Eyes on the Bay...Your link to bay health.

November 2011 

In September, your BayStat newsletter became Eyes on the Bay... Your link to bay health.  We made this change to broaden the scope of information available to our citizens to include real-time monitoring as well as long term tracking.   
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IN THIS ISSUE
* From the Desk of Governor Martin O'Malley
* Eyes on the Bay
* DNR Confirms Invasive Zebra Mussel Found
* State Tree Nursery Open
* Striped Bass Survey Shows Fourth Highest Reproduction
* Helpful Tips About Buying Firewood
* MDA Proposes Nutrient Management Changes
* Hints on Preparing a Thanksgiving Turkey
* Make Leaf Mulch

Bay Fact  

 

Some of the 50 species.
At least 50 tree species and more than 2,700 other plant species grow in the Bay watershed, which has habitats ranging from upland forests to the marshes that fringe the Bay and its rivers. Click here for an online field guide to some of the most common trees and plants that grow around the Bay.  

More News

 


 









 



   














Quick Links

From the desk of...

Martin O'Malley, Governor of Maryland 

Governor O'Malley planting tree on Earth Day 2011.
Governor O'Malley, students and staff planting a tree at the Upper Marlboro Community Center in Prince George's County on Earth Day 2011.

 

In 2009 we launched our Marylanders Plant Trees effort, with a goal of planting 50,000 trees. Families from western Maryland to the Eastern Shore and all points in between joined together to plant trees, and met that goal. Today more than 62,000 newly-planted trees are creating a greener, more sustainable future for our children and future generations, and we're well on our way to meeting our new goal of planting 100,000 trees by the end of 2012.     

 

Will you join your neighbors to help us meet our goal and plant a tree today?
 
Fall is an ideal time to plant a treegiving newly planted trees the chance to firmly take root throughout the winter, making them stronger and more resilient come spring.

In order to allow more families to plant trees together, we're offering $25 coupons for the purchase of native trees costing $50 or more at more than 85 participating nurseries. If you don't have a yard or prefer that someone else plants a tree for you, consider giving the Gift of Trees through TREE-Mendous Maryland.

When we plant trees, we make our environment greener and more beautiful, while improving the quality of the air we breathe and the water we drink. The trees we plant help keep stormwater from carrying pollution to the Bay and store greenhouse gases that otherwise would accelerate climate change. These benefits grow greater over time, and multiply as we plant more and more trees across our great state.

Please register every tree you plantand calculate its environmental benefitsat our interactive website. There is no better time to plant a tree than right now. By planting one tree, you and your family can help keep Maryland Smart, Green & Growing.

Sincerely,

Governor Martin O'Malley's signature
Eyes on the Bay

Disolved oxygen chart.
John Hopkins University and the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science distributed a Press Release on Thursday, November 3, 2011 reporting on a study they conducted and published in the November 2011 issue of Estuaries and Coasts that concludes that the Chesapeake Bay's "Dead Zone" is declining in size in mid to late summer.  "Dead Zones" are areas of low to no dissolved oxygen.  With low or no oxygen, fish, crabs and oysters are stressed or will die.  The study attributes the improvement in the "Dead Zone" to reductions in nutrient pollution in the Chesapeake Bay related to management actions begun in the 1980's and as an indicator that the Bay is responding to our actions.  

Although the study uses data going back 60 years, data from 1984 to the present is collected through DNR's Chesapeake Bay Monitoring Program partially funded by the EPA Chesapeake Bay Program.  DNR's water quality data supports the study findings, but due to the extremely high flows during the spring of 2011, this summer's "Dead Zones" reached record levels, especially during the second July cruise which was the worst on record.  During extreme events like we saw in 2011, all bets are off. Next summer's "Dead Zone" could also be excessive due to the carry over from Tropical Storm Lee.  DNR will continue to monitor the Bay's water quality and habitat.  If the 2012 "Dead Zone" in mid to late summer is less than predicted, that would be further support for the study and indication of continued improvements to the Bay based on our restoration efforts.

Your Government at Work  


DNR Confirms Invasive Zebra Mussel Found in Sassafras River 
Zebra mussel.Zebra mussels may look pretty, but they cause all sorts of disruption when they invade new territory. Low salinity in the upper Bay apparently allowed zebra mussels to reach the Sassafras River. Boat owners and anglers should use extra care to avoid transporting mussel larvae from one body of water to another. More information... 

State Tree Nursery Open for Wye Oak and Other Seedlings

The historic Wye Oak.Maryland's John S. Ayton State Forest Tree Nursery is now open for online orders to be delivered in Spring 2012. This year the nursery offers over 40 species, including seedlings grown from a direct offspring of Maryland's historic Wye Oak tree -- recognized as the largest White Oak in the nation. Wye Oak seedlings were not available during the past two years, and will not be available next year because DNR was unable to collect Wye Oak acorns. The seedlings are limited in quantity and available on a first come, first served basis. To order seedlings, click here...

 

Striped bass survey video. Click to view.
Striped Bass Survey Shows Fourth Highest Reproduction On Record
The 2011 Young of the Year Striped Bass Survey showed the fourth highest measure of striped bass spawning success in the survey's 58-year history. The survey also documented increased abundance of juvenile blueback herring and white perch. For more details and a video, click here.
Helpful Tips About Buying Firewood
Tips on firewood for Marylanders.If you are buying wood to burn in your fireplace this winter, you might want to check out the consumer tips offered by the Maryland Forest Service. In addition to general help, the tips include information on the firewood characteristics of different tree species. Also, please remember to buy wood from your local area to prevent the spread of the emerald ash borer. More info...
MDA proposes nutrient management changes.
MDA Proposes Nutrient Management Changes
The Maryland Department of Agriculture  is proposing a change in nutrient management regulations to reduce the flow of nitrogen and phosphorus from farms. If a legislative committee approves, the proposed changes will be given a formal public notice and a 45-day public comment period. For more information...
Turkey.Hints on Preparing a Thanksgiving Turkey
Whether your turkey will be fresh or frozen, an online consumer guide will help you choose and prepare it safely. More than 40 Maryland farms grow and sell fresh turkeys. For the consumer guide, click here. To find a Maryland farm that sells turkeys or other fresh farm products, click here.

Mulch.What Can I Do?  


Make Leaf Mulch  

Every year, Americans throw away 24 million tons of leaves and grass. Leaves alone account for 75 percent of our solid waste in the fall. Why not use those leftovers for your lawn's benefit?  Make leaf mulch instead and when spring rolls around, you can save money by not having to purchase a commercially-prepared variety. For instructions on making leaf mulch, click here.  
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