What Can I Do?
Check Your Home for Air Leaks
Cold air leaks can make your home drafty and use more energy for heating in winter. Saving energy also reduces pollution. You can caulk small leaks around windows yourself, or do a more complete inspection of heating system and ductwork. Click here for more information. If you want to take a thorough look at your energy usage and how to reduce it, click here. |
Bay Fact
The name "Chesapeake" is reported to be the seventh oldest surviving English place-name in the United States. The name's origin is an Algonquian Indian word referring to a village "at a big river." The name might actually mean something like 'Great Water,' or it might have been just 'a village at the bay's mouth.' For more information... | |
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From the desk of...
Martin O'Malley, Governor of Maryland
Governor Martin O'Malley planting trees with kids at an Earth Day Celebration.
Dear Friends,
It's been a little more than a year since we first launched our Marylanders Plant Trees program, and now that summer has quickly turned into fall - there is no better time to plant a tree than today.
Families from Western Maryland to the Eastern Shore, and all points in between have already joined together to plant 22,000 trees to create that greener, more sustainable future for our children and future generations. But we need your help to reach our goal to plant 50,000 trees by 2010.
Fall is an ideal time to plant a tree for the future - giving newly planted trees the chance to firmly take root throughout the winter, making them stronger and more resilient come spring.
To make it easy for everyone to plant a tree, we're offering $25 coupons for the purchase of native trees costing $50 or more at more than 70 participating nurseries. And now everyone in Maryland has the opportunity to join in, simply visit us online at www.green.maryland.gov and TREE-Mendous Maryland can plant one for you through their Gift of Trees program. We all know that planting trees benefits us all by creating a greener, more beautiful environment. But planting a tree also has the added benefit of improving the quality of the air we breathe and the water we drink - and those benefits only grow larger over time with our trees, and multiply as we plant more and more trees across our great state. Finally, please don't forget to register your newly planted tree. Our Department of Natural Resources will be holding drawings every month where you can win overnight stays at beautiful Rocky Gap Resort, yacht tours of the Chesapeake Bay, locally-grown Christmas trees and State Park passes. And when you register a tree, you can add your tree to our interactive website, where you can calculate the environmental benefits of your new tree.
There is no better time to plant a tree than right now. By planting one tree, every Marylander can help keep Maryland Smart, Green & Growing. Please join us at www.green.maryland.gov. Sincerely,
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BayStat Team Meeting Update
The October BayStat meeting was postponed; the agenda items will be addressed in the November meeting. |
Maryland Government at Work for the Bay
State, Partners Plant 750 Million Oyster Spat This Year
 Maryland set a new record in adding oysters to the Chesapeake Bay in 2009. 750 million hatchery-reared baby oysters were planted in the Bay by a partnership among the Department of Natural Resources, the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science and the Oyster Recovery Partnership. That effort is supplemented by Maryland citizens who are maintaining over 5,000 cages filled with oysters that will be planted in the Bay next year. Click here for more information. |
New Septic Rules in the Critical Area
 Legislation passed by the 2009 General Assembly requires that all new and replacement septic systems installed after October 1, 2009 in the Critical Area (within 1,000 feet of the edge of the Chesapeake or Coastal Bays) must use nitrogen-removing technology. Grants are available for homeowners and businesses, with failing systems in the critical area receiving the highest priority. For grant information, click here. For more information about the Critical Area, click here. |
Permits for Animal Feeding Operations to Take Effect Dec. 1
 The Maryland Department of the Environment is issuing a general discharge permit, effective December 1, 2009, for large Maryland poultry and livestock feeding operations. The permit complies with recent federal regulations, requires measures to control nutrient discharges, and better protects local waterways and the Chesapeake Bay. Click here for more information. |
DNR Deputy Secretary Testifies on Energy
Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Deputy Secretary Eric Schwaab testified recently before the U.S. House of Representatives Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming. Deputy Secretary Schwaab outlined for the committee Maryland's strategic plan for climate change developed in 2008. Read the full statement."The O'Malley-Brown Administration has worked hard to prepare a plan we feel pushes Maryland government to lead by example," said Deputy Secretary Schwaab. "Through our plan we can both reduce our vulnerability to a rising sea level and climate change, while growing green jobs and a green economy." |
Wye Oak Descendants Available for Purchase
 A limited number of seedlings grown from a direct offspring of Maryland's historic Wye Oak are available for order now and shipment in Spring 2010. The two-year old seedlings (minimum 15" tall) are certified descendants of the Wye Oak and were raised at Maryland's John S. Ayton State Forest Tree Nursery from acorns collected from an original Wye Oak offspring. Online orders are also being accepted now for seedlings of many other native tree species, for delivery in the spring. Click here to order. |
MET Celebrates Protection of 1,000 Properties
 Maryland Environmental Trust (MET) is celebrating the permanent protection of 1,000 Maryland properties containing more than 122,000 acres of forest, farmland and scenic open space across the state. The properties are protected by conservation easements donated by the owners, who receive tax benefits. Click here for more information. |
Biologists Use New Technique To Look For Rare Fish
DNR biologists recently began a new search for one of the rarest fish in the world, the Maryland darter. This particular species has only been found in three Maryland streams, was last seen in 1988, and many biologists fear it's extinct. Biologists started the search on Friday, but suspended the rest of the search this weekend due to foul weather and plan to resume in November. Read more. |
Planning Website Has Fresh New Look
The Maryland Department of Planning has a redesigned website with a fresh, attractive layout. The website is intended be the public's window to becoming involved in Smart Growth and the planning process. Click here to check out all the new features. |
Annual Water Monitoring Conference to be held December 3
 There's still time to register for the 15th Annual Conference of the Maryland Water Monitoring Council to be held in North Linthicum on December 3. The theme is Water Quality Success Stories: It Ain't All Doom and Gloom. Highlights include a keynote talk by Tom Horton, a freshwater critter table, three concurrent sessions, and about 20 posters. Topics include monitoring radium in groundwater, restoring shad in the Potomac River and mitigating acid mine drainage in the North Branch of the Potomac River. Early bird registration ends November 15, 2009. Register now. | |
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