What Can I Do?
 RecycleWith holiday activities come presents, food containers and plenty of packaging materials. Before you throw everything in the garbage can, think about what can be recycled. Some areas recently switched to single-stream recycling. Review the list of materials accepted for recycling in your area and be sure to sort out all the applicable paper, plastic, glass bottles and aluminum cans for recycling. Click here for more information. |
Bay Fact
The Chesapeake Bay assumed its present shape about 3,000 years ago. But conditions that led to the Bay we know today started 35 million years ago when a rare meteor, or comet-like object from space, hit the area that is now the lower tip of the Delmarva Peninsula. Then about 18,000 years ago melting Ice Age glaciers carved rivers that flowed towards the coast. More details...
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From the desk of...
Martin O'Malley, Governor of Maryland
 | | Governor O'Malley at the Oyster Summit at the Naval Academy in 2010. |
The beginning of a new year is always a good time to reflect on past efforts and to renew our commitment to goals that keep us moving in a positive direction.
Restoring the Chesapeake Bay is one of the 15 strategic goals that set the direction of the O'Malley-Brown Administration and helps us measure progress in moving Maryland toward a more productive, safe, sustainable, healthy and pleasant place for families to live and work. The Environmental Protection Agency has confirmed that Maryland has a very strong plan to clean up the Chesapeake Bay. Never before has our State developed such a detailed, specific plan for Bay restoration with this level of commitment from all stakeholders, including our federal partners. I want to thank all Marylanders who attended public meetings across the State and provided hundreds of valuable comments that helped shape such a comprehensive plan. Details of our efforts and progress toward reaching our Bay restoration targets by the end of 2020 are always available on the BayStat website.
Several of our other strategic goals are closely related to Bay restoration. Reducing Maryland's greenhouse gas emissions 25% by 2020, reducing per capita electricity consumption 15% by 2015, increasing the percentage of Maryland electricity produced from renewable resources, and doubling public transit ridership will all work together to improve Maryland's environment that surrounds the Bay.
Other important goals that are helping move Maryland forward include job creation  especially creating 100,000 green jobs improving education and student achievement, reducing violent crime, and improving health by expanding access to substance abuse treatment and reducing childhood hunger and infant mortality. Details of all 15 strategic goals are on the StateStat website.
All of our strategic goals are important and meeting them will contribute towards making Maryland better and more prepared for future challenges. Restoring the Bay has been one of our highest priorities since we first took office, and it will continue to be a major part of our efforts during the next four years.
We wish all of you and your families a happy and successful New Year.
Sincerely,
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Maryland Government at Work for the Bay
Sportfishing License Changes Have Taken EffectAnglers who fish in Maryland will see significant changes to sportfishing license requirements, which took effect on January 1, 2011. The changes allow the State to send licensee information directly to the national database of saltwater anglers required by federal law, and relieve license holders from the need to submit information separately to the national database. Click here for details...
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DNR Surpasses 2010 Land Conservation Goals
 DNR has surpassed its 2010 land conservation goals for BayStat, the statewide tool through which Maryland's Bay restoration and conservation programs are tracked. In 2010, DNR protected 12,812 acres through Program Open Space, the Rural Legacy Program and the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, exceeding the BayStat goal by a total of 24%. To learn more about the goals and BayStat click here. |
Governor O'Malley Re-Opens Aquaculture Financing Applications
Maryland's new shellfish aquaculture financing program will be accepting a second round of applications through January 31, 2011. The financing will help watermen use new opportunities created by the State's Oyster Restoration and Aquaculture Development Plan, which opens thousands of acres to leasing for aquaculture. The financing program received 16 applications totaling more than $1.3 million during the first round, which closed on November 30. There is a total of $2.2 million currently available for the program, which is a cooperative effort among the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA), the University of the Maryland Sea Grant Extension (UME) and the Maryland Agricultural and Resource-Based Industry Development Corporation (MARBIDCO). Read more.
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New Technology Aids Maritime Law Enforcement in Maryland
Maryland citizens and visitors will soon benefit from enhanced search and rescue, homeland security, and law enforcement operations thanks to a new system of radar and camera sites around the Chesapeake Bay. The Maryland Natural Resources Police has launched the Maritime Law Enforcement Information Network to monitor vessel activity and assist first responders. More details...
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DNR Hosts Workshops for Marinas and Boatyards
 The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is hosting three Clean Marina Roundtable workshops during January for marina and boatyard operators. The roundtables will discuss Maryland's Clean Marina Initiative, a voluntary program that promotes and celebrates efforts of marinas, boatyards and yacht clubs to reduce their pollution. Participants will receive free copies of the Clean Marina Guidebook, award checklists and educational materials for boaters and staff. For more info...
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