ShoreRivers Reflects on 2024 Legislative Session

ShoreRivers’ advocacy work is led by its four Riverkeepers: Annie Richards, Chester Riverkeeper; Matt Pluta, Choptank Riverkeeper; Ben Ford, Miles-Wye Riverkeeper; and Zack Kelleher, Sassafras Riverkeeper. This was a banner year for the organization’s advocacy effort, with four of its five priority bills passing from the assembly to Governor Wes Moore’s desk.

April 8—also known as Sine Die day—marked the official end of session for Maryland’s General Assembly. Despite challenges due to the state’s constrained budget, this was a banner year for ShoreRivers legislative priorities. The organization’s advocacy work, which is led by your Riverkeepers, is fundamental to creating system-wide change to protect our local rivers against the major issues that impact water quality on the Eastern Shore. As a leading voice for the waterways of the Eastern Shore, we amplify our work through local and state-wide coalitions, working groups, and other positions of influence.

Over the past 90 days, your Riverkeepers engaged with 60 environmental bills covering a wide array of topics including permitting for industrial sludge, abandoned vessels, enforcement activities in the critical area, invasive species control, underwater grass protections, and more.

Together, ShoreRivers, environment advocates, and legislative committee members reviewed and discussed the findings of the Chesapeake Bay Program’s CESR Report (A Comprehensive Evaluation of System Response), which influenced many of the environmental bills passed this session and will continue to shape the way we prioritize restoration and Bay health goals for years to come. 

After months of hard work and productive conversations, the following slate of bills has now passed from the assembly to Governor Wes Moore’s desk to await ratification (or veto):

ShoreRivers Priority/Leadership Bills:

  • SB653/HB1101 – Clean Water Justice Act, which gives communities impacted by water pollution the ability to enforce state water quality protection laws against polluters.

  • SB1140/HB807 –  Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) Surveys, which updates regulations that govern how the Maryland Department of Natural Resources currently maps and delineates SAV Protection Zones.

  • SB1144/HB1266 – Clean Water Commerce Account Contracts for the Purchase of Environmental Outcomes, which clarifies language regarding payment schedules for an important funding source for pollution-reducing projects.

  • SB1074/HB991 – Agriculture Food Processing Residuals Utilization Permit, which strengthens regulations for transporting, storing, and the land application of industrial sludge residuals.

Other Passing Legislation Supported by ShoreRivers:

  • SB0268 – Critical Area Program Enforcement

  • SB0281/HB0109 – Alteration or Removal Requirements for Submerged Aquatic Vegetation

  • SB0178/HB0022 – Requirements for State Highway Administration on Pollinator Habitat Plan

  • SB0306/HB0233 – Climate, Equity, and Administrative Provisions to the Critical Area Protection Program

  • SB0969/HB1165 – Whole Watershed Act

Half of ShoreRivers priority bills had bipartisan sponsorship, showcasing that protecting our rivers is a goal everyone can get behind. Many bills supported by ShoreRivers this session were brought forward by various state departments such as the Critical Area Commission, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Natural Resources, showcasing the Moore- Miller administration’s commitment to improving Maryland’s environmental protections. ShoreRivers is grateful for all of our environmental partners this session—including Waterkeepers Chesapeake, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Arundel Rivers Federation, Maryland League of Conservation Voters, Potomac Riverkeeper Network, and Clean Water Action—as our collective voices can make Maryland’s waterways cleaner and more accessible for all.

ShoreRivers implements restoration projects throughout our communities, engages volunteers in tree plantings and oyster growing, and reaches thousands of students each year through environmental education programs in local schools. Our advocacy at the local, state, and federal level ensures that all of those endeavors can continue in order to support water quality improvements. Visit shorerivers.org to learn more about this important work.

Local Students Learn About Environmental Action at Youth Summit

ShoreRivers’ 2024 Upper Shore Youth Environmental Action Summit was the organization’s largest yet, with 150 students and 14 teachers in attendance from eight different schools. 

Last month, high school students from Kent, Caroline, Queen Anne’s, Talbot, and Dorchester counties gathered at Chesapeake College for ShoreRivers’ third annual Upper Shore Youth Environmental Action Summit. This was the organization’s largest Summit yet, with 150 students and 14 teachers in attendance from eight different schools. 

This annual Summit aims to empower future leaders of the environmental movement to take action today. One attendee remarked that “[the Summit] showed me how possible it is, even for people my age, to take action in my community. I felt inspired when I left.” ShoreRivers’ work to protect Eastern Shore waterways through science-based advocacy, restoration, and education is only strengthened when youth voices are uplifted and students know that they don’t have to wait to get involved on behalf of their local waterways. 

Student leaders, who worked alongside ShoreRivers’ staff to plan the 2024 Upper Shore Youth Environmental Action Summit, are pictured ahead of the day’s keynote address with speaker Angela Crenshaw, Director of the Maryland Park Service. From left are Linda Gayle, Sophia Principe, Finn Merrick, Will O’Donnell, Ella Foote, Angela Crenshaw, ShoreRivers’ Morgan Buchanan, Faith Walstrum, Jessica Hammond, and Carissa Shue.

The day’s events included a networking breakfast, a keynote address, workshop sessions, and a closing celebration. Since its start, ShoreRivers’ Summit has been by students for students. As in past years, a group of student leaders worked with ShoreRivers staff to plan the event. A new partnership with Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE) brought an additional focus on green careers to the day. 

Students pose with a tree they planted at Chesapeake College during a workshop at ShoreRivers’ 2024 Upper Shore Youth Environmental Action Summit.

The networking breakfast featured special guest Paul Monteiro, Secretary of the Department of Civic and Service Innovation, who offered students the opportunity to learn about Maryland’s new Service Year Option. Also in attendance were 15 organizations offering job, internship, volunteer, and education opportunities. Students then heard from keynote speaker Angela Crenshaw, Director of the Maryland Park Service, who spoke about her environmental action journey, her career path, and how she approaches her work with gratitude. The afternoon workshop sessions included 10 distinct options that discussed a wide array of topics from trees to lobbying to water quality. 

ShoreRivers is grateful for this year’s Summit sponsors: Dockray Charitable Foundation, The Curtis and Edith Munson Foundation, The Campbell Foundation, IKEA, Chesapeake College, the Maryland Agricultural Education and Rural Development Assistance Fund, Phillips Wharf Environmental Center, Chesapeake Bay Trust, the Abel Family, Refill Goodness, the Maryland Park Service, Chesapeake Watershed Semester at the Gunston School, the Youth Climate Institute, and Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

ShoreRivers Offers Hands-On Expeditions

ShoreRivers is offering a wide variety of expeditions inviting people to get out into their communities and explore their local waterways through things like farm tours, kayak paddles, hands-on activities, and more. For dates and individual event descriptions, visit shorerivers.org/events.

These expeditions are small group experiences offering learning and fun, and are a wonderful way to support ShoreRivers’ work for clean water on the Eastern Shore. From paddles to tours of restoration sites, to hands-on adventures, there’s something for everyone to enjoy!

“We know that access to our waterways fuels environmental stewardship,” says ShoreRivers’ Membership Manager Courtney Leigh. “It’s our hope that participants in these annual expeditions—in addition to taking in the natural beauty of our rivers, learning from partners who share our vision of thriving communities, and engaging with vibrant team members who lead the charge for clean waterways—will also develop a stronger connection to the bays, rivers, and creeks we all cherish on the Eastern Shore.”

To register, and for individual event details, visit shorerivers.org/events.

ShoreRivers Seeks Volunteers for Project Clean Stream

Volunteers pose with 150 pounds of trash collected in wetlands and the parking lot near the Easton Target during a previous Project Clean Stream event.

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:

Volunteers load the bed of a truck with trash at the Sassafras Natural Resource Management area in Kent County during a previous Project Clean Stream event.

  • Sunday, April 7, at 9am: Stevensville (meet at park and ride) 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 mwhite@shorerivers.org 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.

ShoreRivers Launches New Tree the Shore Program

Through its new Tree the Shore program—and with generous funding from the Chesapeake Bay Trust—ShoreRivers is working to add 1,000 new trees to towns across the Eastern Shore. Learn more at shorerivers.org/tree-the-shore.

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 are 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.

Riverkeepers to Host Annual State of the Rivers Series

Join ShoreRivers and your local Riverkeepers at an upcoming State of the Rivers event—free presentations held each spring to inform the public about the current state of our Eastern Shore waterways. Visit shorerivers.org/events to learn more.

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 15th 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:

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.

ShoreRivers Shares 2024 Legislative Priorities

ShoreRivers’ advocacy work is led by its four Riverkeepers: Zack Kelleher, Sassafras Riverkeeper; Matt Pluta, Choptank Riverkeeper; Annie Richards, Chester Riverkeeper; and Ben Ford, Miles-Wye Riverkeeper (not pictured). Throughout this year’s legislative session, the organization will work to protect our local rivers against the major issues that impact water quality on the Eastern Shore.

Now that the Maryland General Assembly has reconvened for the 446th Legislative Session, ShoreRivers’ advocacy efforts are in full swing. The organization’s advocacy work, which is led by the Riverkeepers, is fundamental to creating system-wide change to protect local rivers against the major issues that impact water quality on the Eastern Shore.

This session, ShoreRivers is focused on supporting legislation that increases protection for our near shore habitat like the Critical Area, submerged aquatic vegetation, and eroded stream beds; and that accelerates nonpoint source pollution reduction efforts, including sustainable farming practices and septic system reform. As always, your Riverkeepers will be advocating for increased accountability for those who pollute our waterways.

Key efforts for this year include the following, though additional bills and legislation are likely to be added to this list as they are introduced and prove to be in line with ShoreRivers’ mission of protecting and restoring Eastern Shore waterways through science-based advocacy, restoration, and education.

  1. The Clean Water Justice Act, which will give communities impacted by water pollution the ability to enforce state water quality protection laws against polluters.

  2. Updates regulations that govern how the Maryland Department of Natural Resources currently maps and delineates Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Protection Zones.

  3. A bill that will strengthen regulations in Maryland for transporting, storing, and the land application of industrial sludge or DAF (dissolved air floatation) residuals.

  4. The Onsite Wastewater Improvement Program, which will more equitably and efficiently address pollution from septic systems by increasing funding for, and amending the scope of, the Bay Restoration Fund.

  5. The State Budget Bill, which supports our state agencies as they advocate for funding to improve their environmental protection efforts, and non-profit partners like State Aided Institutions (SAI) who work to pass through funds that bolster smaller educational programs that provide Bay education and inspire the next generation of environmental stewards.

At the core of our priorities lie the findings of the Chesapeake Bay Program’s CESR Report (A Comprehensive Evaluation of System Response), which will shape the way we prioritize restoration and Bay health goals for years to come. 

Just as ShoreRivers implements restoration projects throughout our communities, engages volunteers in tree plantings and oyster growing, and reaches thousands of students each year through environmental education programs in local schools, the organization’s advocacy at the local, state, and federal level ensures that all of those endeavors can continue in order to support water quality improvements. Maryland’s laws and regulations should protect and support these local investments, and ShoreRivers looks forward to a productive legislative session with members of the General Assembly and fellow environmental advocates. Visit shorerivers.org to learn more about this important work.

ShoreRivers Calls for Summer Internship Applicants

ShoreRivers’ 2023 summer interns gained hands-on experience in everything from soil sampling in farm fields to processing submerged aquatic vegetation using ShoreRivers’ turbulator. To learn more about what type of projects you’ll take on as a summer intern, visit shorerivers.org/jobs.

ShoreRivers is currently accepting applications from college students and recent graduates for its Easton-based Elizabeth Brown Memorial Summer Internship.

The selected intern will gain experience in a variety of activities including restoration, water quality monitoring, outreach, enforcement, and education. They will also be trained in scientific water quality monitoring equipment and protocols, complete a Maryland boater safety certification, become familiar with handling a boat, and gain many other skills and professional experiences. The internship runs for a minimum of 10 weeks between May and August, and provides a $5,000 stipend.

Programmatic work for this internship, supported by the Elizabeth Brown Memorial Fund at ShoreRivers, will be conducted primarily in the Choptank, Miles, and Wye river watersheds, with some travel throughout the entire ShoreRivers region. Elizabeth Brown was ShoreRivers' 2015–2016 Chesapeake Conservation Corps member. She was dedicated to clean water, engaging others with their rivers, and serving as an environmental steward in every way. She brought enthusiasm and joy to every task. Contributions in honor of Elizabeth go toward her legacy of caring for local rivers by supporting the next generation of environmental stewards through this internship program.

“As an intern at ShoreRivers, I got to do a little bit of everything. I helped with tree plantings, spoke with and worked alongside community volunteers, assisted with bacteria and water quality monitoring, hosted education programs, and even testified at a county commissioners meeting. There are very few other internships out there that would allow so many different experiences in one summer,” said 2022 intern Maegan White, now ShoreRivers’ Community Engagement Coordinator. “Interning at ShoreRivers gave me clarity and excitement to start my environmental career after graduation. I felt prepared and confident in the field, had hands-on experience, and found a new love for the area. Thanks to the incredible experiences I had with this internship, I now view Chesapeake as my home.”

Applicants should be a rising college junior or senior, or recent college graduate. Degrees in biology, environmental science, or related fields are encouraged. To apply, please email a resume and cover letter to afrock@shorerivers.org by January 31. Interviews will be conducted by Zoom in February and March and an intern will be selected and notified no later than February 28.

Applicants are encouraged to visit shorerivers.org prior to applying to learn more about the organization’s programs.

ShoreRivers Welcomes New Board Members, Executive Committee

Photo by Liz Candler

ShoreRivers is pleased to announce that it has welcomed several new members to its Governing Board this year: Jill Bible, Linda Gaydos, Skip Ivison, Frank Lewis, Gene Lopez, Doug Mayorga, and Janet Ruhl. As a grassroots nonprofit organization, the hard work and support of board members is imperative to the organization’s efforts for healthier rivers on the Eastern Shore. ShoreRivers extends deep gratitude for the wise counsel, encouragement, and vision of these exceptional community members. See the full list of Board members at ShoreRivers.org/leadership.

These new voices will bring a wealth of expertise to ShoreRivers, including water quality research pertaining to oyster health, agriscience research into safer pesticides, human resources, and labor and finance law. Paired with a deep commitment to clean rivers and healthy Eastern Shore communities, these new members will strengthen the organization’s robust science-based advocacy, restoration, and education efforts.

Jill Bible is an Assistant Professor of Environmental Science & Studies at Washington College. She holds a PhD in Ecology from the University of California, Davis and has centered her research on how humans are affecting the ecosystems on which we depend and applying that knowledge to conservation and restoration. Much of her work has focused on restoration of native oysters. She has served on ShoreRivers’ Chester Watershed Advisory Board since 2019.

Linda Gaydos retired from a career as a healthcare information technology consultant and clinician and developed a passion for clean water and healthy ecosystems. She was introduced to ShoreRivers through its volunteer Tree Stewards program, and remains a staple at the organization’s tree plantings. Her volunteer work has expanded to include oyster cage building, helping at fundraising events, serving as a SwimTester, sitting on the Sassafras Watershed Advisory Board, and much, much more.

Skip Ivison is a retired human resources professional who lives on the Sassafras River. He previously served as President and CEO of Sterling Executive Advisors, LLC, and combined his strong technical background with more than 15 years of HR experience to provide a full range of executive coaching, leadership development, and consulting services. Ivison is also a lifelong sailor on the Chesapeake Bay and active member of his church.

Frank Lewis is the owner of an organic farm, a retired surgeon, and the former executive director of the American Board of Surgery. He has worked in hospitals around the country and served on the editorial boards of several medical journals and publications. A native of Wicomico County, he now calls Millington, Maryland, home.

Gene Lopez is a retired lawyer, who worked for 36 years for the federal government and private companies. He has experience in both labor and finance law, and has lived on Broad Creek in St. Michaels since 2014. An active ShoreRivers volunteer, Lopez has assisted with water quality and submerged aquatic vegetation monitoring and on several river clean-ups. He currently chairs the Choptank Watershed Advisory Board.

Doug Mayorga grew up on the Eastern Shore and brings to the Board decades of experience in non-profit leadership and human resources. He is currently the HR Manager at For All Seasons in Easton and was first introduced to (and inspired to get involved with) ShoreRivers through a meeting of the Talbot Equity Coalition.

Janet Ruhl is a long-time supporter of ShoreRivers, having first served on the Board of the Sassafras River Association, one of its legacy organizations, and as a current member of its Sassafras Watershed Advisory Board. Professionally, Ruhl is retired from a 30-year career with DuPont/Corteva Agriscience, where she developed new and safer pesticides for agricultural use and specialized in human exposure to pesticides and assessments of risk. She holds a PhD in analytical chemistry, is President of the Fox Hole Estates Community Association, and is an active ShoreRivers volunteer and ambassador.

In addition to its new members, the Board also recently elected its Executive Committee for 2024, which consists of Marian Fry, Chair; Meta Boyd, Vice Chair; Scott Budden, Treasurer; Barbara Boyd, Secretary, and Maura Bollinger, At-Large.

ShoreRivers also celebrates several long-time Board members whose board terms end this year: William Anderson, II; Ted Carski; Brice Gamber; Dan Hayes; Andrew McCown; and Brennan Starkey. The organization is incredibly grateful to each of them for their years of dedicated service and invaluable contributions.

In addition to the Governing Board, ShoreRivers appreciates open dialogue with dedicated community member volunteers through its four Watershed Advisory Boards. Volunteers for each Watershed Advisory Board support the organization’s mission as local, grassroots ambassadors. New advisory board members who care deeply about their river and their community and are ready to volunteer their time to work for cleaner waterways are always welcome. Please contact your local Riverkeeper if that sounds like you.

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ShoreRivers Efforts Keep Thousands of Gallons of Waste out of our Rivers

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The ShoreRivers pumpout boat pumps more waste each year from recreational boaters on the Miles and Wye rivers, preventing that nutrient and bacteria pollution from entering our waterways.

As part of its efforts to protect and restore Eastern Shore waterways, ShoreRivers regularly works to identify and address all pollution sources, including nutrient pollution and harmful bacteria that can be introduced from recreational boaters’ waste. Boat discharge, especially in marinas, high boat traffic areas, and sheltered coves, can lead to pollution hotspots that pose serious health risks to humans and animals.

ShoreRivers’ pumpout boat—a convenient way to properly dispose of marine waste—recently wrapped another season on the Miles and Wye rivers assisting local boaters committed to more river-friendly boating practices. The 2023 season saw 16,245 gallons of waste pumped out of 291 tanks, bringing the boat’s total to 129,962 gallons kept out of our rivers since the program began in 2016.

"It's important that we all work together to make our waterways cleaner and safer for swimming, fishing, and recreation,” says Ben Ford, Miles-Wye Riverkeeper. “Using the free pumpout service is a great way for boaters to enjoy the beautiful Miles and Wye rivers and Eastern Bay while doing their part to keep harmful nutrients and bacteria out of our rivers."

The pumpout boat program operates with funding from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and in partnership with Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels. CBMM donates free dockage, storage, and use of their land-based pumpout station to offload the waste from the boat. The sewage then goes directly to the St. Michaels wastewater treatment plant. For more details on this free service, which is offered between May and November, visit shorerivers.org/programs/pumpout-boat.

ShoreRivers Seeks to Provide Community Partners with Restoration Grant Assistance

Participants in ShoreRivers Social and Environmental Justice Convenings, including Kent Attainable Housing, Minary’s Dream Alliance, and Men for Change are among the first organizations to partner with the organization to explore technical grant assistance. Here, a group gathers at the third convening held at Minary’s Dream in Chestertown earlier this year. Photo by Doncella Wilson.

ShoreRivers is actively seeking community organizations that would like assistance improving stormwater issues like flooding or soggy areas, beautifying properties, or improving the mental health of the people you serve through connection with nature.

ShoreRivers has put scores of projects in the ground that prevent pollution and restore our irreplaceable waterways, and we want to help new organizations with submitting successful resiliency and restoration grants. These projects might look like community gardens, rain gardens, tree plantings, or other ambitious efforts to help clean our waterways and connect more community members to river stewardship.

ShoreRivers is thrilled to serve as both a Connector and a Technical Assistance Provider for grants through the Chesapeake Bay Trust’s Community-Based Organization Capacity-Building Initiative. Our staff team has decades of collective grant writing and management experience, and includes an environmental engineer, a landscape architect, environmental educators, and professionals in restoration and engagement. Through this initiative, we can share our staff expertise with community organizations, schools, and congregations to apply to grants from organizations like the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Chesapeake Bay Trust, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, and more.

With ShoreRivers’ free technical assistance, organizations will build their knowledge and capacity to submit grants and lead future restoration and engagement efforts. Helping more of our local nonprofits thrive means a more sustainable future for all of us. We cannot have clean water without healthy communities, and we cannot have healthy communities without clean water.  

If you are interested in exploring grant assistance for your organization, please contact Darran White Tilghman, Director of Community Engagement, at dtilghman@shorerivers.org or 410.810.7556, ext. 278.

ShoreRivers to Improve Three Community Green Spaces

ShoreRivers is in the process of establishing perennial wildflower meadows at James T. Wright Park in Preston, Oxford Cemetery, and Presbyterian Church of Chestertown thanks to funding from the Chesapeake Bay Trust’s Green Streets, Green Jobs and Green Towns Grant Program.

ShoreRivers—thanks to funding from the Chesapeake Bay Trust’s Green Streets, Green Jobs and Green Towns (G3) Grant Program—is in the process of improving three community green spaces on the Eastern Shore.

These spaces will be enhanced through the conversion of mowed lawn areas, or turf grass, into beautiful perennial wildflower meadows located at James T. Wright Park in Preston, Oxford Cemetery, and the Presbyterian Church of Chestertown. At each community space, the established meadows will be highly visible and a welcome improvement to existing landscapes. They will also serve to educate the community on the benefits of river-friendly practices that function as native bird and pollinator habitat.

The towns of Preston, Oxford, and Chestertown can expect to witness the various stages of turf to meadow conversion. Early in the process, residents and visitors should notice less green as the current vegetation is removed to make way for seed planting in late winter. During the first two years of establishment, periodic mowing will occur to help reduce intrusion from invasive species. Around year three, the meadow will be humming with insects pollinating the colorful, seasonal flowers. Each of these projects will take time to complete, but will provide countless benefits both aesthetically and to native plant and pollinator habitat, and for climate change resiliency.

In 2017, ShoreRivers developed its River-Friendly Yards program to inspire and empower residents to become environmental stewards of their own properties through direct action such as reducing turf grass, eliminating lawn fertilizer, planting natives, installing rain gardens, and increasing buffers along rivers, creeks, and ditches. A River-Friendly Yard mimics the natural environment to benefit water quality, native birds and pollinators, and our local ecosystem. The program now encompasses River-Friendly campuses, congregations, communities, and roadsides. 

The G3 Program is funded by the United States Environmental Protection Agency Region III, West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, and the Chesapeake Bay Trust, and supports the design and implementation of green streets, community greening, and urban tree canopy projects that enhance livability in cities and communities. In addition to funding the conversion of these meadows, the program is also providing funding for ShoreRivers to design multiple green infrastructure projects at St. Mary’s Refuge of Sinners Church in Cambridge.  

To learn more about these, and other similar ShoreRivers projects, visit shorerivers.org/river-friendly-yards.

New Tree Steward Trained in Native Plantings, Tree Care

Newly trained Tree Stewards take part in a planting/training at Easton Point Park in September, where 12 new native trees were planted.

ShoreRivers is proud to announce that 30 brand-new Tree Stewards are being added to its roster of volunteers who are trained and ready to help plant and care for native trees across the Eastern Shore.

Tree Stewards are volunteers who help identify potential planting locations, develop community partnerships, coordinate site visits and assessments, create planting plans, and assist with maintenance of trees. Tree Stewards are essential to ShoreRivers small-scale restoration efforts and are crucial for continuing to build community connections.

This volunteer program began in 2021 as a training opportunity offered by the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, for which ShoreRivers was the only host organization on the Eastern Shore. The training covers topics including tree biology and proper tree planting techniques, and concludes with an in-person tree planting. Thanks to these new Tree Stewards, 12 new natives are standing tall at Easton Point Park and more are on the way.

“Planting native trees improves water quality and reduces nutrient and stormwater runoff, shades impervious surface to better regulate water temperatures, and sequesters carbon in our atmosphere—and their benefits don’t stop there,” says Chester Riverkeeper Annie Richards. “These trees, especially when planted in urban and developed areas, fill habitat gaps for birds and insects, keep our neighborhoods cooler, increase home values, filter our air quality, and lower our energy bills!” 

With funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the Chesapeake Bay Trust, and an outstanding showing from this dedicated volunteer base, ShoreRivers has already worked alongside its Tree Stewards to plant a total of 300 native trees across our watershed. The 12 planted as part of the recently completed Tree Stewards training were the first of 1,000 that ShoreRivers has committed to planting in five urban centers in our watershed—Chestertown, Easton, Cambridge, Federalsburg, and Denton—thanks to additional funding from the Chesapeake Bay Trust. If you know of a location that might be suitable for a native tree planting, please email mwhite@shorerivers.org.

ShoreRivers' Bacteria Monitoring Season Concludes with Study of Tidal Impacts

Morgan Buchanan—ShoreRivers’ 2022–2023 Conservation & Climate Corps Member and now a full-time educator with the organization—spent part of this summer conducting a study on the relationship between bacteria and tidal cycles in our waterways thanks to generous funding from the Chesapeake Bay Trust. For the study, Buchanan spent multiple days at Morgan Creek Landing in Kent County taking water quality samples every hour over a 12-hour period to cover a full tidal cycle.

Each summer, ShoreRivers works to provide the public with information needed to make educated decisions about contact with our rivers. This year, ShoreRivers monitored bacteria levels at 48 sites around the region—providing a critical public health service for communities and identifying pollution hotspots for future restoration efforts. 

A team of community scientists called SwimTesters volunteer their time to test these sites weekly between Memorial Day and Labor Day, and generous site sponsors cover a portion of the associated costs. These SwimTesters monitor for enterococci bacteria at popular public access locations, marinas, yacht clubs, and town piers. The program follows the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s standard protocols for collecting and analyzing samples and uses a pass/fail system to determine if bacteria levels are safe or unsafe for swimming. Results can be found on ShoreRivers’ website during the season or on social media, where the results are shared in both English and Spanish.

“Over the past three years, ShoreRivers has grown this program from 32 testing sites across our region to 48, made our communications bilingual, and installed informational signs in many access locations to connect the public to our data in real time,” says Chester Riverkeeper Annie Richards. “We are incredibly proud of this effort, and our growth is a testament to how much our communities value and respond to this critical data. Bacteria levels have a direct impact on how we recreate in these waterways, and it’s up to all of us to find solutions.”

Bacteria levels in our rivers and tributaries vary based on location, landuse, and weather—making systematic, scientific analysis of local water quality vital. This year, thanks to generous funding from the Chesapeake Bay Trust, Morgan Buchanan—ShoreRivers’ 2022–2023 Conservation & Climate Corps Member—spent several 12-hour days in the summer heat at Morgan Creek Landing conducting a continuous bacteria monitoring study to better understand the relationship between tidal cycles and bacteria in our waterways.

“Results from this study supported our understanding that outgoing tides bring the highest bacteria levels for each tidal cycle and that the average levels are higher for days following larger rain events,” Buchanan—now a full-time educator for ShoreRivers— reports. “With limited existing studies on the relationship between bacteria levels and tides on Maryland's Eastern Shore, it’s exciting that we have this unique local data to strengthen our messaging to encourage safe recreation in our communities.”

Partner Spotlight: Interfaith Partners of the Chesapeake

Article submitted by the Interfaith Partners of the Chesapeake’s Outreach Team for shorerivers’ 2023 fall advocate.

“Collaborative work is the core philosophy behind our work at Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake. We couldn’t be more excited, or prouder, to be working with a partner like ShoreRivers in a joint effort (the Chesapeake Bay Trust’s Community-Based Organization Capacity-Building Initiative) to expand a movement of faithful stewards working together to restore creation across the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Our strategy is simple: we have seen firsthand the impact a team can have on what a congregation can accomplish. The truth is, everything is easier with a friend! That’s why our Faithful Green Leaders Training program offers a free course designed to help you form your own Green Team. These information sessions show you how to recruit new allies, how to become accredited by your faith leadership, and how to identify and undertake environmental actions. Our next session starts in October.

Our partners, like ShoreRivers, are standing by to help our Green Teams learn more about the kinds of actions they might be able to take on their own property. Site assessments aim to help Green Teams understand and catalog the breadth of actions they might be able to take at their own congregation, inside and out. These assessments will also include the creation of a written report detailing various actions and initiatives available to that group. Every congregation is different! 

To date, Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake has helped 170+ congregations form a Green Team in an effort to improve the health of communities throughout the Chesapeake watershed. These congregations have come together and have collectively undertaken more than 600 actions on behalf of the Chesapeake Bay. These have included a huge multitude of projects and events—tree and native species plantings, rain gardens, bioswales, cisterns & rain barrels, solar and energy conservation initiatives, advocacy campaigns, and more. Likewise, we’ve brought onboard more than 130 partner congregations from across the watershed through our Partner Congregation Pledge, demonstrating their commitment to faithful stewardship of the Chesapeake Bay. Learn more about our work at interfaithchesapeake.org.”

Meet Ebenezer AME Church in Galesville, MD: the pilot for interfaith partners’ Community-Based Organization Capacity-Building Initiative! 

This concept diagram of Ebenezer AME Church highlights different possible areas for installation of environmentally focused practices. There are more than 19,000 congregations across the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Imagine the potential if we all came together.

After forming a Green Team and conducting a site assessment with regional partners in Anne Arundel County, Ebenezer AME Church was able to identify a variety of ways they might be able to improve ecosystem health across their property, and how they might be able to address flooding concerns surrounding their building and adjacent cemetery. With support, Ebenezer AME has received more than $75,000 from the Chesapeake Bay Trust toward their efforts to design green infrastructure, mitigating flooding and improving habitat across their property. As design work continues to unfold, Ebenezer AME Church focuses on educating congregation members and preparing for the work ahead in maintaining their conservation practices (tree plantings, native plantings, bioswales, and cisterns). 

Get a Taste of the Rivers at the Riverside Rendezvous

Join ShoreRivers for a taste of the bounty of our land and rivers at the Riverside Rendezvous from 1–4pm Sunday, November 5, at The Oaks in Easton! Click here to learn more. Photo courtesy of The Oaks.

ShoreRivers is proud to announce that its fall Rendezvous event is returning for a second year—this time at The Oaks, a beautiful, newly-renovated waterfront hotel on the banks of Oak Creek in Easton. Save the date for Sunday, November 5, from 1–4pm to experience this enticing event.

The recipe for this year’s Riverside Rendezvous will blend a stunning setting with a tantalizing taste of the bounty of our land and rivers, featuring the local culinary talents of Harrison’s Harbor Lights, Orchard Point Oysters, Chesapeake Seafood Market, Oksana’s Produce Farm, Lyon Rum, The Oaks, Happy Chicken Bakery, and more. The event will also offer a look at ShoreRivers’ most important programming and a chance to enjoy an autumn afternoon at a picturesque riverside retreat.

“Connecting ShoreRivers’ work to some of the best things our rivers have to offer—delicious, regional fare and exceptional views—is key to restoring and protecting these waterways. We know it can be overwhelming to think about the state of the environment so we’re hoping to offer ‘bite-size’ treats to whet your appetite for ways everyone can make a difference,” says Executive Director Isabel Hardesty. Guests will enjoy a variety of food tasting stations, an open bar, and have the chance to underwrite the impact of ShoreRivers’ work in priority local conservation efforts.

Restaurant and caterer participation, sponsorship opportunities (which include promotional recognition and complimentary tickets), and general tickets are available. Visit shorerivers.org/events to secure your spot, or email Freya Farley at ffarley@shorerivers.org for details.

All funds raised through sponsorships, ticket sales, and taste station donations support healthier waterways through ShoreRivers’ focused mission of science-based advocacy, restoration, and education.

ShoreRivers Hosts 19th Annual Ride for Clean Rivers

Cyclists are invited to participate in the 19th annual Ride for Clean Rivers on Sunday, September 17. Visit shorerivers.org/events to register and for additional details.

On Sunday, September 17, ShoreRivers will host its 19th Ride for Clean Rivers—a chance for cyclists to ride the beautiful back roads of Talbot and Queen Anne’s counties in support of the organization’s work for clean waterways.

Riders of all ages and levels are welcome to register for fully supported Metric Century (62-mile), 35-mile, or 20-mile routes. All routes begin and end at Chesapeake College in Wye Mills and include tech support from Bike Doctor Kent Island, SAG support from Queen Anne's County Amateur Radio Club, and rest stops with food and drink from Sprout. This year, each rider will receive a pair of custom ShoreRivers Tribe socks.

Cyclists representing the Dock Street Foundation gather ahead of a past Ride for Clean Rivers. This year’s event, held in support of ShoreRivers, is scheduled for Sunday, September 17. Visit shorerivers.org/events to register and for additional details. Photo Courtesy of Richard Marks.

Staggered group send-offs at 8am and 9am will include a police escort across Route 50. Upon returning to the college campus, riders and volunteers will enjoy a boxed lunch from Sprout and beer from Ten Eyck Brewery. Participants are also encouraged to join teams and create their own fundraising pages to boost support for their ride from others.

ShoreRivers extends special thanks to these sponsors and partners: Out of the Fire, PEAKE Technology Partners, Sprout, Bike Doctor Kent Island, Chesapeake College, Ten Eyck Brewing Company, TriCycle & Run, and MDOT, as well as volunteers from the Talbot Skipjacks 4-H Club, and Queen Anne's County Amateur Radio Club.

All proceeds from this event support ShoreRivers’ science-based education, restoration, and water quality monitoring programs. Registration prices will increase after August 31. To sign up as a rider or sponsor, visit shorerivers.org/event/rideforcleanrivers. Any questions can be directed to ffarley@shorerivers.org.