On Thurs., April 4 at 1 p.m., Adkins Arboretum will launch The Diversity Around Us, a series of free talks and walks offered in partnership with the Maryland Biodiversity Project. Jim Brighton, co-founder of the Maryland Biodiversity Project, will introduce the series and provide insight into his project’s efforts to catalog Maryland’s living things and build a vibrant nature study community. Understanding biodiversity is the first step toward conserving wild species, habitats and a healthy ecosystem.

Over several months, The Diversity Around Us will bring experts and citizen scientists together to learn about and observe the plants, animals and fungi of Maryland’s Coastal Plain. The general public is invited to participate in some or all of the series. Lecture topics include birds, plants, reptiles, amphibians, insects, fungi and lichen of the Coastal Plains. INaturalist Walks, led by experts, will build on the information presented in the lectures and take place on third Sundays from 1 to 3 p.m. from April through October.

The Diversity Around Us will culminate in a Community Bioblitz at the Arboretum in early September. Experts will be on hand to help identify and confirm sightings. Data gathered will contribute to a comprehensive list of species at the Arboretum and be added to the Maryland Biodiversity Project website.

Adkins Arboretum is a 400-acre native garden and plant preserve that strives to be a model for land stewardship. Biodiversity is an integral indicator of healthy and resilient landscapes. Through its Diversity Around Us series, the Arboretum will create a more complete picture of the biodiversity of Maryland’s Coast Plain and empower community members to contribute to resilient, biodiverse ecosystems.

For more information and to register for the series, visit adkinsarboretum.org.

The Waterfowl Festival is excited to match resources with environmental needs across the region through its annual “Community in Conservation” funding program. These grants, supported by proceeds from annual Waterfowl Festival weekend, annual donors, and the Conservation Dinner Series, offer non-profits and community entities the chance to receive monies for projects and initiatives at the intersection of conservation and community.

“We are pleased to offer this grant opportunity for our mission-aligned organizations here on the Delmarva peninsula,” remarked Eric Milhollan, President, Waterfowl Festival Board of Directors.  “Now more than ever, it is critical that we provide support and encouragement to those organizations who are working hard to celebrate the natural environment and preserve it for future generations.”

Over the past five decades, dozens of organizations have been supported by the Waterfowl Festival, creating a legacy of education, leadership, and engagement in the conservation space. Recent projects and grantees include Ducks Unlimited, the Wellington Wildlife Management Area, Phillips Wharf Environmental Center,  University of MD Center for Environmental Science – Project: Enhancing the Horn Point Nature Trail Experience, and the ShoreRivers – Project: Underwater Grasses Restoration.

“The Waterfowl Festival has been a long-time conservation partner of Ducks Unlimited,” said Regional Biologist Ed Farley. “Right now, we are restoring a 40-acre wetland that was historically drained for row crops at Wellington Wildlife Management Area. The work could not have been done without funding from the Waterfowl Festival.”

Maryland, Virginia, or Delaware organizations are encouraged to reach out to the Waterfowl Festival with their unique projects needing crucial funding through this grant program. The 2024 grant cycle will begin April 1, 2024 and continue through July 31, 2024. Grantees will be announced and funds distributed by November 7, 2024 in advance of the 53rd Annual Waterfowl Festival in Easton, MD.

The 2024 Conservation Dinner will be held in June in Easton, MD. Those interested in sponsoring or attending this dinner are encouraged to reach out to the Festival via marketing@waterfowlfestival.org.

Guidelines to apply:

Please submit your application via our online portal (mailed copies will not be accepted)

Application portal: https://waterfowlfestival.org/conservation/community-in-conservation/

Deadline: July 1, 2024

With this focus on connecting our financial resources to local environmental needs we now support projects in these four priority areas:

1. Initiatives at the intersections of waterfowl conservation and community

2. Education programs on Delmarva focusing on current and future generations of conservationists, enthusiasts and educators

3. Research and scientific work of graduate students, volunteer groups
   and non-profits on Delmarva

Restoration and conservation of projects that benefit waterfowl and
regional habitat enhancement in ways that connect with larger bay habitat
restoration goals

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Join us on select dates in April to clear trash from our roads, parks, and rivers! ShoreRivers and volunteers are once again hosting community trash clean-ups as part of Project Clean Stream, a Bay-wide trash clean-up effort organized by the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and coordinated by local groups like ShoreRivers. Project Clean Stream is an opportunity for citizens across the entire watershed to work together to clean our shared water resource.

This year, we are also excited to be partnering with a variety of community organizations for Clean Anne’s County Day—a day of environmental service throughout Queen Anne’s County. A variety of trash pick-ups are scheduled for Sunday, April 7, to help keep the county and its waterways clean.

Join a Project Clean Stream cleanup near you:

• Sunday, April 7, at 10am: Romancoke Pier with Kent Island Rotary Club
• Sunday, April 7, at 10am: Matapeake Park with Plastic Free Queen Anne’s County and Four Seasons
• Sunday, April 7, at 1pm: Millstream Park in Centreville with Centreville Rotary Club
• Sunday, April 7, at 1pm: Centreville Wharf with Corsica River Conservancy
• Sunday, April 7, at 1pm: Gibson’s Grant (meet at clubhouse)
• Tuesday, April 9, at 10am: Oyster Shell Pile Clean-up at Grasonville Disposal Area with Oyster Recovery Partnership (rain date: Thursday, April 11)
• Saturday, April 13, at 8:30am: Fox Hole Landing in Kent Island
• Saturday, April 13, at 9am: Sassafras Natural Resource Management Area

To volunteer for any of these clean-ups, please contact Maegan White at [email protected] or visit shorerivers.org/events for individual event details. Trash bags and gloves will be provided; volunteers are encouraged to bring water and wear appropriate attire.

Celebrate our planet on Saturday, April 20^th at the 14^th Annual Chestertown Earth Day Festival, 9am to 1pm.  This family friendly event, situated  on the  Park Row side of Fountain Park in Downtown Chestertown features a Community Trash Walk, electric vehicle car display, free recycling of batteries and fluorescent bulbs, free tree seedlings, and educational and information booths promoting stewardship- from solar energy to making your backyard more eco-friendly.

The popular Community Trash/Recycle Walk returns this year. Keep our community beautiful and learn about what you may recycle instead of adding to the landfill. We welcome everyone to participate, families, friends, neighbors. Gloves and bags provided, Free seeds, and limited seedlings to all who take part in the trash/recycle walk.

KidSPOT will provide free eco-friendly children’s crafts.

Interested in backyard composting? We’re here to help.

Contemplating a hybrid or all electric vehicle? There will be a variety of locally owned models on display, including Tesla, Chevy Bolt, Nissan Leaf, Kia EV 6, Ford E-150 Lightning & Fiskar Ocean,  plus some electric bicycles.

The event is hosted by the Chestertown Environmental Committee and the Town of Chestertown, Sponsors include Capital Electric Supply, Heron Point, LaMotte Company, Maryland Environmental Service, ShoreRivers, Sunrise Solar and Washington College Center for Environment and Society.

For more information, please call Jon at 410 708 8951 or Andy at 443 480 1987.

ShoreRivers is pleased to announce a brand-new initiative that will have direct benefits to Eastern Shore water quality: Tree the Shore!

Thanks to a grant from the Chesapeake Bay Trust to ShoreRivers, the Tree the Shore program will fund the planting of 1,000 new trees throughout Cambridge, Chestertown, Denton, Easton, and Federalsburg. Trees must be planted in areas that benefit the greater community: in front yards, along sidewalks, or in local parks or community open spaces. ShoreRivers is actively seeking input from community members to help identify opportunities within their neighborhood for planting this ambitious number of trees by spring 2026.

Trees provide proven benefits to people, animals, and our rivers. They cool the summer air of our towns, soak up rainwater that might otherwise flood our streets, provide food and shelter for songbirds, capture pollution from the air, and return the oxygen that we breathe. Unfortunately, many of our rural towns are currently lacking a healthy tree canopy. According to a recent and comprehensive study by the Harry Hughes Center, Maryland loses about 3,000 acres of forest every year, leading to poor water quality, fragmentation and loss of wildlife habitat, reduced carbon sequestration, localized flooding, and lower property values. On the Eastern Shore, our counties and rivers ar some of the least treed areas in Maryland, with Kent and Queen Annes counties tied for last place.

“Trees dramatically change the livability of our streets, and ShoreRivers is dedicated to growing a lush tree canopy across our watersheds,” said Jennifer Vaccaro, ShoreRivers’ Community Restoration Coordinator. “We envision a future where residents all across the Eastern Shore enjoy the beauty, shade, and life of a tree while it silently and steadily works for healthier waterways.”

In addition to providing funding for trees, ShoreRivers is also able to help partners with their plantings. In some cases, these will be led by ShoreRivers Tree Stewards—volunteers trained to work within their communities to identify areas in need of tree canopy, create planting designs, and organize and lead tree planting projects. If you don’t have a location that’s right for Tree the Shore but would still like to get involved, please visit shorerivers.org/programs/treestewards to learn more.

ShoreRivers is committed to working with all communities, especially historically underserved communities, to plant trees that will shade their homes and mitigate flooding. The organization is currently pursuing additional funding to plant trees beyond the towns targeted by this Chesapeake Bay Trust grant.

The public is encouraged to request trees and learn more about the Tree the Shore initiative by visiting shorerivers.org/tree-the-shore.

Mark your calendars for Celebrate Trails Day 2024 on April 27, 2024! Hosted annually on the fourth Saturday of April, this spring celebration envisioned by the Rails to Trails Conservancy (RTC) invites everyone to embrace America’s remarkable trails and trail systems. Organizations throughout the Eastern Shore will be hosting several events to honor and appreciate trails’ invaluable role in our lives and communities.

Trails are essential for offering chances for exploration, adventure, and discovery, inviting people of all ages and backgrounds to go on memorable adventures in the outdoors. These benefits range from encouraging physical activity and mental well-being to fostering connections with nature and facilitating economic development.

In addition to celebrating existing trails, efforts are underway to expand and enhance trail infrastructure on the Eastern Shore. A group led by the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC) in Easton, MD is spearheading plans to create a comprehensive regional trail network connecting communities and highlighting the region’s natural and cultural assets.

In addition, a new trail map has been developed by the Eastern Shore Regional GIS Cooperative with support from the Rural Maryland Council. It provides detailed information about trail locations, amenities, and points of interest, making it easier for residents and visitors alike to plan their outdoor adventures.

Whether it’s a guided hike, a trail cleanup initiative, or a family-friendly nature walk, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved and make a positive impact in your community on Celebrate Trails Day and throughout the year. Visit https://www.eslc.org/celebratetrails/ to learn about all the trail events on April 27 and join in celebrating the beauty and significance of our local trails.

To learn more about the ongoing efforts to advocate for more trails on the Eastern Shore, visit https://www.eslc.org/towns/eastern-shore-regional-trail-vision/.

Learn more at RailsToTrails.Org/CelebrateTrails

 

Explore the trail map at https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/413da86ab8f94d8e801ca66df4787a1f

Waterfowl Festival, Inc. is pleased to recognize Eric Milhollan as the new President of its Board of Directors. Eric brings invaluable experience as a strong community and business leader. He currently is a senior project manager and part-owner at Willow Construction LLC, and has served as a volunteer for the Festival for many years along with his wife Victoria and their children.

Eric has over twenty-eight years of experience with Willow and has witnessed the growth of Easton from a sleepy town to a thriving and growing regional destination for businesses and families alike. He graduated from Salisbury University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management. Other boards he has served on include the local Associated Builders and Contractors, Talbot County Chamber of Commerce,  and Shore Leadership, and he is a 2019 Leadership Maryland graduate.  Utilizing skills from his professional and business experience, Milhollan is poised to take the Waterfowl Festival into 2024 successfully.

“Eric’s wealth of experience and his deep-rooted connection to the Waterfowl Festival makes him an ideal candidate for the role of President,” remarked Charles Wrighton, 2023 president. “We are confident that under his guidance, the festival will continue to thrive, allowing us to continue to support conservation efforts in our region.”

Milhollan’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment for the Waterfowl Festival as it continues to evolve and adapt to support the community as well as its mission of conservation of our natural landscapes. With a consistent economic impact of millions of dollars each year, the Festival continues to be an event that has a considerable positive effect on the region after five decades.

The 53rd Waterfowl Festival is now accepting applications for vendors, artists, and sponsors! To connect with the Waterfowl Festival directly, please visit our website or email [email protected].

ShoreRivers is pleased to announce the return of its highly anticipated State of the Rivers events—a series of free presentations held each spring to inform the public about the current state of our Eastern Shore waterways and what we can all do to protect and restore them. Whether this will be your first or your 15^th State of the Rivers, we invite everyone to attend, learn, and enjoy—and bring a friend, too!

Each year, between April­ and October, ShoreRivers’ professional Riverkeepers conduct weekly tidal sampling of more than 60 sites from Cecilton to Cambridge, then test for multiple scientific water quality parameters including dissolved oxygen, nutrient pollution, chlorophyll, and clarity. These indicators reveal the overall health of our waterways and our progress toward protecting and restoring our local rivers. ShoreRivers, statewide groups, and national agencies use this information to track trends, develop remediation strategies, advocate for stronger laws and enforcement, alert the public of potential health risks, and inform region-wide efforts toward clean water goals.

The public is invited to learn more about the results of this testing at this year’s State of the Rivers presentations, hosted around the region by the Riverkeepers themselves. Light refreshments, including local oysters, will be provided. ShoreRivers is grateful for this year’s State of the Rivers sponsors: The Packing House, the Garfield Center for the Arts, Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay, Cult Classic Brewing, Choptank Oyster Co., Orchard Point Oysters, Ten Eyck Brewing Company, Happy Chicken Bakery, the Betterton Volunteer Fire Department, and John Andrew McCown.

Please save these dates for this year’s State of the Rivers presentations:

Wednesday, April 17, at Betterton Fire Hall, from 5:30–7pm | State of the Sassafras River & the Bayside Creeks, hosted by Riverkeeper Zack Kelleher

Thursday, April 25, at The Packing House in Cambridge, from 5:30–7pm | State of the Choptank River, hosted by Riverkeeper Matt Pluta

Monday, April 29, at Cult Classic Brewing in Stevensville, from 5:30–7pm | State of the Miles River, Wye River, and Eastern Bay, hosted by Riverkeeper Ben Ford

Wednesday, May 8, at the Garfield Center for the Arts in Chestertown, from 5:30–7pm | State of the Chester River, hosted by Riverkeeper Annie Richards

In addition to analyzing water quality data and communicating this information to the public, Riverkeepers use their weekly sampling as an opportunity to monitor changes along shorelines, identify potential indications of illegal discharges, and scout submerged aquatic vegetation beds. These observations, coupled with the quantitative data collected throughout the year, paint a holistic and well-informed picture of the health of each river and its tributaries. Riverkeepers work collaboratively with the community and with ShoreRivers’ other departments (including education, agriculture and restoration, and community engagement) to increase awareness of the issues, inspire behavior change, and implement practices for healthier river systems.

“Eastern Shore waterways are choked by polluted runoff from residential, commercial, and agricultural properties,” said Matt Pluta, ShoreRivers’ Choptank Riverkeeper & Director of Riverkeeper Programs. “Intentional and unintentional bacterial contamination poses risks to human health. Regular scientific monitoring for these and other pollutants is a signature component of ShoreRivers’ operations and the only comprehensive testing of our local rivers currently being conducted. Please join us at a State of the Rivers event in your area to learn what’s happening, why it’s happening, and the important ways we can work together to make it better.”

For more information about these events, visit shorerivers.org/events.