8408.

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science leads the way toward better management of Maryland’s natural resources and the protection and restoration of the Chesapeake Bay. From a network of laboratories located across the state, UMCES scientists provide sound advice to help state and national leaders manage the environment, and prepare future scientists to meet the global challenges of the 21st century. www.umces.edu

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: Eco Notes Tagged With: Ecosystem, local news

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