ShoreRivers recently completed construction of a large restoration project on the Wye Mills campus of Chesapeake College that will significantly reduce nutrient and sediment pollution entering the Wye River complex. Funded by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, this project restores almost 29 acres of marginal cropland to ponds, wetlands, and forest. The project is slated to include over 13 acres of tree plantings by next spring. Queen Anne’s County funded the ecological design of the project.

The Chesapeake College Agriculture to Ecosystem project addresses 28.72 acres of an agricultural field with a badly incised ditch that drains excess nutrients and sediment into the Wye East River. The land was removed from row crop production and converted into two ponds, a series of wetland cells with habitat islands, planted infiltration berms, and approximately 13.5 acres of tree plantings. The campus of Chesapeake College is located at the headwaters of the Wye East River, which is impaired by nitrogen, phosphorus, sediment, and seasonal bacteria pollution.

This site underwent a total conversion from an agricultural field to high quality wetland and forest habitat, all in view of heavily trafficked Route 50. Each year, the project will prevent approximately 56 tons of sediment, 885 pounds of nitrogen, and 89 pounds of phosphorus from entering the Wye River. The design incorporates a 2,200-footwalking path to allow students to use the project as an outdoor laboratory.

Kristin Junkin, director of operations &finance at ShoreRivers, said, “ShoreRivers has been working with Chesapeake College since 2016 to complete over 20 different restoration and stormwater projects on the campus. This latest wetland conversion follows a series of earlier projects including a stream restoration, bioswales, turf conversion to wildflower meadows, switchgrass buffers, and tree plantings. The nutrient and sediment reductions achieved by these projects are particularly important because Chesapeake College sits on an ecologically sensitive parcel of land at the headwaters of the Wye East River. We are grateful to the college for collaborating with us to accomplish this important work for clean rivers.”

“We’re proud of the sustainability efforts at Chesapeake and of our long partnership with ShoreRivers,” said Chesapeake College President Clifford P. Coppersmith. “This latest project preserves the natural beauty of Chesapeake’s campus while contributing to the environmental health of the surrounding area and providing hands-on learning opportunities for our students. We work with ShoreRivers to ensure that the resources and way of life on the Eastern Shore can be sustained for future generations.”

For more information about the Chesapeake College restoration projects, contact ShoreRivers Director of Operations & Finance Kristin Junkin at 443.385.0511 ext 204 or [email protected].

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

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Join ShoreRivers, Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake, and other local environmental organizations from across the Upper Eastern Shore for Queen Anne’s EcoFest at Saint Paul’s Parish in Centreville on Sunday, November 21 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. EcoFest will provide free fun for the whole family. Activities include a free native plant seed giveaway, critter bingo, dream catcher weaving, arts and crafts, storytelling, rain garden tours, birding information, and presentations from local environmental groups. Event is rain or shine, and attendees are asked to wear a mask for the indoor portion of the event.

EcoFest provides an opportunity to showcase and celebrate rain garden installations at Saint Paul’s Parish, learn about the cultures of indigenous tribes that call the Eastern Shore home, and find new opportunities to get involved in the environmental movement to improve our waterways on the Upper Eastern Shore. The event will recognize National Native American Heritage Month by opening with the Thanksgiving Address from Chief Dennis J. Coker, representing the Lenape Tribe of Delaware.

The rain garden at Saint Paul’s, funded by a Chesapeake Bay Trust grant, treats and filters stormwater from the church’s roof to reduce its impact on nearby waterways. ShoreRivers and Interfaith Partners of the Chesapeake are interested in working with other congregations on the Upper Shore to install similar green infrastructure projects to treat stormwater runoff and reduce pollution loads to local creeks and rivers. In addition to helping water quality, these projects create pollinator-friendly habitats using native plants to beautify congregations’ properties.

Contact Taylor Swanson at [email protected] to RSVP for the event and Suzanne Sullivan at [email protected] to learn more about ShoreRivers and Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake’s partnerships with local congregations.

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

shorerivers.org

ShoreRivers will activate volunteers to increase tree canopy and implement restoration projects in their communities through two recent federal funding awards. The Envision the Choptank partnership, including ShoreRivers, will work with three underrepresented communities in the watershed to create green stormwater infrastructure projects. These projects will reduce nutrient pollution and make backyards and community spaces livable and beautiful. And in partnership with the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, ShoreRivers will train Tree Stewards to plant hundreds of native trees in public spaces across our watersheds. These projects are funded by two collaborative National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grants that support clean water and strong communities on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

Activating Restoration in Three Underrepresented Communities in the Choptank Watershed

Building on Envision the Choptank’s existing engagement with three underrepresented communities in the Choptank watershed, this grant will support implementation of restoration projects prioritized by each community through a community restoration fund. Projects will improve water quality, address resource concerns such as stormwater flooding, increase equitable distribution of resources from restoration efforts, and enhance private lands and shared spaces.

An innovative “ambassador fund” will pay residents for their work, support community leaders, and engage community members in training and volunteer opportunities. Planning, outreach, and implementation for these projects will continue through 2023.

To learn more about Envision the Choptank, contact Whitley Gray at [email protected] or 443.385.0511 ext. 202.

Urban Tree Plantings with Chesapeake Tree Stewards

ShoreRivers, in support of the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay’s Tree Stewards program, will use National Fish and Wildlife Foundation funds to implement native tree planting projects identified by volunteers and initiated by their communities. Well-established tree canopies are essential in urban and suburban areas, where they slow stormwater, filter nutrient and sediment pollution, provide habitat for birds and insects, beautify towns, absorb carbon and air pollutants, and mitigate the extreme heat produced by large expanses of impervious surface.

For many communities on the Eastern Shore that are low-lying and vulnerable to extreme weather events, planting trees can be an impactful and cost-effective solution. Trees are a critical component to ShoreRivers’ strategy to achieve healthier rivers and communities.

With a goal of 300 new trees planted across urban and suburban neighborhoods by the end of 2022, certified Tree Stewards will work with ShoreRivers’ Riverkeepers to engage volunteers, strengthen partnerships with local organizations and committees, and motivate local government to adopt beneficial practices that establish and protect urban tree canopies across the Eastern Shore.

To become a ShoreRivers Tree Steward or identify an area in need of increased tree canopy, please contact Amy Narimatsu at [email protected] or 410.810.7556 ext. 253.

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

shorerivers.org

ShoreRivers will host its 12^th Annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival on Friday, November 19, starting at 7 pm. Like last year, hundreds of passionate environmental advocates will gather online to enjoy a carefully curated slate of award-winning films that reflect a theme of “Resilient by Nature.” General admission tickets are FREE, but donations are welcome. For those who are unable to attend the live event, the films will be available to all registrants On Demand from November 20-30, so register now at shorerivers.org/events.

ShoreRivers joins over 250 organizations across the country to showcase a suite of captivating films that inform and inspire a deep connection to the environment. The diverse film lineup is rooted in both environmental activism and an enduring love of nature. Events like this capture these unique stories of conservation and hope and share them throughout communities across the world. Listen to them, remember them, and leave with a renewed hope and sense of wonder.

After an introduction by ShoreRivers Executive Director Isabel Hardesty, the evening will commence with Through the Breaks, directed by Tom Attwater. Audience members will experience a float down the Upper Missouri River in eastern Montana that reveals a spectacular, remote, and unspoiled prairie landscape. But why do the wild scenes of this place matter? For boatbuilder Jason Cajune, the river trip carries on a family tradition; he grew up on drift boats in Glacier National Park, operated by his parents. Now a boatbuilder by trade, Cajune says, “I’m really just sort of a caretaker of an idea that came before,” a succinct definition of conservation itself.

Other short films interspersed with staff commentary will round out the evening, which will then conclude with Wild Climate, directed by Meredith Meeks. On Maryland’s Eastern Shore, we know first-hand that rural communities are already experiencing the impacts of climate change. This film elevates personal stories that inspire change at every level.

This event is made possible by the leadership and generosity of event sponsors: EcoPrint, ThinkMakeBuild, Gillespie Precast, Wye Gardens, Cross Street Realtors, Talbot Preservation Alliance, Easton Utilities, Parker Counts, Chesapeake Utilities, and by the kindness of numerous individual and family sponsors.

Proceeds from the evening benefit the important advocacy, education, and restoration initiatives of ShoreRivers that result in real pollution reduction. Throughout the year, ShoreRivers’ Riverkeepers speak for the rivers at local, state, and regional levels to ensure representatives are informed with the latest science, trends, and recommendations. Outstanding education programs prepare 1,600 high school students in four counties and 1,200 elementary school students in two counties to become the next generation of environmental stewards. In addition, the organization has installed large- and small-scale restoration practices through thousand-acre farm projects as well as individual River-Friendly Yard upgrades.

Although this is a different experience from years past where we gathered at the Tidewater Inn and the Avalon Theatre in Easton, ShoreRivers hopes you will join this thrilling cinematic journey as the organization’s mission for clean water remains steadfast. This will be an evening full of laughter and excitement, leaving viewers with the desire to make a positive difference for our beautiful rivers.

For more information, contact Freya Farley at [email protected]. Visit shorerivers.org/events to register or become a sponsor.

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

shorerivers.org

ShoreRivers and Washington College Center for Environment and Society (CES) will co-host the Upper Shore Youth Environmental Action Summit on Saturday, March 19, 2022, at the Gibson Center for the Arts on Washington College’s campus in Chestertown. The Upper Shore Youth Environmental Action Summit is a student-centric, conference-style experience celebrating environmental action led by local youth in middle and high school. Students interested in leadership, problem solving, and environmental activism are encouraged to apply now to become a Summit Student Leader.  This event is inspired by the annual LowerShore Youth Environmental Action Summit co-hosted by the Ward Museum and Wicomico Environmental Trust.

Summit highlights will include networking with professionals across environmental fields, access to volunteer and internship opportunities, and engaging sessions and resources to inspire youth to take environmental action into their own hands. Student registration to attend the summit will open this winter at uppershoresummit.weebly.com.

The Upper Shore Summit is seeking middle and high school students to serve as Student Leaders and play a direct role in planning the interactive, inspiring event. A few key roles available for student leaders include identifying summit themes, keynote, and session speakers, and designing press and social media campaigns. Student leaders will meet virtually throughout the winter with ShoreRivers and Washington College CES staff. This experience is an excellent addition to college resumes or job applications.

Student leaders must apply by October 31, 2021, by visiting uppershoresummit.weebly.com/students and clicking apply to become a student leader. Applications are open to middle and high school students in public, private, and home school in Talbot, Queen Anne’s, Caroline, Kent, and Cecil Counties.

The Upper Shore Youth Environmental Action Summit is also seeking event sponsors who want to support local youth in environmental action. Please contact ShoreRivers Director of Education Suzanne Sullivan at [email protected] to learn more about sponsorship. Students participating in the summit will be expected to follow COVID protocols and CDC guidelines as directed by Washington College.

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

shorerivers.org