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Maryland

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Maryland, with a total surface area of 6,769,280 acres, had an estimated 1,650,000 acres of wetlands in the 1780's, The acreage has been reduced to a total of 440,000 acres in the 1980's, a 73% reduction. [1] Maryland also has 3,190 miles of coastline with attendant coastal wetlands. [2]

To minimize losses and to meet the states goal of No Net Loss for both wetland acreage and function, Maryland has been proactive in regulating both tidal and non tidal wetlands. Regulatory programs for tidal wetlands have been in effect since 1971 and enacted for nontidal wetlands in 1991. These programs have reduced losses and if compensatory mitigation is taken into effect, there have been gains in wetland acreage, if not function.[3]

Maryland has a large variation in topography, and is home to the Chesapeake Bay, one of the largest estuary and wetland system in the Unites States, and the largest physical feature in Maryland. An unusual fact about Maryland's geography is that the state contains no natural lakes, due to the fact that the glaciers did not advance as far south as Maryland. As a result, the soils contains more sand and mud than found in New England.

Contents

[edit] Chesapeake Bay

The Chesapeake Bay impact crater was created approximately about 35.5 million years ago, and the bay itself began forming about 10,000 years ago when rising sea levels at the end of the last ice age flooded the Susquehanna river valley.

The headwaters of the Chesapeake Bay start in Cooperstown, N.Y., 650 miles north, and the drainage basin encompasses 64,000 square miles over 6 states (Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia) and the District of Columbia. [4]

The Chesapeake Bay is part of the National Estuary Reserve Program, a partnership between the federal National Oceanographic and Atmospheric and the State of Maryland. Three sites in the bay, a salt marsh at Monie Bay, a tidal freshwater marsh at Otter Point Creek and a tidal, riverine system at Jug Bay are part of the Estuary Reserve and illustrate the different ecosystems within the Bay. [5] Much of the Chesapeake Bay is shallow. On average, the depth of the bay is 21 feet, including tributaries; over 24% of the bay is less than 6 ft deep.

The Chesapeake Bay has been adversely impacted by dead zones and algae blooms, primarily due to the excessive nitrogen from poultry farm runoff on the Delmarva Peninsula. Runoff from chicken manure and fertilizers are responsible for 42% of the nitrogen and 46% of the phosphorus that flows into the Chesapeake Bay. [6] Excessive nutrients stimulate the growth of algae blooms, creating vast oxygen-starved "dead zone" in the bay unsuitable for fish, oysters and crabs.[7] In early 2009, the EPA has begin to take steps to reduce the chicken farm runoff by enforcing existing federal laws on pollution-discharge and chicken manure. More than half of the state's 800 poultry farmers have filed for the permits. In prior years, the states enforcement policies had only covered 200 of the largest chicken farms. [8]

The Chesapeake Bay watershed crosses many state boundaries and is the largest in the United States.
The Chesapeake Bay watershed crosses many state boundaries and is the largest in the United States.

[edit] State Law & Policy

[edit] Maryland State Wetland Conservation Plan

The stated goal of the Wetland Conservation Plan is to:[9]

  • Develop a Wetland Baseline by inventorying and categorizing wetlands to achieve the goal of No Net Loss.
  • Assess current and potential wetland threats and trends
  • Increase the Efficiency and Effectiveness of Wetlands Regulation and Management in Maryland
  • Identify Wetlands for Priority Protection and Restoration
  • Increase participation in wetlands preservation, restoration, enhancement and stewardship


[edit] 2000 Chesapeake Bay Agreement

In 2000, the State of Maryland signed Chesapeake 2000, an agreement for restoring the Chesapeake Bay with the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Chesapeake Bay Commission, the signatories pledged to achieve over 100 specific actions designed to restore the health of the Bay and its living resources, in 5 broad categories. These actions, called the Chesapeake 2000 commitments, are grouped into the Agreement's five major categories (Living Resource Protection and Restoration, Vital Habitat Protection and Restoration, Water Quality Protection and Restoration, Sound Land Use, Stewardship and Community Engagement) all impacting wetlands in the Chesapeake Bay. A main metric of the agreement is to reduce pollution sufficiently to have the Chesapeake removed from the federal ‘impaired waters’ list by 2010. In January 2009, the EPA stated that it would not meet the 2010 deadline until 2020, if at all. In 2009, The Chesapeake Bay Foundation sued the EPA to enforce the 2000 Chesapeake Bay Agreement. [10]

[edit] Section 2.3

Section 2.3 of the The Chesapeake Bay Agreement specifically identifies the course of action necessary to achieve a no net loss for existing wetlands and to restore 25,000 acres of tidal and non-tidal wetlands in the Chesapeake Bay watershed by 2010. Maryland's share of this goal is 15,000 acres. [11] As of 2009, the goal of no net loss has been 100% achieved and the the goal of restoring 25,000 acres of wetlands has been 73% achieved. [12] Despite these successes, the watershed itself remains impacted, particularly with excessive nutrients, only 21% of its water quality goals were met in April 2009. [13]

[edit] The Comprehensive Coastal Bays Management Plan

The The Comprehensive Coastal Bays Management Plan has a goal of 10,000 wetland acres restored for the Coastal Bays watershed, of the 10,000 acres, the State of Maryland is expected to meet its deadline with over 4,800 acres of wetlands restored.

[edit] Maryland Wetland Monitoring Strategy

In 2004 the EPA granted the State of Maryland funding to improve the monitoring and of non-tidal wetlands and identify direct and indirect indicators for wetland health, along with reference wetlands that can be used as comparison sites. [14]

[edit] Nontidal Wetlands Protection Act & Program

The Nontidal Wetlands Protection Act was enacted protect non tidal wetlands by regulating and restricting all activities that could impact nontidal wetlands. The Act also helps to insure "no net loss" in wetlands, by requiring mitigation or compensation for any wetland losses. Regulated activities include, removal, excavation, or dredging fill and disturbance of water flow by drainage, impoundment, or grading. To manage these tasks the act provides for an application and review process for proposed development in wetlands.

In comparison to Federal Law, the Maryland law covers isolated wetlands, the alteration of vegetation and hydrology, and in most cases requires a 25 foot buffer between a wetland and any new construction. If an area is considered to have exceptional ecological value, the buffer area is increased to 100 feet. Much of this program is designed to be "pushed down" to the local level, rather than being run solely by the State of Maryland. [15]

[edit] Notable Maryland Wetlands

[edit] Mattawoman Creek

One of the few few tidal, freshwater tributaries to the Chesapeake Bay, it is under thread of over development and a proposed highway. According to American Rivers, it is one of the top 10 threatened rivers or waterways in the nation. [16]

[edit] Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge

Over 27,000 acres, primarily tidal marsh and other habitats including freshwater ponds, mixed evergreen and deciduous forests, the refuge also has small amounts of cropland and managed impoundments that are seasonally flooded for waterfowl use. The refuge was originally established in 1933 for migrating along the Atlantic Flyway. The Refuge also offers a Visitor Center, a Wildlife Drive, four hiking trails and three paddling trails. [17]

[edit] Wetland Organizations

[edit] Chesapeake Bay Education Center

The Chesapeake Bay Education Center is a 510-acre site, used for wetland education, restoration and research, with educational material for students K-12 and adults. The site contains 4 miles of trails, observation blinds and other hands on educational tools.

[edit] Corporate Wetlands Restoration Partnership (CWRP)

A public/private alliance dedicated to the restoration and creation of wetlands in partnership with Coastal America.

[edit] Jug Bay Wetland Sanctuary

The Jug Bay Wetland Sanctuary encompasses more than 1,700 acres along the Patuxent River estuary. Identified as one of the ten most unique ecological communities in Maryland by the Smithsonian, approximately 10,000 visitors enjoy the educational and research opportunity of the Sanctuary. [18]

[edit] See Also

Delaware

Virginia

States

[edit] References

  1. ↑ Dahl, Thomas E. 1990. Wetlands losses in the United States 1780's to 1980's. U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, D.C. Jamestown, ND: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center Online. Wetland Losses (Version 16JUL97).
  2. ↑ Ocean and Coastal Management in Maryland Retrieved May 6, 2009.
  3. ↑ SECTION I: MARYLAND’S STATE WETLAND CONSERVATION PLAN OVERVIEW Mission StatementOctober 2002. Retrieved Many 2009.
  4. ↑ EPA to the rescue. Only a holistic approach can save the bay, and only Washington can provide itWilliam C. Baker, Baltimore Sun.May 6, 2009
  5. ↑ Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research ReserveRetrieved May 5, 2009.
  6. ↑ Chicken growers face EPA crackdown Permit requirements to limit pollution stricter than Md. regulationsTimothy B. Wheeler. Baltimore Sun. March 15, 2009. Retrieved May 6, 2009.
  7. ↑ "Frontline" investigates troubled state of Chesapeake, US watersTim Wheeler. Baltimore Sun. May 5, 2009. Retrieved May 6, 2009.
  8. ↑ Chicken growers face EPA crackdown Permit requirements to limit pollution stricter than Md. regulationsTimothy B. Wheeler. Baltimore Sun. March 15, 2009. Retrieved May 6, 2009.
  9. ↑ The Maryland State Wetland Conservation Plan Section III Goals and ObjectivesOctober 2002. Retrieved April 2009.
  10. ↑ CBF AND ALLIES BEGIN LEGAL ACTION TO FORCE EPA TO REDUCE POLLUTIONRetrieved May 6, 2009.
  11. ↑ Chesapeake 2000. The Renewed Bay AgreementSection 2.0 Vital Habitat Protection and Restoration. Retrieved May, 5 2009.
  12. ↑ Chesapeake 2000. The Renewed Bay AgreementSection 2.0 Vital Habitat Protection and Restoration Progress. Retrieved May, 5 2009.
  13. ↑ Bay only 38% of the way toward meeting water, habitat goalsKarl Blankenship. Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay. April 2009. Retrieved May 5, 2009.
  14. ↑ Maryland Wetland Monitoring Strategy Background and Discussions Years 1-3Retrieved May 9, 2009.
  15. ↑ Detailed Descriptions of Laws and Programs M-Q Title: Nontidal Wetlands Protection Act & Program. Retrieved May 11, 2009.
  16. ↑ Creek among endangeredGene Mueller. THE WASHINGTON TIMES. April 8, 2009. Retrieved May 4, 2009.
  17. ↑ Blackwater National Wildlife RefugeRetrieved May 7, 2009.
  18. ↑ Jug Bay Wetland Sanctuary Fact Sheetretrieved March 9, 2010.


[edit] External Links

USGS MD Water Statistics

Maryland's Wetland Regulation Database

River Mud Blog

Piney Branch Bog

Eyes on the Bay Realtime Water Quality Management

Maryland Wetlands Law Database

Maryland Law ReviewNUMBER RISING SEAS, COASTAL EROSION, AND THE TAKINGS CLAUSE: HOW TO SAVE WETLANDS AND BEACHES WITHOUT HURTING PROPERTY OWNERS. 1998.

Aberdeen Proving Grounds Wetland Restoration

[edit] Maryland Wetlands in the News

Yahoo! News Search Results for maryland wetland

  1. NASA catches heavy rainfall happening in Category 4 Earl as it approaches the US
    Hurricane Earl is still a powerful category four hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale as it approaches the North Carolina coast today. NASA's Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite observed the high rates rain was falling within Earl, in some areas more than 2 inches per hour. Today, the Global Hawk unmanned aircraft is also flying into the eye of Hurricane Earl at altitudes of 60 ...
  2. NRG offers plan to contain ash pile
    MILLSBORO -- NRG Energy has proposed hardening nearly a mile of shoreline near a 2 million-ton ash pile that threatens the Indian River and Indian River Bay east of Millsboro, the latest step in a larger, longer-range cleanup and control plan.
  3. Master plan revealed for new park in Brunswick area
    Frederick County Parks and Recreation unveiled the master plan for a new park in the Brunswick area during an open house Wednesday at Winchester Hall
  4. DEPRM uses dredge material to enhance shoreline
    Iconic island will again live up to its name by Tad Wayne Taborn Instead of killing two birds with one stone, Baltimore County’s Department of Environmental Protection and Resource Management (DEPRM) is using quite a few stones – about 32,000 tons worth – at Pleasure Island to improve upon problems in local waters and actually provide habitat for some birds along the way. DEPRM manager Candace ...
  5. Project to untangle busiest interchange
    It's among the most-notorious "Ts" on Delaware's traffic map, a source of endless aggravation for the hundreds of thousands of motorists who slog daily along I-95 and Del 1 near Christiana Mall.
  6. DNREC kicks off 2010 Delaware Coastal Cleanup on beach at state line
    On the beach at 146th Street at the Delaware-Maryland state lane, DNREC Secretary Collin O’Mara joined sponsors and environmental representatives to kick off the drive for volunteers to support this year’s Delaware Coastal Cleanup, a statewide effort to clean up trash from Delaware’s shorelines set for 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 25.
  7. A Passion for the Patuxent
    Chesapeake Country’s Skyline Drive — with boats, not cars. That’s how Dave Linthicum sees the Patuxent River, which runs by his front door. Ask him why, and off his tongue rolls a list of Patuxent River glories.
  8. Sun Power Shines in Anne Arundel County
    The Plummer House at the Glendening Wetland Preserve in the Jug Bay Wetland Sanctuary is glowing as Anne Arundel County’s first grid-tied solar energy system and solar powered building.
  9. Wetlands Floating In Inner Harbor
    A combined effort to create floating wetlands in Baltimore's Inner Harbor is raising awareness and helping the environment.
  10. Fish and Wildlife gets approval to restore marsh
    FAIRFIELD, CALIF. — Federal wildlife officials have received approval to restore California's largest wetland, which was fouled by a 124,000-gallon diesel spill in 2004.
   
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