Horn Point Laboratory - Chestertown Spy

Celebrating 50 years of Science for All: Horn Point Laboratory Hosts Open House October 14

September 28, 2023 by Horn Point Laboratory Leave a Comment

The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science’s Horn Point Laboratory (HPL) invites the public to its annual free Open House on Saturday, October 14,2023, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mark your calendar and Save the Date! This year’s Open House is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Horn Point Laboratory.

The theme is “Science for All!” with 50 years of science for the Chesapeake Bay and the diverse marine and human life it supports. Meet the Horn Point Lab’s team of scientists and explore the Bay using their research in fun interactive exhibits. Learn about healthy marshes, how oysters clean the water and build resilience to sea level rise and climate change, dive into the largest oyster hatchery on the east coast, and more during a day of FREE activities for all ages. Children will receive a free t-shirt for completing the scavenger hunt.

“This is the best day of the year for the community to learn about the science of the Bay. Everyone at the lab is on deck to explain their research with activities and displays that make it easy to understand,” said Horn Point Laboratory Director Mike Sieracki.

From the banks of the Choptank River on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Horn Point scientists engage in world-renowned research in oceanography, water quality, coastal resilience and sea level rise, restoration of sea grasses, marshes and shellfish, and expertise in ecosystem modeling.

Visitors to the Open House will explore the shore through hands-on exhibits created by the Lab’s faculty and students:

Build a healthy marsh and learn who are our best partners in this effort.
See an animation of the travels of oyster larvae as they move from the reef where they spawned to their new, permanent home reef.
Match up a DNA sequence to microscopic creatures important to the food chain.
Play in a digital sand box to create shorelines and model weather’s impact with laser imaging.
Meet and talk to graduate students about their environmental career goals.
Build an oyster castle and learn how these growing, living building blocks create habitat for marine creatures and protect against sea level rise and climate change.
At the children’s activity booth, create eco-friendly animals that live in our waters. Play games that teach fun facts about the Bay. Go on a scavenger hunt through the exhibits to learn how the Bay’s lasting health starts with each of us making a cleaner environment today.

FREE and fun for all ages the Open House will take place rain or shine. The Horn Point Laboratory campus is located at 2020 Horns Point Road on Route 343 outside of Cambridge, Maryland.

For more information, visit umces.edu/hpl/openhouse or contact Carin Starr at [email protected], 410-221-8408.

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Summer Talk Series with the Horn Point Laboratory

June 8, 2023 by Horn Point Laboratory Leave a Comment

As part of their 50^th anniversary, the Horn Point Laboratory (HPL) is hosting a series of six free Summer Talks. Beginning June 20 these Tuesday talks will run weekly (except July 4^th), from 5:30 to 6:30 pm. “We are excited to bring our latest science to the Cambridge community and to share what we are learning about the natural world around us.” shared Director, Mike Sieracki. With slides and conversation, faculty members will share their research on a variety of topics to explore the science of the waters that surround us.

HPL is partnering with the High Spot restaurant in Cambridge to create a relaxed and inviting atmosphere. Come early and come hungry and thirsty. Tuesdays from 4:00 to 6:00 pm the High Spot’s gastro pub grub is ½ price and drinks are $2.00 off!

Summer Talks and faculty members include:

June 20

Mike Sieracki

Horn Point Lab 50th anniversary: Past, present and future of science in Dorchester County

June 27

Ming Li

Impact of climate change on coastal flooding in the Dorchester Country:

Sea level rise and warming oceans increase the risk of coastal flooding in low-lying areas on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

7-11

Cindy Palinkas

Living shorelines: using the power of nature to protect our coasts

7-18

Stephanie Alexander

A Virtual Tour of the UMCES Horn Point Oyster Hatchery

Learn how the UMCES Horn Point Oyster Hatchery produces oyster larvae, seed and spat on shell for restoration, private aquaculture, and public fishery activities in the Chesapeake Bay region.

7-25

Jamie Pierson

From Plankton to Plastics: the Chesapeake under a microscope

-Meet the tiniest creatures in our local waterways, and learn how they are connected to our everyday lives.

Jamie Pierson, HPL Associate Professor, sharing insights on findings in the Choptank river, from plankton to plastics

8-1

Greg Silsbe

Environmental Remote Sensing: How scientists use satellites to monitor the Earth.

This talk explores the theory, opportunities and challenges of monitoring environmental change from earth-observing satellites.

Come hungry to learn about science of local and national interest and to get your fill of the High Spot’s good eats and cool drinks! High Spot is located at 305 High Street, Cambridge.

Talks are Free! Registration is encouraged as the space for each talk is limited to 30 people.

To Register: https://www.usmf.org/horn-point-laboratory-summer-talks/

Questions, please contact Carin Starr at [email protected] or 410-221-8408.

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Science Saturday Workshop for High School Women

April 9, 2023 by Horn Point Laboratory Leave a Comment

Saturday, April 15^th from 9:00 to 4:00 pm the Horn Point Laboratory (HPL) is hosting a workshop to introduce 8^th graders and high school women to the wide variety of opportunities in the sciences. HPL graduate students and members the HPL chapter of the Society for Women in Marine Science (SWMS) will share their experiences and insights into the wonders and careers in the world of science. The day will consist of both indoor and outdoor activities getting to know tools scientists use to make discoveries and solve mysteries. The event will include nature walks, drones, microscopes, and many more exciting activities. The workshop with take place on the HPL campus at the Environmental Education Center (EE) and is FREE with lunch provided.

To learn more and register for the Science Saturday Workshop visit, www.science.umces.edu/swms-hpl/science-saturday/

Email the HPL SWMS chapter with any questions. [email protected]

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science leads the way toward better management of Maryland’s natural resources and the protection and restoration of the Chesapeake Bay. From a network of laboratories located across the state, UMCES scientists provide sound advice to help state and national leaders manage the environment, and prepare future scientists to meet the global challenges of the 21st century. www.umces.edu

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Horn Point Lab Student Awarded the 9th Ryan Saba Memorial Student Fellowship

March 29, 2023 by Horn Point Laboratory Leave a Comment

Bruna Sobrinho with Ryan Saba Memorial Student Fellowship award. Photo credit: Carin Starr

The Horn Point Laboratory (HPL) awarded the 9^th Ryan Saba Memorial Student Fellowship to Bruna Sobrinho a 5^th year PhD student. The $3,000 award is presented annually to support a HPL graduate student in the pursuit of their professional goals and dreams in the field of environmental science. The fellowship was created by Ryan Saba’s family and friends to honor and remember Ryan who was a research assistant at the Horn Point Laboratory beginning in the fall of 2013.

Bruna grew up in a small town in Brazil and fell in love with the ocean as a little girl. She realized this passion early on in her undergraduate studies in Brazil. Bruna studies phytoplankton, microscopic plant-like organisms which are key components to ocean and freshwater ecosystems. Since her first contact with phytoplankton, Bruna has been enchanted by their beauty and their importance for the health of the planet. She received her undergraduate degree from the Federal University of Paraná, Brazil and is pursuing her PhD at the Horn Point Laboratory studying under Professor Pat Glibert and has spent extensive time studying red tide in the Gulf of Mexico. Harmful Algal blooms (HAB’s) are the focus of Bruna’s research, specifically blooms of the algae Karenia brevis. Karenia brevis can produce the neurotoxin brevetoxin, which is responsible for killing many marine organisms during blooms, including fishes, dolphins, and manatees. Moreover, during K. brevis blooms humans might be exposed to aerosolized toxins, thus causing respiratory irritations.

The Fellowship’s award will allow Bruna to attend the 20^thInternational Conference on Harmful Algae (ICHA) which will be held in Hiroshima, Japan in November 2023. Bruna shared, “This conference will be extremely important not only for my professional career, as it brings together the world’s leading experts on harmful algae, but also for my personal life, as it will allow me to meet people from different cultures and visit another country. Further, it is a privilege to receive the Ryan Saba Fellowship this year and honor a person so dear to his family and community at the Horn Point Laboratory.”

The annual awarding of the Fellowship honors Ryan’s boundless curiosity about nature and life and his zest for making each day better than yesterday. Ryan died tragically in an automobile accident near the campus on July 13, 2014. He was well regarded by the Horn Point community as a friend and colleague. His family and friends have funded this scholarship to carry forward Ryan’s optimistic world view by supporting a Horn Point student to fulfill his or her career goals and dreams for an environmentally healthy planet.

This year’s award presentation was shared in person at the Lab and virtually. Ryan’s parents and family members joined the Horn Point community at the lab and others joined virtually from across the country. Past fellows shared updates on what they are doing professionally in their careers and how their Saba Fellowship continues to inspire them.

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

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Horn Point Laboratory’s Chesapeake Champion Event September 30

July 23, 2021 by Horn Point Laboratory

The Horn Point Laboratory (HPL) will celebrate their 8^thannual Chesapeake Champion on Thursday, September 30^th from 5 to 7pm. The Horn Point Laboratory is thrilled to honor Beverly and Richard Tilghman as this year’s recipients.

Beverly and Richard Tilghman, Horn Point Laboratory 2021 Chesapeake Champions

This year’s celebration will be held at the historic Tidewater Inn in downtown Easton, MD, and will feature delicious, locally-sourced foods, beverages, and demonstrations by HPL graduate students.

Chesapeake Champion is the flagship event of the Horn Point Laboratory – one of four labs that make up the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. The event hosts 150 to 200 guests who come out to celebrate a group or individual who, through their own example, exemplifies environmental contributions on the Eastern Shore.

This year’s fundraising goal of $100,000 would provide stipends for two graduate students, helping the next generation of environmental scientists in a world that needs them perhaps more than ever.

The Tilghmans are steadfast supporters of HPL’s graduate students. “Richard and Beverly have devoted their time and effort to support and advise a variety of environmental groups on the Shore,” said Horn Point Laboratory Director Mike Roman. “They have been great stewards of the lands of Wye House, installing living shorelines and conservation easements to protect the lands and wildlife.”

Past Chesapeake Champions include: Amy Haines, the first recipient in 2013, followed by John E. (Chip) Akridge in 2014, C. Albert Pritchett in 2015, Alice and Jordan Lloyd in 2016, Jim Brighton in 2017, Jerry Harris in 2018, and the Hutchison Brothers in 2019.

Mark your calendar and join us Thursday, September 30^thto honor the Tilghmans and celebrate their leadership for graduate education and a sustainable, healthier Bay. Tickets are $100/ person. Sponsorship opportunities are available.

For more information, please visit www.umces.edu/hpl or contact Carin Starr at [email protected], 410-221-8408.

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

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Horn Point Laboratory Offers “Bay 101” Virtual Seminars

June 26, 2020 by Horn Point Laboratory

Every Wednesday from July 8 through August 5 from 5:00 to 5:30 pm you can join Horn Point Laboratory researchers and participate in a free, virtual seminar series about the science of the Chesapeake Bay. The thirty-minute programs will shed light into the mysteries of the Bay and highlight Horn Point programs working to improve the health of the Bay and its aquatic life. Questions and participation by all will be encouraged.

The Chesapeake Bay and its rivers are the lifeblood of the Eastern Shore, defining the region like no other water body in the world. While many easily recognize the natural beauty Bay country offers, the Horn Point Laboratory’s “Bay 101 – Science of the Chesapeake for Non-Scientists” will make the science of the Chesapeake Bay as accessible as its beauty.

Pour your favorite beverage, get comfortable, and dive in to science to see the Bay in a whole new way with Horn Point Lab’s – Bay 101.

To register, visit umces.edu/hpl or contact Carin Starr at [email protected].

Seminars include:

July 8: “Chesapeake Bay’s currents and winds for sailors and water enthusiasts” Bill Boicourt

Beneath the sometimes hard-to-predict tides of Chesapeake Bay are remarkably dynamic motions. We will explore this classic estuary and the forces that drive it.

July 15: “News on living shorelines to protect our waterfronts” Cindy Palinkas

Living shorelines are a more natural way to protect shorelines from erosion and provide valuable coastal habitat. Learn about what happens after they are installed, both at the shoreline and in adjacent waters.

July 22: “Bolstering the Maryland oyster aquaculture industry” Shannon Hood

Oyster aquaculture is a growing industry in Maryland, attracting people from diverse backgrounds. Learn about this industry which provides an opportunity to feed a growing population, while providing ecological benefits that can benefit all of us.

July 29: “Modeling: what it is and how it helps predict the future of the Chesapeake Bay” Kenny Rose

Many large-scale restoration projects rely heavily on computer simulation models to determine the best ways to restore the system and how progress will track in time. Learn the basics of these types of models and how they are used, using Chesapeake Bay as an example.

August 5: “Chesapeake Bay underwater grasses” Lorie Staver

Underwater grasses are an important component of the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem and an indicator of Bay health. Learn about what they are, why they matter, and about our role in their decline and recovery.”

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

The Horn Point Laboratory is part of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, the University System of Maryland’s environmental research institution. UMCES researchers are helping improve our scientific understanding of Maryland, the region and the world through five research centers – Chesapeake Biological Laboratory in Solomons, Appalachian Laboratory in Frostburg, Horn Point Laboratory in Cambridge, Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology in Baltimore, and the Maryland Sea Grant College in College Park. www.umces.edu.

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People Land Water – Review of a 6 Year Study

June 26, 2019 by Horn Point Laboratory

Fisher and Lewis in Lewis’ farm field.

The Horn Point Laboratory invites you to join a half-day technical meeting, open to the public. The meeting will review 6 years of data gathered to evaluate the impact of best management practices implemented by farmers to improve water quality. The meeting will be held on Friday August 9, 2019, from 1-5 pm in Public Hearing Room #110 of the Caroline County government offices in Denton, MD (403 S. 7^th Street, Denton MD 21629). Parking is available around the building.

The meeting agenda includes; information on impediments to BMP implementation, a farmer panel reflecting their perspective on BMPs and water quality, and results of water quality monitoring on farms where BMPs are installed, at intermediate streams draining several farms, and at the watershed outlets.

The research project is called “People Land Water” to emphasize that people living and working on the land contribute to the quality of the water leaving the land. Horn Point Laboratory professor, Tom Fisher, and his research team lead this project. The project is funded by the National Science Foundation, the United States Dept. of Agriculture, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the Chesapeake Bay Trust, and the Harry R. Hughes Center for Agro-Ecology. The goals of the research are: (1) to obtain the cooperation of farmers to add BMPs to four small watersheds with long-term monitoring, (2) to evaluate farmers’ attitudes towards BMPs and water quality, (3) to examine the economic efficiency of BMPs, and (4) to test the biogeochemical efficiency of BMPs to retain N, P, and soil on farms and out of groundwater and streams.

Jim Lewis, University of Maryland Ag Extension agent shared this comment about the long-term study, “It increases the confidence of farmers like me that the water quality data being collected by Tom Fisher’s research team is accurate because it is right at the site of our farms on the Choptank River. This is the kind of work on Best Management practice that the farm community wants to collaborate on.”

This meeting is an important element of the overall research project. The team will provide attendees with information they have gathered on the people living and working on the land, and the water quality of these four heavily monitored agricultural watersheds. Project leader, Tom Fisher Professor at UMCES – HPL, “My great hope is that we can figure out which Best Management Practices at least make sense and figure out how to properly compensate farmers to implement the ones that work best.”

Please add this event to your calendar and join the discussion of this project and its results.

For more information, contact Anne (410-221-8238 or [email protected]).

Register to this FREE program via EventBrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/water-quality-agriculture-in-the-choptank-watershed-tickets-63393297058. Space is limited to 110.

People Land Water Science Team: Tom Fisher, Rebecca Fox, Kalla Kvalnes, Anne Gustafson, Erika Koontz, Jim Lewis, Jon Winsten

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New Solar Field and Sustainability Take Center Stage at Horn Point

April 24, 2018 by Horn Point Laboratory

This spring, the switch was flipped on a new solar field spanning 10 acres on the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science’s Horn Point Laboratory campus. The 11,000 solar panels are expected to generate the equivalent of 50% of the campus’ annual energy consumption.

“The solar field is another example of how we are using innovative ways to reduce our environmental footprint and engage with the community,” said Mike Roman, director of UMCES’ Horn Point Laboratory, where scientists engage in world-renowned research in oceanography, water quality, and restoration of seagrasses, marshes and shellfish. “This is a milestone in a long journey to carbon neutrality and non-dependence on fossil fuel.”

The project is a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) in which Standard Solar installs and operates the solar panels in exchange for the use of land. UMCES agrees to purchase the equivalent energy being generated over the next 20 years from Standard Solar.

The campus also put the final touches on a new solar canopy over a 46-space, crushed stone parking lot that will offset the cost of four level-II electrical vehicle charging stations. This project is thanks to a grant from the Maryland Energy Administration.

The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science is a signatory to the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (Second Nature) and has launched a number programs aimed at reducing its environmental footprint, including setting goals for reducing Green House Gas (GHG) emissions at each of its four laboratories, upgrading aging infrastructure to newer, more energy-efficient alternatives, and building all new campus buildings to at least the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Silver standard or equivalent. UMCES was recently awarded a Mark of Distinction for meeting its 25% Carbon Reduction Goal.

“Higher education has a key role in shaping a sustainable society. It’s extremely important that we lead by example,” said Peter Goodwin, president of the University of Maryland Center for

Environmental Science. He also serves Vice Chancellor for Sustainability for the 12-institution University System of Maryland. “We are committed as an institution to understanding and the protecting the environment, and we must be a leader finding ways to reduce energy consumption and increase sustainability.”

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UMCES Commits to Generating Solar Energy on Horn Point Campus

April 11, 2017 by Horn Point Laboratory

Solar renewable energy will soon be generated in Cambridge, Maryland on the grounds of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES). UMCES has signed an agreement with Standard Solar, Inc. to install solar field on approximately 10 acres of its Horn Point Laboratory (HPL) campus. The solar field will be a 2 MW system with expected approximate annual generation of 3.5 MWh of solar renewable energy.

“While the work we do here helps others live more sustainably, it’s essential that we lead by example,” said UMCES president Don Boesch, who has led the University System of Maryland’s Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change Initiative since 2008. “Higher education has a key role in shaping a sustainable society.”

The project is a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) in which the entity, Standard Solar, installs and operates the solar panels in exchange for the use of land, and UMCES agrees to purchase the equivalent energy being generated over the next 20 years from Standard Solar. It is expected that the solar field will generate approximately 50% of the Horn Point Laboratory’s annual energy consumption with anticipated cost savings over the duration of the agreement.

The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science is a signatory to the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment and has launched several programs aimed at reducing our environmental footprint, including setting goals for reducing Green House Gas (GHG) emissions at each of our laboratories, upgrading aging infrastructure to newer, more energy-efficient alternatives, and building all new campus buildings to at least the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Silver standard or equivalent.

Design of the system has already begun on the solar project at the Horn Point Laboratory and construction is expected to begin this summer and be in service by the spring of 2018.

“The solar field is another example of how we are using innovative ways to manage Horn Point Laboratory in a way that reduces our environmental footprint and engages with the community,” said Mike Roman, director of the Horn Point Laboratory. This project also contributes to increasing Maryland’s in-state distributed electricity generation capacity and reducing the dependency on electricity imported from other states.”

UMCES has also been selected to receive a grant from the Maryland Energy Administration’s Solar PV Canopy with EV Charger Grant Program to offset the cost of four level-II electrical vehicle-charging stations on campus.

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

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Scientists partner with farmers and landowners to help reduce runoff

November 28, 2016 by Horn Point Laboratory

Professor Tom Fisher wades into the water just past his knees in a creek at South Forge. We’re below a bridge on the edge of a narrow two-lane road that winds past farms and houses in Caroline County on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The shallow stream itself runs past a farm, through a patch of woods, and into a large metal outflow pipe that carries the water under the road and eventually into the Choptank River on its way to the Chesapeake Bay.

He strings a rope across the stream that hangs a few inches above the water. From there, he holds up a meter stick and takes measurements of the stream’s depth. Then he straps on a device that measures the water velocity of the stream using a long metal pole that he systematically moves across the stream.

On the bank, field technician Michelle Lepori-Bui blows spiders out of a barrel-shaped device that automatically pulls water in from the stream at designated intervals so it can be tested for nitrogen and phosphorus levels, nutrients that are good for crops but bad for waterways. Algae blooms occur downstream in the Choptank and Chesapeake, blocking sunlight and reducing oxygen after the algae settle to the bottom, making it difficult for fish and oysters to survive.

The monitoring is part of a five-year project called People Land Water. Funded by the National Science Foundation, Fisher and his team from the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science’s Horn Point Laboratory are working directly with farmers and residents on the Eastern Shore to measure the impacts of best management practices like cover crops and steam buffers on water quality. They are looking for the best ways to combat harmful runoff from farms and lawns in the watershed.

“A five square mile area drains to this point,” says Fisher. “The idea was to pick small areas so we could get to know all the farmers and as many of the residents as possible so we have a chance of making a significant increase in best management practices. There are some here already, but we’re trying to add on to that and measure the impact.”

Fisher and his team have been working directly with 25 farmers in Caroline County to implement a variety of best management practices intended to reduce the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus running off the land, into streams, and into the Chesapeake Bay. This region has particularly high nitrogen and phosphorus pollution because the dominant land use is agriculture.

Maryland has been making progress toward its cleanup goals for the Chesapeake Bay. The latest report card gave the Bay a ‘C’ overall, crediting sewage treatment upgrades, use of winter cover crops by farmers, and reductions in atmospheric nitrogen deposition to moving the needle on restoration. While some tributaries have been improving, water quality in the Choptank River has been on the decline. Fisher and his team are trying to figure out why.

“If we can get 15 best management practices upstream, we can see an effect right here,” said Fisher, pointing to the stream as a truck rumbles by. “We can we see it in terms of nitrogen in base flow, and we can we see it in terms of phosphorus in storm events.”

The group works directly with farmers and residents to implement best management practices, also known as BMPs. For instance, residents can use rain barrels, rain gardens, denitrifying septic systems, and porous pavers to reduce impervious surfaces. Farmers can use cover crops in the off season, controlled drainage structures, and riparian buffers to protect streams from the adjacent land use.

Farmers pay for nitrogen and phosphorus for their crops to increase crop yields, applying it at a rate that is recommended by the State of Maryland. If the nutrients in the field end up in the waterways instead of making corn and vegetables grow big and strong, it not only causes poor water quality, but it is like washing money down the drain for farmers.

The People Land Water project also has sociological and economic components. Through annual surveys, Horn Point Laboratory research scientist Kalla Kvalnes is studying whether and how much farmers’ attitudes are changing toward their role in improving water quality. The economic aspect, undertaken by agricultural and environmental economist Jon Winsten at Winrock International, provides information about the relative costs and benefits of management practices.

“I’m hoping it will make a difference in what BMPs are used,” said Fisher. “ I’m fairly certain that’s going to turn into a positive thing.”

For more on the People Land Water project, visit the project blog: peoplelandwater.wordpress.com or look for “People.Land.Water” on Facebook.

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