2nd ANNUAL ISLAND BAY DAY

The Second Annual Kent Island Online “Island Bay Day” benefit takes place Oct. 4 between 11 am and 7 pm, at Hemingway’s and Lola’s right on the bay in Stevensville. This year’s benefit helps local pet rescue charities including Chesapeake Cats and Dogs and ARF.

The event feature top-notch bands and solo performers including recording artist Rob Fahey, the rock & electric blues of Black Cadillac, the fun party rock of Mystyk Harbour, Irish Ballads and bar songs with the ‘Freedom Sons’, the eclectic sounds of Sloe Jim, and the Alternative Rock sounds of Plasmagora. Plus, popular Classic Rock radio station “100.7 The Bay” will be at Island Bay Day with lots of Bay Gear.

There will be plenty of food, games, prizes, a silent auction, vendors, 100.7 The Bay items, a “Coney Island” style Hot Dog eating contest, beer and soft drinks plus a full bar, classic cars, and fun for everyone. Cost is only $10 plus kids under 12 are free. Hemingway’s will offer big discounts for future visits if you present your Island Bay Day stub and there will be door prizes and raffles galore.

Information: 410-279-2101 or email: IslandBayDay@kentisland.org

MD Gov. O’Malley Announces Major Land Preservation

Governor Martin O’Malley announced the Board of Public Works has approved preservation of more than 1,435 acres of a family farm along the Little Blackwater River and 275 acres of wetlands and forests in Charles County under Stateside Program Open Space.

“Preservation of the Good Luck family farm will provide an extraordinary opportunity to safeguard significant wildlife habitat, protect forest lands and the water quality of the Chesapeake Bay,” Governor O’Malley said. “At the same time, we are preserving a working, family owned farm that has made important contributions to our agricultural economy and our cultural legacy.”

The property is one of the largest, privately owned contiguous tracts of land in the county and provides habitat for a variety of plant and wildlife species, including the endangered Delmarva Fox Squirrel. The forests and wetlands also provide a natural buffer that helps protect water quality on the Little Blackwater River, a tributary to the Nanticoke River and the Chesapeake Bay.

The board approved $200,000 through stateside Program Open Space for Maryland’s contribution to the $1 million easement, which the Maryland Department of Natural Resources will hold in partnership with the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy, the Nature Conservancy and the federal Fish and Wildlife Service.

The farm, owned by sisters Flora Knauer, Sue Saathoff and Frances Saathoff, is ” the epitome of why we want to maintain our Eastern Shore heritage for future generations,” said Meredith Lathbury, Director of Land Conservation for the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy. “Their dedication to the land that they grew up on is a true gift to the community.”

The land being preserved in Charles County includes non-tidal wetlands and uplands forest that will become part of the Nanjemoy Natural Resources Management Area, along the tidal Potomac River. The easement will safeguard wildlife habitat and provide expanded opportunities for environmental education and recreation.

The Dorchester and Charles county properties are high priority conservation acquisitions under Maryland’s new Program Open Space Stateside Targeting System. The ecologically based targeting approach was developed last year under Governor O’Malley’s BayStat Initiative to ensure the state is protecting the most strategically important landscapes to provide a lasting legacy for future generations.

Since 2007, Governor O’Malley and the BPW have preserved more than 6,651 acres of natural areas for public recreation and watershed and wildlife protection across Maryland. Since 1969, Program Open Space has provided funding for acquisition of 324,125 acres for open space and recreation areas. Most Maryland residents live within 15 minutes of an open space or recreational area funded Program Open Space.

Chaired by Governor O’Malley, the Board of Public Works is also comprised of Treasurer Nancy Kopp and Comptroller Peter Franchot. The Board is authorized by the General Assembly to approve major construction and consultant contracts, equipment purchases, property transactions and other procurement actions.

Upcoming Public Meetings

Somerset County Forestry Board Meeting

Wednesday, Aug. 20 at 12 p.m.

11767 Beechwood Street in Princess Anne at Princess Anne Library (Somerset County)

Oyster Advisory Commission Meeting

Wednesday, Aug. 20 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Occasions, 327 Cannon Street in Chestertown (Kent County)

DNR and Mirant Continue Partnership to Restore Atlantic Sturgeon

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources welcomes Mirant Potomac River Generating Station’s continued partnership for an Atlantic sturgeon restoration project for the Potomac River. As part of the renewed partnership, Mirant will provide up to $325,000 over the next five years to support restoration activities of Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus), the only large bottom feeders present in the Chesapeake Bay.

“Atlantic sturgeon existed historically along the entire Atlantic coast and at one time, played an important ecological role in the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem,” said DNR Secretary John Griffin. “Mirant’s funding and continued support of this fishery restoration project offers hope that the once abundant sturgeon can grow and prosper in its natural habitat again in the future.”

Overfishing, degraded water quality and man-made stream blockages drastically reduced the Atlantic sturgeon’s population. By 1928, sturgeon were rarely caught north of the Potomac River. Research by the USFWS-Maryland Fishery Resources Office concluded in 2004 that Atlantic sturgeon restoration in Maryland would not likely occur without hatchery supplementation.

“We are so proud of our successful partnership with DNR, and we believe wholeheartedly that these mutually beneficial partnerships are an important component of all Maryland’s fish restoration efforts,” said Misty Allen, External Affairs Manager at Mirant Mid-Atlantic LLC. “We recently expressed our steadfast commitment to the project for the next five years to continue sturgeon restoration.”

DNR and Mirant first began a pilot culture trial on the Potomac River in the summer of 2006. Positive findings from the effort led to larger scale culture trial in 2007. Mirant Mid-Atlantic LLC provided funding for manpower, materials, culture space and water supply, while DNR designed and constructed the research facility.

“The overarching aim of our restoration project is to culture a healthy, captive brood stock of genetically diverse sturgeon adults that will provide larvae and juvenile fish for restoration stocking,” explained Brian Richardson, DNR Fisheries Restoration Manager.

The facility will also serve as an education and outreach tool since it is included on plant tours.