ShoreRivers is pleased to announce the addition of three new members to its Governing Board: Jack Broderick, Ann Swanson, and Loribeth Weinstein. As a grassroots nonprofit organization, the hard work and support of board members is imperative to the organization’s efforts for thriving rivers on the Eastern Shore. ShoreRivers extends deep gratitude for the wise counsel, encouragement, and vision of these exceptional community members. See the full list of Board members at ShoreRivers.org/leadership.

These new voices will bring a wealth of expertise to ShoreRivers, including equal opportunity and civil rights, social and economic justice, grantmaking and local governance, and environmental policy and conservation. Paired with a deep commitment to clean water and healthy Eastern Shore communities, these new members will strengthen the organization’s robust science-based advocacy, restoration, and education efforts.

Jack Broderick is a retired federal manager and long-time community activist and leader on Kent Island who serves on numerous local and state boards and committees, including the Maryland 250 Commission and the Bay Bridge Reconstruction Advisory Group. A former Captain in the U.S. Army, he retired in 2021 as the Director of Equal Opportunity for the National Guard Bureau, U.S. Department of Defense, after 34 years of combined Federal military and civilian service. Broderick lives on Cox Creek and enjoys crabbing, fishing, hunting, and generally spending time on the water.

The former Executive Director of the Chesapeake Bay Commission, Ann Swanson, has spent four decades as a leader in Chesapeake Bay restoration and been recognized for her work on a regional, national, and international scale. Swanson was the catalyst for the early formation of the Chester River Association and the Sassafras River Association — two of ShoreRivers’ legacy organizations. In recognition of that, and her tireless efforts on behalf of the Bay, and its landscapes and communities, she was the winner of ShoreRivers’ inaugural Award for Environmental Stewardship in 2019.

Loribeth Weinstein spent her career at the helm of non-profit and philanthropic organizations addressing issues of gender parity and social and economic justice. Now retired, she served for two decades as the CEO of Jewish Women International, an organization committed to protecting the rights of women and girls, and is a founder of the Washington Area Women’s Foundation, a philanthropic organization that has provided more than $16 million in grants to organizations in the Washington D.C. region since 1999. She has a love of Eastern Shore waterways that inspired her to deepen her commitment to environmental stewardship, and is also a Master Gardener.

In addition to its new members, the Board also recently elected its Executive Committee for 2025, which consists of Marian Fry, Chair; Barbara Boyd, Vice Chair; Frank Lewis, Treasurer; Maura Bollinger, Secretary, and Gene Lopez, At-Large.

ShoreRivers also celebrates several long-time Board members whose terms end this year: Meta Boyd, Bruce Abel, Ron Rothman, and Philp Webster. The organization is incredibly grateful to each of them for their years of dedicated service and invaluable contributions.

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ShoreRivers protects Maryland’s Eastern Shore waterways through science-based advocacy, restoration, education, and engagement.

After 40 years and $20 billion (and yes, that is a “B” for billions) it is clear that only some of the 2025 Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint goals will be achieved.   A recent independent scientific report, Achieving Water Quality Goals in the Chesapeake Bay, A Comprehensive Evaluation of System Response, known as the CESR Report, is a gold mine of what works, what doesn’t, and options going forward.

A panel discussion hosted by Temple B’nai Israel’s “ENGAGE” Life Long Learning Adult Education Program, in cooperation with ShoreRivers will be presented November 14 at 7:00 PM. Facilitated by Matt Pluta, ShoreRivers’ Choptank Riverkeeper & Director of Riverkeeper Programs, key scientists will discuss the CESR report. They will also present recommendations for what’s next in protecting and improving the Chesapeake and its tributaries beyond 2025. A 7-minute video about the CESR Report will help set the stage for the discussion.

Will climate change influence future Bay plans? Will recommendations for the Chesapeake Bay Agreement beyond 2025 affect our access to the Bay? Will any current restoration efforts be dropped? And will new restoration efforts be able to keep pace with more people moving to the Bay and the development and land-use changes that come with it? 

The expert panel is drawn from the Chesapeake Bay Program‘s Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) drawn from 20 academic research intuitions. The CBP is a partnership set up by the EPA including the EPA itself, States and local governments in the Bay watershed, non-governmental environmental organizations, and the academic research institutions. The formal goals and agreements of CBP influence and fund the programs of the numerous environmental organizations and programs around the Bay.

The presenters include:

Dr. Larry Sanford – Professor at University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES) and the Chair of the Chesapeake Bay Program’s Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) which oversees the evaluation of Bay restoration progress and recommendations for developing a new Chesapeake Bay Agreement beyond 2025.

Dr. Bill Dennison – Professor and Vice President for Science Application at UMCES and Vice Chair of the Chesapeake Bay Program’s STAC. Dr. Dennison oversees the analysis, development and presentation of the annual Chesapeake Bay report Card.

Dr. Tom Fischer – Professor Emeritus at UMCES who spent the majority of his career studying the Choptank River watershed and how land use and human activities influence water quality.

Matt Pluta with ShoreRivers will moderate the panel. For the last decade as the Choptank Riverkeeper Matt has been monitoring water quality trends and engaging with local communities for the purpose of advocating for advanced solutions, partnerships and resources to protect our local rivers on the Eastern Shore. 

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Everyone can learn about the future of the BAY and be part of the discussion. 
November 14, 2024, 7:00 PM. 
All are welcome to this free event. 
Registration is required: bnaiisraeleaston.org/event/chesapeake
Temple B’nai Israel,  7199 Tristan Dr., Easton 21601

ShoreRivers — thanks to new funding from the Chesapeake Bay Trust’s Environmental Education Grant Program — is expanding their work as a certified Maryland Green Center to Dorchester County by partnering with the Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Educators (MAEOE) and Dorchester County Public Schools (DCPS) to build the school district’s capacity to obtain its first Green School certifications.

To be certified as a Maryland Green School, schools must demonstrate and document a continuous effort to integrate sustainable environmental management practices, environmental education curriculum, professional development opportunities, and community engagement into their daily operations. The award signifies their commitment to developing stewards of the earth and reducing the school’s environmental impact.

While DCPS does not have any schools that currently hold formal Green School certifications, Dr. Paula Turner-Coleman, DCPS’ Supervisor of Science, Health, P.E., & STEM, and ShoreRivers look forward to having county schools recognized for their work. ShoreRivers is working directly with passionate teachers from three schools to get certified this year: Choptank Elementary, North Dorchester Middle, and South Dorchester School.

“Dorchester County Public Schools already has a strong environmental literacy continuum in place across the elementary and secondary grades. Finally taking that leap to achieve the Maryland Green School status will give our schools the recognition they deserve for the work they are already doing,” said Dr. Turner-Coleman.

As a certified Green Center since 2020, ShoreRivers has supported several K–12 schools across the Eastern Shore, including Matapeake and Easton elementary schools and Queen Anne’s County High School, in elements of the Green Schools certification (or recertification) process. The Maryland Green Schools Program is aligned with environmental literacy and school sustainability goals outlined in the 2014 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement and supports Maryland State Department of Education graduation requirements and standards. This recognition underscores ShoreRivers’ unwavering commitment to protecting and restoring our rivers while educating the next generation of environmental stewards to do the same.

“Being a Green Center allows us to support our school systems regionally, not just the schools we have program partnerships with,” said Suzanne Sullivan, ShoreRivers’ Director of Education. “This program has introduced us to so many amazing teachers and students who are passionate about the environment. We love being a Green Center because we get to combine our education work with our other departments, helping schools with sustainable landscaping, citizen science, and community outreach.”

ShoreRivers encourages schools interested in being certified to reach out to their local Green Center for support.

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ShoreRivers protects Maryland’s Eastern Shore waterways through science-based advocacy, restoration, education, and engagement.

shorerivers.org

Each summer, ShoreRivers works to provide the public with information needed to make educated decisions about contact with our rivers and creeks. This year, ShoreRivers monitored bacteria levels at 52 sites around the region — providing a critical public health service for communities and identifying pollution hotspots for future restoration efforts.

A team of community scientists called SwimTesters volunteer their time to test these popular swimming and boating sites weekly between Memorial Day and Labor Day, and generous site sponsors cover a portion of the associated costs. Their samples are then processed, according to standard scientific protocols, in ShoreRivers in-house labs and tested for enterococci — an indicator of fecal bacteria. The program follows the Environmental Protection Agency’s standard protocols for collecting and analyzing samples and makes public the results of that testing to let people know about current bacteria levels as they make their plans for recreating in our waterways. Reports detailing how the sites in each watershed performed throughout the 2024 season can be found at shorerivers.org/technical-documents.

“Over the past four years, ShoreRivers has grown this program from 32 testing sites across our region to more than 50, made our communications bilingual, and installed informational signs in many access locations to connect the public to our data in real time,” says Chester Riverkeeper Annie Richards. “We are incredibly proud of this effort, and our growth is a testament to how much our communities value and respond to this critical data. Bacteria levels have a direct impact on how we recreate in these waterways, and it’s up to all of us to find solutions.”

New for this year was the creation of the first ever Bacteria Blitz, where ShoreRivers’ members were invited to collect water samples from their own property or at their favorite swimming area for testing. The goal was to offer the community a chance to see a snapshot of what the bacteria levels looked like off their property while providing our Riverkeepers with insight as to where else high bacteria levels are found outside of the sites that are routinely sampled. Results of the Blitz (conducted on a day when light rain was recorded 24–28 hours prior at most sites) showed that of the 52 samples collected and processed, 34% failed to meet the recreational water quality.

“Our ability to swim in our rivers shouldn’t be taken away because of pollution,” said Choptank Riverkeeper Matt Pluta, who also serves as ShoreRivers’ Director of Riverkeeper Programs. “This program was incredibly valuable in understanding where bacteria issues exist outside of our normal testing sites so we can start to dig into finding and eliminating any potential sources.”

Bacteria typically comes from local sources like failing septic systems and faulty sewer lines, pet and animal waste left along the shoreline or washed in with stormwater runoff, and the use of some organic fertilizers like poultry manure. All participants with the Blitz were provided their own results, plus information on how to connect with their health department, and resources available for addressing issues stemming from septic systems and other known sources of bacteria pollution. Based on the interest in, and success of, this effort, ShoreRivers hopes to offer the Bacteria Blitz again next season.

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ShoreRivers protects Maryland’s Eastern Shore waterways through science-based advocacy, restoration, education, and engagement.

shorerivers.org

 

ShoreRivers is proud to announce that its highly anticipated fall Rendezvous event is returning for a third year, with guests invited to the Farmstead at Kent Island Resort on Sunday, October 20, from 1–4pm.

Secure your spot now to enjoy an autumn afternoon on Thompson Creek while celebrating the people and programs of ShoreRivers. A premium open bar, lively Americana music graciously provided by Easton-based music group Ampersand, and a thoughtfully curated seasonal menu will be served.

“Connecting ShoreRivers’ work to some of the best things our rivers have to offer — delicious, regional fare, an exceptional atmosphere, and passionate advocates — is key to restoring and protecting these waterways,” says Executive Director Isabel Hardesty. Guests will have the chance to underwrite the impact of that work in priority local conservation efforts through four engaging program stations. We’re grateful for the early support of lead sponsors Watson/Stone Family Foundation, Timothy & Lisa Wyman, and Full Sail Media to make this fun and purposeful event possible.

To add to the festivities, ShoreRivers will present its annual Award for Environmental Stewardship to William A. Anderson, II in recognition of his influential role as a local leader. Anderson has served as a lead advocate on environmental issues at the federal level in Washington, DC and in the Mid-Shore region of Maryland’s Eastern Shore since the passage of the Clean Water Act in 1972. A ShoreRivers board member for five years and former Vice Chair, he has graciously lent his expertise on numerous, important advocacy issues. We’re proud to recognize the significant amount of time and effort he has put in to support ShoreRivers, and to fight on behalf of what’s right for the rivers we all cherish.

Sponsorship opportunities (which include promotional recognition and complimentary tickets), and general tickets are available. Visit shorerivers.org/events to secure your spot, or email Rebekah at [email protected] for details.

All funds raised through sponsorships, ticket sales, and donations support healthier waterways through ShoreRivers’ focused mission of science-based advocacy, restoration, education, and engagement.

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shorerivers.org

 

ShoreRivers is proud to announce a new partnership with Caroline County Recreation and Parks to co-develop and implement programming where fifth-grade students will investigate the question: “are our rivers swimmable and fishable?” Planning stages for this new initiative have already begun, and programming will take place next summer.

Through this program, students will learn about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) while also building leadership and advocacy skills by participating in exciting hands-on learning activities and connecting to nature. Highlights of the program include visiting multiple county parks; conducting biological, chemical, and physical assessments of water quality; canoeing; fishing for invasive species using state catch and consumption advisories; engaging with scientists and other environmental careers; and planning and implementing student-driven action projects.

Funding for this exciting new program is also coming from a new source for ShoreRivers. The North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE), in collaboration with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and supported by $1.1 million from the U.S. Department of Education, is now working with 12 environmental education organizations to offer engaging after-school watershed-focused STEM programs.

“This funding enables us to ignite in our youth a passion for their local waterways, ultimately inspiring a new generation of environmental stewards through hands-on exploration of the Choptank and Nanticoke rivers,” said Morgan Buchanan, ShoreRivers’ Education Programs Coordinator. “ShoreRivers is thrilled for this new partnership with Caroline County Recreation and Parks and to be working together to cultivate a community of students who have a critical understanding of how our actions on land directly impact the health of our rivers.”

The grant funding for this program, administered by NAAEE and running from 2024–2025, supports environmental education organizations collaborating directly with state designated Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers and their students, many of whom live in underserved areas. Caroline County Recreation and Parks operates one of only three 21st Century Community Learning Centers on the Eastern Shore.

“Many of the children we work with are woefully disconnected from the waterways that surround and run through our county,” said Danny Mitchell, Program Services Director for Caroline County Recreation and Parks. “Working with ShoreRivers allows us to start addressing that disconnect, while also meeting our goal of working with content experts to bring unique opportunities and experiences to our summer campers.”

In addition to providing year-round recreation opportunities, maintaining nearly 500 acres of public land, and managing over $9 million in capital projects and grants, Caroline County Recreation and Parks serves over 1,000 students each year through comprehensive out of school time programming taking place afterschool and in summer camps operating in elementary schools across the county. Visit carolinerecreation.org to learn more. Caroline County Summer Learning Centers are funded through the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers Maryland Out-of-School Time Programs for the Future grant program administered by the Maryland State Department of Education. In accordance with the Maryland State Department of Education’s policy, 21st Century Community Learning Centers programs do not discriminate on the basis of age, ancestry, color, creed, gender identity and expression, genetic information, marital status, disability, national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation in matters affecting employment or in providing access to programs.

ShoreRivers is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting Maryland’s Eastern Shore waterways through science-based advocacy, restoration, education, and engagement. We lead a robust environmental education program that serves more than 2,500 third-grade and high school biology students every year in Dorchester, Talbot, Queen Anne’s, and Kent county schools, and provide students with a Meaningful Watershed Education Experience (MWEE) — a Maryland State graduation requirement. ShoreRivers leads classroom lessons, field experiences, community-focused action projects, and teacher professional development. Learn more at shorerivers.org/education.

Along with summer swimming comes ShoreRivers Bacteria Monitoring season. It is advised that people not swim 24-48 hours after a major rain.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Celebrate the end of summer with ShoreRivers at the Shaw Bay Raft-Up Concert from 3–6 pm on Saturday, September 7. The Eastport Oyster Boys will be making their 21^st appearance and the Wye River Band will be back for their fifth at this free concert, which aims to raise funds and awareness for clean water efforts on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

This annual benefit concert is a must for mariners of all kinds. Boat in to Shaw Bay near the mouth of the Wye River and then join the floating raft up on your dinghy, paddle board, or kayak to enjoy a front row seat to the live concert. Visit shorerivers.org/events to find sponsorship opportunities, a map of nearby locations from which to launch your vessel, and to sign up to receive text updates on the event.

While the concert is free, donations are welcome, with all proceeds helping to promote the clean water initiatives of ShoreRivers on the Miles and Wye rivers and in Eastern Bay. ShoreRivers is grateful for the generous sponsorship of John & Jill Murray, St. Michaels Marina, Bosun’s Marine, and Leigh Family & Cosmetic Dentistry.

ShoreRivers is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting Maryland’s Eastern Shore waterways through science-based advocacy, restoration, education, and engagement. Our local waterways are polluted by excess nutrients and sediment that run off of urban, suburban, agricultural, and commercial land. ShoreRivers is dedicated to implementing real solutions through programs and projects to improve the health of these waterways. To learn more, please visit shorerivers.org.

To sign up to receive Shaw Bay Raft-Up Concert updates, text shawbayconcert to 443.302.3844. Event questions may be directed to Courtney Leigh at [email protected].

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On Sunday, September 15, ShoreRivers will host its 20^th Ride for Clean Rivers—a chance for cyclists to ride the beautiful back roads of Talbot and Queen Anne’s counties in support of the organization’s work for thriving rivers cherished by all Eastern Shore communities.

Riders of all ages and levels are welcome to register for fully supported Metric Century (62-mile), 35-mile, or 20-mile routes. All routes begin and end at Chesapeake College in Wye Mills and include SAG support from Queen Anne’s County Amateur Radio Club, and rest stops with food and drink from Sprout.

Staggered group send-offs at 8am and 9am will include a police escort across Route 50. Upon returning to the college campus, riders and volunteers will enjoy a boxed lunch from Sprout and beer from Ten Eyck Brewery. Participants are also encouraged to join teams and create their own fundraising pages to boost support for their ride from others.

ShoreRivers extends special thanks to these partners: Chesapeake College, Sprout, Bike Doctor Kent Island, Ten Eyck Brewing Company, TriCycle & Run, as well as volunteers from the Talbot Skipjacks 4-H Club, and Queen Anne’s County Amateur Radio Club.

All proceeds from this event support ShoreRivers’ science-based advocacy, restoration, education, and engagement programs. Registration prices will increase as the event nears, so sign up now! To register as a rider or sponsor, visit shorerivers.org/event/rideforcleanrivers2024. Any questions can be directed to Lindsey at [email protected].

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ShoreRivers protects and restores Maryland’s Eastern Shore waterways through science-based advocacy, restoration, education, and engagement. `shorerivers.org

 

ShoreRivers is pleased to announce its Swimmable ShoreRivers bacteria testing program will return for the season on Thursday, May 23, and that weekly results from this annual program will once again be available this year in both English and Spanish.

Every summer, ShoreRivers deploys a team of community scientists to monitor bacteria levels at popular swimming and boating sites to provide important human health risk information to the public. Their samples are then processed, according to standard scientific protocols, in ShoreRivers in-house labs. The program follows the Environmental Protection Agency’s standard protocols for collecting and analyzing samples and makes public the results of that testing to let people know about current bacteria levels as they make their plans for recreating in our waterways. Results are posted every Friday, between Memorial Day and Labor Day, at shorerivers.org/swim and on both the organization’s and its individual Riverkeepers’ social media pages.

A second page, shorerivers.org/swimmable-shorerivers-espanol, was set up last year to share this program with the Spanish-speaking community, and 14 signs can be found at public sites around the Eastern Shore that explain the goals of the Swimmable ShoreRivers program and show users where to find weekly results in both English and Spanish. These signs (and the program at large) are made possible thanks to funding from the Cornell Douglas Foundation, and ShoreRivers’ Riverkeepers will continue working with local county officials to install more.

Weekly results are also shared on theswimguide.org, where descriptions of testing sites are available in both languages. This public service is a true community effort: this summer, 67 SwimTesters will monitor 50 sites on the Choptank, Miles, Wye, Chester, and Sassafras rivers; Eastern Bay; and the Bayside Creeks. Special thanks go to our generous site sponsors, who include towns, marinas, homeowners associations, and families.

The Swimmable ShoreRivers program serves our community in a way that no other program, organization, agency, or data set does. In Maryland, if the state or local government designates an area as a swimming beach, then bacteria monitoring and reporting is required. However, a major gap exists on the Eastern Shore as very few areas are designated swimming beaches, and the results from those that are, are rarely posted publicly or in a timely manner.

“We work with our local community every day, and we know they’re interacting with our rivers in dozens of locations from Dorchester to Cecil County,” says Matt Pluta, Director of Riverkeeper Programs at ShoreRivers. “It’s our goal to make sure those individuals have available to them the information they need to know—namely, whether the water is safe for them to recreate in from a bacteria pollution standpoint. Swimmable ShoreRivers strives to enhance physical access to our local rivers, as well as access to data and information to help our community make informed decisions about how, when, and where we choose to enjoy our incredible natural resources.”

Also returning for the 2024 season is ShoreRivers’ Pumpout Boat. The Pumpout Boat is a free service offered on the Miles and Wye rivers, that docks at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels and operates from May to mid-November. With your help, this boat will help prevent more than 20,000 gallons of concentrated marine waste from entering our waters annually. To schedule a pump-out, contact Captain Jim Freeman at 410-829-4352, on VHF Channel 9, email [email protected], or by using the form at shorerivers.org/programs/pumpout-boat.

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ShoreRivers protects and restores Eastern Shore waterways through science-based advocacy, restoration, and education.

shorerivers.org