| Volume 100 Number 3 | Working Since 1967 | September 2000 |
| PRA's Homepage | Newsletter Archives | Email Editor |
Dr. Walt Boynton of the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory will address our group at our November 21 meeting. He will give us an overview of the various ways that scientists define the health of river systems. Specifically, he will assess the current and historical health of the Patuxent River. Dr. Boynton is currently involved in collecting and analyzing all of the data on the status of the Patuxent-shellfish and oyster catches, nutrient loadings, turbidity measures, etc. This will be a rare opportunity for us to hear from an expert on the subject that goes to the heart of our advocacy efforts. All members are invited to attend on Tuesday, November 21, at the Aloha Restaurant in Wildewood shopping center. We will dine at 6pm, and conduct our regular business meeting after Dr. Boynton's presentation which will start at 6:30.
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And within months, the Potomac River Association was born to counter a proposal for an oil refinery at Piney Point. Some several years later, the two groups would merge, bringing the resources and dedication together in our Association of today, some 33 years later. It is, however, the beautiful, but recently damaged, Patuxent River that concerns us so greatly today.
It is truly a nightmare to contemplate such destruction of wildlife, wetlands and beaches from Swanson Creek, Benedick, and Golden Beach, miles down on both of the River's shores. We wonder whether the accumulative oil pollution of 33 years at that proposed industrial port (Myrtle Point) would be comparable to that presently upriver. Certainly the amount of oil spilled at Chalk Point is comparable to that spilled at or near the beginning point of the pipeline some 40 miles south at Piney Point. Ironically, it was just such a spill that in June 1970 energized PRA to seek for more careful handling of oil. The resultant hearings at Annapolis and before a Congressional Committee confirmed a need for utmost expertise in areas not previously spoiled. Those hearings also confirmed the need for organized vigilance such as provided by PRA.
of shoreline north to Blake Creek, there was a rash of spills such as the 70,000 gallon oil spill into Piney Point Creek in 1976. But the worst spill in the Chesapeake area's history totaled 250,000 gallons, was at Smith's Point on the Potomac. Just as in earlier spills, there was the obscene and all too familiar damage control. The size of the spill was underestimated, the amount recovered was exaggerated, and the time required for cleanup underestimated. Most regrettably, the figures for killed fish and shorebirds were downplayed. Folks asked, as they do now, what price can be put on the marshes, shorebirds, blackened beaches, and ruined fisheries.
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The Secretary and Board of Directors of the Potomac River Association hereby notify all members of the upcoming annual meeting to be held Tuesday October 17 at 6:30 PM in the meeting room at the Aloha Restaurant in Wildewood shopping center. Nominations for President, Vice Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer, and members of the Board will be taken from the floor and elections will follow. All members in good standing are encouraged to participate.
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Potomac River Association Newsletter PO Box 76 Valley Lee MD 20692 Editor Robert Lewis Assistant Editor Patrick O'Donnell Contributor Robert Elwood Letters, articles, and comments are welcome. We will try to print any letters and articles that contain appropriate content. Letters should be addressed "To the Editor". Please keep your letters and articles short and to the point. To respond directly to the Editor, E-mail: taylew@erols.com Although the Editors make every attempt to keep the content factual and in line with PRA's guidelines, this Newsletter does not necessarily represent PRA's policy nor future actions |
Last month, members of the Commission on the Environment and the Solid Waste Advisory Committee hosted a presentation on sludge by the Maryland Department of the Environment. St. Mary's County produces about 1930 wet tons of sludge per year and exports it to landfills in Virginia. Meanwhile, county farmers are importing almost 60,000 wet tons of sludge to apply to their fields. Also last month, St. Mary's Countians learned that we receive more than half of all the poultry litter exported from Maryland's eastern shore. The Commission on the Environment is still seeking volunteers to work on the County's new Water Policy Task Force. Information can be obtained from the County Public Information Office at 475-4461. Last month, County Commissioners directed the Commission on the Environment to set up and oversee this advisory group. "Agency members" are also being sought to fill out the ten person task force, one each from the County's Department of Health, the Metropolitan Commission, and the Patuxent Navy Base. St. Mary's County is currently writing its land use regulations (Zoning Ordinances) and has entitled the document Unified Land Development Code. The "ULDC", as it is referred to by planners, is currently being tweaked to consider comments from the public hearing last June before being sent on to the Board of County Commissioners. PRA submitted a five page report detailing their concerns as assembled by a multi-civic group committee. That report is available from the county Department of Planning or by request to Bob Lewis c/o PRA at the address on page one of this newsletter or by E-mail to: taylew@erols.com PRA noted that the following issues need particular attention: 1) Require state-of-the-art bioretension storm water management facilities on all developments proposed that need to submit site plans, 2) Require community storm water management systems on all major subdivision in the rural areas. 3) Prohibit animal factories (CAFO - Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation), 4) Prohibit the application of sludge within identified growth areas, and 5) Reduce the county-wide overall build-out. Clearly PRA is thinking about the distant future and plans to ensure that our grandchildren and their grandchildren have the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful and natural environs here in St. Mary's County. |
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| St. Mary's River Commission |  |
During the last week of August, County Commissioner Joseph Anderson received unanimous support from the Board of County Commissioners to have staff look into the creation of a St. Mary's River Commission. Three weeks earlier the Board heard from the EPA funded St. Mary's River Project leaders, Robert Paul and Christopher Tanner, who described the river as lacking oxygen and having reduced biological integrity. This, they said, results from too much sediment run-off upriver from development projects, increased impervious surfaces (due to development), and extensive logging along Willows Road. Anderson was optimistic that much could be reversed. "I am excited and optimistic. We need to turn around the State's opinion of the County and this Board", Anderson said referring to the widespread opinion in Annapolis that St. Mary's County has never had and still lacks the political will to control growth and preserve the clean and rural environment. The St. Mary's River watershed lies entirely within the County's jurisdiction and provides an opportunity for total assessment, cultivation of new ideas, and oversight by a River Commission. Its showcase location provides great opportunities to attract support from public and private grants, State and Federal Governments, (the EPA and State have already invested $420,000 in the St. Mary's River Project), and lead the way into progressive environmental planning. If this river commission were modeled as a State body, it could have powers to steer development within the watershed. This could take two years according to Commission on the Environment member Nancy Paige Smith, who has worked with the county for six years now trying to get just such a commission for the river. "We need to set-up a county level commission first. That can happen in a couple months. The State prefers it that way," Smith maintained. A State modeled Commission would require legislation in Annapolis. Since 1994, Smith and many others have sought "Scenic River" status for the river and oversight by a river commission.
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Ground Water Symposium On Thursday, September 21 at the Maritime Institute, MDE will be hosting its annual Ground Water Symposium, which "brings together ground water professionals from across Maryland to exchange information and promote protection of Maryland's ground water". This year's topics will include:
If you are interested in attending or require additional information, please contact Clara Jablonski, MDE, at 410-631-3714.
- Ground Water Permits Program
- Generic numeric standards for soil and ground water
- On-site sewage disposal management
- Well construction regulations update
- A county wellhead protection study
- Workshop: Planning for protection of ground water
Potomac River Association Annual Meeting The Secretary and Board of Directors of the Potomac River Association hereby notify all members of the upcoming annual meeting to be held Tuesday October 17 at 6:30 PM in the meeting room at the Aloha Restaurant in Wildewood shopping center. Nominations for President, Vice Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer, and members of the Board will be taken from the floor and elections will follow. All members in good standing are encouraged to participate and bring their concerns forward.
Lecture: "Centuries of Contention in the Chesapeake: Policy, Politics and Environment" John Wennersten, Historian and Writer will present this exciting topic November 2, 8 pm, at the Daugherty Palmers Commons on the campus of St. Mary's College of Maryland, reception to follow.
Guest Speaker Dr. Walt Boynton At the PRA November meeting to be held at the Aloha Restaurant in Wildewood, November 21 at 6:30 PM, Dr. Walt Boynton will give an overview of the various ways that scientist define the health of river systems, and he will assess the current and historical health of the Patuxent River.
| 862-3421 | Allen, Christina & Frank | 18988 Point Lookout Road, Lexington Park, MD 20653 | E-mail: allensarticles@earthlink.net |
| 535-5813 (410) | Anderson, Fran | 2530 Fawn Lane, Prince Frederick, MD 20678 | |
| 994-0529 | Dowgiallow, Edward J. | Box 165, Tall Timbers, MD 20690 | E-mail: eddow@erols.com |
| 769-3840 | Elwood, Robert | 22455 Bushwood Road, Bushwood, MD 20618 | E-mail: elwoods@olg.com |
| 994-0933 | Gateau, George & Madeline | Box 155, Tall Timbers, MD 20690 | |
| 863-9063 | Herndon, Robert & Naomi | 23794 St. Clair, California, MD 20619 | |
| 884-0354 | Hillman, Coleman | 632 Millseat Drive, Mechanicsville, MD 20659 | |
| 475-8366 | Jansson, Erik | 19700 Mulberry Fields Road, Leonardtown, MD 20650 | E-mail: planetearth@erols.com |
| 862-3517 | Lewis, Robert | 19089 Point Lookout Road, Lexington Park, MD 20653 | E-mail: taylew@erols.com |
| 373-2551 | Lindsley, Dudley | 24760 Vega Court, Hollywood, MD 20636 | E-mail: dlindsley@erols.com |
| 373-2210 | Nielson, Isabel | Rt. 1, Box 45329, Hollywood, MD 20636 | |
| 994-1581 | O'Donnell, Patrick | 43620 Potomac Shore, Leonardtown, MD 20650 | |
| Pegg, Daisy | 21979 Pegg Road, Lexington Park, MD 20653 | ||
| 994-1795 | Robrecht, Betty | Box 74, Tall Timbers, MD 20690 | |
| 862-3284 | Rogers, Nancy | 228 Kingston Creek Road, California, MD 20619 | |
| Taylor, Alison | 19660 Tower Hill Road, Leonardtown, MD 20650 | E-mail: ali@olg.com | |
| 326-6951 (410) | Tehaan, Tammy | 1168 Coster Road, Lusby, MD 20657 | E-mail: belletamaan@hotmail.com |
| 863-7940 | 42371 Riverwinds Drive, Leonardtown, MD 20650 | E-mail: mtriantos@erols.com | |
| 994-2373 | Wilhite, Orvin & Marybeth | 18975 Hodges Lane, Leonardtown, MD 20650 | |
| 863-8069 | Wilkerson, Oran | 23814 Kingston Creek Road, California, MD 20619 | |
| 862-1567 | Wisner, Tom | Box 7, California, MD 20619 | E-mail: chestory@earthlink.net |
| 373-5445 | Witten, Millicent & Jack | 45295 Clark's Mill Road, Hollywood, MD 20636 | E-mail: jfxw@erols.com |
| Affiliated Citizen Groups | |||
| Friends of the St. Mary's River and the Chingville Residents Association | |||
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