ShoreRivers Award for Environmental Stewardship
The ShoreRivers Award for Environmental Stewardship will be presented annually to an individual or entity in the Chesapeake Bay watershed in recognition of their transformational accomplishment as a steward of the environment.
2023 Award Recipient: The Robert F. Schumann Foundation
The Robert F. Schumann Foundation was established by Mr. Schumann out of his beliefs that the environment is essential to sustain the future of the planet, that education is essential to solve many quality-of-life issues for society, and that arts and cultural programs offer society hope and the ability to dream.
This foundation has steadfastly supported ShoreRivers for its entire existence, and since 2017 has helped to leverage over $1.6 million in funding for community restoration projects. In Kent County, the Schumann Foundation funded the Garnet Elementary Good Seeds Garden, the Galena Elementary outdoor schoolyard, gorgeous plantings at the ShoreRivers Marina office, native plantings at Sumner Hall, ambitious landscaping at Minary’s Dream Alliance, and two River-Friendly Yards with our partner, Kent Attainable Housing.
The landscapes of our communities are transforming because of this work. Each one of these native plantings provides habitat and food for threatened species like birds, pollinators, and humans, and every one of these native plants helps to absorb nutrients and hold soils in place to keep pollution out of our waterways.
2022 Award recipient: Fred Pomeroy
A lifelong waterman, Century Farm owner, poet, former teacher, and courageous citizen activist, Fred Pomeroy’s tenacity and grassroots organizing has been a galvanizing force in our community on behalf of clean water.
The President of Dorchester Citizens for Planned Growth, Fred serves as a watchdog and protector for his community. He’s a conservationist when it comes to farming and, in addition to working with ShoreRivers on a wetland project, he has implemented acres of buffers, additional wetlands, and quail habitat on his farmland. Fred also brings his conservationist ways to the water, where he operates several acres of oyster leases near Stoney Cove in the Little Choptank River (from which he gets many of the oysters he's donated for ShoreRivers' events). And with his "leave it for the next generation" attitude, Fred has served as an advisor and mentor for our staff on major issues related to Chesapeake Bay fisheries, nutrient pollution, irresponsible development, and other threats that undermine the fundamental right to clean water. We are proud to recognize Fred, a true renaissance man and champion of the environment.
2020-2021 AWARD RECIPIENT: W. R. “Nick” Carter, III
Biologist and “Druid of the Chesapeake” Nick Carter dedicated 35 of service to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and a lifetime to environmental stewardship. Before retiring in 2000, Nick was an influential policy voice regarding the Conowingo Dam, Poplar Island, Aberdeen Proving Ground, various fisheries, and numerous other Bay issues. With a gift for synthesizing concepts and goals and translating them into everyday language, Nick works with educational programs at ShoreRivers, Salisbury University, Adkins Arboretum, Gunston School, and the Master Naturalists, to name a few. He is an emeritus member of the Wye River Watershed Board. He often quotes and credits his drive for conservation to Aldo Leopold’s “Land Ethic” and Dr. W. C. Lowdermilk’s “Eleventh Commandment.” We are proud to honor Nick's service and enduring commitment to the environment with this award.
2019 Award Recipient: Ann P. Swanson
Ann P. Swanson has served as a leader in the Chesapeake Bay restoration movement for nearly 35 years, the last 29 as the Executive Director of the Chesapeake Bay Commission. In 1986, then a staff member of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Ann arrived on the Eastern Shore as an “environmental missionary” to form local watershed groups. Through her community outreach, she was the catalyst for the early formation of the Chester River Association and the Sassafras River Association. In 2017, ShoreRivers was created by the merger of these two legacy organizations and the Midshore Riverkeeper Conservancy. Hand in hand with our local communities, Ann planted the seeds that grew to become ShoreRivers. We are proud to present Ann P. Swanson with the inaugural Award for Environmental Stewardship in recognition of her pivotal role in the creation of ShoreRivers. Thank you, Ann!