Raft-Up Concert Returns to Shaw Bay in the Wye River

The Eastport Oyster Boys and the Wye River Band will perform at the annual Shaw Bay Raft-Up Concert near the mouth of the Wye River on Saturday, September 6, from 3–6 pm.

Celebrate the end of summer with ShoreRivers at the Shaw Bay Raft-Up Concert from 3–6 pm on Saturday, September 6. The Eastport Oyster Boys will be making their 22nd appearance and the Wye River Band will be back for their sixth at this free concert, which aims to raise funds and awareness for clean water efforts on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

This annual benefit concert is a must for mariners of all kinds. Boat in to Shaw Bay near the mouth of the Wye River and then join the floating raft up on your dinghy, paddle board, or kayak to enjoy a front row seat to the live concert. Visit shorerivers.org/events to find sponsorship opportunities, a map of nearby locations from which to launch your vessel, and to sign up to receive text updates on the event.

While the concert is free, donations are welcome, with all proceeds helping to promote the clean water initiatives of ShoreRivers on the Miles and Wye rivers and in Eastern Bay. ShoreRivers is grateful for the generous sponsorship of St. Michaels Marina and John & Jill Murray — additional sponsorship opportunities are available. ShoreRivers gratefully recognizes sponsors from $250-$1,000 with benefits including features on the event webpage, and in event emails and social media posts; promotional videos; and an opportunity to hang a flag or sign on the band's boat, which is the focal point for attendees.

ShoreRivers is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting Maryland’s Eastern Shore waterways through science-based advocacy, restoration, education, and engagement. Our local waterways are polluted by excess nutrients and sediment that run off of urban, suburban, agricultural, and commercial land. ShoreRivers is dedicated to implementing real solutions through programs and projects to improve the health of these waterways. To learn more, please visit shorerivers.org. 

To sign up to receive concert updates, visit shorerivers.org/event/shawbayraftup2025. Event questions may be directed to Courtney Leigh at cleigh@shorerivers.org.

ShoreRivers Gratefully Acknowledges Hardesty's Leadership; Announces Search for New Executive Director

On December 31, 2025, Isabel Hardesty will bid a bittersweet farewell to ShoreRivers which, along with its predecessor organizations, she has served faithfully for 14 years. Following the merger of local Riverkeeper organizations into ShoreRivers in 2018, Isabel served as the Deputy Director, then as the very effective Executive Director of ShoreRivers since 2021. Watch shorerivers.org/jobs for an upcoming job announcement. 

In 2018 ShoreRivers had 21 employees and operated with a $3.5 million budget. Under Hardesty’s leadership, ShoreRivers has grown to 33 employees, six paid interns, and a $7.5 million budget, reflecting the growth of the range and scope of its programs and impact on the Eastern Shore. She has fostered an organizational culture of respect, transparency, collaboration, optimism, and hard work among the staff, helping ShoreRivers gain region-wide recognition as a responsible and impactful advocate for our rivers and become a trusted voice in Annapolis.

“After 14 years of working for our rivers, I am ready for a change and for another chapter in my professional life,” says Hardesty. “I am excited and happy and nostalgic and sad all at once, but mostly energized by the prospect of change and feeling strong in my belief that this is the right step for me, for my family, and for ShoreRivers. Rivers remain my heart, but I am ready to branch out and contribute to other environmental and social nonprofit work.”

She continues: “I am so proud of this organization; we are in an incredible period of stability and impact, which is why I feel confident in stepping away at this time. ShoreRivers is coming from a place of significant strength for conducting this kind of search; we confidently and optimistically look forward to selecting a fantastic new leader.”

Hardesty leaves behind a financially strong, stable organization with an experienced staff. While there remains plenty of environmental work to be done, ShoreRivers has never been the work of one individual, but is the collective work of a dedicated, multi-talented, and resourceful team. ShoreRivers’ Governing Board has formed a search committee that will work with Hardesty and the staff to ensure an orderly transition from one capable leader to the next. ShoreRivers is deeply grateful for Hardesty’s leadership and wishes her well.

Meanwhile, continue to look for ShoreRivers in your communities and on your waterways.  Following our Strategic Plan, we continue to engage our many volunteers and community partners as we advance well-defined goals through water quality testing, restoring beds of submerged aquatic vegetation, installing pollution-reducing projects on farm fields and in towns, educating the next generation of environmental stewards, planting trees, and advocating for the health of our rivers locally and at state and federal levels. We have a great lineup of programs and invite you to join us in celebrating, cherishing, and protecting the beautiful waterways of the Eastern Shore.

Request for Qualifications: Design and/or Implementation of Restoration Projects

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE DESIGN AND/OR IMPLEMENTATION OF RESTORATION PROJECTS

Issue Date: 07/24/25
Submission Date: 08/21/25

EMAIL SUBMISSIONS TO: trosen@shorerivers.org

1) overview

ShoreRivers protects Eastern Shore waterways through science-based advocacy, restoration, education, and community engagement. ShoreRivers works with a diverse group of public and private stakeholders and funders to advance implementation of conservation projects to improve water quality and habitat.  

The purpose of this request for qualifications (RFQ) is to identify qualified design and/or construction firms to assist ShoreRivers in developing and executing design and/or implementation restoration projects for federal or state grants/awards/contracts. The geographic focus of this RFQ is the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Delaware. The selected design and/or construction partner(s) will assist with wetland restoration/creation, stream restoration, and/or living shoreline projects funded through such entities as Chesapeake Bay Trust, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Maryland Department of the Environment, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), United States Environmental Protection Agency, Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), and Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

ShoreRivers is seeking to competitively qualify design and/or implementation partners with expertise in project development, survey, design, permitting, construction/implementation, maintenance, monitoring, and long-term management of restoration projects such as wetland restoration, stream restoration, and/or living shoreline projects. The selected firms will assist with the development of federal and state grant funded proposals and, if those grants are awarded, the execution of the proposed projects.

This RFQ is public and competitive based on qualifications outlined in subsequent sections. Project values for this RFQ are typically between $30,000 and $2,000,000. Selected firms will be considered a qualified contractor to ShoreRivers for a period of three years without having to reapply. Firms qualified during the October 2024 solicitation need not re-apply unless requesting qualification for additional services.

2) REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

A.) INQUIRIES

All inquiries related to this RFQ are to be directed via email to Timothy Rosen, ShoreRivers Director of Agriculture and Restoration ShoreRivers, at trosen@shorerivers.org. All questions and answers will be appended to the RFQ posting on ShoreRivers website. Closing date for questions is August 13, 2025.

B.) CLOSING DATE

Submissions must be made electronically to Timothy Rosen at trosen@shorerivers.org by 3pm on August 21, 2025. All submissions must be in PDF format; hard copies will not be accepted. An email will be sent to confirm submission has been received on time.

C.) late responses

Late responses will not be accepted and will not be opened.

D.) review and selection

The goal of ShoreRivers’ contracting and procurement is to ensure the best use of public and private funds that follows the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) procurement guidelines. This is a public and competitive RFQ and ShoreRivers will use a fair, ethical, responsible, and transparent request and review process.

Proposals will be reviewed by ShoreRivers staff. The reviewers will check responses for completeness based on the requested items below. Proposals that are missing required components will be disqualified. Proposals submitted that meet the criteria might be followed up with a request for a virtual meeting before final selection of qualified firms. This RFQ is not a binding contract to purchase goods or services.

3) proposals/services

Firms that are qualified through this RFQ will be expected to perform the tasks outlined below, with the precise scope to be detailed in written contract(s) on a per project basis.  ShoreRivers maintains all final approval on design approach, details, construction, and adaptive management decisions, and contractors will work closely with and defer to the ShoreRivers Project Manager to ensure project integrity, preserve the restoration intent, and to maintain quality control on all aspects of design and construction.  

a) Grant Proposal Development

i) Meet with ShoreRivers staff to discuss future projects and funding opportunities and discuss the status of proposals that are being worked on jointly.

ii) Prepare concept level drawings of proposed restoration practices including but not limited to wetlands, stream restoration, and living shorelines.

iii) Prepare price budget(s) based on guidance from ShoreRivers staff that includes items such as but not limited to all design components/deliverables, insurance, permitting, and implementation.

iv) Coordinate with regulators, government officials, communities and other stakeholders who will play important roles in permitting.

v) Assist ShoreRivers staff in the writing, editing, and development of necessary content for each grant proposal.

b) Funded Design

i) Complete 100% permitted design on a fixed price and/or full delivery basis assuming all project-based risk and financial liability.

ii) Coordinate with all permitting agencies and file and secure all necessary documents/information/approvals.

iii) Complete final 100% construction ready and permitted drawings that achieve the primary goals/objectives and metrics, such as, but not limited to, estimated pounds. of nutrients and sediment reduced and habitat acres, as outlined in the funded proposal.

iv) Complete the design under an agreed upon budget with the understanding that funds are limited by the final approved grant budget and ShoreRivers cannot pay more than what is budgeted in the funding grant.

v) Respondents should indicate whether they have the capacity to assume all project-based costs and work under “pay for performance” models, in the event such funding arrangements are applicable. This capacity is not a qualifier under this RFQ and will not influence whether a respondent is deemed qualified under other funding arrangements.

vi) Provide engineering oversight during project construction.

vii) Complete and submit as-built drawings.

c) Funded Implementation/Construction

i) Complete 100% constructed restoration project and/or permit required monitoring and/or maintenance on a fixed price and/or full delivery basis (i.e. receive payment as environmental outcomes are achieved and verified), assuming all project based risk and financial liability.

ii) Prior to construction, coordinate with ShoreRivers and permitting agencies to schedule and attend a pre-construction meeting.

iii) Oversee all construction activities, including furnishing all services and materials needed to complete the project.

iv) Coordinate with ShoreRivers throughout the entire construction process and supply updates per contract.

v) If required, complete mandatory monitoring per permit and any maintenance requirements, prepare and submit performance reports to permitting agencies and ShoreRivers staff to review.

4) evaluation criteria

a) General Qualifications

i) Ability and willingness to travel across Maryland’s Eastern Shore and Delaware and have in-person meetings in Easton, MD, Chestertown, MD, and/or Galena, MD, as well as at project sites.

ii) Adequate basis of insurance, assets, and/or bonding to pursue one or more project types as described previously.

iii) Ability to accept payment on a reimbursement basis with the ability to remain flexible due to unpredictable timing of federal and/or state payments.

iv) Ability to adhere to all federal and/or state regulations/provisions for contracting, subcontracting, and furnishing materials, as specified in any particular grant that is funding a project. Such pass-through regulations/provisions will be specified by ShoreRivers at the time of contracting for each project.

b) Experience

i) Recent experience with the service(s) and practice type(s) for which the firm would like to be qualified, as demonstrated though at least three examples of each practice type (wetland, stream, and/or living shoreline) and service type (design and/or implementation). At least one example of each service and/or practice must be within the last three years, on or after July 2022. Details on submission information required to demonstrate experience is found on the narrative form.

ii) Demonstrated experience in the design, permitting, budgeting, implementation, and long-term monitoring and maintenance of restoration/conservation projects on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and/or in Delaware.

iii) Experience working with grant funding from, but not limited to, Chesapeake Bay Trust, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, United States Department of Agriculture, Maryland Department of Agriculture, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Maryland Department of the Environment, and Delaware Natural Resources and Environmental Control.

iv) Experience implementing fixed price and/or full delivery contracts (see 3.c.i) for the types of projects described previously.

v) Experience working with agricultural landowners and farmers.

5) submission requirements

a) Please fill out the narrative form attached to this RFQ that includes

i) Identification of services (design, design/build, build) for which your firm is interested in being considered.

ii) Identification of project types for which your firm is interested in being considered.

iii) At least three examples, including at least one example from the past three years, of each project type and service type your firm has selected.

iv) Resumes of key team members.

v) Approximate cost for “typical” design and/or construction/implementation tasks with the understanding that actual scope and costs will be agreed upon based on project-specific details after the firm is deemed qualified and grant funding is secured.

vi) Disclosure of all conflicts of interest, if applicable.

vii) Attach a short written narrative in addition to the Narrative Form that covers 4. Evaluation Criteria.

6) equal opportunity

Equal opportunity is a fundamental principle at ShoreRivers, where selection of contractors is based upon capabilities and qualifications without discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation or identity, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, military status or any other protected characteristic as established by law. ShoreRivers conducts its activities and practices in a manner that fully complies with all federal, state, and local laws governing equal opportunity.

Some grantors set procurement guidelines for different inclusion goals such as, but not limited to, minority and/or women owned businesses and ShoreRivers will comply with each funding agency's solicitation requirements. Due to the variability of procurement requirements, for the purposes of this RFQ, there are no set inclusion goal requirements.

7) conflict of interest

ShoreRivers actively avoids any relationship or activity that might impair, or even appear to impair, the company's ability to make objective and fair decisions. Respondents should take conflict of interest seriously and disclose any actual, potential, or perceived conflict of interest that could harm ShoreRivers if a working agreement is executed. Disclosure of conflicts of interest should be included in the application package and ShoreRivers will consider the degree of potential conflict and decide if this precludes the respondent from working with ShoreRivers. If there are no conflicts of interest, please indicate in your application that there are no conflicts of interest.

8) limitations

ShoreRivers reserves the right to select and reject respondents at its discretion or terminate this request at any time. If the number or quality of respondents does not achieve ShoreRivers RFQ goals then this same request will be reopened. Firms may re-apply to the reopened RFQ with updated or corrected material and be re-evaluated by ShoreRivers.

Neither this RFQ or any subsequent follow up, unless explicitly stated, constitutes a contract between ShoreRivers and the respondent. Selection of a firm by ShoreRivers does not guarantee a contract, which is dependent on securing funding on a per project basis. Final contracting, project scope, and fees will vary depending on funding source.  ShoreRivers reserves the right to award any or all specific project contracts outside of this RFQ through a standard bid process, and does not guarantee any specific project contracts as a result of this RFQ process.  Each restoration project contract award budget and scope of work will be reviewed by ShoreRivers and negotiated before a contract is signed. 

Proposals that are late or do not cover everything requested in this RFQ will be disqualified and not reviewed.

McCown Presented with Award for Environmental Stewardship

From left: Heidi Usilton; Ann Swanson, ShoreRivers Governing Board Member; Betsy McCown; Andrew McCown, this year’s winner of the ShoreRivers Award for Environmental Stewardship; Isabel Hardesty, Executive Director of ShoreRivers; Annie Richards, Chester Riverkeeper; and Marian Fry, Chair of ShoreRivers’ Governing Board, are pictured at the organization’s Solstice Celebration on June 28.

On June 28, Captain Andrew R. McCown was named the 2025 recipient of the ShoreRivers Award for Environmental Stewardship as part of the organization’s annual Solstice Celebration. This annual award recognizes an individual or entity in the Chesapeake Bay watershed for their transformational accomplishments as a steward of the environment.

McCown has provided environmental education and astonishment to thousands of students over nearly five decades at Echo Hill Outdoor School and played a pivotal role in forming the Chester River Association in 1986. A teacher, leader, oysterman, musician, and storyteller, he delights in seeing others find wonder in a place he holds so dear. His ability to endear students of all ages to a natural resource — from the small minnows swept into a marsh on a rising tide, to the food chain, economy, culture, and history they sustain — is a testament to the devotion and admiration he has for the Chesapeake.

“[Andrew McCown is] one of the best people I know at connecting people’s hearts to our rivers,” said ShoreRivers’ Executive Director Isabel Hardesty, who fondly noted her own time spent learning from McCown at Echo Hill 30 years ago while presenting the award. “It is because of his unparalleled ability to inspire and connect that he is the recipient of our award this year, and that he is close to all of our hearts at ShoreRivers and for people across the Chesapeake Bay.”  

McCown also embodies the value of optimism ShoreRivers embraces by lifting up success stories and highlighting the abundance of life that exists in the river despite the challenges it faces.

“When I started at Echo Hill Outdoor School, which was five years old at the time, it was 1977. And in the world of environmental education there was a lot of despair… but we decided that we weren’t going to do that. That what we were going to do was promote wonder and find ways to connect people to the environment, to endear them to it,” said McCown.

As part of the presentation, McCown was given a hand-crafted, mosaic buoy adorned with salvaged and unique treasures that recognize his history and connection to the Chesapeake Bay. This bespoke piece of art was created and donated by Ann Swanson, the inaugural winner of the ShoreRivers Award for Environmental Stewardship in 2019, who is also the former executive director of the Chesapeake Bay Commission and a current governing board member for ShoreRivers.

ShoreRivers — and more than 340 supporters in attendance at the event who provided an emotional standing ovation during the remarks — were proud to have this opportunity to recognize McCown for his lifelong pursuit to share his curiosity and reverence for the Chester River with others. Visit shorerivers.org/leadership to learn more about this award and the organization’s impact on the Eastern Shore.

Celebrate the Summer Solstice with ShoreRivers

Join ShoreRivers on June 28 for the return of its annual Solstice Celebration — a big-tent party on the banks of the Chester River featuring local food and drinks, live music and dancing, and an exciting live auction! Visit shorerivers.org/events to learn more.

Join ShoreRivers this summer for its beloved big-tent party on the banks of the Chester River!  

Scheduled for Saturday, June 28, at Wilmer Park in Chestertown, ShoreRivers’ annual Solstice Celebration includes an open bar with Ten Eyck beer, Crow Vineyards wine, and a signature cocktail and mocktail; hors d’oeuvres and a full buffet dinner and dessert; and live music and dancing. The celebration begins at 6pm and continues through dusk with a rousing live auction where guests will bid on exceptional artwork, trips to enticing destinations, and more.

“It’s our privilege to host this signature annual event to celebrate the start of summer,” says Isabel Hardesty, Executive Director of ShoreRivers. “Coming together at the riverside drives home our mission — and our collective duty — to protect our waterways. This year’s event will be particularly special as we honor Captain Andrew McCown with the ShoreRivers Award for Environmental Stewardship in appreciation for his lifelong pursuit to share his curiosity and reverence for the Chester River with students of all ages.” This custom-designed award is given annually to an individual or entity in the Chesapeake Bay watershed in recognition of their transformational accomplishment as a steward of the environment.

The celebration will feature the culinary talents of Chestertown favorite and friend of ShoreRivers Occasions Catering, who believes in providing food that’s locally sourced, lovingly prepared, and elegantly served. Throughout the evening, guests will enjoy live music by Judd Nielsen and Friends, and admire stunning floral arrangements courtesy of Wildly Native, a family farm in Chestertown, Md., that focuses on hand-selected, in-season flowers that are harvested locally at the peak of bloom. 

Following the live auction, all guests are invited to raise their paddle in support of science-based advocacy, education, restoration, and engagement efforts led by our Riverkeepers. All funds raised during this event will go directly to support ShoreRivers’ work for thriving waterways cherished by all communities. Buy your tickets, secure your table through a sponsorship, and find more information at shorerivers.org/events.

Swimmable ShoreRivers Program Returns for 2025

This summer, ShoreRivers and a team of volunteer SwimTesters will monitor bacteria levels at 54 sites around the region, providing a critical public health service for communities and identifying pollution hotspots for future restoration efforts. To see weekly results and program details, visit shorerivers.org/swim.

ShoreRivers is pleased to announce its Swimmable ShoreRivers bacteria testing program will return for the season on Thursday, May 22, and that weekly results from this annual program will once again be available this year in both English and Spanish.

Every summer, ShoreRivers deploys a team of community scientists to monitor bacteria levels at popular swimming and boating sites to provide important human health risk information to the public. Their samples are then processed, according to standard scientific protocols, in ShoreRivers in-house labs. The program follows the Environmental Protection Agency’s standard protocols for collecting and analyzing samples and makes public the results of that testing to let people know about current bacteria levels as they make their plans for recreating in our waterways. Results are posted every Friday, between Memorial Day and Labor Day, at shorerivers.org/swim and on both the organization’s and its individual Riverkeepers’ social media pages.

A second page, shorerivers.org/swimmable-shorerivers-espanol, is designed to share this program with the Spanish-speaking community, and bilingual signs can be found at public monitoring sites around the Eastern Shore that explain the goals of the Swimmable ShoreRivers program and show users where to find weekly results in both English and Spanish. These signs (and the program at large) are made possible thanks to funding from the Cornell Douglas Foundation.

Weekly results are also shared on theswimguide.org, where descriptions of testing sites are available in both languages. This public service is a true community effort: this summer, nearly 70 SwimTesters will monitor 54 sites on the Choptank, Miles, Wye, Chester, and Sassafras rivers; Eastern Bay; and the Bayside Creeks. Special thanks go to our generous site sponsors, who include towns, marinas, homeowners’ associations, and families.

The Swimmable ShoreRivers program serves our community in a way that no other program, organization, agency, or data set does. In Maryland, if the state or local government designates an area as a swimming beach, then bacteria monitoring and reporting is required. However, a major gap exists on the Eastern Shore as very few areas are designated swimming beaches, and the results from those that are, are rarely posted publicly or in a timely manner.

“We work with our local community every day, and we know they're interacting with our rivers in dozens of locations from Dorchester to Cecil County,” says Matt Pluta, Director of Riverkeeper Programs at ShoreRivers. “It's our goal to make sure those individuals have available to them the information they need to know — namely, whether the water is safe for them to recreate in from a bacteria pollution standpoint. Swimmable ShoreRivers strives to enhance physical access to our local rivers, as well as access to data and information to help our community make informed decisions about how, when, and where we choose to enjoy our incredible natural resources.”

Also returning for the 2025 season is ShoreRivers’ Pumpout Boat. The Pumpout Boat is a free service offered on the Miles and Wye rivers that docks at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels and operates from May to mid-November. Through this service, we’re ensuring that every boater on the Miles and Wye has the means to safely and properly pump out — we can all help to keep marine waste out of our waterways. To schedule a pump out, contact Captain John Carlsson at 410.829.4352, on VHF Channel 9, by emailing POBCaptJohn@shorerivers.org, or by using the form at shorerivers.org/programs/pumpout-boat.

Youth Environmental Action Summit Inspires Local Students

ShoreRivers’ 2025 Upper Shore Youth Environmental Action Summit had over 130 students and 14 teachers in attendance from 10 different schools. Photo by Tom McCall.

Last month, high school students from Kent, Caroline, Queen Anne’s, Talbot, and Dorchester counties gathered at Chesapeake College for ShoreRivers’ fourth annual Upper Shore Youth Environmental Action Summit. More than 130 students were in attendance from 10 different schools. 

Students check out a snake with Maryland State Park Ranger Paul Detrich during the networking breakfast at ShoreRivers’ 2025 Upper Shore Youth Environmental Action Summit. Photo by Tom McCall.

This annual Summit aims to empower future leaders of the environmental movement to take action now. One attendee remarked that, “Being around people who care about our planet is always inspiring and encouraging. It makes me feel like we can do something about all the problems we’ve created, and it motivated me to try to make some change.” ShoreRivers’ work to protect Eastern Shore waterways through science-based advocacy, restoration, education, and engagement 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 2025 Upper Shore Youth Environmental Action Summit, are pictured ahead of the day’s keynote address with speaker James Ronayne. From left are Aidan Fisher from ShoreRivers, Paige Dempsey from ShoreRivers, Morgan Cole, Carissa Shue, Allison Davis, Emma Hansley, Victoria MacGlashan, Patty Dongarra, Sofia Stecher-Roberts, Lila Criss, Finn Merrick, Kaylie Dunlap, Lucy Pearce, Ava Brower, Hannah Claggett from ShoreRivers, and speaker James Ronayne. Photo by Tom McCall.

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, which includes a networking breakfast, a keynote address, workshop sessions, and a closing celebration.  

The networking breakfast was one of the largest so far, with 19 local organizations present to share internship, job, and volunteer opportunities for high school students. Students then heard from keynote speaker James Ronayne, a college student who is also an environmental advocate, photographer, storyteller, and influencer in the Chesapeake Bay region. Ronayne spoke about his passion for our waterways, and inspired students to take action on their behalf. The afternoon workshop sessions covered a wide array of topics from scuba diving to monitor oyster reefs to environmental justice to water quality.  

ShoreRivers is grateful for this year’s Summit sponsors: Dockray Charitable Foundation, The Curtis & Edith Munson Foundation, the Campbell Foundation, The Henry Foundation, Fred Frederick, the Waterfowl Festival, IKEA, Chesapeake College, Rauch Inc., Phillips Wharf Environmental Center, Chesapeake Bay Trust, Easton Dermatology Associates LLC, Hobbs Contractors Inc., and YSI, a Xylem brand.

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.

ShoreRivers is inviting the public to get out in their communities and explore their local waterways this year through a series of expeditions around the region.

On the schedule are:

These expeditions are small group experiences, carefully curated to offer a unique and meaningful connection between our community and our watershed. 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. More expeditions will be added throughout the year.

Riverkeepers to Host Annual State of the Rivers

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, sip, and savor — 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 continued partnerships with our host venues, as well as Choptank Oyster Company, Orchard Point Oysters, and Ten Eyck Brewing Company.

Please save these dates for this year’s State of the Rivers presentations:

Tuesday, April 22, at Betterton Fire Hall, from 5:30–7pm
State of the Sassafras River & the Bayside Creeks, hosted by Riverkeeper Zack Kelleher

Thursday, April 24, at The Packing House in Cambridge, from 5:30–7pm
State of the Choptank River, hosted by Riverkeeper Matt Pluta

Thursday, May 1, at Cult Classic Brewing in Stevensville, from 5:30–7pm
State of the Chester River, hosted by Riverkeeper Annie Richards

Thursday, May 8, at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, from 5:30–7pm
State of the Miles River, Wye River, and Eastern Bay, hosted by Riverkeeper Ben Ford

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. Information on these efforts, plus data from the popular Swimmable ShoreRivers’ bacteria monitoring program, will also be shared during State of the Rivers presentations.

“Eastern Shore waterways are choked by polluted runoff from residential, commercial, and agricultural properties,” said Matt Pluta, ShoreRivers’ Choptank Riverkeeper & Director of Riverkeeper Programs. “Regular scientific monitoring 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.”   

This event is free — registration is requested but not required. For more, visit shorerivers.org/events.

ShoreRivers Shares 2025 Legislative Priorities

ShoreRivers’ advocacy work is led by its four Riverkeepers: Matt Pluta, Choptank Riverkeeper; Annie Richards, Chester Riverkeeper; Ben Ford, Miles-Wye Riverkeeper; and Zack Kelleher, Sassafras Riverkeeper. 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 447th 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 is a pivotal year for the State of Maryland and all Chesapeake watershed states, as government leaders work with the Environmental Protection Agency’s Chesapeake Bay Program to revise and strengthen a new Chesapeake Bay Agreement that will guide restoration work in years to come. ShoreRivers and fellow clean water advocates see 2025 as an opportunity to bolster Maryland’s efforts to implement this new agreement by advocating for strong policies that protect our natural resources and local rivers. Findings from the Chesapeake Bay Program’s CESR Report (A Comprehensive Evaluation of System Response) continue to influence ShoreRivers’ priorities and complement the Bay Agreement’s vision for restoration goals for years to come.

These efforts are no small challenge, as fiscal pressures loom large this session due to a 2+ billion-dollar deficit facing the state coupled with current financial instability at the federal level. This pressure, combined with Maryland’s focus and attention to meet renewable energy goals, means that ShoreRivers and our members will be working harder than ever to shine a spotlight on Eastern Shore water quality — and the policies we need to protect and restore our rivers.

Key efforts 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 Maryland’s Eastern Shore waterways through science-based advocacy, restoration, education, and engagement.

  1. The Nearshore Farming and Finance Act (SB898/HB1175), a bill that will increase nutrient application setbacks and improve incentive programs for nearshore habitat restoration on agricultural operations within the Critical Area. This bill will also establish the state’s first incentive payments for leased land agricultural operators.

  2. The Maryland PFAS & Sewage Sludge bill (SB732/HB909), which will establish testing requirements to identify PFAS concentrations in biosolids and set enforceable limits to prevent further contamination, protecting Maryland’s food and water sources and ensuring a healthier future for all.

  3. A bill to improve On–Site Sewage Disposal Systems in Climate Vulnerable Areas (HB671), which will limit septic siting within the 500 year floodplain, and ensure that low-income households have access to Bay Restoration Funding to make necessary improvements to failing or poor performing units in climate vulnerable areas.

Defending important funding sources through budget advocacy will be another important priority for ShoreRivers this session. With conflicting pressures from the Bay Program’s goals of accelerated restoration work and a budget deficit pressuring Maryland legislators and advocates to “do more with less,” ShoreRivers is committed to defending historically beneficial environmental funds such as the Bay Restoration Fund, the Coastal Trust Fund, the Chesapeake Bay Trust, State Aided institutions, and Program Open Space, and funding appropriated through the Tree Solutions Now Act 2021.

At ShoreRivers, we engage in legislative advocacy because addressing non-point source pollution — or "runoff pollution," the leading contributor of pollutants to our rivers — is often most effective by updating policies that address modern challenges and support restoration goals. By combining locally driven restoration efforts with river-friendly policies, we are encouraging the behavioral changes needed to improve land use practices and better manage the landscapes responsible for nutrient and sediment runoff. 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 Accepting Summer Internship Applications

ShoreRivers’ 2024 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 two Easton-based summer internships: its Elizabeth Brown Memorial Internship and a Communications Internship.

The Elizabeth Brown Memorial intern will gain experience in a variety of activities including restoration, scientific water quality monitoring, outreach, and enforcement, while the communications intern will focus on organizational communication, public relations, and event promotion. By the end of these internships, each will have completed a Maryland boater safety certificate, gained experience and training in scientific water quality monitoring equipment and protocols, and developed a variety of other skills and experiences. Visit shorerivers.org/jobs for complete job descriptions.

“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’ Senior 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.”

The Elizabeth Brown Memorial Internship is supported by the Elizabeth Brown Memorial Fund at ShoreRivers. 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.

Both the Elizabeth Brown Memorial Internship and a Communications Summer Internship run for a minimum of 10 weeks between May and August, and provide a $6,000 stipend. Programmatic work for each will be conducted primarily in the Choptank, Miles, and Wye river watersheds, with some travel throughout the entire ShoreRivers region.

Applicants should be rising college juniors or seniors, or recent college graduates, with majors in appropriate fields. To apply, please email a resume and cover letter to Doug Mayorga, Deputy Director of HR and Culture, by January 31, at dmayorga@shorerivers.org and include in the subject line which internship you are interested in. Interviews will be conducted by Zoom in February and an intern will be selected and notified at the end of the month.

Applicants are encouraged to visit shorerivers.org prior to applying to learn more about the organization’s programs. Internships available specifically for Washington College and University of Delaware students are also available — please visit shorerivers.org/jobs for details on those positions.

ShoreRivers Welcomes New Board Members, Executive Committee

ShoreRivers is pleased to announce the addition of three new members to its Governing Board: Jack Broderick, Ann Swanson, and Loribeth Weinstein. As a grassroots nonprofit organization, the hard work and support of board members is imperative to the organization’s efforts for thriving 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 equal opportunity and civil rights, social and economic justice, grantmaking and local governance, and environmental policy and conservation. Paired with a deep commitment to clean water and healthy Eastern Shore communities, these new members will strengthen the organization’s robust science-based advocacy, restoration, and education efforts.

Jack Broderick is a retired federal manager and long-time community activist and leader on Kent Island who serves on numerous local and state boards and committees, including the Maryland 250 Commission and the Bay Bridge Reconstruction Advisory Group. A former Captain in the U.S. Army, he retired in 2021 as the Director of Equal Opportunity for the National Guard Bureau, U.S. Department of Defense, after 34 years of combined Federal military and civilian service. Broderick lives on Cox Creek and enjoys crabbing, fishing, hunting, and generally spending time on the water. 

The former Executive Director of the Chesapeake Bay Commission, Ann Swanson, has spent four decades as a leader in Chesapeake Bay restoration and been recognized for her work on a regional, national, and international scale. Swanson was the catalyst for the early formation of the Chester River Association and the Sassafras River Association — two of ShoreRivers’ legacy organizations. In recognition of that, and her tireless efforts on behalf of the Bay, and its landscapes and communities, she was the winner of ShoreRivers’ inaugural Award for Environmental Stewardship in 2019.

Loribeth Weinstein spent her career at the helm of non-profit and philanthropic organizations addressing issues of gender parity and social and economic justice. Now retired, she served for two decades as the CEO of Jewish Women International, an organization committed to protecting the rights of women and girls, and is a founder of the Washington Area Women’s Foundation, a philanthropic organization that has provided more than $16 million in grants to organizations in the Washington D.C. region since 1999. She has a love of Eastern Shore waterways that inspired her to deepen her commitment to environmental stewardship, and is also a Master Gardener.

In addition to its new members, the Board also recently elected its Executive Committee for 2025, which consists of Marian Fry, Chair; Barbara Boyd, Vice Chair; Frank Lewis, Treasurer; Maura Bollinger, Secretary, and Gene Lopez, At-Large.

ShoreRivers also celebrates several long-time Board members whose terms end this year: Meta Boyd, Bruce Abel, Ron Rothman, and Philp Webster. The organization is incredibly grateful to each of them for their years of dedicated service and invaluable contributions.

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Major Funding Award Highlights Collaborative Efforts to Protect Eastern Shore Waterways

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Contractors install a water control structure to manage the water table in a Caroline County farm field as part of a recently completed conservation drainage project. ShoreRivers is grateful to have been awarded funding through the State of Maryland’s Clean Water Commerce Account Program to implement six high-impact restoration projects across the Eastern Shore.

ShoreRivers is proud to announce that it has received the largest award in the organization’s history —more than $9 million in grant funding for six high-impact restoration projects across the Eastern Shore — through the State of Maryland’s Clean Water Commerce Account Program, administered by the Maryland Department of the Environment.

Each of the projects selected was designed to add more best management practices to our landscape and to generate large reductions in the amount of nitrogen pollution entering our waterways every year. One of these clean water projects will restore 4,143 feet of stream and 9 acres of associated floodplain wetlands in Queen Anne’s County on an active farm that drains directly into the tidal waters of the Wye River/Eastern Bay. The other five projects focused on drainage water management — the process of managing and treating water discharges from subsurface agricultural drainage systems to achieve water quality and agronomic goals — across the Eastern Shore.

“ShoreRivers works hard to bring in grant funding that is then directly applied to the benefit of our communities,” said Tim Rosen, ShoreRivers’ Director of Agriculture & Restoration. “With projects like these we can help our local farmers achieve production and conservation goals while also accelerating our efforts to clean up our waterways.”

ShoreRivers’ Director of Agriculture & Restoration, Tim Rosen, makes adjustments to a water control structure installed as part of a conservation drainage project on a Talbot County farm field. ShoreRivers is grateful to have been awarded funding through the State of Maryland’s Clean Water Commerce Account Program to implement six high-impact restoration projects across the Eastern Shore.

The process of securing this funding actually began two years ago, when ShoreRivers first applied for project funding made available by the passage of the Clean Water Commerce Act of 2021. This act was passed with the intention of accelerating the Chesapeake Bay cleanup effort by purchasing nitrogen outcomes — at the lowest possible price point — with a focus on projects from the agricultural sector and in communities disproportionately burdened by environmental harm and risks. Two of ShoreRivers’ projects were the only ones that scored a perfect 100 when the applications were reviewed. However, a discrepancy in the act’s implementation at the agency level led to the need for additional legislation during the most recent session of the Maryland General Assembly. As one of the organization’s leadership bills earlier this year, ShoreRivers’ Riverkeepers worked collaboratively with members of its Agriculture & Restoration department, plus other environmental advocates and partners, to ensure the act — a critical funding mechanism to help the state achieve its clean water goals — is executed in ways that support its original intent. 

“It was a true cross-departmental, cross-sector, and cross-industry effort to pass new legislation earlier this year,” said Matt Pluta, ShoreRivers’ Choptank Riverkeeper and the Director of its Riverkeeper Programs. “We’re proud of that success and the impacts that these projects can now have, and we’re grateful to have had bipartisan support from our local delegation to make it happen. When we all work together, it’s our land and waterways that win.”

ShoreRivers has an excellent track record of completing restoration projects, from wetlands and streams on agricultural land to smaller-scale projects for homeowners and neighborhoods. Clear, strong partnerships and dedicated staff help ensure that projects are completed with integrity and that the impact of these projects is communicated and amplified through programming. To learn more about our work to support thriving rivers cherished by all Eastern Shore communities, please visit shorerivers.org.

ShoreRivers Expands Green Center Work to Dorchester County

As part of its Sturgeon Discovery Program, ShoreRivers fostered a partnership between Choptank Elementary School third-grade teacher Crystal Owens and nationally-renowned local artist Shelton Hawkins to amplify student voice through a school beautification project. Hawkins worked with students to design and install a mural that compiled students’ own works of art into a large, flowing piece that now decorates the school hallways and gives everyone who walks by a lesson on what the endangered Atlantic sturgeon looks like.

ShoreRivers — thanks to new funding from the Chesapeake Bay Trust’s Environmental Education Grant Program — is expanding their work as a certified Maryland Green Center to Dorchester County by partnering with the Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Educators (MAEOE) and Dorchester County Public Schools (DCPS) to build the school district’s capacity to obtain its first Green School certifications.

ShoreRivers supported North Dorchester High School students in building oyster cages for use by volunteers growing oyster spat as part of the Marylanders Grow Oysters Program. Oysters grown in these cages are later planted to restore Chesapeake Bay sanctuaries.

To be certified as a Maryland Green School, schools must demonstrate and document a continuous effort to integrate sustainable environmental management practices, environmental education curriculum, professional development opportunities, and community engagement into their daily operations. The award signifies their commitment to developing stewards of the earth and reducing the school’s environmental impact.

While DCPS does not have any schools the currently hold formal Green School certifications, Dr. Paula Turner-Coleman, DCPS’ Supervisor of Science, Health, P.E., & STEM, and ShoreRivers look forward to having county schools recognized for their work. ShoreRivers is working directly with passionate teachers from three schools to get certified this year: Choptank Elementary, North Dorchester Middle, and South Dorchester School. 

“Dorchester County Public Schools already has a strong environmental literacy continuum in place across the elementary and secondary grades. Finally taking that leap to achieve the Maryland Green School status will give our schools the recognition they deserve for the work they are already doing,” said Dr. Turner-Coleman.

As a certified Green Center since 2020, ShoreRivers has supported several K–12 schools across the Eastern Shore, including Matapeake and Easton elementary schools and Queen Anne’s County High School, in elements of the Green Schools certification (or recertification) process. The Maryland Green Schools Program is aligned with environmental literacy and school sustainability goals outlined in the 2014 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement and supports Maryland State Department of Education graduation requirements and standards. This recognition underscores ShoreRivers’ unwavering commitment to protecting and restoring our rivers while educating the next generation of environmental stewards to do the same.

“Being a Green Center allows us to support our school systems regionally, not just the schools we have program partnerships with,” said Suzanne Sullivan, ShoreRivers’ Director of Education. “This program has introduced us to so many amazing teachers and students who are passionate about the environment. We love being a Green Center because we get to combine our education work with our other departments, helping schools with sustainable landscaping, citizen science, and community outreach.”

ShoreRivers encourages schools interested in being certified to reach out to their local Green Center for support.

Anderson Earns ShoreRivers Award for Environmental Stewardship

From left: Isabel Hardesty, Executive Director of ShoreRivers; Jane Anderson; William Anderson, II, this year’s winner of the ShoreRivers Award for Environmental Stewardship; Marian Fry, Chair of ShoreRivers’ Board of Directors; and Matt Pluta, Choptank Riverkeeper and ShoreRivers’ Director of Riverkeeper Programs, are pictured at the organization’s Rendezvous at the Farmstead on October 20.

On October 20, William A. Anderson, II was named the 2024 recipient of the ShoreRivers Award for Environmental Stewardship during the organization’s Rendezvous at the Farmstead event at Kent Island Resort. This annual award recognizes an individual or entity in the Chesapeake Bay watershed for their transformational accomplishments as a steward of the environment.

After 40 years of practicing environmental law, Anderson brought his commitment to environmental and water quality protection to the Eastern Shore in 2012. At that time, he joined the Midshore Riverkeeper Conservancy (one of ShoreRivers’ three legacy organizations), where he became a loyal volunteer, staff mentor, trusted advisor, and Board member. He was recognized as its volunteer of the year in 2018. He later served as an integral part of the merger committee that gave birth to ShoreRivers, an inaugural member of its Board and later its Executive Committee, and as Chair of the Advocacy Committee.

“It would be hard to overstate the role Bill Anderson has played at ShoreRivers,” said Matt Pluta, Choptank Riverkeeper and ShoreRivers’ Director of Riverkeeper Programs. “He has helped give direction and legal counsel to many of our staff and Riverkeepers on important environmental issues. He's been a volunteer, a community connector, and a leading advocate for clean rivers in Talbot County. And for the past 10 years in my role as Choptank Riverkeeper, he's been a mentor and a friend. It's an honor to recognize him in this way.”

Locally, Anderson has served on the Public Works Advisory Board for Talbot County for nine years, much of that time as its Chair. In that position, he led the board in opposing the connection of the new Lakeside development to the Trappe wastewater treatment plant. He also led it in supporting water quality improvement projects, such as sewer extensions to existing developments along Maryland Route 33 and to Bozman, Neavitt, and the Eastern Villages. Thanks to those projects, nitrogen contributions from hundreds of septic systems into our creeks and rivers will be eliminated.

Upon accepting the custom-made award—a moon vase, created by Eastern Shore artist Marilee Schumann with sand from a Choptank tributary cherished by the family—Anderson graciously acknowledged the many other volunteers he credits with these collective successes. Isabel Hardesty, Executive Director, and Marian Fry, Board Chair, presented the award on behalf of the organization.

ShoreRivers — and more than 150 supporters in attendance at the event — were proud to recognize Anderson for the significant amount of time and effort he has dedicated to fight on behalf of what's right for the rivers we all cherish. Visit shorerivers.org to learn more about this award and the organization’s impact on the Eastern Shore.

ShoreRivers' Monitoring Season Includes First Ever Bacteria Blitz

Volunteer SwimTester Lauren Atwood collects a water sample at Hillsboro Landing, located on Tuckahoe Creek in Caroline County, for ShoreRivers’ 2024 Swimmable ShoreRivers Bacteria Monitoring Program.

Each summer, ShoreRivers works to provide the public with information needed to make educated decisions about contact with our rivers and creeks. This year, ShoreRivers monitored bacteria levels at 52 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 popular swimming and boating sites weekly between Memorial Day and Labor Day, and generous site sponsors cover a portion of the associated costs. Their samples are then processed, according to standard scientific protocols, in ShoreRivers in-house labs and tested for enterococci — an indicator of fecal bacteria. The program follows the Environmental Protection Agency’s standard protocols for collecting and analyzing samples and makes public the results of that testing to let people know about current bacteria levels as they make their plans for recreating in our waterways. Reports detailing how the sites in each watershed performed throughout the 2024 season can be found at shorerivers.org/technical-documents.  

Volunteer SwimTester Dona Sorce collects a water sample at Crouse Park in Denton for ShoreRivers’ 2024 Swimmable ShoreRivers Bacteria Monitoring Program.

“Over the past four years, ShoreRivers has grown this program from 32 testing sites across our region to more than 50, 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.”

New for this year was the creation of the first ever Bacteria Blitz, where ShoreRivers’ members were invited to collect water samples from their own property or at their favorite swimming area for testing. The goal was to offer the community a chance to see a snapshot of what the bacteria levels looked like off their property while providing our Riverkeepers with insight as to where else high bacteria levels are found outside of the sites that are routinely sampled. Results of the Blitz (conducted on a day when light rain was recorded 24–28 hours prior at most sites) showed that of the 52 samples collected and processed, 34% failed to meet the recreational water quality.

“Our ability to swim in our rivers shouldn’t be taken away because of pollution,” said Choptank Riverkeeper Matt Pluta, who also serves as ShoreRivers’ Director of Riverkeeper Programs. “This program was incredibly valuable in understanding where bacteria issues exist outside of our normal testing sites so we can start to dig into finding and eliminating any potential sources.”

Bacteria typically comes from local sources like failing septic systems and faulty sewer lines, pet and animal waste left along the shoreline or washed in with stormwater runoff, and the use of some organic fertilizers like poultry manure. All participants with the Blitz were provided their own results, plus information on how to connect with their health department, and resources available for addressing issues stemming from septic systems and other known sources of bacteria pollution. Based on the interest in, and success of, this effort, ShoreRivers hopes to offer the Bacteria Blitz again next season.

ShoreRivers Receives Funding for River-Friendly Yards Programming

ShoreRivers’ Landscape Architect, Katie Drummond (right), works with a student at Galena Elementary School to add native plants to a rain garden installed at the school. Funding for the planting was generously provided by the Robert F. Schumann Foundation.

ShoreRivers is thrilled to announce that it has received a three-year grant from the Robert F. Schumann Foundation to support its River-Friendly Yards program.

ShoreRivers’ River-Friendly Yards program combines community education with hands-on, roots-in-the-ground restoration planting projects. With this generous funding, ShoreRivers will be able to activate more planting projects with more communities, and provide the maintenance that is critical to the ongoing success of existing projects. This funding also supports continuing education for the workforce that cares for our river-friendly landscapes, allowing more local landscapers and municipal employees to be trained and certified in environmentally responsible practices.

Staff members and volunteers for ShoreRivers gather to finish installing native plants at a rain garden installed at Galena Elementary School. Funding for the planting was generously provided by the Robert F. Schumann Foundation.

The Schumann Foundation and ShoreRivers share goals of stewarding and restoring our environment, increasing diverse natural habitat, and educating our communities. ShoreRivers protects Maryland's Eastern Shore waterways through science-based advocacy, restoration, education, and engagement. Data show that the majority of pollution in our rivers is coming from within our watersheds, which means every one of us has the potential to improve the health of our waterways. This program helps people see the inextricable connection between land and water. A river-friendly yard mimics the natural environment to benefit water quality, native birds and pollinators, and our local ecosystem. Strengthening this program into a regional, multi-year effort that engages municipalities, homeowners’ associations, landscape professionals, legislators, developers, and even more communities will greatly increase its impact at a critical time for habitat and water quality.

With the flexible, steadfast support of the Robert F. Schumann Foundation, ShoreRivers will continue to expand the visibility and impact of this positive, powerful program for the good of our waterways, birds, pollinators, and communities. Learn more at shorerivers.org/river-friendly-yards.

Rendezvous at the Farmstead with ShoreRivers

Join ShoreRivers at Kent Island Resort for an afternoon of casual cocktails and canapés, plus a chance to learn more about its most important programming, at this year’s Rendezvous at the Farmstead on Sunday, October 20. For tickets and sponsorship information, please visit shorerivers.org/event/rendezvous2024.

ShoreRivers is proud to announce that its highly anticipated fall Rendezvous event is returning for a third year, with guests invited to the Farmstead at Kent Island Resort on Sunday, October 20, from 1–4pm.

Secure your spot now to enjoy an autumn afternoon on Thompson Creek while celebrating the people and programs of ShoreRivers. A premium open bar, lively Americana music graciously provided by Easton-based music group Ampersand, and a thoughtfully curated seasonal menu will be served.  

Photo courtesy of Kent Island Resort

“Connecting ShoreRivers’ work to some of the best things our rivers have to offer — delicious, regional fare, an exceptional atmosphere, and passionate advocates — is key to restoring and protecting these waterways,” says Executive Director Isabel Hardesty. Guests will have the chance to underwrite the impact of that work in priority local conservation efforts through four engaging program stations. We’re grateful for the early support of lead sponsors Watson/Stone Family Foundation, Timothy & Lisa Wyman, and Full Sail Media to make this fun and purposeful event possible.

To add to the festivities, ShoreRivers will present its annual Award for Environmental Stewardship to William A. Anderson, II in recognition of his influential role as a local leader. Anderson has served as a lead advocate on environmental issues at the federal level in Washington, DC and in the Mid-Shore region of Maryland’s Eastern Shore since the passage of the Clean Water Act in 1972. A ShoreRivers board member for five years and former Vice Chair, he has graciously lent his expertise on numerous, important advocacy issues. We’re proud to recognize the significant amount of time and effort he has put in to support ShoreRivers, and to fight on behalf of what’s right for the rivers we all cherish.

Sponsorship opportunities (which include promotional recognition and complimentary tickets), and general tickets are available. Visit shorerivers.org/events to secure your spot, or email Rebekah at rhock@shorerivers.org for details.