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SOMD Conservation Alliance Launches with Hope for Consolidated Land Preservation Efforts

September 16, 2021 By Alyssa Matanin

By Mary Hoover, Chesapeake Conservation Corps Member 2021/22

The Southern Maryland Conservation Alliance (SMCA) held a successful launch early September, after months of careful planning and preparation. Representatives from land trusts, conservation groups, and other Southern Maryland environmental organizations met on Tuesday, September 7th at Serenity Farm to further learn about and support the new coalition, which aims to transcend county lines and consolidate the voices of these smaller conservation actors. Featuring speeches from Joel Dunn, Buddy Hance, and Wendy Stringfellow, the launch advanced the Alliance’s mission “to conserve and restore Southern Maryland’s landscapes, waterways, and shorelines that are special to its people, fundamental to its economy, reflected in its culture, and vital for its native fish, wildlife, and plants, on which we rely”. John Turgeon, director of the Maryland Environmental Trust, key partner in the success of the launch and early adopter of the Alliance opened the event with a greeting and introductions for the speakers for the day.

Joel Dunn, President and CEO of the Chesapeake Conservancy kickstarted the lineup, pleading a fiery case for the need to conserve Southern Maryland’s landscape. “There is so much urgency in the effort here to protect Southern Maryland,” said Dunn. In light of the most recent IPCC report which issued a code red for the climate, Dunn is not alone in feeling the gravity of environmental efforts such as those promised by SMCA.

Southern Maryland is a crucial target for conservation efforts in the face of this climate emergency. From an environmental standpoint, the Southern Maryland landscape is invaluable. A combination of factors, including vast forests, soil construction, and geological makeup award this region a highly “resilient” characterization, according to The Nature Conservancy. Essentially, Southern Maryland is a high-priority site for conservation, given its unique capacity to preserve biodiversity, exhibiting “resilience” despite a changing climate. “It is okay for us to be ambitious and it’s okay for us to be relentless,” Dunn assured the alliance members, “We need to be that glimmer of hope – a glimmer of hope that we can address that code red.”

Dunn was followed by Buddy Hance, President of the Calvert County Board of County Commissioners and former Secretary of Maryland Department of Agriculture, who voiced economic support for the preservation of Southern Maryland’s landscapes.

Hance said, “preservation is the cheapest route we can take. In Calvert we need to do a better job to preserve what we can and while we can.” Hance argued that extensive development of rural lands in Calvert county could diminish the rural appeal which attracts both residents and visitors. Protecting from such development would prove an economic advantage for the county in addition to an environmental one.

The final guest speaker was President of Forever Maryland Wendy Stringfellow. Following the previous speeches which provided environmental and economic support for land preservation, Stringfellow concluded by upholding land trusts as “uniquely suited to preserve land.” Land trusts, according to Stringfellow, “are doing much more than conservation. Local land trusts are directly connecting people to the land.” Among the attendees at Tuesday’s launch were representatives from various Southern Maryland land trusts, including American Chestnut Land Trust, Black Swamp Creek Land Trust, Cove Point Natural Heritage Trust, Scenic Rivers Land Trust, Calvert Nature Society, Conservancy of Charles County, Patuxent Tidewater Land Trust, Maryland Environmental Trust, Land Trust Alliance and other affiliate groups and members. By providing the protection and services they do, land trusts are expected to be a key actor in SMCA going forward.

Greg Bowen, Executive Director of the American Chestnut Land Trust closed out the event, stating “…rivers, creeks, wildlife areas, fisheries and wildlife corridors cross county lines. Coordination can be a problem (…) too many of our resources are becoming fragmented and key watersheds are becoming impacted. Land owners, if given the good options, will do the right thing, but we need more funding to protect all that we hold dear. Together, we have a larger voice. Together we can reach out to more people. Together, we can work on our common objectives, and we can celebrate our wins,”

Tuesday’s launch was a hopeful beginning for the Southern Maryland Conservation Alliance, and there is much work to be done from here. Through a concerted effort by SMCA members, Southern Maryland can be a “place where native fish, wildlife and plants thrive, and the fabric of healthy natural and working lands and waters enrich communities of those who live, work and play here” (SMCA vision statement).

Introducing the Friends of Hunting Creek

September 13, 2021 By Alyssa Matanin

By Ron Klauda and Alyssa Matanin

There’s a new environmental stewardship group in town. Formed in early 2020 under the umbrella of the American Chestnut Land Trust, the Friends of Hunting Creek (FOHC) envision a future where current residents and future generations act as stewards of a balanced ecosystem functioning sustainably within a healthy, resilient Hunting Creek watershed. The Mission of the FOHC is to promote the ecological health and resiliency of the watershed’s 50 miles of streams and landscape so that landowners, citizens, government agencies, and elected officials together take an active role in protecting and sustaining the natural and cultural resources.

Draining over 19,000 acres of central Calvert County, still 57% forested, and home to almost 9,400 people, the FOHC are keeping watch over the largest watershed on “The Pleasant Peninsula”. At least 50 miles of streams arise, meander, and merge into the mainstem of Hunting Creek before it empties into the Patuxent River between Mallard Point and Potts Point. The eastern, western, and southern portions of the Prince Frederick Town Center drain through several tributaries into Hunting Creek. With a current imperviousness of 6.0%, the watershed is approaching a tipping point where water quality and ecological health of the mainstem Hunting Creek and its 50+ miles of tributary streams could be harmed by more development that results in forest loss, increased storm water runoff, and soil erosion.

In addition to meeting almost monthly, the FOHC has organized and hosted at least 2 paddle events per year. The paddles provide an opportunity for current friends to connect and build camaraderie, while also offering newcomers an opportunity to view the creek from a new perspective, building an appreciation and concern for the waterways of Hunting Creek. The FOHC has a Facebook page that is updated with relevant events, updates, and publications from group members and related organizations. They will also soon have their own webpage to serve as an archive for documents, maps, and general information about the creek and the group.

To pursue the FOHC’s goal to expand the scientific understanding of our land and water resources, volunteers with the FOHC conducted our first Water Quality Blitz on April 3, 2021. This monitoring effort yielded measurements of total nitrogen (expressed as NO23) at 10 non-tidal stream sites spread across the Hunting Creek watershed. The Blitz also yielded measurements of water temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, dissolved oxygen saturation, and pH at two of the 10 stream sites, plus at four additional sites. In addition, current velocity was measured at four stream sites, permitting us to calculate flow (discharge). Here’s a link to the 2021 Water Quality Blitz report.

Future water quality monitoring in the Hunting Creek watershed should include (a) resampling all 2021 stream sites on some meaningful and doable frequency, (b) sampling additional sites in portions of the watershed that have not been sampled, (c) measuring current velocity at all sampled sites so flows can be calculated and nitrogen loads can be estimated, and (d) ranking the tributary streams with respect to their water volume contributions to the mainstem Hunting Creek. To guide and implement these water monitoring goals, the FOHC recently formed a Water Monitoring Committee.

To pursue another FOHC goal that is aimed at engaging citizens and encouraging them to observe, document, and act to prevent adverse environmental impacts, FOHC members are attending meetings of the County’s Planning Commission and Environmental Commission to learn about, ask questions, and comment on proposed development projects in the Hunting Creek watershed. To pursue collaborative efforts and activities among watershed residents, government agencies, and local officials to make informed land use decisions and achieve common goals, FOHC members comment on and provide input to the draft of the 2021 Prince Frederick Town Center Master Plan update.

With a current membership of 36 the FOHC intends to promote and celebrate the Hunting Creek watershed as a natural, recreational, aesthetic, and economic resource. We also want our membership to enlist the help of more watershed residents. If you live in the Hunting Creek watershed and want to get involved with the FOHC, send an email to alyssa@acltweb.org and ask to be added to the FOHC mailing list, or click this link to register. Not sure if you live in the Hunting Creek watershed? Click on this link, follow the directions, type in the address of your residence, and you’ll quickly find out.

The Secret Lives of Insects #8

July 20, 2021 By crm

Dragonflies: Jewels of the Insect World

By Judy Ferris, Master Naturalist & Guest Blogger

While brightly colored insects are noticed and admired, Dragonflies are the true jewels of the insect world. Their wings shimmer in a glittering array of patterns. Their huge eyes glow like gems and their bodies are colorfully painted. Add to this their extraordinary flight capabilities and clearly, this is no ordinary creature!

To scrutinize a Dragonfly is to peer into the past. Starting with the head, we note that unlike nearly all insects today, dragonflies have minimal antennae. Their vision, however, is acute. Massive compound eyes encompass nearly their entire head. Each eye has about 30,000 facets; receptors which bring visual information to the dragonfly’s brain. (Olberg 2009) Additional adaptations ensure that their color vision is probably better than ours! (Ryo Futahashi et. al 2014) How generous of Mother Nature to endow a 320 million-year old species with vision that modern insects, and even humans, would envy. Ever had trouble sneaking up on a dragonfly? Now you know why! 60,000 eye facets are monitoring your every move!

But nature’s gifts don’t stop at the dragonfly’s head. Its legs are one of the secrets of its success. A dragonfly’s thorax is specially modified to accommodate all of its legs up front. Pushing the legs forward in this way essentially makes the dragonfly into a flying basket for scooping up food. Spiny legs ensure that no insect escapes capture. The dragonfly then, snags prey on the wing, uses its mouth to rip off the wings so that the captive can’t escape, and feasts on its victim without ever having to land. What does a dragonfly eat? Glad you asked! Dragonflies are exclusively carnivores. Mosquitoes and midges are dietary staples, but anything that can be captured in the air, including Deer Flies, Butterflies, and other dragonflies, is fair game.

Watch this 1-minute video of a dragonfly eating a mosquito. Note the positioning of the dragonfly‘s legs; basket-like and perfect for capturing prey.

Folks who study insects consider dragonflies to be ‘primitive winged’ because unlike modern insects, dragonflies are unable to fold their wings when not in use. Their wings are forever held out at a 90-degree angle to the body. Ah, but this is not just any old set of wings! The front and rear wings of a dragonfly are able to act independently from one another. This unique wing configuration is the reason that dragonflies are Masters Of The Air. They can hover like helicopters, turn on a dime, and dart swiftly from a standing start. Today’s modern insects flap their wings at a speed of about 1000 flaps per minute. Dragonflies? Hardly raise a sweat; flapping only 30 flaps per minute. These amazing flight capabilities are yet another source of envy for today’s insects! Perhaps primitive’ is not so bad after all!

Click below to watch a beautiful slow-motion video by BBC of a dragonfly in flight. 1 ½ minutes in length.

Dragonflies are superb hunters. But mighty though they may be, after hundreds of millions of years, they still remain tied to the water. Dragonfly nymphs (larvae) develop in water for months and sometimes years before becoming adults. You might expect dragonfly babies to be elegant and artistic. But NO! Dragonfly nymphs are the stuff of horror movies! Imagine a small (1/4 to 1 ½ inches long), crayfish-like creature with a large head containing a lethal lower lip (labium). The nymph’s lower lip is hinged, rather like bending your arm and tucking it in to your chest. The lip can shoot out, snag prey, and drag it back into the mouth so fast that if you blink, you’ll miss it!

To check this out for yourself, watch this excellent 3-minute video from PBS ‘Curiosity Stream’ on dragonfly adults and nymphs.

Dragonfly nymphs eat the larvae of mosquitoes and mayflies, as well as tadpoles, and even small minnows. The nymphs themselves, of course, are a favorite food of frogs, fish, and snakes. It is estimated that the mortality rate of dragonfly nymphs may be as high as 99%! (Arnett 2000). Thus, no matter how lethal your lip is, if you are a nymph, it pays to have a good escape strategy. Mother Nature had to work hard on this one but as always, came up with a novel solution.

1. A dragonfly nymph has gills in its rectum. Thus, the nymph continually takes water in and out through its anus to breathe. [No. I am not making this up!]
2. If threatened, the nymph uses the powerful muscles of its rectum to blast water out of the anus.
3. Whoosh! Powered by the blast, the nymph is jet-propelled at high speed away from danger, leaving only a camouflaging plume of disturbed debris in its wake!

Dragonflies were perfect when they were created 320 million years ago and remain so to this day. In both the larval and adult stage they are master predators; helping keep mosquitoes, flies, and other pests in check. They also serve as an important food source for other creatures. Dragonflies are good indicators of a healthy environment and clean water. How wondrous that these jewel-like super-predators, capable of astonishing aerobatic and aquatic feats, still share our world and bedazzle us today.

It ‘s easy to be smitten by these astonishing insects! If you would like to learn how to attract dragonflies to your yard, check out the link below.

Tree hugger; “How to Create a Dragonfly Garden”

https://www.treehugger.com/how-create-dragonfly-garden-4863982

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Take the Buy Local Challenge and Please Your Palate!

July 15, 2021 By crm

By Greg Bowen, Executive Director

This little green peninsula known as Calvert County is emerging as a local food paradise and summer is the time to experience it. Sweet corn, tomatoes, peppers, squash and berries are in! There is also local beef, pork, and poultry from the land and seafood from the Patuxent River and Chesapeake Bay. And oh my, the food is fresh and tasty!

The French call it terroir, a term used to describe the environmental factors that affect a crop’s flavor or ‘phenotype’, including unique environment conditions, farming practices and a crop’s specific growth habitat. All together, these characteristics are said to create a unique taste. Drinks or foods that exhibit terroir include coffee, wine, tomatoes, heritage wheat, chilli peppers, and oysters.

Locally sourced foods seemed even more important than just great flavor last year, when store shelves emptied and were not replenished right away. It gave us all a taste of how fragile the global food chain can be in a pandemic or war where ships or planes stop flying-in the huge percentage of food that arrives from outside our nation’s borders. It added to the notion of food insecurity.

Have you ever noticed that a locally sourced food or drink tastes better grown here in Calvert than from any land or water source that you know?

Calvert County residents may not appreciate how lucky they are. In addition to farmers markets, roadside stands, and CSAs located throughout the county, we have Chesapeake’s Bounty which aggregates vegetables, meats, and seafood from the Chesapeake Bay region to supply foods still not produced in Calvert, like dairy products, apples, and specialty crops only suited to certain parts of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Year round, you can find food and drink to meet all of your dietary needs at their two locations: 6415 St Leonard Rd, St Leonard, MD and 9124 Bay Ave, North Beach.

If you want to “pick your own”, you must check out Swann Farms, located in Owings. They are currently offering pick-your-own blueberries and blackberries, as well as a full range of produce at their farmstand.

Chesapeake’s Bounty and Swann Farms are just two examples from the wide variety of local foods available in Calvert County. You can find nearly unlimited options for purchasing local foods on the County’s website here: https://www.calvertag.com/

Our ongoing event, Passport to Preservation, is a great way to “buy local”! Get your passport by registering here, get it stamped at one of the eight participating wineries and breweries, and enjoy discounts and the chance to win great prizes – all while supporting local agricultural-based businesses!

Take the Pledge and share your experience on our Facebook page! Tag it with #buylocalchallenge and you’ll be automatically entered to win an insulated tote bag to haul your local goodies in!

Bon appetit!

The Secret Lives of Insects #7

July 6, 2021 By crm

Meet Your New Neighbors! Wheel Bugs!

By Judy Ferris, Master Naturalist & Guest Blogger

Recently, you may have seen tiny black insects – slender-legged, with brilliant red butts which point skyward, and yellow tips on their black antennae. Congratulations on spotting a Wheel Bug nymph!

Adult Wheel Bugs mate in autumn; the time of year when you are most likely to see them in their adult form. After mating, females lay up to 200 eggs on trees, bushes, porch railings, and other objects. In spring, usually in early May, Wheel Bug babies erupt, enmasse, from their egg cases. The results can be quite startling!

The tiny nymphs are downright cute. Already, however, they are armed with that signature fierce, hollow beak known as a rostrum. The rostrum is the Wheel Bug‘s primary weapon as well as its only means of sucking up food. Luckily, unless a meal or danger is in the offing, the rostrum is kept tightly tucked beneath the bug‘s chin. If disturbed, however, even small nymphs can unleash their rostrum to deliver a painful bite.

Wheel Bug nymphs generally hatch in early May. They have a topsy-turvy life before they become awe-inspiring adults. The youngsters must undergo 5 molts or instars, shedding their exoskeleton each time. This gradual metamorphosis toward adulthood sounds worse than puberty! The average length of each molt is roughly 19 days. Thus, it takes about 94 days for the nymphs reach maturity. (Hagerty & McPherson 2000) The final molt generally occurs in July. All too soon, our cute little nymphs say good bye to their idyllic childhood and transform into intimidating adults.

Wheel Bugs ( Arilus cristatus ) are large members of the Assassin Bug (Reduviidae) family. It‘s quite possible that when Wheel Bugs were created, Mother Nature delegated the task to a committee. That‘s the only way to explain the Wheel Bug‘s hodge-podge assemblage of mis-matched insect parts! Unfortunately, the committee itself may have fallen prey to yet another reorganization. Disbanded, perhaps, before it properly completed its work. The adult Wheel Bug‘s abdomen is capacious and resembles the hull of a boat. Wings rest atop the back deck. Although Wheel Bugs can fly, they are low and slow – sputtering awkwardly like a wounded drone about to crash. At the forward end of the bug‘s hull perches an improbable armored wheel. The exact purpose of this intimidating apparatus is unknown. Perhaps it was a leftover part from some other committee project. As for the Wheel Bug‘s head? Delayed in shipping! Thus leaving the committee to make do with whatever parts were available. The result is a tiny, dowel-like head which seems far too small for the rest of the body. The good news? No expense was spared on the Wheel Bug‘s primary offensive weapons; its legs, antennae, and that all-important rostrum.

Wheel Bugs are shy creatures and are generally oblivious to humans. On foot and in the air they are clumsy and slow. They are well camouflaged and often lurk in leafy areas or places with flowers where insects abound. In ambush, the Wheel Bug uses its strong front legs to pin its victim and immobilize it. Untucking its rostrum, it stabs the unfortunate prey and injects a chemical cocktail of meat-dissolving enzymes which quickly disables the victim and liquefies its innards. A multi-purpose tool, the rostrum is then used as a straw to suck up the fresh Insect Smoothie!

For you adventurous types, below is a a short video: Wheel Bug vs Green Clover Caterpillar. 1 minute 30 seconds. Does not end well for the caterpillar.

In the past, Wheel Bug sightings were unusual. You may be surprised to know that in recent years, sightings of adult and nymph Wheel Bugs are increasing significantly in the Mid-Atlantic. Especially near homes, offices, and other man-made structures. Why? Blame it on Stink Bugs! Specifically, the invasive Brown Marmorated Stink Bug. This new item on the menu of Wheel Bugs arrived from Asia in the late 1990‘s – probably a stowaway in a cargo ship. In only a few decades, it has munched its way into 40 states, feasting on vegetables, fruits, and ornamentals.

Wheel Bugs are not picky eaters and as it happens, their adult life cycle coincides with the time of year (autumn) when Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs seek shelter for the winter. Cracks and crevices in our homes make perfect winter hide-outs for Stink Bugs! As Stink Bugs gravitate toward buildings in search of a cozy spot to escape the cold, right behind them or sometimes already waiting for them are Wheel Bugs. According to Dr. Mike Raupp of University of Maryland, with so much new prey (Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs) available, Wheel Bugs (predators) have increased their numbers accordingly. Clearly, the Wheel Bug is an insect that we must learn to live with.

HOW TO LIVE HAPPILY WITH WHEEL BUGS:

First, let‘s talk about that bite. It can be bad. Worse than a bee or wasp sting and lasts longer. Both adults and nymphs will bite if threatened. Nevertheless, Wheel Bugs are tranquil creatures by nature and will happily ignore you unless they are threatened. Best bet is to observe but do not touch!
Wheel Bugs are apex garden predators! Like a lion of the insect world. They are an indicator that your landscape is healthy. Be proud of them! Their menu includes caterpillars, beetles (yes, even the Japanese Beetles!), cabbage worms, tent caterpillars, Mexican bean beetles, stink bugs, aphids, cabbage worms, Colorado potato beetle, cucumber beetles, cutworms, earwigs, and tomato hornworms. The very definition of a Beneficial Garden Insect!

Wheel Bugs are here to stay. We humans can assist them by providing healthy, pesticide-free landscapes for them to live in. They, in turn, will rid our gardens of an assortment of insect pests as long as we simply leave them alone to do their work. Seems like a good bargain to me!