By Dave Keane
Below are several opportunities to let your voices be heard & dates to put in your calendars for 2018:
Land Preservation and Recreation Survey Now Open
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (MD – DNR), is seeking input from concerned citizens to complete an online survey which includes questions on outdoor activities, amenities and services like camping, fishing and hunting. This will help guide the department’s decision-making, investments and programming. Let your voice be heard on what is important to you and your family when it comes to outdoor recreational activities and land preservation. More information
Backyard Buffers
The MD – DNR, Forest Service and the Potomac Watershed Partnership present the “Backyard Buffers” program, designed to assist homeowners who have a waterway on or adjacent to their property to create a streamside buffer of native trees and shrubs. Forested buffers cool water, filter pollutants, increase stream habitat and stabilize stream banks. Protect our waterways for future generations by planting some trees and shrubs this spring. More information
2018 Frank Burt Smoot Commemorative Stream Cleanup Project
The Maryland Chapter of Brotherhood of the Jungle Cock (BOJC) and the Thurmont Green Team are joining forces with other conservation minded organizations to promote the Frank Burt Smoot Commemorative Stream Cleanup Project.
When: Saturday, April 7th, 2018 from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Where: Cunningham Falls State Park – Thurmont, Maryland
Stream: Hunting Creek – Between the parking lot located across the road from the Catoctin Mountain Park Headquarters, and the Visitor Center.
Meeting Point: The Joe Brook Monument, on Hunting Creek, located across the road from the Visitor Center & Park Entrance.
The details:
Assuming that the smaller capacity parking areas might be full, there will be a shuttle bus running from the Park’s large capacity parking lot near Hunting Creek Lake to the event. The “honor system” parking fee for that lot will be waived for all event participants. Rt. 77 (Foxville Road) inside the park is a typical mountain road with narrow shoulders and many curves. Be safety conscious and wear bright colored clothing for the event.
The BOJC will have trash bags available, and a limited supply of gloves, to distribute at the meeting point.
If you are able to attend, consider recruiting a youth, or two, to participate as well! As Frank would probably remind us, “They are the future stewards of our environment” and “Example alone is the one certain teacher”.
Hope to see you there!
For more information contact: Steve Weinstein at (410) 978-1455 or Steve.wei@verizon.net
PVFF “Home Waters” Clean Up
When: Saturday, April 14th from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Where: Catoctin Creek Nature Center – “Our Home Waters”
Stream: Catoctin Creek
Meeting Point: We will be meeting in the parking lot at the Nature Center and then head out to clean up the banks of Catoctin Creek.
Every Spring, tens of thousands of volunteers come together to pick up trash from local streams, creeks, rivers, parks, and neighborhoods as part of the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay’s “Project Clean Stream” – the largest cleanup event in the Chesapeake Bay region! Cleanups take place across the entire Chesapeake watershed, in all 6 Bay states and Washington DC.
Wear clothes that are appropriate for the weather and that you don’t mind getting dirty. Bring your own gloves, sunscreen, and waders for anything in the creek. There will be a limited number of gloves there if someone forgets them. When you’re done cleaning up the stream, stay and fish our Home Waters!
For more information contact: Dave Keane at (240) 367-4905 or email him at Davidkeane1968@gmail.com
Natural Resources Careers Camp Accepting Applicants
Students entering grades 9 through 12
As a reminder and follow-up from the article in the February newsletter, High School students interested in forestry, fisheries, wildlife, or park management are invited to join teens from across the Mid Atlantic at the week-long Natural Resources Careers Camp (NRCC), held from July 22nd to 28th at the Hickory Environmental Education Center in Garrett County, MD. Students will explore related college studies and professions through hands-on activities with experts from a variety of conservation fields.
The NRCC is sponsored by MD’s Forest Conservancy District Boards, Allegany College of Maryland, the MD – DNR, Forest Service and the MD Forestry Foundation. The camp has been held annually for over 45 years.
Students who will be entering grades 9 through 12 next year and are interested in natural resources careers are eligible to apply. Applications are available online. Local Forest Conservancy District Boards interview, recommend and offer scholarships for students to attend the camp.
Space is limited so interested participants are encouraged to apply online today! For more information contact: Dave Keane at (240) 367-4905 or email him at Davidkeane1968@gmail.com
Brook Trout Restoration in the Upper Monocacy River Watershed
The “Brook Trout Restoration in the Upper Monocacy” project was completed in September 2017. Funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the EPA and the MD – DNR, Forest Service, the project helped to restore brook trout populations in targeted catchment acres using green infrastructure techniques on public and private property.
The project included a 1,500 foot stream restoration with a 3 acre riparian reforestation project on private agricultural property in Little Tuscarora Creek, and a 1.39 mile gravel road resurfacing project with 4 small culvert replacements on Delauter Road along Fishing Creek.
The project also offered an expanded Neighborhood Green Program which included stormwater best management practices like rain barrels, rain gardens, conservation landscaping and tree plantings to homeowners in the Upper Monocacy watersheds. 74 households received “Brookie Restoration Plans” and 60 households installed best management practices to reduce the amount of stormwater runoff on their properties.
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