MCBP Says a Fond Farewell to Executive Director Dave Wilson. May Tree planting Sunday. Thank you to Terrapi Participants

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1 MCBP Says a Fond Farewell to Executive Director Dave Wilson May 2015 Keep up to date on volunteer oppor Tree planting Sunday Join MCBP to plant trees this Sunda Bishopville dam restoration site star Bring lunch, water, and gardening g available at Bishopville Rd. i Please RSVP to Amanda at amandap@mdcoastalbays.org or if you are able to attend. Thank you to Terrapi Participants Maryland Coastal Bays Program executive director announced he is stepping down from the post after working for the program for almost 18 years.the former director will now shift his focus to environmental and public relations consulting using his knowledge, skills and abilities to assist other organizations with conservation and policy needs. "It's time to hand the reigns to some fresh blood," he said. "I think we accomplished a lot and I am proud of that, but it's time to pass the baton." Wilson started with the program in November 1997 as the public outreach coordinator. For a decade Wilson would help sway public A big thank you to the over 40 peop in this year's Terrapin Tally! The fin in, but hundreds of terrapins were s late to help as a citizen scientist. Re sightings at 1/6

2 opinion about conservation in the coastal bays before being tapped for the executive director in project to help us collect informatio charismatic animals. He said two decades ago he could never have imagined the sheer outpouring of support through volunteerism and donations that the program now enjoys annually. "It's astounding," he said. During his tenure, the program became adept at competing for and securing state and federal dollars, including more than $1 million from the EPA to run its outreach program, more than $1 million state and federal money for the Bishopville Dam restoration and millions for other conservation and restoration projects. "These pots of money are earmarked for conservation purposes. I like to think we made the taxpayers of Worcester County proud by bringing money back here rather than sending it across the bridge," he said. He added that the county, Ocean City, Berlin and the state of Maryland were critical partners in these projects. To see the WBOC news video abou survey, click here. To read the DelmarvaNow article, c Above: Cub scouts helping with the Thank You to Paddle B Participants, Attendees an Wilson was again quick to point out that Coastal Bays staff, government partners and citizens should take the credit for the successes. The program tripled its savings with Wilson at the helm and also now enjoys an additional $720,000 endowment at the Community Foundation. The group co-leases the beach store and the canoe and bike rental on Assateague Island National Seashore.Wilson said the buy-in, coordination, and commitment by the National Park Service, EPA, and local and state partners is a model that is difficult to replicate. "We ask a lot of our partners' time and resources, and they have never failed to come through," he said.in 2014, the program completed a new 15-year Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan for the bays behind Ocean City and Assateague. Berlin, Ocean City, the state and feds devised and committed to more than 200 activities to protect and restore the bays. "The resolve our partners exhibit is really amazing," Wilson said. Science Coordinator Dr. Roman Jesien and Technical Coordinator Carol Cain are working together as co acting Directors and have proved an effective team. To read the full article in DelmarvaNow, click here. Thanks to OC SUP and fitness Daw annual Fager's Island Surf Swap and Race was a great success this year. beautiful and thank you to the many out to support MCBP. As always, th great entertainment. Thank You to Herp Searc To see great photos of the annual he out this article. Citizen's Advisory Comm June 16 To see the job description for this position, click here. The Citizens Adivsory Committee w June 16 at 5:30 pm at the Maryland 2/6

3 7/28/2015 Maryland Coastal Bays Program Newsletter Office, 8219 Stephen Decatur Highway, would like to become a part of this comm Programs Manager Jennifer Rafter jrafter@mdcoastalbays.org. Maryland Coastal Bays Program is Proud to Announce our New CCMP Local Artist Donates Painting With Meanin Teri Edgeworth has a home near a MCBP MCBP is proud to introduce our new CCMP, or Comprehensive site. She enjoys this beautiful area very m Conservation and Management Plan. The CCMP is at the heart of sad to see trash like the cigarette butt and any National Estuary Program and maps the way to improve the ring. She was moved to create this paint health of our beautiful bays. donated it to Maryland Coastal Bays Pro The Maryland Coastal Bays Program was established in 1995, and the as a reminder of the purpose of the progr original Comprehensive Conservation & Management Plan (CCMP) our invaluable coastal bays. was approved in October It contained 23 Goals, 73 Challenges and 505 Actions. The new CCMP, while just as robust, simplifies the Above: Teri Edgeworth donated this bea meaningful painting to Maryland Coastal to 14 Goals, 34 Challenges,and 222 Actions and accounts for the Program. actions which have been fulfilled in the past sixteen years. To read Show, don't tell, about sea- level Maryland Coastal Bays Program is very grateful for the dedicated impact by Rachael Pacella, DelmarvaNo work of our partners in creating this important document. MCBP partners include the towns of Ocean City and Berlin, the National Park Service, Worcester County, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the Maryland Departments of Natural Resources, Osprey Nests Agriculture and Planning. Click here to see the new CCMP. The CCMP is also available on our homepage at 3/6

4 Assateague Island Restoration Project Addresses Sand Movement Eagle Scout Michael Scott built and osprey nesting boxes, one on Hollan other on Herring Creek. He reporte are already using them! Joe Reed of the US Army Corps of Engineers discusses sand movement near the inlet and commercial harbor at a recent Project Team meeting of the Assateague Island Restoration Project. Plans are well underway to address shoaling issues and better understand and manage sand transport in the very dynamic inlet area. Maryland Coastal Bay Recertifies as a Maryland Colonial Waterbird Nesting Surveys The Maryland Coastal Bays Program announce its recertification as a Ma Center. We would also like to congratulate Worcester County, Assateague Stat recertification, too. MD Green Cent Schools incorporate environmentall practices on the ground and in class Photo: At the end of May, Coastal S the MD Green Schools Youth Summ Maryland Association for Environm Education, at Sandy Point State Par 4/6

5 students from across the state partic celebrating MD Green Schools & G ours. Here, Coastal Stewards Myia Cooper are teaching students about make in their own yards & neighbo improve the water quality of our co quality of life! To learn more about the MAEOE, M and the Youth Summit, visit Recent Article New Islands Provide Much Needed Ha Another California Oil Spill Threatens W From Field to Forest and Back Again: A Succession Terrapin Survey Helps Gather Data on We like you! Like us back and st the coastal bays A team including MCBP Education Coordinator Carrie Samis and Coastal Steward Amy Cooper, recently surveyed a colonial waterbird nesting colony on a small island in the coastal bays. During nesting season, these sensitive colonies are protected and only accessed for scientific monitoring by special permission. A total of 111 doublecrested cormorant nests were counted on this island, which is also the location of hundreds of nesting glossy ibis, great egrets, snowy egrets, cattle egrets, tri-colored herons, and little blue herons. There are a number of bird islands in the coastal bays. Although these islands are attractive to people as well as birds, please keep 5/6

6 off the islands to give the birds a chance to nest and raise their young. Photo: Double-crested cormorant chicks in the nest. Photo credit: Chris Hudson Forward This was sent to sandis@mdcoastalbays.org by sandis@mdcoastalbays.org Update Profile/ Address Rapid removal with SafeUnsubscribe Privacy Policy. Maryland Coastal Bays Program 8219 Stephen Decatur Highway Berlin MD /6