BayStat...Monitoring Bay health progress.

Your link to the Chesapeake Bay - August 2011 

IN THIS ISSUE
* From the Desk of Governor Martin O'Malley
* BayStat Team Meeting Update
* Scientists Release Data About Bay 'Dead Zones'
* Courts Improve Natural Resources Enforcement
* Aquaculture Leasing Opportunities Expanded
* DNR Seeks Volunteers to Help Teach About the Bay
* Stream Symposium Happening Soon
* Maryland Promotes Bay Seafood
* Help Maryland State Parks

Bay Fact  

Dead zones affect Bay life. 

"Dead zones" occur in the Bay during the hottest summer weather, caused by lack of oxygen dissolved in the water. Too much nitrogen and phosphorus getting to the Bay causes algae to grow. When algae dies it decomposes, taking oxygen from the water, and causing a dead zone in which other Bay life cannot survive. Learn more... 

 

More News

 

Snakeheads on Maryland's menu? 


National Park Service offers free Boaters Guide 

 

Nitrogen-Eating Bacteria HelpsArlington Treat Waste Water 


EPA rule seeks to curb long-distance air pollution 


State proposes new policies to prevent rockfish poaching 

 

Alarming 'dead zone' grows in the Chesapeake 

 

Invasive plant more vulnerable to herbicides this time of the year 


Maryland to accept new oyster aquaculture applications 

 

Reforming septic rules could conserve land 


Chesapeake Bay oysters 'sell themselves' 


Maryland chefs want to put snakeheads on the menu 

 

Outdoors Maryland Wins Two Emmy Awards 


Chesapeake Bay Pesticides: Some Diminish, Some Persist 


Rivers of MarylandPoplar Island: Out of the spoils into the spectacular 


Battlefields showcase natural as well as military history 

 

WWII shipwrecks could threaten U.S. coast 

 

State starts second court for natural resource offenders 

 

Volunteers try to restore Maryland's vanishing butterfly 

 

MD congressman re-introduces environmental ed bill 


Study shows forests have bigger role in slowing climate change 

 

State promotes storm-water innovations 

 

Thomas Point Lighthouse offers glimpse back in time 

 

Derelict fishing gear haunts bay waters 


Chesapeake virus activity mirrors seasonal changes, plays critical ecosystem role 


Former Navy destroyer to be sunk soon to create massive artificial reef 


Missing: Chesapeake Bay jellyfish 

 

Boat-borne police prowl on big July Fourth aquatic weekend 

 

Delaware on lookout for nutria 

 

Snakeheads...wanted dead, not alive 

 

Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center: From 'duck zoo' to nature treasure 

 

Scientists say wind reduces Chesapeake Bay dead zones 

 

Musicians, volunteers dig up school parking lot to help bay 

 

Colombian orphans will never forget day on the ChesapeakeAs an essential 

 

Atlantic fish declines, experts debate course 

 

Apps bring Chesapeake to your phone 

Quick Links

From the desk of...

Martin O'Malley, Governor of Maryland  

Governor Martin O'Malley at the Chesapeake Executive Council Meeting.

Governor Martin O'Malley at the Chesapeake Executive Council Meeting in Richmond, where he presented an update on Maryland's Bay restoration progress.

At last month's Chesapeake Executive Council meeting in Richmond, I was pleased to present an update on our Bay restoration progress. Thanks to our work together, we are now 99 percent of the way toward meeting our first 2-year milestone for Maryland's part in restoring our Chesapeake Bay. Together with our agriculture community, we planted a record number of cover crops last year, exceeding our 2011 Bay cleanup goal by 20 percent. 

 

We have upgraded 23 of our largest wastewater treatment plants to remove more nitrogen and phosphorus from the water that passes through them, and another 15 upgrades are underway. Our blue crab population is rebounding, thanks to our work with our partners in Virginia, and our oyster population is beginning to rebound.

 

We are also making progress in reducing stormwater runoff, adopting a plan that will help us guide development to cause fewer problems for the Bay, and implementing our new law that will reduce the excess nitrogen and phosphorus that washes off of lawns and into the Bay. 

 

Looking ahead, we are working on Maryland's Phase II Watershed Implementation Plan, and setting our goals and milestones for the next two years. Our local governments have already begun looking at actions they can take to help, and they will receive detailed targets for nitrogen and phosphorus reduction later this month.

 

Your help and support has been essential  to our progress and will remain so as we continue to move forward, to change the way we manage our land, our resources, and the way we grow and develop. Thank you for helping us revitalize our Chesapeake Bay and creating the smarter, greener, more sustainable future we all prefer.

 

Sincerely,

Governor Martin O'Malley's signature 
BayStat Team Meeting Update

At the July BayStat meeting, the BayStat team discussed topics related to Maryland's Phase II Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP), including 2-year milestone plans for 2012-2013 and county TMDL allocations. The Phase II WIP is part of a 3-phased planning process to achieve nutrient and sediment clean-up goals for the Chesapeake Bay.  This initiative is important because it will create the road map and accountability that steer us toward clean local streams and a healthy Chesapeake Bay.

Maryland Government at Work for the Bay

Scientists release data about Bay 

Scientists Release Data About Bay 'Dead Zones'  

DNR scientists recently released data and details about their prediction that the Bay will have larger-than-usual dead zones this summer. In late July 39.4 percent of the Bay, a record high, had low oxygen levels in which few fish, crabs and shellfish can survive. A main cause is extra high spring flows of nutrient-rich fresh water into the Bay. Click here for full details... 

Courts Improve Natural Resources Enforcement
DNR, the Office of the Attorney General and the District Court of Maryland have expanded a successful program highlighting natural resources cases to Worcester, Dorchester, Wicomico and Somerset Counties. The effort sets aside specific days to try only cases dealing with natural resources violations, with special attention from both judges and prosecutors. The program began in Anne Arundel County in 2010. Learn more... 

Maryland expands aquaculture leasing opportunities.

Maryland Expands Aquaculture Leasing Opportunities 

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) began accepting applications for new aquaculture leases within oyster sanctuaries on August 1, 2011. The areas eligible for leasing are barren areas that do not currently contain oysters. More info... 

DNR Seeks Volunteers to Help Teach About the Bay

 

Seeking volunteers to help teach about the Bay.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is seeking interested adults to become Teaching Environmental Awareness in Maryland (TEAM) volunteers. Since its inception in 1998, TEAM DNR volunteers have helped to educate over 28,000 elementary and middle school students about the Chesapeake Bay and other environmental issues. More details...

 
Stream Symposium happening soon.

Stream Symposium Happening Soon
The Third Maryland Streams Symposium and Mid-Atlantic Volunteer Monitoring Conference will be held August 10 - 13, 2011 at Carroll Community College near Westminster, MD. The four days will be full of informative presentations, hands-on field trips and interactive workshops for anyone interested in stream health. Details...  

Find a restaurant near you.

Maryland Promotes Bay Seafood
Over 200 Mid-Atlantic restaurants have now committed to participate in the October 2-9 "From the Bay, For the Bay Dine Out" week in restaurants throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. If your favorite restaurant is not on the list yet, there is still time for them to sign up. Further details... 

What Can I Do?

Use lawn fertilizer carefully. Lawn fertilizer contains nitrogen, one of the main causes of trouble for the Bay. If your lawn needs fertilizer, test the soil to learn how much fertilizer to apply. Too much fertilizer can hurt your lawn and some of it will run off to reach the Bay. Be careful not to apply just before a big rain, and keep the fertilizer away from paved areas and waterways. Click here for more info... 

Vote for Maryland Parks in the Plant a Tree Program

All it takes is one click of your mouse to vote, and Odwalla will donate $1 to Maryland State Parks to plant trees. You can vote by using the access code "MDPV11" found in the Odwalla Welcome Map, available at all Maryland State Parks. Tell everyone - share with family and friends! Click here to vote! 

Shopdnr.com

Some of the items sold online in DNR's Online Store.

If you want the best trail guides around, do your shopping in the Maryland Department of Natural Resources' online store. Most of the guides are printed on tear-proof and waterproof material. Check out the store now!

Contact Info

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