Greenbook: A Local Guide to Chesapeake Living - Issue 8 | Page 23

6. Get Outside
A visit to even the smallest of streams
is a direct view into the essential purpose that water has in the life of the
Bay. Besides, what is more fun than
stomping in puddles, searching for
tadpoles, spying tiny fish, exploring
the path a little stream takes to become a large river?
◗  JUST GET OUTSIDE.
water table. They also stabilize soil to waterway.   And parenting an oyster
prevent the erosion that sends drain- baby makes treasuring the Chesaclogging sediment into the Bay. That peake a little more real. Baby oysters
sediment can kill Bay plants and go out to their temporary homes in
animals. From the ground up, large the fall and are returned to be placed
trees provide shade for waterways. on reefs in the early summer.
Recent studies prove that water “There are probably 1000 families
temperature is as closely tied to the planting oysters now in Anne Arunenvironmental health of a stream or del County. If you can get a group of
creek as is nutrition.
families on a creek growing oysters,
◗ Consider replacing ornamental trees, you can eventually grow enough to
plants and shrubs with native variet- develop a reef and those reefs could
ies. Because they’re already adapted really help filter the Bay”, says Zolto local conditions, native plants, per.
trees, and shrubs are less vulnerable ◗Read up on the Marylanders Grow
to pests, need no fertilizers, and can Oysters program. Participants learn
weather periods of local drought and how to grow oysters, build an oyster
flood much better than non-natives. cage and receive a shell and tiny bit of
The DNR lists several varieties of na- spat (oyster babies), the precursor to
tive plants on its excellent Maryland- what could become an actual oyster
ers Plant Trees webpage.
reef. Learn more at www.cbf.org/mdoys◗ Replace scrubby ornamental bush- tergardening.
es with native plants.
◗ Build a rain garden or a pollination 4. Join a beach or stream clean up
garden to attract bees, butterflies A beach or stream clean up is a fun way
and bats.
to get down and dirty in your efforts to
◗ Check out the University of Mary- help the environment.
land Extension’s Master Gardeners ◗ Contact local conservation groups
“Bay-Wise Landscape Yardstick”: doz- like Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay,
ens of options for how you can make Annapolis Green, South River Federayour property more Bay-friendly.
tion, Alice Ferguson Foundation and
◗ Join a local conservation group in a Chesapeake Bay Trust to find a clean
seasonal tree planting or consult the up near you.
National Wildlife Federation on how
to make your yard a Certified Wild- 5. Obey Wake Laws
life Habitat.
Speeding home in your powerboat after
a long day on the water may not seem
3. Plant an Oyster Garden.
like a big deal. But Zolper says many
If you’ve lived in Chesapeake Coun- studies show that wake has trementry long enough, you probably know dous impact on erosion, grass health
that Healthy oyster reefs are an im- and survival of underwater plants and
portant indication of Bay vitality. animals, especially on smaller creeks.
Oyster gardening  is a great way to ◗  Obey the law: slow down. The life
learn about the science in your local you save might be the Bay’s!

1. Swim for 48 hours after a heavy
rainstorm.

Don'ts

Operation Clear Water is a local effort to document the prevalence of
Enterococci bacteria in area waterways. The presence of these bacteria
indicates contamination with fecal
waste, i.e. poop.
The good news is that while a deluge
of ½ inch or more can bring extremely high bacteria counts, just a few
days of natural flow can bring clarity.
◗ Be sure to check the Operation Clear
Water website and the Anne Arundel
County Department of Health Recreational Water Quality Report to see if
waterways near you are safe.

GREENBOOK | SUMMER 2016