Nanticoke. currents FROM THE BRIDGE CONSERVATION

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CONSERVING THE NATURAL, CULTURAL, AND RECREATIONAL RESOURCES OF THE NANTICOKE RIVER WATERSHED Nanticoke currents S ep temb e r 2014 FROM THE BRIDGE CONSERVATION The Nanticoke River, along with the

Conservation is therefore becoming increasingly important to maintain biodiversity.

to protecting the precious resources of the Nanticoke River watershed.

Land trusts fight to protect open space and critical habitat. Other organizations work on water and energy conservation initiatives.

1 CONSERVING THE NATURAL, CULTURAL, AND RECREATIONAL RESOURCES OF THE NANTICOKE RIVER WATERSHED Nanticoke currents S ep temb e r 2014 FROM THE BRIDGE CONSERVATION The Nanticoke River, along with the many other tributaries leading into the Chesapeake Bay, face a number of growing challenges, including degraded water quality, decreased wildlife populations, and habitat and ecosystem destruction. Conservation is therefore becoming increasingly important to maintain biodiversity. The Nanticoke Watershed Alliance is dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding for conservation through education and outreach, so that the watershed community can in turn commit themselves to protecting the precious resources of the Nanticoke River watershed. In addition to collaboration, communication, scientific integrity and education, conservation is one of the core values of the Alliance. The term conservation holds many meanings. Land trusts fight to protect open space and critical habitat. Other organizations work on water and energy conservation initiatives. The Alliance serves the role of teaching residents to become stewards of their land and resources through backyard conservation workshops and events. In 2014, the Alliance hosted Homeowner Workshops in Federalsburg and Sharptown, MD. These workshops highlighted the uniqueness of the Nanticoke River watershed, provided information on pollution sources and solutions, and much more. Homeowners learned about rain gardens, received a rain barrel and installation and usage instructions, and participated in individual yard soil testing and guidance. Also, the Alliance and its partners held a Homeowner Resource Fair in April at ACE Hardware in Cambridge, MD. This unique event provided outreach to homeowners on what they can do in their own yards to protect water quality. This education was supplemented with direct access to vendors so participants could purchase rain barrels, permeable pavement, or native plants to get started right away on their backyard conservation efforts. The Alliance plans to work closely with shoreline homeowners in 2015 to educate about the importance of living shorelines and how to manage a living shorelines project. Living shorelines improve water quality, mitigate flooding, create and provide habitat for fish and wildlife, and are often less-expensive and easier to maintain than hardened shorelines. (See page 5.) Thank you to the Chesapeake Bay Trust and Town Creek Foundation for their financial support of these programs. The Nanticoke Watershed Alliance is dedicated to teaching the community the importance of natural resources to foster their passion for stewardship. We would love to hear from you, and I can be reached at (410) or shellybaird@nanticokeriver.org. Page 1

AMANDA S FAREWELL By Amanda Anastasia I didn t realize that this moment would arrive so quickly.

The trees have been planted, the clean-ups have been held, the annual fundraiser has been hosted, and the children have been taught.

paddled the river, observing birds and other wildlife in their natural habitat. I have visited the annual festivals, meeting tons of people and losing a lot of bingo games in the process.

I have witnessed the strange sight of a watermelon bus passing by, so full that I am always surprised when the watermelons don t fall out on the bumpy roads.

I arrived last August as a bright-eyed young college graduate anxious to give the real world a try. I was a visitor to your backyard.

I clutched my paper directions as I delivered the 5-year report card to libraries in towns that barely show up on the map.

I have learned so much under the guidance of the staff at NWA, and I have gained new skills that will be a huge asset in the months and years ahead.

2 AMANDA S FAREWELL By Amanda Anastasia I didn t realize that this moment would arrive so quickly. Just yesterday, I was walking through the door to the NWA office, learning the password to my computer, and setting my voic recording. In the blink of an eye, it is all over. The trees have been planted, the clean-ups have been held, the annual fundraiser has been hosted, and the children have been taught. Without my realizing it, 365 days breezed by, and my first full time job has come to an end. As I clean out my desk and finish up my final report, I have a lot to think back on. paddled the river, observing birds and other wildlife in their natural habitat. I have visited the annual festivals, meeting tons of people and losing a lot of bingo games in the process. I have watched the clouds roll over the fields. I have seen the entire annual life cycle of a corn field. I have witnessed the strange sight of a watermelon bus passing by, so full that I am always surprised when the watermelons don t fall out on the bumpy roads. These things these everyday aspects of your lifestyle and of Delmarva culture were all new to me only a short time ago. I arrived last August as a bright-eyed young college graduate anxious to give the real world a try. I was a visitor to your backyard. This time last year, I was driving much of the Nanticoke River watershed for the first time. I clutched my paper directions as I delivered the 5-year report card to libraries in towns that barely show up on the map. I made my first trip through Blackwater Wildlife Refuge, collecting information for the Paddle the Nanticoke website. This year has been hugely influential in my personal and professional development. I have learned so much under the guidance of the staff at NWA, and I have gained new skills that will be a huge asset in the months and years ahead. I have experienced first-hand the impact that one person can have by committing themselves Over the course of the year, I have grown to love this place that you all are so fortunate to call home. I have to community service, and I have been lucky enough to see this impact ripple throughout Maryland, because my 25 CCC peers have done the same. As I take off on the next leg of my journey, I would like to thank the staff at NWA, for all of your guidance and support over the past twelve months. I would also like to thank everyone in the NWA community, for allowing me into your lives for the past year and for sharing your expertise with me. Whether you are up before dawn to get in a full day of fishing on the river, or you rush out of work every Thursday afternoon to make it to the weekly sailing race in Bivalve, you are the true experts on the Nanticoke River. You see the daily ebbs and floods of the tide. You see the eagles fly overhead, and you keep an eye on the health and well-being of the Nanticoke River. Thank you for allowing me to assist you in protecting and conserving this beautiful resource that so many people around you take for granted. Thank you for being true stewards of the Nanticoke River. Best of luck in continuing to protect this lovely river, and I hope to see you on the water again one day. We welcome Joanne (JoJo) Maturana, our new Chesapeake Conservation Corps volunteer, to the NWA team. JoJo will be with us through August Page 2

They take measurements at their sites and collect water samples that Envirocorp Labs Inc. and Horn Point Lab analyze.

3 How will you make a difference in 2015? The award-winning Nanticoke Creekwatchers Citizen Water Monitoring Program needs you! We are currently recruiting citizen scientists for our EIGHTH full season of water monitoring. Creekwatchers act as the eyes and ears of their adopted sites. They take measurements at their sites and collect water samples that Envirocorp Labs Inc. and Horn Point Lab analyze. EIGHTH ANNUAL NANTICOKE CREEKWATCHERS TRAINING AND SEASON KICK-OFF SATURDAY, MARCH 21, :00 AM-4:00 PM Learn what Creekwatchers measure, why, and how. Get hands-on with equipment in the afternoon and meet your fellow Creekwatchers. For more information about the program or to apply to be a Creekwatcher, please contact Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator Beth Wasden at bethwasden@nanticokeriver.org or at Nanticoke River Report Card Launch The Nanticoke Watershed Alliance released the 2013 Nanticoke River Report Card in July at Seaford s Riverfest and at the Wade In, which was held at Sharptown s Cherry Beach. The 2013 report card incorporated data from the 36 Nanticoke Creekwatchers sites, as well as Chesapeake Bay Program sites. In addition, the report card included ten sites measured by Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge volunteers in the Fishing Bay watershed. Overall, the 2013 data showed slight improvements in overall water clarity in both the mainstem of the river (C+) and in creeks (B). As was typical for the summer of 2014, the weather cooperated beautifully at both events. At the Wade In, twenty-five waders measured the sneaker index, an informal way to measure water clarity. The sneaker index increased from 17 inches in 2013 to 22 inches in As Ospreys flew overhead, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Scales and Tails program delighted the crowd with a Diamondback Terrapin, a Barred Owl, a Red-Tailed Hawk, and a hognose snake. By Beth Wasden The 2013 Nanticoke River Report Card is now available online at uploads/2014/07/2013-nanticoke-rr-final.pdf. Hard copies are also available at the NWA s Vienna office and at outreach events. Report cards have recently been distributed throughout the watershed to local libraries, chambers of commerce, nonprofits, and businesses. Page 3

Today, residents like Kathy Layfield will proudly insist Bethel lies off the beaten path, and appreciate its small, sleepy charm.

Not surprisingly, it was called Lewisville until the town received a post office in 1880.

buy. Large local forests of oak and pine made ship building a logical development, though the local supplies did not last, and Bethel eventually had to import wood from as far away as Georgia.

4 NANTICOKE TOWN PROFILE: BETHEL, DELAWARE By Caroline Ailanthus Bethel is a small town in southern Delaware, but you have to go all the way to Maine to really appreciate its past. Bethel sits on a tributary of the Nanticoke called Broad Creek and is notable for its lovely old houses, built by skilled ship s carpenters. Today, residents like Kathy Layfield will proudly insist Bethel lies off the beaten path, and appreciate its small, sleepy charm. But it wasn t always this way; once upon a time, Bethel was famous for its shipyards, and one of its creations still sails today. Kendall M. Lewis founded the town in Not surprisingly, it was called Lewisville until the town received a post office in Broad Creek is relatively deep, and since cargo vessels could navigate the channel, the new town became a local shipping center, supplying goods rural residents might not otherwise have been able to buy. Large local forests of oak and pine made ship building a logical development, though the local supplies did not last, and Bethel eventually had to import wood from as far away as Georgia. By 1890, Bethel shipbuilders had developed their own signature design, a large cargo schooner called the Chesapeake Ram. Rams, supposedly named for their ability to push in among other ships, were not considered attractive, but their shallow drafts made them ideal for the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays, then already linked by the C & D Canal. Since they could be handled by very small crews, labor costs were low. Though the last of them was built in 1911 as the railroad gained dominance, the sailing rams remained an economically viable part of regional shipping well into the 1930 s. The shipyard at Bethel was finally dismantled in 1940, and that decade saw the last of the rams either lost to accident and storm or converted to other uses. Only one remains, and you can sail aboard her; the Edwin and Maud, one of the largest of the ram schooners, was renamed the Victory Chimes and now sails out of Rockport, Maine. No one would describe her as anything other than beautiful, now. The largest of the Maine windjammer fleet once sailed the Nanticoke River! The town s commercial use of the creek is over now, but residents appreciate living on Broad Creek, both as a place to play and for its own sake. There is some real concern that runoff might hurt the waterway; conservation measures in town. Bethel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places because of its many beautiful, historic houses built by ship s carpenters and captains. The designation partially protects the town from Federal development projects but does not prevent private land-owners from making changes When asked to recommend particular buildings as examples of the town s legacy, Ms. Layfield, a local realtor interested in restoring the old buildings, happily recommended all of them. The Bethel Museum has recently been renovated and now sports an exhibit on the town s maritime past. Although there are no public access points to Broad Creek in Bethel, the nearby Phillips Landing provides two boat ramps for motor and paddle boats. For the most part, Bethel is happy for the beaten path to lead somewhere else. Unless you want to live there and restore an old house, in which case you are welcome and will likely be completely charmed. Visit for more information. Bethel wants to keep its creek pristine and recently received a sizeable grant to implement rain gardens and other Page 4

PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT: ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION "In the end, we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand, and we will understand only what we are taught." Baba Dioum.

It is our mission and responsibility to do what we can to conserve this river so it can be enjoyed by future generations.

The Chesapeake Bay Trust awarded the NWA the opportunity to work with students and teachers in Dorchester and Wicomico Counties and to develop and implement our first environmental education program,

NWA discovered that even though the Eastern Shore is well-known for outdoor and water recreation, the majority of the population do not have access to the river and do not understand the value of

By Lisa Baird NWA teamed up with North Dorchester Middle School (NDMS) and Mardela Springs Middle & High School (MMHS) this year to run environmental education programs to seventh graders.

One specific class from NDMS became so passionate about going green that they created a club called C.O.R.E. (Conserve Our Resources and Energy).

5 PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT: ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION "In the end, we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand, and we will understand only what we are taught." Baba Dioum. The Nanticoke River is one of the largest tributaries on the Eastern Shore that enters into the Chesapeake Bay. It is our mission and responsibility to do what we can to conserve this river so it can be enjoyed by future generations. Education is a critical component of this effort and one of the many reasons why NWA decided to join the environmental education movement and community on the Eastern Shore last year. The Chesapeake Bay Trust awarded the NWA the opportunity to work with students and teachers in Dorchester and Wicomico Counties and to develop and implement our first environmental education program, Our River, Our Responsibility. NWA discovered that even though the Eastern Shore is well-known for outdoor and water recreation, the majority of the population do not have access to the river and do not understand the value of being stewards to the environment. By Lisa Baird NWA teamed up with North Dorchester Middle School (NDMS) and Mardela Springs Middle & High School (MMHS) this year to run environmental education programs to seventh graders. These students learned about topics, including watersheds and land use, non-point source pollution and runoff, water quality, soils, water conservation, and wildlife. One specific class from NDMS became so passionate about going green that they created a club called C.O.R.E. (Conserve Our Resources and Energy). These seventh grade students focused on one environmental issue that needed to be addressed at their school waste. These students developed and implemented a school -wide single-stream recycling program as well as a composting program. They created skits and prepared songs to spread their enthusiasm and educate the entire school about the importance and benefits of recycling and composting. The entire seventh grade class from MMHS worked to plant 2.5 acres of forested buffers at a local river front park, just miles from the school. In total, the students planted 378 trees and shrubs. This provided an opportunity for students to take positive action to protect the Nanticoke River while acquiring service learning hours. Many students named the trees they planted and were very excited to come back and visit Cherry Beach Park again to see the progress of their trees. It is amazing to see the impact this program had on the students, and we hope to have instilled long lasting values. The Alliance was not only able to educate students about water quality and the environment, but worked to develop environmentally literate members of the community that will hopefully grow into young environmental stewards. FREE LIVING SHORELINE WORKSHOPS The NWA will be hosting two living shoreline workshops one that focuses on the tidal fresh shorelines that dominate the middle and upper Nanticoke and one that focuses on the brackish shorelines that are found in the lower Nanticoke. Living shorelines can stabilize eroding property and can replace failing bulkhead. Workshops will provide context for why living shorelines are important, when they are appropriate, and how they compare to hard shoreline stabilization techniques. Workshops will include information on what steps homeowners need to take to install a living shoreline, along with plant types and technologies that can be employed. The workshops aim to demystify the permitting process and provide resources for empowering homeowners to install a living shoreline project that will improve water quality and protect property. If you own property in the Nanticoke watershed along the river or one of its creeks and would like to be notified when the workshops have been scheduled, please contact Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator Beth Wasden at bethwasden@nanticokeriver.org or Page 5

2ND ANNUAL TOAST TO THE NANTICOKE The 2 nd Annual Toast to the Nanticoke was held on June 13, 2014.

Board President Tom Darby presented the Toast to the Nanticoke. Event attendees enjoyed vineyard tours, hayrides and bidding on the numerous silent auction items.

This event would not have been possible without the generous support of those sponsors, including our Platinum sponsors: Friends of the Nanticoke River, KJ Grace LLC, and NRG Energy.

It was a wonderful evening of fun and friendship to celebrate the Nanticoke River, while also serving as a successful fundraiser to support the growing programs of the Nanticoke Watershed Alliance.

GRAB YOUR CALENDARS AND CHECK OUT THESE UPCOMING EVENTS: *September 20: Reclaim Our River: EcoHike at Chapel Branch September 20 (4-10 PM): Blues, Brews, and BBQ (Cambridge) September 20 (4-7 PM):

with Harry Armistead *September 27 (9-11 AM): Coastal Cleanup at Roaring Point September 27 (5-11 PM): Celebrate Nylon Gala (Seaford) September 27: Choptank Heritage Skipjack Race (Cambridge)

6 2ND ANNUAL TOAST TO THE NANTICOKE The 2 nd Annual Toast to the Nanticoke was held on June 13, Set amidst a gorgeous evening at Layton s Chance Winery, nearly 100 guests enjoyed great company, food, wine, and live music while celebrating the Nanticoke River and its community. Board President Tom Darby presented the Toast to the Nanticoke. Event attendees enjoyed vineyard tours, hayrides and bidding on the numerous silent auction items. Board Member Joe Layton welcomed the crowd and Executive Director Shelly Baird presented an overview of NWA programs and recognized the event sponsors. This event would not have been possible without the generous support of those sponsors, including our Platinum sponsors: Friends of the Nanticoke River, KJ Grace LLC, and NRG Energy. A special thanks to Fog After Midnight for filling the evening with live music and to Layton s Chance Winery for offering the perfect venue. Thank you to everyone who attended this event! It was a wonderful evening of fun and friendship to celebrate the Nanticoke River, while also serving as a successful fundraiser to support the growing programs of the Nanticoke Watershed Alliance. We look forward to seeing you all next year! LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO? GRAB YOUR CALENDARS AND CHECK OUT THESE UPCOMING EVENTS: *September 20: Reclaim Our River: EcoHike at Chapel Branch September 20 (4-10 PM): Blues, Brews, and BBQ (Cambridge) September 20 (4-7 PM): Free Vienna Concert Series: The Winstons September 20: Ironman Maryland September 20-21: 6th Annual Alpaca Festival at Outstanding Dreams Farm (Preston) September 21 (8 AM): Bird Walk at Blackwater with Harry Armistead *September 27 (9-11 AM): Coastal Cleanup at Roaring Point September 27 (5-11 PM): Celebrate Nylon Gala (Seaford) September 27: Choptank Heritage Skipjack Race (Cambridge) September 27: National Public Lands Day throughout the area (includes free admittance to national parks and national wildlife refuges): October 3-17: Nanticoke River Arts Council s Pottery Show (Seaford) October 3-4: Hurlock Fall Festival and Train Rides October 4 (11 AM-2 PM): East New Market Heritage Day October 4 (10 AM-3 PM): Wings & Wheels Fall Festival (Georgetown) October 5 (11 AM-5 PM): Coast Day (Lewes) October 6 (7:15 PM): Nanticoke Indians in Sussex County (Seaford) October 10-11: Apple Scrapple Festival (Bridgeville) October 11-12: Good Beer Festival (Pemberton Park, Salisbury) October 11 (8 AM-4 PM): Chesapeake Wildlife Expo (Salisbury) October 11 (10 AM-3 PM): Horn Point Lab Open House and 5K Spat Dash October 11 (10 AM-5 PM): Nanticoke River Jamboree (Handsell House, near Vienna) October 12: National Wildlife Refuge Week Kickoff (includes free admittance to Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge) October 18-19: Autumn Wine Festival (Pemberton Park, Salisbury) October 18-19: Hot Sauce & Oyster Festival (Cambridge) October 25-26: Cambridge Tall Ship Schooner Rendezvous October 26 (8:00 AM): Bird Walk at Blackwater with Harry Armistead October 24-26: Punkin Chunkin (Dover) November 14-16: Waterfowl Festival (Easton) (Asterisks denote events that NWA will be attending) Nanticoke Watershed Alliance Shelly Baird, Executive Director shellybaird@nanticokeriver.org Beth Wasden, Volunteer & Outreach Coordinator bethwasden@nanticokeriver.org Lisa Baird, Communications Specialist lisabaird@nanticokeriver.org JoJo Maturana Chesapeake Conservation Corps Member joannematurana@nanticokeriver.org NWA Board of Directors Tom Darby, President Woodland Ferry Association Mike Pretl, Vice President Wicomico Environmental Trust Alan Girard, Treasurer Chesapeake Bay Foundation Ron Wilkosz, Secretary NRG Energy Dale Brown Dorchester Soil Conservation Joe Gannon Envirocorp Labs Andy Howard Delaware Department of Natural Resources Joe Layton Dorchester Farm Bureau Dave Nemazie University of MD Center for Environmental Science Fred Sponseller Nanticoke Creekwatchers Martin Stewart Perdue Farms Judith Stribling Friends of the Nanticoke River Page 6

Wicomico Environmental Trust River Friendly Habitat Certification

Wicomico Environmental Trust River Friendly Habitat Certification email: wet@wicomicoenvironment.org The Wicomico River is our Past, Present, and the Future. @Creekwatchers Beauty & low maintenance River