Eco Notes

Upper Shore Youth Environmental Action Summit Seeks Student Leaders and Sponsors

October 23, 2021 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Mairin Corasaniti and Megan Buonpane, from ShoreRivers education staff, presented at the Lower Shore Youth Environmental Action Summit in 2019.

ShoreRivers and Washington College Center for Environment and Society (CES) will co-host the Upper Shore Youth Environmental Action Summit on Saturday, March 19, 2022, at the Gibson Center for the Arts on Washington College’s campus in Chestertown. The Upper Shore Youth Environmental Action Summit is a student-centric, conference-style experience celebrating environmental action led by local youth in middle and high school. Students interested in leadership, problem solving, and environmental activism are encouraged to apply now to become a Summit Student Leader. This event is inspired by the annual LowerShore Youth Environmental Action Summit co-hosted by the Ward Museum and Wicomico Environmental Trust.

Summit highlights will include networking with professionals across environmental fields, access to volunteer and internship opportunities, and engaging sessions and resources to inspire youth to take environmental action into their own hands. Student registration to attend the summit will open this winter at uppershoresummit.weebly.com.

The Upper Shore Summit is seeking middle and high school students to serve as Student Leaders and play a direct role in planning the interactive, inspiring event. A few key roles available for student leaders include identifying summit themes, keynote, and session speakers, and designing press and social media campaigns. Student leaders will meet virtually throughout the winter with ShoreRivers and Washington College CES staff. This experience is an excellent addition to college resumes or job applications.

Student leaders must apply by October 31, 2021, by visiting uppershoresummit.weebly.com/students and clicking apply to become a student leader. Applications are open to middle and high school students in public, private, and home school in Talbot, Queen Anne’s, Caroline, Kent, and Cecil Counties.

The Upper Shore Youth Environmental Action Summit is also seeking event sponsors who want to support local youth in environmental action. Please contact ShoreRivers Director of Education Suzanne Sullivan at ssullivan@shorerivers.org to learn more about sponsorship. Students participating in the summit will be expected to follow COVID protocols and CDC guidelines as directed by Washington College.

ShoreRivers protects and restores Eastern Shore waterways through science-based advocacy, restoration, and education.

shorerivers.org

SOAR Program Celebrates More than 1.25 Million Oysters Planted in the Chesapeake Bay

October 22, 2021 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

The Nature Conservancy announced today that its Supporting Oyster Aquaculture and Restoration program (SOAR) has planted more than 1.25 million oysters in the Chesapeake Bay since it kicked off in the winter of 2020. The program purchased oysters from local growers that were left with excess stock due to declining demand from restaurants during the pandemic, and then replanted them on sanctuary reefs in Eastern Bay, the Nanticoke River, and St. Mary’s River. The Nature Conservancy established the national program in partnership with Pew Charitable Trust. The effort in Maryland would not have been possible without support from Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources, University of Maryland Extension, and the Oyster Recovery Partnership.

“Not only did the SOAR program give us a much needed cash infusion, just as importantly it freed up space and equipment for the next generation of oysters,” said Choptank Oyster Company General Manager Kevin McClarren. “We depend on sales to make room on the lease and Covid put a stop to that. In the near future, continuing the program will help clear up a glut of oysters on the market. We’ll have two years of production to contend with driving prices down.”

“We’re truly grateful to the donors that helped the SOAR program support growers in our region during such a difficult time for the industry, while also helping restore several of the Chesapeake Bay’s critical sanctuary reefs,” said Tim Purinton, Executive Director of The Nature Conservancy in Maryland and D.C. “We hope this program can serve as a model for a new market for growers to continue selling their product while also supporting Bay restoration efforts.”

Nearly 1/3 of the national SOAR program’s funding went to purchases from Maryland growers around the Chesapeake Bay and resulted in the enhancement of 17 acres of oyster reefs at three different sanctuary locations. Nationally, the SOAR program has so far purchased more than 3.5 million oysters from 125 growers in the mid-Atlantic, New England, and Washington State.

This week, The Nature Conservancy also announced the recipients of the recently established Shellfish Growers Resiliency Fund, which was created in partnership with Pew, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), state management agencies, and shellfish growers’ associations. The fund will award $1 million in grants to 37 projects across 16 coastal U.S. states to support initiatives that encourage diversity, equity, and inclusion in the shellfish industry; diversify products and marketing streams; encourage grower participation in marine conservation efforts; and enhance sustainability of farming operations.

The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more sustainable. Working in 74 countries, we use a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. Learn more about The Nature Conservancy’s work in Washington DC and Maryland at nature.org/maryland and follow us @Nature_DCMDVA on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Enjoy the Sights and Sounds of Fall at Blackwater NWR

October 21, 2021 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Come experience the changing of the seasons at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) by participating in one of our Guided Birding tours in the fall of 2021. You don’t need to be an expert to enjoy identifying and learning about the many species of birds that inhabit the refuge.

Fall birding tours at Blackwater highlight the returning migratory waterfowl, and you will not want to miss the opportunity to observe and identify our diverse array of feathered friends, from woodpeckers and wading birds to numerous species of waterfowl and raptors, including the bald eagle. Sunday, October 24 and Sunday, November 7 will be led by Terry Allen; Sunday, November 21 and Sunday, December 5 will be led by Harry Armistead. Participants will meet at the Blackwater NWR Visitor Center at 8:00 a.m. Tours may last 3 to 4 hours. The birding party typically tours via car, stopping at various hotspots around the refuge’s Wildlife Drive.

Binoculars and field guides are highly recommended for an enjoyable experience and be sure to dress for the weather! There is no fee or advanced registration for these activities. For further information, please call the Blackwater Visitor Center at 410-228-2677 or visit our website at www.fws.gov/refuge/Blackwater.

Please note that all visitors (age 2 and older) are required to wear a mask inside of federal buildings and in outdoor spaces where physical distancing cannot be maintained. Most importantly, stay home if you feel sick and continue to watch for symptoms of COVID-19 and follow CDC guidance on how to protect yourself and others.

Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, located on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, protects over 32,000 acres of rich tidal marsh, mixed hardwood and pine forest, managed freshwater wetlands and cropland for a diversity of wildlife. To learn more, visit our website at www.fws.gov/refuge/blackwater or @BlackwaterNWR.

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals, and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.

Pickering Creek Annual Bird Seed Sale and First Annual Seed Social

October 17, 2021 by Pickering Creek Audubon Center Leave a Comment

As September winds down, our local birds have finished their breeding season, and the fledglings are striking out on their own. Several birds will be switching their diets from insects to high fat seeds and suets to help them get ready for wintering here, or migrating south. That means it’s time to get your bird feeders back out and clean them. You can run them through the dishwasher, or wash with boiling water and soap.

Birdfeeding helps sustain birds through the harshest winter days as well as provides exciting interactions with birds as you get to see beautiful cardinals, chickadees, nuthatches, goldfinch, titmice, finches and more bouncing around your feeding station every time you peek out your window.

Nuthatch on Suet

Pickering Creek Audubon Center will be running its annual birdseed sale from Oct 25th to the Nov 9th. We’ll be switching this year from Meyers Seed Company to The Mill of Bel Air. The items available will largely be the same with some differences in quantity and mix styles, with the same high quality if seed. Payment by check or credit card are available this year. Additional donations supporting out work to connect people with nature are always welcome! The largest order wins a free birdfeeder!

Order forms available at https://pickeringcreek.org/get-involved/birdseed-sale/

Seed pick up will be at our First Annual Seed Social on Tuesday Nov 16th from 4 to 6pm at Pickering Creek. Bring your friends, come have a drink and snack on us, meet fellow birders, and pick up your seed! We will have Pickering Creek staff onsite to answer any bird questions you might have and Pickering Director Mark Scallion will share news of the exciting new trails and new programs at Pickering Creek.

Michael Roman to Step Down as UMCES’ Horn Point Laboratory Director

October 15, 2021 by University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science Leave a Comment

Michael Roman. Photo credit: Dave Harp

After serving 20 years as director of the Horn Point Laboratory of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES), Professor Mike Roman has announced that he will relinquish the position by end of the academic year and continue his ocean research as a Horn Point faculty member.

“It has been a great honor and privilege to work with the staff, students and faculty these last 20 years. Horn Point has grown in size, stature and productivity thanks to their hard work and dedication. I am proud of our increased efforts in public outreach, partnerships with other environmental groups on the Eastern Shore and development activities to provide graduate student financial support,” said Roman.

A biological oceanographer, Roman’s scientific career spans 30 years of research, and his expertise in marine ecology and biological oceanography is recognized nationally and internationally. He joined the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science in 1981 and has been director of the Horn Point Laboratory since 2001.

“Dr. Roman is an exceptional researcher and colleague who has had an enormous impact on the Horn Point Laboratory and UMCES, particularly in expanding research on coastal resilience, climate change, and important species such as blue crabs and oysters,” said University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science President Peter Goodwin. “He has mentored several early career faculty to ensure their success, built a successful philanthropic program, including graduate student endowments, and recruited outstanding faculty.”

The process to select a new director has been initiated. “During the next few months I plan to continue work to increase Horn Point’s grants and contracts, raise private funds to support our graduate students, and after a new director is in place, work with them to assure a smooth transition in leadership,” said Roman.

The Horn Point Laboratory, located on more than 800 acres on the banks of the Choptank River on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, has advanced society’s understanding of the world’s estuarine and ocean ecosystems. Horn Point scientists are widely respected for their interdisciplinary programs in oceanography, water quality, restoration of seagrasses, marshes and shellfish and for expertise in ecosystem modeling. With ongoing research programs spanning from the estuarine waters of the Chesapeake Bay to the open waters of the world’s oceans, Horn Point is a national leader in applying environmental research and discovery to solve society’s most pressing environmental problems.

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 evidence and 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

ShoreRivers SwimTesters Help Identify Pollution Hotspots

October 14, 2021 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

This summer, ShoreRivers monitored bacteria levels at 32 sites around the region, providing a critical public health service for communities and identifying pollution hotspots for future restoration efforts. A team of citizen scientists called “SwimTesters” volunteered their time to test these sites weekly from Memorial Day through Labor Day, and generous site sponsors covered a portion of the sampling costs.

SwimTesters monitor for enterococci bacteria at popular public access locations, marinas, yacht clubs, and town piers. The program follows EPA’s standard protocols for collecting and analyzing samples and uses a pass/fail system to determine if bacteria levels are safe or unsafe for swimming. View the results at theswimguide.org and get updates during swim season by following #SwimmableShoreRivers or your local Riverkeeper’s page on social media. By collecting, analyzing, and distributing data on bacteria levels in a river, ShoreRivers aims to provide the public with the information needed to make educated decisions about contact with the water.

The results from the 2021 SwimTester season show that bacteria levels vary based on location, land use, and weather; making systematic, scientific analysis vital. Major rain events are almost always connected to spikes in bacteria levels. Of the 32 sites monitored by ShoreRiversSwimTesters this year, seven sites failed to meet EPA’s threshold for safe water contact more than 50% of the time. These sites are located on the Choptank River: Crouse Park in Denton and Willis Street Beach in Cambridge; in Eastern Bay: Broad Cove near Claiborne; and on the Chester River: Millington Waterfront Park, Morgan Creek Landing, and Centreville Wharf.

Multiple years of consistent bacteria monitoring have highlighted those sites that frequently show elevated levels of bacteria, potentially indicating a chronic source of bacteria pollution. Potential chronic sources of bacteria include failing septic systems, overflows or leaks from wastewater treatment plants, waste from animal farms, or manure fertilizer. Acute sources of bacteria pollution include overflows from wastewater treatment plants and pet or wild animal waste.

ShoreRivers will next focus on discovering the source of bacteria pollution at sites that fail more than 50% of their tests in a season. Riverkeepers are currently exploring partnerships and innovative technologies to help identify specific sources of bacteria pollution, including DNA tracking, which would identify a specific animal group(human, bovine, avian, canine, etc.).

For the 2022 bacteria monitoring season, ShoreRivers still needs sponsors for 15 sites. Site sponsorship allows ShoreRivers to redirect general funds toward source tracking programs for impaired areas and to activate new sites from the waitlist. The cost to sponsor a site is $40 per week or $640 for an entire season is $640. Anyone can be a sponsor—individuals, families, organizations, or communities. The more bacterial data gathered on the Sassafras, Chester, Miles, Wye, and Choptank Rivers, the Bayside Creeks, and Eastern Bay, the clearer ShoreRivers’ path will be to targeted restoration efforts in our local watersheds.

Clean water is an essential right for everyone, and everyone deserves to know if the water is safe for them and their families to access. For more information, visit shorerivers.org/swim or email your local Riverkeeper to become a site sponsor today!

ShoreRivers protects and restores Eastern Shore waterways through science-based advocacy, restoration, and education.

shorerivers.org

Chestertown to Install Pinch Points at Intersection for Pedestrian Safety

October 13, 2021 by Eastern Shore Land Conservancy 1 Comment

On Thursday, October 14th the Town of Chestertown, in partnership with Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC), will install traffic-calming infrastructure at the intersection of High St and Water St. The design is meant to ‘pinch’ the intersection to allow more space for pedestrians, giving them greater visibility and protection from oncoming traffic, and to slow vehicles on their approach.

The pinch point design for this installation was created through outreach and engagement with residents and has been tested on four separate occasions in August and September. The installation will not remove any parking and has proven to not prohibit any vehicles currently permitted to move safely through the intersection.

“The intersection of High and Water St is a cross roads for residents and visitors of Chestertown to reach the Chester River and Wilmer Park. But the intersection can be dangerous and inaccessible for families and wheelchair users,” said Owen Wilson, Towns Project Manager at ESLC. “We hope to improve the safety of this intersection so it is safer and more accessible for everyone.” In July, Bailey spoke with the Chestertown Spy regarding this project; video of discussion can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XbjjMUsPzk&ab_channel=SpyNewspapersofMaryland

The intersection pinch point will be constructed initially as a Demonstration Project, which is a temporary installation using materials that allow the structure to be adjusted and altered based on feedback, observations, and data. If the design proves to have the desired effect, it can be made more permanent in a structure that will fit the aesthetic of the neighborhood. Funding for this project came from private donations from residents.

For more information about the project, please contact Owen Bailey at obailey@eslc.org.

About the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy

Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC) is a private, nonprofit land conservation organization committed to preserving and sustaining the vibrant communities of the Eastern Shore and the lands and waters that connect them. For more information please visit www.eslc.org.

Spooky Halloween Play Trail at Pickering Creek

October 9, 2021 by Pickering Creek Audubon Center Leave a Comment

Pickering Creek Audubon Center will debut its Spooky Halloween Play Trail on Friday October 22nd. The trail begins at the Center’s overflow parking lot and winds through Pickering’s woods on the center’s Woodpecker Trail. The Spooky Halloween Play Trail features thirteen stops that encourage kids and families to explore nature through short fun activities. The trail is self guided and starts at the Center’s overflow parking lot. At the stops it asks kids to do interactive activities like: “Call Who cooks for you, who cooks for y’all like a barred owl in your spookiest voice.” Each location asks kids and parents to engage a different sense as they explore nature around them.

“The forest floor is padded in crunchy leaves and animals are completing last-minute preparations for winter. Even though it may not seem like it, the forest is still full of beauty and life,” says trail creator Alex Lloyd, “come enjoy a late-autumn stroll through our interactive Spooky Halloween Play Trail! Visitors to the trail will get to learn about bird sounds, take home a recipe for making a pinecone bird feeder, participate in nature art and learn some fun nature jokes.” The trail will be in place from Friday, October 22nd through Sunday, November 14. Keep an eye on the weather and remember boots if it has been rainy!

On Sunday October 31, 2021 at noon you can bring a family picnic to Pickering and enjoy and wagon ride and hike the Spooky Halloween Play Trail. At noon the Pickering wagon will ferry picnickers and their coolers/baskets to the Pickering waterfront picnic tables for your DIY picnic overlooking the creek. By 1pm you will load your cooler onto the wagon and then either enjoy a self guided mile hike through the Center’s woods back up to the farm and parking where your cooler will be waiting for you or ride the wagon back down to the Pickering farm parking lot. You provide the food, we provide the ride.

RSVP for the wagon ride at www.pickeringcreek.org

After enjoying the Spooky Halloween Play Trail, further explorations lie beyond, with over four miles of trails and several beautiful vistas over Pickering Creek and the Center’s expansive wetlands, Pickering Creek has miles of trails for exploration and enjoyment.

This year’s brand new Spooky Halloween Play Trail at Pickering Creek is sponsored by the Talbot Optimist Club of Easton. The Optimists have been meeting the needs of Talbot County youth by “bringing out the best in kids” since 1996. The Talbot Optimist Club has raised more than $225,000 supporting local youth, including the sponsorship of the Optimist Field at the A. James Clark North Easton Sports Complex, and much needed annual support to organizations like Pickering Creek, the Talbot YMCA, Talbot Mentors, Easton Little League, as well as art programs, public and private school initiatives, leadership camps, sport activities and more.

Access to the Center and trail are free. Pickering Creek’s trails are open daily from 7am to 6pm during October and the first week of November and 7am to 5pm thereafter. Guests are asked to carry masks and wear them when passing each other on trails, restrooms are limited at this time, so plan accordingly. For all our guidelines please check:

https://pickering.audubon.org/visit/planning-visit

Prizes Announced for Rod and Reef Slam Fishing Tournament that Starts Oct. 9

October 7, 2021 by Chesapeake Bay Foundation Leave a Comment

Anglers who catch the most different species of fish in the unique Rod and Reef Slam Fishing Tournament can win a grand prize worth up to $1,400 in Under Armour fishing apparel and All Tackle gift certificates while division winners receive other exciting prizes.

The tournament takes place from Oct. 9 to 17 and registration remains open. The entry cost is $25. Today, tournament organizers Coastal Conservation Association Maryland, Chesapeake Oyster Alliance, and Chesapeake Bay Foundation are announcing the following prize packages for the tournament:

Overall Grand Prize

$300 All Tackle gift certificate; Under Armour Apparel Kit that includes footwear, bottoms, shirt, and fleece or outerwear with a retail value of about $1,400; and a Coastal Conservation Association MD soft-body Engel backpack cooler.

Powerboat Division

First Place– $200 All Tackle gift certificate and Under Armour shirt and fleece or outerwear with a retail value up to $150.
Second Place – $125 All Tackle gift certificate and an Under Armour top.
Third Place– $75 All Tackle gift certificate and an Under Armour hat.

Kayak Division

First Place– $200 All Tackle gift certificate and Under Armour shirt and fleece or outerwear with a retail value up to $150.
Second Place – $125 All Tackle gift certificate and an Under Armour top.
Third Place– $75 All Tackle gift certificate and an Under Armour hat.

Youth Division

First Place– $100 All Tackle gift certificate, Chesapeake Bay Foundation or Coastal Conservation Association hat, and an Under Armour shirt and fleece or outerwear with a retail value up to $150.
Second Place– $75 All Tackle gift certificate, Chesapeake Bay Foundation or Coastal Conservation Association shirt, and an Under Armour shirt.
Third Place– $50 All Tackle gift certificate, Under Armour hat, and Chesapeake Bay Foundation and Coastal Conservation Association stickers.

Invasive Species Division

50-quart Engel hard side cooler with an estimated value of $300 and an Under Armour shirt and fleece or outerwear with an estimated value of $150.

All winners will also receive a 40 percent off Under Armour apparel coupon.

The contest is designed to highlight the diversity of fish that surround oyster reefs. To do that, anglers will fish in areas where oyster reefs have been restored in Maryland. Anglers will use the iAngler Tournament app to document their catches and fishing locations.

During the past two centuries, Maryland has lost nearly all its oyster reef habitat due to overfishing, pollution, and disease. The loss of reef habitat has corresponded with less fish that frequent oyster reefs, such as sheepshead, black sea bass, and tautog. However, ongoing oyster reef restoration throughout the Bay is showing signs of success and the potential to lure more of these types of fish back into Maryland waters. Oysters are also valuable in the Bay for their natural filtering abilities. An adult oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water per day.

All anglers who register will also be entered into the new invasive species division this year. The person who catches the longest 3-fish stringer of blue catfish, flathead catfish or Northern snakehead will be declared the winner of that division.

Anglers can pick fishing locations ranging from the large-scale restoration tributaries on the Eastern Shore such as Harris Creek, the Little Choptank River, and the Tred Avon River to smaller Western shore restoration sites, including those in the South, Severn and Magothy rivers around Annapolis. There are more than 100 reefs to fish in the tournament that can be found using the tournament’s interactive map.

Winners in previous Rod and Reef Slam tournaments have caught more than a dozen different species including white perch, spot, toadfish, drum, blue crabs, rockfish, and bluefish.

A live online awards ceremony will take place to announce the winners.

Anglers interested in participating can register on the CBF website. More information about the tournament is on the iAngler Tournament page.

ShoreRivers Applauds State’s Actions to Stop Pollution from Valley Proteins

September 30, 2021 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) announced it would take significant steps to hold Valley Proteins accountable for its water pollution, thanks in large part to the work of ShoreRivers and partners. The industrial poultry rendering plant in Linkwood, on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, has been illegally discharging polluted water into the Transquaking River and operating on an outdated permit for 15 years.

In April, ShoreRivers and Dorchester Citizens for Planned Growth (jointly represented by Chesapeake Legal Alliance) and Chesapeake Bay Foundation filed a notice of intent to bring a lawsuit against Valley Proteins for violating its wastewater discharge permit. This action, along with years of advocacy by local environmental groups, spurred MDE to take significant steps this month to hold the plant accountable.

MDE recently announced it would take action to update the plant’s discharge permit, impose penalties for pollution violations, and deny state funding for upgraded technology. Specifically, these actions have been instituted: MDEissued a new draft wastewater discharge permit, which will replace the outdated permit and hold the plant to higher and more modern standards; following the non-profits’ notice of intent to sue, MDE has agreed to impose penalties and remedial actions on Valley Proteins for its pollution violations; and MDE has denied funding previously granted from the taxpayer-funded Bay Restoration Fund to pay for technology upgrades and expanded capacity.

Valley Proteins

Updated Discharge Permit

Valley Proteins uses a chemical process to render chicken carcasses into protein for animal feed, which it then sells. The plant’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit expired in 2006, but the state has enabled the company to continue to operate by administratively extending the permit for 15 years. These “zombie permits” endanger the health of waterways by allowing industrial sources to continue to operate on outdated technology and under outdated pollution limits.

On September 15, MDE issued a new draft permit. “We will be working diligently through the public process to ensure the new discharge permit adequately protects water quality and that checks are in place to prevent future violations from occurring,” says ShoreRiversChoptankRiverkeeper Matt Pluta. “We can do better. We fully expect the State to address their backlog of ‘zombie permits’ and will work this legislative session to prohibit administratively extending permits.”

Penalties for Illegal Discharges

MDE has committed to imposing penalties for the discharge violations Valley Proteins incurred over the years. ShoreRivers will continue to work with MDE to ensure the penalties and remedial actions match the magnitude of the impacts to local water quality. ShoreRivers will also advocate for technical upgrades to the plant and restoration solutions in order to reduce pollution entering local waterways.

In years when records have been available, Valley Proteins has exceeded pollution limits when releasing wastewater into the Transquaking River. Reported violations show the plant discharging above the legal, or “safe,” limit for nitrogen, phosphorus, ammonia, chlorine, and fecal coliform. These nutrients, chemicals, and bacteria cause harmful algal blooms, degrade habitat, and threaten the safety of people swimming or fishing in the river. Valley Proteins must be held accountable for its degradation of this public resource.

Denying Bay Restoration Funds

In the 2021 Legislative Session, the State authorized $7.6 million to Valley Proteins from the Bay Restoration Fund to cover a portion of the cost of a $15-million-dollar upgrade to reduce pollution.

The Bay Restoration Fund is comprised of tax-payer money and is intended to solve wastewater issues that have a direct impact to the local communities who pay into the fund. Every year, the State makes funding awards by reviewing a long list of applicants; it has previously prioritized funding upgrades to public wastewater treatment plants. Many applicants are small, rural towns that don’t have the means to fund their own technology upgrades.

“To reward a facility that has violated its permit for years, by giving them tax-payer money to solve the problem sets a bad precedent for other polluting industries,” says Pluta. In a statement from MDE Secretary Ben Grumbles earlier this month, the State announced it would no longer grant Valley Proteins the funding they requested.

These three issues mark significant achievements in ShoreRivers’ advocacy work to safeguard local rivers from industrial polluters. Working closely with Chesapeake Legal Alliance, ShoreRiversand their partners will work through the public process for Valley Proteins’ new discharge permit to ensure it’s as protective of water quality as possible. ShoreRivers will also continue to push the State to eliminate the backlog of expired permits and end the practice of administratively extending outdated permits in the state of Maryland.

ShoreRivers protects and restores Eastern Shore waterways through science-based advocacy, restoration, and education.

shorerivers.org

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