DNR Finalizes
Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserves Management Plan
5-Year Plan Calls
for Boundary Expansion, New Environmental Education Facility, & Expanded
Science and Outreach
Annapolis, Md. — Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine
Research Reserve (CBNERR) recently completed a five-year management plan
that sets goals to expand the boundaries of Maryland’s three reserves,
develop an environmental education center, and increase environmental
stewardship and sustainable living through scientific research,
environmental literacy and coastal management training for local
decision-makers and stakeholders.
“The Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve’s updated
plan represents a commitment to research, education and stewardship that
is exceptionally valuable to protecting and restoring Maryland’s, and
the nation’s estuaries,” said Frank Dawson, Maryland Department of
Natural Resources Assistant Secretary. “Our coastal training program
plays a crucial role in providing scientific information to Chesapeake
Bay decision-makers as we work to best address and better plan for
population growth, land development and climate change.”
The Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Maryland
has three sites —Otter Point Creek in Harford County, Jug Bay in Prince
George’s and Anne Arundel Counties, and Monie Bay in Somerset County.
Partnering with local governments and non-profit conservation
organizations, CBNERR hopes to add 1,345 acres Jug Bay Estuarine
Research Reserve by incorporating the Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary in Anne
Arundel and Prince George’s County, as well as adding 32 acres to Otter
Point Creek in Harford County.
CBNERR’s top priority at the Monie Bay Reserve is to increase
opportunities for public access and environmental education by
purchasing property for an environmental education center. Currently
students in Somerset County, where Monie Bay is located, have no access
to any private or public environmental education center. In addition to
creating a new environmental education facility, CBNERR aims to increase
effective environmental education to underserved populations so that
more Marylanders change their personal behavior and serve as leaders to
promote sound, informed, science-based decision-making throughout the
community. CBNERR will also continue to work to increase environmental
literacy with teachers, students, and communities to increase their
connection to nature so that they will take action better its protection
and restoration.
Many aspects of the 1990 management plan have been realized, most
notably, the completion of the Anita C. Leight Center in Harford County,
which provides classrooms, lab space, exhibit space and office space,
and has allowed the implementation of research, education and volunteer
activity at the Otter Point Creek component of the Reserve.
One of 27 National Estuarine Research Reserves around the nation,
CBNERR protects and restores approximately 5,000 acres of forest, farm
and wetlands; conducts research and monitoring; educates visitors; runs
coastal training programs for decision-makers; and enables affordable
public recreation opportunities. The Reserve’s mission is to improve
coastal resource management by increasing scientific understanding of
estuarine systems and making estuarine research relevant, meaningful,
and accessible to managers and stakeholders.
Cutting edge research performed at the Reserves helps to protect and
restore the Chesapeake Bay. Recent research includes exploring methods
for reducing excess nutrient pollution from agricultural waste and
investigating the environmental impacts and potential mitigation of sea
level rise.
CBNERR is a Federal-State-Local partnership program, and receives
funds annually from NOAA, DNR and Harford County. Operation of the
Reserve would not be possible without local partners who assist by
providing land, facilities, staff and volunteers, including Anne Arundel
County (Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary), Maryland-National Park and Planning
Commission (Jug Bay Natural Area), Friends of Jug Bay, Harford County
(Anita C. Leight Estuary Center), and the Harford County Chapter of the
Izaak Walton League of America (Bosely Conservancy).
For more information visit
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/bay/cbnerr/.
