Maryland Coastal Bays Program Initiatives

The following is a list of the people we work with and the educational initiatives, by the MCBP for the benefit of the coastal bay community.

Homeowners

Ongoing -- Public education and demonstration projects on bay-friendly lawn and garden practices
Ongoing -- Public trash cleanups with educational component
Ongoing -- Household hazardous waste disposal and alternatives publication/education
Ongoing -- Public creation of community vision for the future including build out analysis and future land use scenarios
1999 -- Education of targeted canal-side property owners for water quality improvements around the yard and home
1999 -- Establishment of periodic coastal bays conferences with Virginia and Delaware
2000 -- Educational workshops, literature on bluebird, martin and bat house designs to manage insects
2000 -- Education of public through demonstration and publication on importance of wetlands
2000 -- Development and distribution of costs associated with community services related to various land use development patterns
2001 -- Tourist information packets on recycling, energy conservation and environmentally friendly vacationing in the coastal bays
2001 -- Septic maintenance educational materials to all septic owners includes pump out notices, care, maintenance, and installation instructions and information on innovative treatment systems.
2001 -- Public forum to show biological control options and alternative methods for mosquito control
2001 -- Feral cat control education
2002 -- Education of public through demonstration and publication on importance of preserving forestland
2003 -- Public education on best ways to protect groundwater
2003 -- Advertisement of benefits of threatened and endangered species programs for landowners
2004 -- Educational initiative on water and energy conservation for residents
2009 -- Informational brochure on mosquito life cycle, importance, and control options
2010 -- Educational seagrass restoration projects using schools and other citizens
2010 -- Lecture series to educate public on transportation planning issues
2011 -- Education on land management practices and feeding which promote undesirable species

Farmers/Foresters

2000 -- Information and demonstration projects on new nutrient management strategies and innovative alternatives
2000 -- Information on new cost-share and incentives for Best Management Practices
2000 -- Education of the forestry industry regarding the importance of hardwood species and fragmentation avoidance
2003 -- Education of public on hardship farmers face and positive environmental impact farms have
2004 -- Workgroup to develop financial incentives and tax reduction to keep lands in forestry
2005 -- Information on farmland habitat management techniques and selected target species

Developers

2000 -- Demonstration projects on environmentally sound landscaping and viewscaping in riparian buffer areas
2000 -- Compliance assistance to resolve non-flagrant sediment and erosion control violations
2001 -- Demonstration of usage of transferred development rights, purchase of development rights, preferential taxation, compact development and open space preservation
2001 -- Distribution of shoreline change map
2001 -- Continuing education courses for Realtors and consultants on development incentives which include natural resource protection
2001 -- Educational brochure on economic importance of retaining wetlands, forests and cultural resources in the coastal bays watershed
2002 -- Workshops for the State Highway Administration on environmentally friendly ditch maintenance practices
2002 -- Demonstration projects and workshops on low-impact, contiguous development for legislators, developers and the public
2002 -- Teaching of alternative wetland design for shoreline stabilization
2004 -- Workshops on stormwater management design

Fishermen/boaters

1999 -- Impacts to dredgers and public on positive and negative impacts of dredging
2000 -- Posting of annual size and creel fishing limits at docking and fishing locations
2000 -- Workshops for marina owners on contaminant avoidance and management practices
2000 -- Marina user educational materials on proper sewage, fuel, and antifreeze disposal, and chemical input avoidance measures
2001 -- Educational brochure on ownership of channels, regulatory requirements, dredge permitting, and points of contact
2001 -- Sensitive resource areas guide
2001 -- Smart boating/resource protection poster for display at boat dealers, rental outlets, marinas and visitor centers
2001 -- Curricula development for boater education
2001 -- Tackle shop/marina handout on navigation conditions around the Route 50 bridge
2001 -- On-the-water rules and regulations brochure for boat dealers, marinas, rental outlets and schools
2001 -- "Guide to the Coastal Bays" booklet with shoreline accesses, fishing areas, boat launches, dangerous and sensitive areas

Businesses

1999 -- Education of nurseries on native plants and importance of reduction of exotic species sale
2000+ -- Education on the Maryland Department of the Environment's latest sludge prevention initiatives to industrial and municipal operators
2001 -- Publication on waste disposal and recycling options for distribution to relevant businesses
2002 -- Meeting series with sludge generators and users to identify waste re-use and application sites
2002 -- Demonstration site and awards program for integrated pest management on golf courses, farms and community organizations
2005 -- Hospitality industry workshops for landscaping, energy and water conservation
2006 -- Informational brochure on ecotourism in Worcester County

Part of the National Estuary Program,
the Maryland Coastal Bays Program is a partnership among the towns of Ocean City and Berlin, National Park Service, Worcester County, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the Maryland Departments of Natural Resources, Agriculture, Environment, and Planning, who have come together to produce the first ever management plan for the coastal bays.

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Copyright 2003 - Maryland Coastal Bays Program
Questions? Email: mcbp@mdcoastalbays.org