chesapeake bay trust

March 2012

Chesapeake Natives is a small, busy, volunteer driven non-profit based in Maryland. They are enthusiastic promoters of native plants especially those of the Chesapeake Watershed through their native plant sales, collections and demonstration gardens.

Chesapeake Natives responsibly gathers seeds and grows them, creates gardens where you can see native plants in different environments and sells them at plant sales around the area. They are also doing research and working with various agencies to rescue endangered species and to use native plants as slope stabilizers along highways and in other public projects.

When planning your garden for this year, visit Chesapeake Natives where you can learn about plant characteristics, what they sell and where to get more information. With new information being added all the time, and stories by people who have grown native plants describing their experiences, you can become an expert native gardener in no time!

February 2012

After heading over the Kent Narrows, a person is usually seeking either one of two things; a local crab shack or great deals at the local outlet stores. However, there is something else you will find tucked away on the Eastern Shore if you drive a little further down route 50; something much more natural and even more exciting than 50% off sweater sales.

The Corsica River is a majestic tributary of the Chester River, which flows through the town of Centreville, MD. Surrounded mostly by cleared farm land, the Corsica River faces many obstacles similar to other tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay, there is too much runoff from the land entering the water ways. This is where the Corsica River Conservancy comes in.

 The Corsica River Conservancy(CRC) was created to reduce pollution, sedimentation, contamination and loss of habitat to a level which would remove the Corsica from the official list of impaired rivers. Through projects like rain garden installations, shoreline restoration and oyster plantings, the CRC engages community volunteers and homeowners to participate in this restoration effort.

There are many way to get involved with the CRC. Visit their website to find all of the current volunteer opportunities.

November 2011

A hidden gem outside of the Baltimore-metro area, the Howard County Conservancy (HCC) many not be an organization you have heard of. Located on a 300 year-old farm, the HCC now operates as a nature reserve and education facility, with the mission to protect open spaces and agricultural resources, and promote preservation of the natural environment.

The HCC has been educating youth in Howard County since 2007, and is a frequent stop for schools on field trips. Their first nature center, The Gudelsky Environmental Education Center, opened in 2005 to help accommodate the growing number of students and families that visited the Conservancy to learn more about their natural environment. In 2011, 6,300 children from preschool through 12th grade were brought to the Conservancy. It is also used during the summer months when the HCC hosts summer nature camps for children to learn more about Howard County’s ecology and natural history.

The Conservancy is even doing great things for communities in need. Thanks to the hard work its volunteers, the HCC is able to maintain a community garden on the property, which donated over one thousand pounds of fresh vegetables to the Howard County Food Bank in 2011.

To learn more about the Howard County Conservancy, follow the Trust on Facebook and Twitter for regular postings about this great organization!

October 2011

Many residents of the Chesapeake Bay watershed want to help the Bay in some way, but often feel as if they don’t know how to get involved, where to begin or that they just don’t have the time. The Muddy Branch Alliance is an example of local everyday citizens who lead busy lives, coming together to help improve their community.

The Muddy Branch Alliance (MBA) was founded in March of 2011 by a group of concerned citizens led by Paul Hlavinka. Paul, a nature enthusiast, was introduced to Muddy Branch creek by his children who had discovered it after moving to the Gaithersburg, MD area. From there, the family became involved in helping the Chesapeake Bay by growing underwater grasses, planting trees and even oysters! Wanting to do more, Paul reached out to his community to gauge interest in establishing a watershed organization to help protect the Muddy Branch. A short time later, MBA was established and although only a few months old, has already had a huge impact in the community and on the creek.

In its short existence, MBA has already hosted information sessions and workshops demonstrating how local residents can improve the health of their community right in their backyard. In June of 2011, MBA hosted a rain barrel workshop that demonstrated how to use and install a rain barrel on your property. Their next workshop will be on conservation landscaping on Saturday, October 22, which will include a demonstration on why conservation landscaping is important as well as an opportunity to learn how to install your own practices through a hands-on demonstration.

The Muddy Branch Alliance has also adopted a section of road near Muddy Branch creek, and has organized its first trash pick up for this Saturday, October 8. For more information please visit their website.

The Chesapeake Bay Trust is very excited about the opportunity to work with the Muddy Branch Alliance in the future. It is a great example of people in a community coming together to create change from the bottom up. Look for more information on the Muddy Branch Alliance during the month of October on our Facebook page or by following us on Twitter.

September 2011

What is the first thing you think of when you hear “Bread and Cheese?” Staples on your grocery list? The makings of a delicious melted sandwich? How about a creek?

Bread and Cheese Creek is located east of Baltimore City in Dundalk, Md. At 4.71 miles long, it may not seem to be much of a priority, but in 2009 Bread and Cheese was named one of the most polluted tributaries in Maryland. That was when a group of friends decided to get together and create change in their community.

In 2009, the volunteer organization Clean Bread and Cheese Creek (CBCC) was established and wasted little time getting to work. Starting with their first stream clean up in September of 2009, CBCC has removed 44.5 tons of debris from Bread and Cheese Creek to date. (Just for a reference, this equals the weight of just over five adult elephants.) These clean-ups have produced unusual items found in the creek such as motorcycles, bowling balls, cell phones and even a pool table!

However, CBCC’s mission is not only to clean Bread and Cheese and help the health of the local Back River and the Chesapeake Bay; it is also on a mission of historical preservation. During the War of 1812, Bread and Cheese Creek was a major site during the Battle of North Point, where American and British forces clashed along the creek’s banks. Legend has it that this is battle is the source of Bread and Cheese’s unique name. Imagine if those soldiers were able to see portions of the creek today, filled with bottles, shopping carts and bath tubs. What would they think?

CBCC is run completely on the work and sweat of community members like you, who donate their time as volunteers. In the past, they have participated in events like Project Stream Clean, organized by the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and partially funded by the Chesapeake Bay Trust. Their next clean-up is September 24, 2011 from 8 am to 2 pm, in an effort to clean the stream by 2014 in preparation for the War of 1812 Celebration. If you are interested in volunteering please contact CBCC founder and president, John Long at 410-285-1202.

Know an organization that would be a good fit? Email Kristin Foringer at kforinger@cbtrust.org with your suggestion and why they should be highlighted.

Want to know the health of a stream or river in your backyard? Check out the Audubon Naturalist Society's interactive map!