What Can I Do?
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Bay Fact They are red when you eat them, but most crabs in the Chesapeake Bay are called blue crabs because before cooking they have bright blue on the tips of their claws and legs. Mature male crabs (jimmies) have bright blue claws while mature females (sooks) have bright red claws. The heat from cooking makes all of them turn red.
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From the desk of... Martin O'Malley, Governor of Maryland
This month we are working with the legislature toward passage of the Sustainable Communities Act of 2010, Senate Bill 285. This bill, which I proposed, includes a renewed version of the Heritage Structure Rehabilitation Tax Credit and will help achieve many important goals. It will strengthen existing communities, stimulate local economies and create jobs in construction, a sector particularly hard hit during the economic downturn.
The Sustainable Communities Act will also reinforce our efforts to restore the Chesapeake Bay and protect local waterways. By encouraging revitalization in our existing communities, in areas such as Main Street business districts and transit-oriented development areas, we're focusing growth in places already prepared for it. By reducing development pressure on agricultural and resource lands, we ease runoff that chokes the Bay.
We also want to encourage more environmentally sound building design. The rehabilitation tax credit in SB 285 will add an incentive for projects that meet national LEED Gold standards for green building. It is one of the first programs in the country to link green design and historic preservation. And, as we've often said, reuse of an existing building is the greenest design of all. You can get more information about the legislation under "Smart Growth" at Green.Maryland.gov.
Protection of the Bay and our water resources is immensely important. No single program can accomplish all of it. We're seeking new ways to reduce storm water runoff, encouraging environmentally sound agricultural practices and increased funding for the Chesapeake Bay Trust Fund. Focusing future growth in ways better for the Bay by slowing the consumption of too much land and too many resources is another vital way to promote a more sustainable Maryland for future generations.
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BayStat Team Meeting Update
At the February BayStat meeting, the BayStat team continued to work on solutions to reduce the amount of nitrogen that reaches the Chesapeake Bay. Maryland needs to reduce nitrogen pollution by an additional 500,000 pounds per year to meet the first 2-year milestone ending in 2011. Several options were discussed, including counting reductions from solutions on federal lands. |
Maryland Government at Work for the Bay
It's Census Time!
Every 10 years the Census Bureau counts the population of the United States. The population figures are then used to allocate Federal funds during the next 10 years. If the population of Maryland or your local area is not counted fully, tax dollars will be sent somewhere else instead. Census forms will be mailed to every household during March. Do your part by completing the simple form and returning it promptly! Click here to learn more. |
PlanMaryland Public Forums
You are invited to participate in public forums to help shape a vision for Maryland's future. One subject to be discussed is doing a better job of steering development toward areas that already have roads, schools and other public infrastructure. The meetings, coordinated by the Maryland Department of Planning, will be held throughout the State during the next few months. The initial meetings in March will be in Westminster, Baltimore and Rockville. Click here for details. |
Oyster Aquaculture Fees EliminatedThe Maryland Department of the Environment has eliminated permit application and impact fees for commercial oyster aquaculture. Removal of the fees supports Governor O'Malley's Oyster Restoration and Aquaculture Development Plan. The Plan is designed to help restore the Chesapeake Bay and Maryland's native oyster, create new jobs and economic activity through aquaculture, and maintain a more targeted, sustainable public oyster fishery. Click here for more information. |
State Increasing Enforcement of Environmental and Natural Resources Laws
State agencies have increased enforcement of rules that protect the Chesapeake Bay. While most people respect the Bay and our natural resources, the ramped up enforcement efforts will stop the few who violate anti-pollution or fisheries protection rules from ruining the Bay for the rest of us. The courts have started a special natural resources enforcement day in Anne Arundel County. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources recently suspended the licenses of three repeat oyster regulation violators, for the first time using its authority to order the suspension of a license if the public health, safety or welfare requires emergency action. Click here, here and here for details. |
New Protections for Critical Area BufferNew rules go into effect March 8 to protect the Critical Area buffer, the first 100 feet of land adjacent to Bay waters. The new regulations address the cumulative impacts of shoreline development by requiring protection, restoration and enhancement of the buffer when construction, clearing or other related activities are proposed on waterfront property. Learn more... |
Volunteer Opportunities Available
Do you want to do more to help restore the Chesapeake Bay and have some time? The Departments of the Environment (MDE) and Natural Resources (DNR) both offer opportunities for volunteers to provide important and meaningful action. Learn more about opportunities at MDE and DNR. | |
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