What Can I Do?
Plant a TreeTrees provide shade, beauty, and wildlife habitat. They also help clean the air, reduce stormwater runoff, and pull nutrients out of groundwater before it can carry them to the Bay. You can plant a tree yourself, or work with a community association or your local government to plant groups of trees in public areas. We have resources to support your efforts and they are located online. |
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Bay Fact
Baby oysters are called "spat". Spat are newly attached oysters that are less than a year old. Oysters reproduce in the summer. The newborn oysters attach to old oyster shells or other objects, and "spat set" is a measurement of oyster reproductive success.
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From the desk of...
Martin O'Malley, Governor of Maryland
 Governor Martin O'Malley and U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack touring a farm in Maryland.
Over the years, Maryland farmers have emerged as some of our strongest partners in the Bay restoration effort. Earlier this summer, more than 1,200 farmers from across our great State demonstrated their continued commitment to the Bay cleanup effort by enrolling approximately 330,500 acres of farm fields in Maryland's 2009-2010 Winter Cover Crop Program.
Cover crops have long been recognized as one of the most cost-effective and environmentally sustainable ways for farmers to control soil erosion and reduce nutrient runoff in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries over the winter. Cereal grains such as rye, wheat and barley are used as cover crops because they grow in cool weather. Once established, cover crops recycle unused plant nutrients remaining in the soil from the previous summer crop, protect fields against wind and water erosion, and help improve the soil for the next year's crop.
Earlier this year, I toured portions of our beautiful Eastern Shore where I saw firsthand cover crops at work for the Bay. Even from a distance, cover crops are easily recognized as the green fields that stand out against the otherwise stark winter landscape.
Maryland's Winter Cover Crop Program is funded largely by the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund and the Chesapeake Bay 2010 Trust Fund. Cost-share funds provided by the program are used by farmers to offset associated seed, labor and equipment costs. Last year, Maryland farmers used the Winter Cover Crop Program to plant 237,500 acres of protective cover crops in their fields. This helped prevent an estimated 1.16 million pounds of nitrogen and 47,500 pounds of phosphorus from entering Maryland waterways.
We hope to build upon this success to achieve even greater nutrient savings for the Bay. Our Cover Crop Program is the centerpiece in a suite of 27 actions that I have established to ramp up Bay restoration and achieve an additional reduction of 3.75 million pounds of nitrogen and 201,000 pounds of phosphorus from reaching the Bay by the end of 2011. The Cover Crop Program alone will account for over one-third of this goal.
Maryland farmers are committed to protecting and preserving our treasured Chesapeake Bay and all waterways for future generations to enjoy. Through our commitment to cover crops, we are working with them toward a smart, green and growing future.
Sincerely,
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BayStat Team Meeting Update
At the August BayStat meeting, the Maryland Department of Agriculture informed the BayStat team that cover crop applications for the Fall 2009 planting season have dropped by 17% from 2008. The reasons for the decline were attributed to slightly lower State cost-share amounts and higher seed costs. Cover crops provide more nutrient reductions that any other solution in Maryland's 2-year milestone strategy. To date, Maryland has reduced 1.1 million pounds of nitrogen, or 27% of its first 2-year milestone goal. |
Maryland Government at Work for the Bay
Citizen-Grown Oysters Planted in Tred Avon Sanctuary
 The first oysters grown through Maryland's citizen oyster growing program have been planted in a sanctuary in the Tred Avon River. Waterfront pier owners tended oyster spat in 858 cages since last October. Governor O'Malley, who started the program last fall, said, "Our citizen stewards in Talbot County have not only done a terrific job giving these baby oysters a head start on life, but they also have been a source of inspiration for other conservation minded Marylanders." The program is currently expanding to include citizens along the Annemessex, Corsica, Magothy, lower Nanticoke, lower Patuxent, Severn, South, St. Mary's and Wicomico (Western Shore) Rivers, as well as La Trappe and San Domingo Creeks. Click here for more information. |
Marylanders Plant Trees Gearing Up for Fall Planting Season
 The Marylanders Plant Trees program, launched by Governor O'Malley in April, is gearing up for the fall tree planting season. Citizens across the State have already planted and registered almost 10,000 trees toward the yearly goal of 50,000 new trees. In addition to a $25 discount coupons toward a the purchase of native trees costing $50 or more, citizens who register the trees they plant can now win prizes in monthly drawings. Communities planting trees on public land can view the fall Treemendous MD order form online here. Whether you buy trees with a coupon or without, at a private nursery or through Treemendous MD, please take the time to register trees you plant this year. To find a participating nursery, print coupons, register trees and much more, click here. |
Maryland Recognizes 12 New Clean MarinasDuring the last year 12 marinas voluntarily adopted best management practices to be certified as Clean Marinas. They were recognized at a luncheon in early August. Since 1999 the Department of Natural Resources has certified 115 Clean Marinas. Governor O'Malley said, "Every Marylander has a role in helping to restore the health of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. I want to commend these business owners for making a significant contribution to this effort." Click here for more details. |
DNR Offers to Buy Back Blue Crab Licenses The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is offering to pay $2,260 each to buy back Commercial Limited Crab Catcher (LCC) licenses. The purpose of the voluntary buy-back program is to reduce future pressure on Maryland's blue crab population. Federal Blue Crab Disaster Funds will be used to purchase the licenses. Click here for more information. |
Online Guide to Seafood Festivals
The Maryland Department of Agriculture has a handy online list of Maryland seafood festivals. The festival season continues into September and October with several large festivals in Annapolis, Southern Maryland and the Eastern Shore. Click here for more information. |
Maryland Receives Grant to Start Innovative Nutrient Trading
The Maryland Department of Agriculture has received a grant to implement a nutrient trading program between point and non-point sources in the Upper Chesapeake Bay. The nutrient trading program will create a public marketplace for the sale and purchase of nutrient credits (phosphorus and nitrogen). This exchange will help non-agricultural businesses offset new or increased point source discharges. The $512,000 Conservation Innovation Grant comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Click here for more information. |
Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgraded
 Governor O'Malley, Environment Secretary Shari T. Wilson, and local officials gathered on the banks of Marshyhope Creek to dedicate the Town of Federalsburg's newly upgraded wastewater treatment plant. The upgrade will reduce nitrogen and phosphorous pollution in Marshyhope Creek, the Nanticoke River, and the Chesapeake Bay. Federalsburg will also receive federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act clean water funding, along with a State grant, for a new project to control stormwater runoff pollution, prevent sewer overflows, and reduce flooding. Click here for more details. |
Studies Identify Sources of Bacteria in Maryland Waters
A new study by the Maryland Department of the Environment and Salisbury University finds that pets and wildlife are significant sources of bacteria in the watersheds of eight Anne Arundel County waterways. Another recent study suggests that bacteria are present in sediment and sand and may contribute to elevated bacteria levels in water. Click here for more information. | |
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