Maryland Coastal Bays Program eNewsletter July 2010
It's been a busy year with lots of new projects and undertakings including two new fundraisers, lots of trash clean ups, living shorelines as well as business as usual — from water monitoring, education, herp search and birding. We try to keep you updated through our website, http://mdcoastalbays.org and, if you're on Facebook, please friend us!


Photo by Dick Arnold 		Coastal Bays Report Card Release Party Today!

Join the MCBP, the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, EcoCheck (NOAA-UMCS Partnership), Maryland Department of Natural Resources and National Park Service for the release of the Coastal Bays Report Card.

The Coastal Bays Report Card is a scientifically and geographically detailed assessment of the health of the ecosystem. The Report Card assigns scores for seven indicators that reflect water or habitat quality, and applies those indicators to formulate an overall Habitat Health Index that is then used to assign a grade.

4pm, Macky's Bayside Bar & Grille
54th Street, Ocean City
You Know It's Summer When the Bike Stand is Open!

The MCBP Kayak/Canoe/Bike stand is once again in operation. Located in the Federal Park, visitors can paddle the bay or bike ride on a number of trails nearby. The opportunity affords an excellent chance to see local wildlife, get exercise, and enjoy beautiful views of the bay. Call 410-726-3217 for more information. And remember, MCBP members get a discount!

Hudson Branch Before cleanup


Hudson Branch After cleanup 		Hudson Branch Cleanup
Nets 18 Tons of Trash

Under the administration of Mayor Gee Williams, efforts have finally started in cleaning up Hudson Branch, one of the dirtiest streams in Worcester County.

Hudson Branch, which flows through Berlin into Trappe Creek and then into Newport Bay, has been littered with an astounding volume and variety of trash for years.

Under the supervision of Mike Gibbons, Berlin’s Department of Public Works and the State Highway Administration helped MCBP clean up over 18 tons of trash. Household items such as mattresses, bikes, and shopping carts were hauled out of a 1,500-ft portion of the creek in April.

"In my thirty-five years of working in streams I have never seen one that is so degraded," said Maryland Coastal Bays Program Scientist Roman Jesien. "My hat’s off to the town for taking the initiative for cleaning this up."

High school Student April Aliangan holds up her award winning Tee Shirt design and check which was awarded to her school's art department. 		Luau/Earth Day Clean Up/Art Contest

MCBP partnered with our ocean protector friends, the Ocean City Chapter of Surfriders Foundation, and hosted two new fundraisers this year, a Luau at Seacrets and an Earth Day Clean Up. Both events were a success as far as first time events go and we plan on continuing these for next year.

Earth Day Clean Up was recognized as one of five National Volunteer Week project award winners by the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore and its ShoreCan Volunteer Center. Thank you to all the volunteers who made this a success.
Gearing Up for Summer!

Nick Clemons (left) and Todd Nock (right), both National Park Service employees at Assateague Island National Seashore, got their start with the Maryland Coastal Bays Program. Nick was an intern during the summer of 2007. Todd was a Coastal Steward during the summer of 2009. Through their work with MCBP, both had the opportunity to network with National Park Service employees – who later hired them! Now, Nick and Todd work closely with Carrie Samis, MCBP Education Coordinator, to plan and conduct a variety of programs including the OC Coastal Bays BioBlitz Nature Camp, in partnership with OC Recreation & Parks, and Upward Bound, in partnership with the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Nick, Todd, and Carrie will also be working together with Coastal Stewards this summer!



Comcast Cares Day

This year as part of Comcast's annual effort to involve their employees in the improvement of their community the company worked with MCBP to create a volunteer event that cleaned up the Showell property. Maryland Coastal Bays Program received an 89 acre site in Showell, Maryland they plan to re-forest to provide a habitat for forest interior dwelling birds and other forest species. The property had been used as a trash dump for years. Comcast donated money to the MCBP for every volunteer that helped out, in addition to paying all the other costs involved in cleaning up the site. Twelve blue bird boxes paid for by Comcast were also installed on the property. Thanks to Comcast and their representative Tom Worbley, and all the volunteers that assisted in the effort, without your support it could not have been accomplished.
Germantown School Community Heritage Center

MCBP was proud to be a part of the groundbreaking ceremony held on June 3rd at the site of a former Rosenwald school in Germantown. The building, which is currently being renovated and will be open to the public in the near future, is a single-story, two-room structure built in 1922 on two acres of land on Trappe Road in Berlin.

The facility was one of hundreds of schools built to serve rural black communities in the South by the Rosenwald Foundation, which was named for former Sears, Roebuck & Co. President Julius Rosenwald. The organization spent more than $28 million to build schools between 1917 and 1932. The Germantown Schoolhouse served African American students in grades 1-7 before closing its doors in the mid 1960s when the United States Government ordered schools to integrate. The restoration of the site is an important step forward in the preservation of local history.
News, Events
& More!
Coastal Bays Mini-Grants Available
The MCBP is now accepting Community Stewardship Mini-Grant proposals which are provided in conjunction with the Chesapeake Bay Trust. Click here for more information.

Coastal Stewards
Connecting community, nature, and our shared cultural heritage, to inspire the next generation of stewards protecting our coastal bays… Become a fan, join us for events & programs, and follow Coastal Stewards on Facebook!
Summer T-Shirts Have Arrived!
Summer tee shirts have arrived! We've revived the 10 year anniversary logo. They're available at the MCBP office and will be sold at the Arts on the Docks.
Summer Events...
Join us for Fun!
Arts on the Docks
Every Thursday from June 18-September 23 MCBP will be at the Ocean City Fishing Center's Arts on the Docks handing out information and selling tee shirts - if you'd like to volunteer to sit at the table, give Sandi a call at 410-213-2297 ext 107

Seacrets
August 12 and August 19 come out and join us as we'll be collecting cover charges to be generously donated to MCBF by Seacrets. We'll have a 50/50 raffle and a few other activities to raise funds!

Free Concert
Join us Tuesday, August 3, from 7pm-9pm at Ocean City's Sunset Park located next to the Coast Guard Station for Randy Lee Ashcraft and Saltwater Cowboys!
Community News
Stephen Decatur Students Clean Up West OC Beach


Students from Stephen Decatur High School's Community Connections group spent every tuesday and wednesday afternoon picking up trash at the Homer Gudelsky Park ...affectionately known to locals as "Stinky Beach".
MCBP Horseshoe Crab Count is Underway!
Dick Arnold, Betty Bonner and Steve Doctor tag horseshoe crabs on Skimmer Island. The individually numbered tags provide data on distribution, movement, longevity, and mortality of horseshoe crabs. You can help by reporting any horseshoe crabs caught or found with a tag by calling the toll-free number printed on the tag 1-888-LIMULUS (546-8587)
Maryland Coastal Bays Program
Protecting Today's Treasures for Tomorrow
9919 Stephen Decatur Highway, Suite 4 | Ocean City, Maryland 21842
Phone: 410-213-BAYS | Fax: 410-213-2574
Email: mcbp@mdcoastalbays.org | Web: Maryland Coastal Bays Program