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What Can I Do?
Help the Bay at Tax Time
Did you know you can make a donation to help the environment when you pay your Maryland income taxes? Check Line 35 and donate any amount you'd like to the Chesapeake Bay and Endangered Species Fund. These dollars are 100 percent tax deductible AND help restore the Bay and protect Maryland's wildlife. More info...
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Bay Fact
Oysters spawn in early summer. Fertilized eggs develop into free-swimming larvae in less than 24 hours. After 2 to 3 weeks the larvae develop a foot, which is used to crawl and find a suitable surface to settle on, preferably an old oyster shell. After the larvae secrete a liquid cement-like substance to attach themselves, they are called spat. "Spat set" is a measurement of oyster reproductive success. More details...
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From the desk of...
Martin O'Malley, Governor of Maryland
 Governor O'Malley's Marylanders Grow Oysters Program.
March brings good news for the health of the Chesapeake Bay. Although oyster populations are still low compared to historical highs, our 2011 Fall Oyster Survey showed a survival rate of 92%  the highest we have seen since 1985. This survival rate builds upon last year's strong spatset (number of baby oysters), the highest since 1997. Coupled with the lowest disease rates on record, we are optimistic that our investments in this irreplaceable species are beginning to pay off. We are committed to the recovery of the Bay and have proposed $8 million for oyster restoration and aquaculture in the FY 2013 budget.
We're also pleased to report that Maryland's farmers have planted the largest acreage of cover crops in State history. These winter cover crops reduce nutrient runoff that would otherwise reach the Bay.
The Maryland General Assembly is currently considering critical issues that will impact our land and our Bay. By increasing wind energy to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and by reinforcing our PlanMaryland policies, our legislators have the ability to make smart decisions that will benefit the Chesapeake for years to come.
Funding the Bay Restoration Fund to complete sewage treatment plant upgrades, and finding a way to curtail new growth in septic systems, are two of the biggest decisions that will directly affect our Bay restoration work. Last month, we discussed these legislative proposals and we continue to work with our legislators to resolve them by the end of the session.
By working together, we can make positive changes that will support a healthier Bay and a stronger Maryland.
Sincerely,
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Eyes on the Bay
 The Eyes on the Bay water quality mapping program data are used to assess water clarity to determine if parts of the Chesapeake Bay have enough light to support underwater grasses. These grasses are important habitats for aquatic critters and waterfowl. View our 2008-2010 assessment of underwater grasses and water clarity here in the EOTB stories database. For current water quality conditions of Maryland's tidal waters, visit Eyesonthebay.net on the web.
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BayStat Update
At its February meeting, the BayStat team discussed and received progress reports on the 2012-2013 Bay restoration milestone goals. The latest data for each of the goals is posted online at the BayStat website.
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Your Government at Work
Program Open Space Helps Protect the Bay
Funds provided through Program Open Space have eliminated 64 development lots and completed protection of water quality through over 10 miles of Quantico Creek and other tributaries in the Nanticoke Creek Watershed that drains into the Chesapeake Bay. The Tracey property in Wicomico County's Quantico Creek Rural Legacy Area is one of the most recent examples of land preservation that helps protect the Bay. For details, click here and here.
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 Maryland Native Oyster Survival Rate Highest Since 1985
Results of Maryland's 2011 Fall Oyster Survey show the highest survival rate for oysters since 1985. The 92 percent survival rate - the percentage of oysters found alive in a sample - builds upon last year's strong spat set (number of baby oysters), which was the highest since 1997. More details... |
DNR Relaunches Ghost Pot Retrieval Program The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Oyster Recovery Partnership have launched an effort started in 2010 to remove thousands of abandoned crab pots from the Chesapeake Bay. Crab pots become lost when buoy lines are cut by powerboat propellers or during storms when the lines may chafe through, and the lost crab pots may continue to catch and kill crabs and finfish. Target areas for the 2012 effort include the North East River, Fairlee Creek, West River, Rhode River, South River, Severn River, Magothy River, Patapsco River, Patuxent River, Upper Tangier sound, Lower Hooper Island and the Big and Little Annemessex Rivers at Smith Island. More...
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 Record Cover Crop Acreage Planted by Maryland Farmers
Maryland farmers participating in the Maryland Department of Agriculture's Cover Crop Program planted a record 429,818 acres of cover crops on their farms this past fall to control soil erosion, reduce nutrient runoff and protect water quality in streams, rivers, and the Chesapeake Bay. The 2011 cover crop planting is the largest in Maryland history and exceeds Maryland's 2013 Chesapeake Bay milestone goal by 21 percent. Read more...
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 State Tree Nursery Now Taking Orders
If you want to plant young trees this spring for conservation purposes, check out the varieties you can order from the Maryland State Tree Nursery. Trees help the Bay by pulling nutrients from the groundwater, keeping them from reaching the Bay. A few popular trees are already sold out, but many are still available for shipment to you during March or April. See What's Available... |
DNR Names Herrington Harbour Maryland Clean Marina of 2011
Herrington Harbour Marina in Anne Arundel County has been recognized by DNR with the inaugural Clean Marina of the Year Award. In addition to demonstrating excellence in following clean marina rules and practices, Herrington Harbour created more than four acres of tidal wetlands, set aside 600 acres in perpetual preservation, cultivated oysters to filter Bay water and installed buffers to filter stormwater. Read more...
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 2012 Midwinter Waterfowl Survey Results Are In
Each winter during the first week of January, pilots and biologists from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and DNR count ducks, geese and swans along Maryland's Chesapeake Bay shoreline and Atlantic coast. This year the survey teams counted 633,700 waterfowl, which is slightly lower than the 651,800 observed during the same time last year. Read more... |
Environmental Groups Encouraged to Apply for Keep Maryland Beautiful Grants
The Maryland Environmental Trust (MET) is now accepting applications for grants through Keep Maryland Beautiful, an initiative dedicated to helping volunteer-based, non-profit groups and communities solve natural resource issues. The grants are funded in part by the State Highway Administration, a division of the Maryland Department of Transportation. MET must receive applications by March 31, 2012. Details...
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