Section: ENV

Our Bay: Blue Plains: Bay's biggest polluter

unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:00:00

WASHINGTON, D.C. - At the end of a peninsula, hemmed in by Bolling Air Force Base, the Potomac River and a highway, sits the Blue Plains Wastewater Treatment Plant.

The plant's operators boast that it's the largest advanced sewage-treatment plant in the world.

But it's also the Chesapeake Bay's single largest source of nitrogen, the nutrient that drives harmful algae blooms that contribute to the infamous, oxygen-deprived...

Our Bay: This Week's Take: Visiting rain gardens can be eye-opening

unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:00:00

Summer is undeniably a time when our spirits surge with the joy of new life, a time to visit and consider how each of us, residents, businesses, churches and schools, can join in a dedicated renewal of life in the creeks and rivers we hold dear.

May I suggest an eye-opening, inspiring visit to some outstanding urban rain gardens?

For redevelopers: A miniature stream valley, created on land provided by Westfield Annapolis and funded by Ch...

Chesapeake Calendar

unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:00:00

Want to help the Chesapeake Bay, learn about it or just plain enjoy it? Check out these upcoming bay-related events and meetings.

Tuesday

State Attorney General Doug Gansler visits the West and Rhode rivers and holds a community meeting at 5 p.m. at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center in Edgewater. Info.: www.westrhoderiverkeeper.org or 410-867-7171.

Our Bay: DNR Rail

unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:00:00

ASK AN EXPERT

What is a watershed? How big is the Chesapeake Bay's watershed?

A watershed is an area of land that drains into a common point, usually a creek, stream, river or lake.

Everyone lives in a watershed - some are large like the Chesapeake's, while others are small, like your local stream. They are sometimes called basins or drainage basins. Every small watershed drains into a larger watershed that eventua...

River site reopened after spill

unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:00:00

It's now safe to come in contact with water in the Patapsco River near the site of a major sewage spill last week, health officials said.

But nearby Stoney Run is still off-limits.

Last week, contractors working near Amtrak Way and Interstate 195 not far from BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport discovered a broken sewage pipe.

Crews repaired the break and have been cleaning the area. Meanwhile, health officials have been testi...

Up close with ospreys

unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:00:00

A few decades ago, there was a single osprey nest in the Jug Bay section of the Patuxent River, which snakes along Anne Arundel County's southwestern border.

Now there are more than three dozen - a few in trees, most on man-made platforms over the water and marshes.

Some osprey lovers got a chance to see many of the birds up close Wednesday as they tagged along on an expedition to put small identification bands on this year's bab...

Stream still closed after sewage spill

unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00

Officials with the Baltimore County Department of Public Works are testing Stoney Run and the Patapsco River after raw sewage poured into from a main break.

Elin Jones, spokesman for the Anne Arundel County Health Department, said the tributary of the Patapsco River is still closed.

Jones said Baltimore County officials have sampled the water and are expected to get those test results back this week.

County officials last we...

Emergency Closing for Stoney Run in Linthicum and Hanover

unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:00:00

The Anne Arundel County Department of Health has ordered an emergency closing and warns against direct water contact for Stoney Run in Linthicum and Hanover due to a major wastewater overflow. The closing extends from the BWI Amtrak/MARC Station on Amtrak Way to the Patapsco River.

The exact cause of the overflow, which occurred within a 12-inch sewer main near Amtrak Way (West of Highway 195), has not been determined. The County Departmen...

Experts: Climate change will harm bay

unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:00:00

Action is needed to protect the Chesapeake Bay's shorelines and wildlife from climate change, a panel of experts told congressmen yesterday.

Four congressmen showed up to a "field hearing" at the waterfront Smithsonian Environmental Research Center in Edgewater to learn how the bay is uniquely affected by the planet's warming air and water.

U.S. Rep. John P. Sarbanes, D-Baltimore County, said sometimes taking act...

Holding on to a heritage

unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:00:00

The days start early and stretch well into the night for Patrick Mahoney Sr. and Patrick Mahoney Jr.

The father and son are among the last watermen in the Annapolis area, and they're busting their tails from before dawn until nearly dusk trying to scrape out a living.

They start at 4 a.m. aboard their Wild Country workboat, the loud motor chugging as they head out onto the Chesapeake Bay to check their crab pots.

The two work ...

EPA to take charge of Ft. Meade pollution cleanup

unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:00:00

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Drawn-out efforts to remove toxins and dangerous waste at Fort Meade will come under the control of the Environmental Protection Agency under an agreement long sought by Maryland officials to push the cleanup along faster, Sen. Benjamin Cardin said Monday. Fort Meade, one of the nation's largest military bases, has been a Superfund site since 1998 and cleanup efforts for a variety of contaminants have been under wa...

Stormy, soggy - and we're so sick of it

unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 00:00:00

It canceled your sons' baseball games and your daughters' lacrosse games. It slowed traffic at rush hour, soaked your lawn and flooded your basement.

And it almost broke a 26-year record.

Today officially marks the first day of summer, and the end of what has been the wettest spring since 1983, according to records from the National Weather Service.

"There's definitely not one cause (of rain), it's just ...

Our Bay: Attacking Highway Pollution

unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 00:00:00

Thousands upon thousands of miles of highways snake through the Chesapeake Bay watershed and there's a steady demand from drivers for more roads and more lanes.

Now there's a growing movement to make sure all those highways minimize the negative effects they have on the environment.

Environmental advocates and state politicians are urging Congress to include new environmental rules in the forthcoming update to the federal highway...

Our Bay: This Week's Take: Bacteria: How it affects our rivers

unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 00:00:00

In the wake of nearly 2 inches of rain recently, waterways across the county were inundated with muddy runoff.

Along with sediment and nutrient pollution, this runoff also carried another sort of pollutant.

During weekly water-quality monitoring of local rivers, we recorded startling spikes of bacteria levels in a majority of the sites sampled. Organizations like the South River Federation, West/Rhode Riverkeeper, Severn River Ass...

Our Bay: Bay Calendar

unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 00:00:00

Want to help the Chesapeake Bay, learn about it or just plain enjoy it? Check out these upcoming bay-related events and meetings.

Saturday

Programs at Smithsonian Environmental Research Center include monthly bird hike for ages 10 and older at 8:30 a.m. ($4), family canoe excursion at 9 a.m. ($12 adults, $6 kids, registration required) and a program on ducks, geese and swans for ages 10 and older at 1 p.m. ($4) Info.:

Our Bay: DNR Rail

unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 00:00:00

ASK AN EXPERT

Will all the rain this spring affect the health of the bay this summer?

The short answer is yes.

The Chesapeake Bay watershed has experienced greater-than-average rainfall amounts over the past few months. The National Weather Service reports May 2009 as the second wettest on record with a total of 8.42 inches; and June is closely approaching its average rainfall in just the first two weeks of the month.

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Summer mosquito spraying under way

unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 00:00:00

Wayne Knight may not have the most desirable job in the world.

Five nights a week, he drives to neighborhoods throughout the county and bares his arms to purposely attract mosquitoes.

But if he finds enough mosquitoes - three blood-suckers in two minutes - he gets to exact revenge.

He hops in his beige Maryland Department of Agriculture truck, flips a few switches and unleashes a fine mist of pesticide to wipe out the 'skeeters...

Severn River still facing challenges

unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:00:00

Members of the Severn River Association had plenty to celebrate last night - new officers, award-winning volunteers - but they also were reminded of the challenges they face in improving the health of their beloved waterway.

"The Severn River watershed, for all of our good intentions, is not thriving, prospering and getting better," outgoing President Kurt Riegel of Arnold told association members at their 98th annual meeting ...

International visitors learn about improving environment

unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 00:00:00

They came from all over the world - Mexico, India, Thailand, Serbia - to a quiet corner of Annapolis where purple coneflowers bloom and switch grass sways in the breeze.

For the second time in two weeks, the Chesapeake Ecology Center hosted an international delegation of environment officials who are touring America to gather and exchange ideas.

On June 4, visitors came from Latin America. On Thursday, a group of 19 officials from...

Va. fishermen plead guilty to rockfish trafficking

unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:00:00

GREENBELT, Md. (AP) — A St. Mary's County seafood company owner has pleaded guilty to creating false records and transporting illegally harvested wildlife. Robert Lumpkins, who owns Golden Eye Seafood LLC, falsely recorded the amount and weight of striped bass so fishermen could use all their tags while appearing not to reach the maximum poundage allowed. He pleaded guilty on Thursday.

Jerry Decatur Sr. of Stafford, Va. and Kenneth De...

Groups seek federal ruling on WVa wind farm

unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:00:00

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Environmental and animal rights groups are asking a federal judge to require the developer of a West Virginia wind farm to comply with the Endangered Species Act because of the potential harm to the endangered Indiana bat. The Animal Welfare Institute and Mountain Communities for Responsible Energy say Beech Ridge Energy LLC should be required to obtain a federal permit because the spinning blades of its 124-turbine...

For South River: No rain equals better 'good' conditions at times

unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 00:00:00

The South River Federation's annual "snapshot" revealed the watershed in fair shape in the three-hour window volunteers took to measure conditions around the river and its tributaries in April. But looks are sometimes deceiving.

Like last year's snapshot, the results underscored the connection between rainfall and water quality.

It had not rained for days previous to the April 25 effort, in which 35 volunteers fa...