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United States Office of Research and EPA/600/R-96/052 Environmental Protection Development May 1996 Agency Washington DC 20460 100ro c eew', di n g 1@ 0 C7 Delmarva's Coastal Eos'ay Watersheds,, &IN Not IYet Up the Creek A Conference on E colog, and Econom y Y/ March 8-9, 1996 Ocean City, MD GE 155 .D3 P76 1996 EPA/600/R-96/052 May 1996 Proceedings Delmarva's Coastal Bay Watersheds: Not Yet Up The Creek A Conference on Ecology and Economy Edited by I(imberly Beidler,* Patricia Gant," Marsha Ramsay* and Gwynne Schultz' *JACA Corporation Fort Washington, PA "U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Annapolis, MD 21401 *Assateague Coastal Trust Berlin, MD 21811 "Maryland Department of Natural Resources Annapolis, MD 21401 March 8-9, 1996 Ocean City, MD United States Environmental Protection Agency National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory Atlantic Ecology Division 27 Tarzwell Drive Narrangansett, RI 02882 Printed on Reqvied Paper ABSTRACT On March 8-9 1996, 269 people attended the Delmarva Coastal Bay Watersheds Conference in Ocean City, Maryland. The purpose of the conference was to provide a forum for citizens, elected and appointed officials and other decisionmakers, and special interest representatives to discuss the economic and environmental state of the Delmarva coastal watersheds and to determine further continuing actions and activities. The design of the conference provided a unique opportunity for citizens in the Delmarva region to express their ideas and to apply their collective wisdom to begin to formulate strategies that will integrate economic, environmental, scientific and social considerations toward achieving a sustainable future. The conference goals were: 1. To promote the concept of balancing economic well being and environmental protection and demonstrate why we should care about the coastal bays and their watersheds. 2. To encourage and secure stakeholder involvement. 3. To hear about and share local perspectives on the coastal bays and their watersheds. 4. To impart scientific information about the coastal bays and their watersheds. 5. To inform participants about the National Estuary Program and other models as vehicles for problem solving. 6. To help launch Maryland's National Estuary Program (NEP). 7. To help Delaware's Center for the Inland Bays increase public involvement. 8. To transfer lessons and encourage Virginia's participation in a Delmarva c6astal bays coalition. 9. To use a conference report/summary to help communicate stakeholder views to decisionmakers. 10. To establish next steps: Where do we go from here? It was understood that these goals were very ambitious and that this conference wo@@Jd open the door to future conferences, meetings and workshops - locally, Delmarva-wide and state-by-state. Future activities are now being determined in large part by citizen input to a pr@,-conference questionnaire (see page 28), by the 83 (31 percent) evaluation forms that were turn@:d in at the conference (see Appendix B), and the questions raised during the conference (see App6dix Q. Page H DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 192 Conference PREFACE The appropriate citation for this report is: Beidler, K., P. Gant, M. Ramsay, and G. Schultz, 1996. Proceedings - Delmarva's Coastal Bay Watersheds: Not Yet Up the Creek. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Atlantic Ecology Division, Narrangansett, RI. EPA/600/R-95/052. This report is AED Contribution Number 1787. DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Page iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AGENDA PLANNING COMMITTEE Dr. Warren Flint, The Eastern Shore Institute Rick Johnstone, Delmarva Power Dr. Frederick Kutz, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Dr. Kent Price, Delaware Center for the Inland Bays Marsha Ramsay, Assateague Coastal Trust Gwynne Schultz, Maryland Department of Natural Resources CONFERENCE DONORS [WHO Delmarva Power and Light m 1--u-1 L-2 r Of MAA All Maryland Department of Natural Resources (thro gh grants from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U . S. Environmental Protection Agency) am This conference and proceedings were funded in part by the Coastal Zone Management Program of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources pursuant to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Award No. NA470ZO 132. The views expressed here are those of the presenters and do not necessarily reflect e (Oaf those of the sponsoring agencies. Northampton County, VA South Moon Under ,0-0 0-&F%gt@ 1404 Page iv DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference ANVIL %_0 Delaware Center for the Inland Bays INLAND ]B.^.i."Y@s ROMOWANNON@ PROCEEDINGS DONORS U.S. Anny Corps of Engineers ,let) 8rq),, U.S. Enviromnental Protection Agency OW10 PROO-e OF MAI? Maryland Department of Natural Resources NATIONAL PARK SERVICE National Park Service Ocean City, MD Worcester County, MD FM e@'g*a )ZAL PARK V, k SUER CE ANIF- --44nkk to 711011@zlm DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Page v CONTENTS ABSTRACT ...................................................... ii PREFACE ....................................................... iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ............................................ iv AGENDA ........................................................ I MAP OF DELMARVA PENINSULA ..................................... 5 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS Call to Order and Introductions, Marsha Ramsay, President, Assateague Coastal Trust ......................................... 6 Welcome, James Barrett, President, Board of Worcester County Commissioners .......................................... 8 Opening Remarks and Introduction of Keynote Speaker, W. Michael McCabe, Regional Administrator, EPA Region III ............... 9 PRESENTATIONS A Framework for Theory and Practice in Landscape Planning: Alternative Futures for Monroe County, Dr. Carl Steinitz, Alexander and Victoria Wiley Professor of Landscape Architecture and Planning, Harvard Graduate School of Design (Presented by Madis Pihlak Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, University of Maryland) ....................... I I Panel Discussion: Changing Conditions in the Delmarva Coastal Bay Watersheds: Linking People, Economics, and Environment Sussex County, DE, Robert Stickels, Sussex County Administrator, Sussex County, DE ....................... 14 Worcester County, MD, Phil Hager, Worcester County Planning Department ......................... 20 Page A DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Accomack-Northampton Planning District Commission, James McGowan, Planner ......................... 25 Report on Pre-Conf6rence Questionnaire on Public Perceptions, James M. Falk University of Delaware, Sea Grant Marine Advisory Service ................................. 28 Sustainable Development: A Framework for a New Century, Peggy Duxbury, President's Council on Sustainable Development ................................ 32 Report on Breakout Groups to Develop a Common Vision for Achieving Both Healthy Economy and Environment, Focusing on Specific Coastal Issues ......................................... 36 State of Maryland Remarks, Verna Harrison, Assistant Secretary, Maryland Department of Natural Resources .................... 45 Panel Discussion: What is the Environmental and Economic Status of the Coastal Bays and Their Watersheds? Environmental Health of the Delmarva Coastal Bays and Their Watersheds, Dr. Frederick Kutz, ORD Regional Scientist, EPA Region X ........................ 46 Economic Status of Fisheries and Aquaculture, John Dunnigan, Executive Director, Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission ........................... 53 Delmarva's Tourism Industry, Lisa Challenger, Worcester Tourism ....................................... 56 Agriculture and Forestry, John Tarburton, Secretary, Delaware Department of Agriculture ................... 58 Question and Answer Session ................................ 60 Panel Discussion: Models for Addressing Coastal Bays Issues: Where do We Go from Here? Regional Perspectives on Coastal Bays Issues, W Michael McCabe, Regional Administrator, EPA Region III ......................................... 63 DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Page A National Estuary Program in Maryland, Guynne Schultz, Director, Coastal Zone Management Division, Maryland Department of Natural Resources ............... 65 Delaware Center for the Inland Bays, Dr. Bruce Richards, Executive Director, and Dr. Kent Price, Chair .................................. 67 Virginia's Approach to Sustainability: Balancing Environment and Economy, Dr. Warren Flint, Executive Director, The Eastern Shore Institute ........................... 70 Report on Breakout Groups to Discuss Models and Their Applications to State and Local Strategies ............................ 76 Full Conference Discussion on Issues and Strategies Best Addressed by a Delmarva-Wide Approach ........................ 81 Conference Follow Up, W. Michael McCabe, Regional Administrator, EPA Region III .............................................. 83 APPENDIX A - Delmarva Coastal Bays Conference Participants .................. 85 APPENDIX B - Conference Evaluation Form ............................... 98 APPENDIX C - Remaining Questions ................................... 100 Page viii DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference AGENDA Delmarva's Coastal Bay Watersheds: Not Yet "Up The Creek" A Conference on Ecology and Economy March 8-9, 1996 Carousel Hotel Ocean City, N4D Friday, March 8th 12:30 Registration 12:55 Call to Order and Introductions: Marsha Ramsay, President, Assateague Coastal Trust 1:00 Welcome: Roland "Fish" Powell, Mayor, Ocean City and James Barrett, President, Board of Worcester County Commissioners 1:05 Remarks and Introduction of Keynote Speaker: W. Michael McCabe, EPA Regional Administrator 1:10 A Frameworkfor Landscape Planning: Alternative Futuresfor Monroe County, PA: Dr. Carl Steinitz, Alexander and Victoria Wiley Professor of Landscape Architecture and Planning, Harvard Graduate School of Design 2:00 PANEL DISCUSSION: CHANGING CONDITIONS IN THE DELMARVA COASTAL BAY WATERSHEDS: LINKING PEOPLE, ECONOMICS AND ENVIRONMENT Facilitator: Dr. Kent Price, Chair, Center for the Inland Bays Worcester County, MD: Phil Hager, Worcester County Planning Department Sussex County, DE: Robert Stickels, Sussex County Administrator Accomack-Northampton Planning District Commission: James McGowan, Planner 2:45 Discussion Facilitator: Dr. Kent Price DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Page 1 3:00 WHAT DO STAKEHOLDERS PERCEIVE AS THE MOST CHALLENGING ECONOMIC/ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES? Facilitator: Marsha Ramsay, Assateague Coastal Trust � Report on Pre-Conference Questionnaire on Public Perceptions: James M. Falk, University of Delaware, Sea Grant Marine Advisory Service � Breakout Groups to Develop a Common Vision for Achieving Both Healthy Economy and Environment, Focusing on Specific Coastal Issues: 1. Tourism and Recreation 2. Residential Growth and Development 3. Fisheries, Shellfisheries, Aquaculture 4. Agriculture: Poultry, Crops and Forestry Facilitators and Recorders: Dr. David Goshorn Eric Walbeck Kathleen Ellett Stacey Marek Carl Zimmerman Abigail Lambert Ilia Feher Vivian Newman Jeanne Lynch Pat Campbell-White Grace Pierce-Beck Phil Hager 5:30 BUFFET DINNER 6:15 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: A BALANCING ACT Introduction of Guest Speaker: Dr. Warren Flint, Executive Director, The Eastern Shore Institute Sustainable Development: A Frameworkfor a New Century Molly Harriss Olson, Executive Director, President's Council on Sustainable Development Discussion Facilitator: Dr. Warren Flint 7:00 REPORTS FROM BREAKOUT GROUPS Facilitator: Marsha Ramsay 8:00 SOCIAL HOUR AND EXHIBITS Page 2 DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Saturday, March 9th 8:30 Coffee/Refreshments 8:45 RECAP OF FRIDAY: Geraldine Bachman, Executive Director, Lower Eastern Shore Heritage Committee 9:00 WHAT IS THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC STATUS OF THE COASTAL BAYS AND THEIR WATERSHEDS? Facilitator: Gwynne Schultz, Director, Coastal Zone Management Division, MD Department of Natural Resources Environmental Health of the Delmarva Coastal Bays and Their Watersheds: Dr. Frederick Kutz, EPA Region III Resource Experts: Dr. Rob Magnien, MD DNR; Dr. Kent Price, U DE; John Maxted, DNREC; Barry Truitt, The Nature Conservancy; Dr. Rich Eskin, MDE Economic Status ofFisheries and Aquaculture: John Dunnigan, Executive Director, Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Resource Experts: Michael Pierson, Cherrystone Aquafarms; Bruce McGuigan, Captain Mack's Bait and Tackle; Tom Smith, commercial fisherman; Jim Casey, MD DNR; Steve Beaston, Beaston Marina; Mark Homer, MD DNR Delmarva's Tourism Industry: Lisa Challenger, Worcester Tourism Resource Experts: Jim Falk, U DE; John Schroer, Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge; Mark Koenings, Assateague Island National Seashore Agriculture andForestry: John Tarburton, Secretary, DE Department of Agriculture Resource Experts: Bill Safterfield, DPI; W. Simpson Dunahoo, poultry farmer; Sam Dyke, Glatfelter Pulpwood; Chris Lewis, Lower Shore Land Trust 9:55 Break to Develop Questions 10:10 Discussion Facilitator: Gwynne Schultz 11:00 MODELS FOR ADDRESSING COASTAL BAYS ISSUES: WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? Facilitator: Rick Johnstone, Delmarva Power Regional Perspectives on Coastal Bays Issues: W. Michael McCabe, Administrator, EPA Region III DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Page 3 National Estuary Program in Maryland: Gwynne Schultz, Director, Coastal Zone Management Division, Maryland Department of Natural Resources Delaware Centerfor the Inland Bays: Dr. Bruce Richards, Executive Director, and Dr. Kent Price, Chair Virginia's Regional Approach to Sustainability Balancing Environment and Economy: Dr. Warren Flint, Executive Director, The Eastern Shore Institute 12:15 BREAKOUT GROUPS TO DISCUSS MODELS AND THEIR APPLICATIONS TO STATE AND LOCAL STRATEGIES: (AFTER PICKING UP BOX LUNCHES) Maryland- Facilitator: Gwynne Schultz Delaware: Facilitator: Dr. Bruce Richards Virginia: Facilitator: Dr. Warren Flint 1:20 FULL CONFERENCE RECONVENES TO IDENTIFY ISSUES AND STRATEGIES BEST ADDRESSED BY A DELMARVA-WIDE APPROACH Facilitator: Rick Johnstone 2:15 CONFERENCE FOLLOW UP: Michael McCabe PRESS CONFERENCE All officials are invited to participate with conference planning subcommittee. Page 4 DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference MAJOR WATERSHEDS AND BAYS OF THE DELMARVA PENINSULA'S ATLANTIC COASTLINE Delaware Inland Says Watershed Maryland Coastal Vlrglnla Eastern Shore SU330X CO. Atlantic Watershed Delaware M@PPP @P; Inland Bays R. .,;;%P. % % Worcester Co. Maryland Coastal Boys Accomack Co. N S Virginia Eastern Shore to Coastal Bays Complex Northampton Co. DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Page 5, CALL TO ORDER AND INTRODUCTIONS Marsha Ramsay President, Assateague Coastal Trust On behalf of the 30 sponsors of this and its Science and Technical Advisory conference, welcome. I hope everyone is Committee. wearing a name tag so that we can become eGwynne Schultz is Director of the Coastal familiar with one another - and it's our meal Zone Management Division at the Maryland ticket. Department of Natural Resources, and is responsible for the start up of Maryland's Please take a moment to look in your packets National Estuary Program. to find the list of attendees. Those people with ' asterisks next to their names represent our Ialso want to thank two Assateague Coastal sponsors. Trust members: Eric Walbeck, who handled conference registration and logistics, and Terry I would like to introduce the members of the Thompson, who coordinated the exhibits. Let's agenda planning committee - those with double also thank Nancy Howard for coordinating asterisks - with whom since August I have publicity. Nancy is with the Maryland been in constant communication to put this Department of Natural Resources. And also, conference together: Kathy Ellett and Dave Goshom, both with the MD DNR. � Dr. Warren Flint, an ecology and coastal ecosystem scientist and Executive Director In your packets is a list of conference donors of the Eastern Shore Institute. to whom we extend our heartfelt thanks. I � Dr. Rick Kutz, a scientist from EPA's would also like to call your attention to the Office of Research and Development evaluation form in your packets. Please fill assigned to the Region III office in them out and put them on the registration desk Annapolis. before you leave tomorrow. We really want to � Rick Johnstone, Supervisor of Forestry for know how you feel about this conference and Delmarva Power and Light Company, where you want to go from here. serves on many state boards and public interest groups, and chairs MD's Wicomico This conference is a stakeholders' conference. Forestry Board. A stakeholder is anyone and everyone who has � Dr. Kent Price is Associate Professor in the an interest in, or cares about, the Delmarva Graduate College of Marine Studies and Coastal Bays Watershed area. The purpose of Director of the Sea Grant Advisory Service this conference is to provide a forum for all at the University of Delaware. He chairs stakeholders - citizens, elected and appointed the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays officials, and public and special interest representatives - to discuss the economic and Page 6 DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference environmental state of the Delmarva Coastal Bay Watersheds, and to begin to formulate strategies that will integrate economic, environmental, scientific and social considerations toward achieving a sustainable future. This is a stakeholders' conference undoubtedly, one of many to come as we work to ensure both a robust economy and a healthy environment. The meeting will begin with a few words of welcome from our host community. DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Page 7 WELCOME James Barrett Worcester County Board of Commissioners Good afternoon. Welcome to Ocean City and So we need this partnership very much. It's welcome to Worcester County. Mayor Fish hard work; you can talk to a lot of people and Powell couldn't make it here today, but I would they can tell you all of the problems, but they do also like to welcome you here from him. not have the solutions. What we need to do is not talk about the problems, but get to work and Years ago, I used to fish a lot. There were a get them fixed. The greatest thing that we can lot of fish in the bay. This conference today is leave to our children is the natural resources in well overdue. As President of the Worcester this land that we have. The next generation and County Board of Commissioners, I want to our generation can do that. And you people can challenge each and every one of you to work help do that. together as a team to help our inland bays. When I say "work together as a team", I am Thank you very much and welcome to Ocean talking about many different groups of people: City. builders, government officials of all the counties, town officials, boaters, land owners, DNR state officials developers, EPA and other federal agencies, environmentalists, farmers, and citizens. This should be a partnership of how to clean up the bay. Those fish that I caught years ago are just not there because the plant life is dead in the bay. Page 8 DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference I OPENING REMARKS W. Michael McCabe Regional Administrator, U.S. EPA Region III W. Michael McCabe served as a top aide to This is an important conference for us here Senator Joe Biden and as Staff Director of the in Region III for several reasons: House Energy Conservation and Power Subcommittee and the Congressional First, this conference is a prime example Environmental and Energy Study Conference. of our ability to use scientific information Mike is currently the EPA Region Iff Regional to guide and evaluate our environmental Administrator and is responsible for decision-making. The motivation for implementing environmental protection holding this conference is largely based programs in PA, DE, MD, VA, WV, and DC. on a cooperative Federal and State study He is originallyfrom Delaware. which you will hear more about later in the conference. Having environmental Welcome on behalf of EPA Region 111. information upon which to guide Entire areas of the coastal bays fall within our management decisions is a major area of responsibility and we are delighted objective of my tenure as the Regional with the amount of interest shown in the future Administrator. of the coastal bays as evidenced by the large attendance here today. Your attendance at this o Secondly, this conference also represents conference demonstrates that the American our initiative to involve community people are interested in moving forward with stakeholders in our resource management. the environmental progress made over the last Considering both the socio-economic and 25 years. environmental issues in our decision- making is an absolute necessity as we The coastal bays of Delaware, Maryland and move into the next century of Virginia are an important ecological and environmental protection. economic resource whose physical characteristics and location make them Thirdly, this endeavor provides us with a particularly vulnerable to the effects of timely illustration of the need for pollutants. These estuarine bays are affected Regional involvement. The areas of these by pollutants that come from the land as well coastal bays crosses the boundaries of as stresses that come from the ocean. three States. Our efforts to effectively Atmospheric deposition ofpollutants represents manage these bays require the full another source of stress. About 90 percent of participation of all three States commercial fish, crabs and shellfish depend in coordinated by a Regional presence. some way on estuaries and associated salt marshes for their livelihood. DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Page 9 I am here for the entire conference; my primary role will be as a listener and learner. I am not here today to announce new regulations or enforcement actions. I encourage this group over the next 24 hours with beginning to find new and innovative ways of addressing these issues that will be reasonable to all stakeholders. The diversity of this audience will provide many different perspectives. These perspectives will need to be considered as we move ahead to face the variety of issues associated with our protection of both these resources and our way of life. Page 10 DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference A FRAMEWORK FOR THEORY AND PRACTICE IN LANDSCAPE PLANNING: ALTERNATIVE FUTURES FOR MONROE COUNTY Carl Steinitz, Author Department of Landscape Architecture Harvard University Graduate School of Design Cambridge, MA Madis Pihlak, Presenter Department of Horticulture & Landscape Architecture University of Maryland College Park, MD Due to inclement weather, Dr. Carl Steinitz, My proposed framework identifies six types of was unable to attend the conference. In his questions. Each can be considered a level of place, Madis Pihlak, ASLA, AlCP, delivered the inquiry relating to a theory-driven modeling type. presentation. Mr. Pih1ak is an Associate The models on which we rely must be based in Professor and Program Coordinator in the usable and presumed-to-be-valid theory. They Department of Horticulture and Landscape each require the management of information, and Architecture at the University of Maryland. He GIS can be applied-albeit differently-in each has been involved in workshops with type of model. stakeholders and has researched the impacts of actions and inactions on communities which Project managers and researchers will work have similar environmental problems. through the framework at least three times in any project: first, in defining the context and In 1990, after almost 25 years of applying scope of the project; second (and in reverse GIS to many projects, I came to the realization order) in specifying the project methodology; that there was a common structure to this work, and third, in carrying the project forward to its and I wrote a short paper entitled "A Framework conclusion. The six questions with their for Theory (Steinitz 1990). Over the past three associated modeling types are listed in the usual years, this framework has become the primary order for initially defining the context of a organizational basis of my teaching, research and landscape planning study. projects. In this talk, I will give a brief description of this framework and show how it 1. How should the state of the landscape be was applied to a recent project. described: in content, boundaries, space, and time? Six Questions in Search of An Answer This level of inquiry leads to representation models. DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Page 11 11. How does the landscape operate? What I believe that it is more helpful to consider them are the functional and structural in reverse order, both as a more effective way of relationships among its elements? organizing a landscape-planning study and This level of inquiry leads to process models. specifying its method, which I consider the key strategic phase, and as a more effective 111. Is the current landscape functioning well? educational approach. The methods of a landscape planning study should be organized The metrics of judgment (whether of health, and specified upwards through the levels of beauty, cost, nutrient flow or user satisfaction) inquiry, with each level defining its necessary lead to evaluation models. contributing products from the models next above in the framework. This is how it works IV. How might the landscape be altered.- by in practice: what actions, where, and when? VI To be able to decide to propose or to This is directly related to 1, above, in that propose or to make a change, one needs to both are data; vocabulary and syntax. know how to compare the alternatives. This 4th level of inquiry leads to change V To be able to compare alternatives, one models. At least two important types of change needs to predict their impacts from having should be considered: changes brought about by simulated changes. current trends and changes caused by IV To be able to simulate change, one needs to implementable actions, such as plans, specify (or design) the changes to be investments, and regulations. simulated. III To be able to specify potential changes (if V. What predictable differences might the any), one needs to evaluate the current changes cause? conditions. This 5th level of inquiry shapes impact 11 To be able to evaluate the landscape, one models, in which the process models (11) ) are needs to understand how it works. used to simulate change. This is directly related I To understand how it works, one needs to 11, above, in that both are based on representational schema to describe it. (This information; on predictive theory has been the ma or GIS role.) i VI. Should the landscape be changed? How is Then, in order to be effective and efficient, a a comparative evaluation of the impacts of landscape planning project should progress alternative changes to be made? downward at least once through each level of This is directly related to 111, above, in that inquiry, applying the appropriate modeling types: both are based on knowledge; on cultural values. representation, process, evaluation, change, impact and decision. At the extreme, two This sixth level of inquiry leads to decision decisions present themselves: no and yes. A no models. implies a backward feedback loop and the need to alter a prior level. All six levels can be the Implementation could be considered another focus of feedback; "redesign" and sensitivity level, but this framework treats it as a forward- analysis are frequently applied feedback in-time feedback to level 1, the creation of a strategies at Level IV. changed representation model. A contingentyes decision (still a no) may also Although the six levels have been presented in trigger a shift in the scale or size or time of the the order in which they are normally recognized, study. (An example is the decision to locate a Page 12 DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference highway corridor made on the basis of a more detailed alignment analysis). In a scale shift, the study will again proceed through the six levels of the framework as described above. A project should normally continue until it achieves a positive, yes, decision. (In my area of application, a do not build conclusion can be a positive decision). A yes decision implies implementation and (one assumes) a forward-in- time change to new representation models. While the framework looks orderly and sequential, the line through any project is not a smooth path: it has false starts, dead ends, serendipitous discoveries-but the line has to pass through the questions and models of the framework as I have described it before a yes can be achieved. The framework has been the basis for the organization of several regional studies and is applied in this talk to a study of the future of Monroe County. References Steinitz, C. "A Framework for Theory Applicable to the Education of Landscape Architects (and Other Environmental Design Professionals)," Landscape Journal, October 1990. DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Page 13 SUSSEX COUNTY, DE Robert L. Stickels Sussex County Administrator Robert Stickels is the Sussex County To get a true figure on how much Sussex Administrator. Mr. Stickels has a strong County has grown, you can also look at the background in business and government assessment base of the County. This gives an management. He has been the Town Manager indication of the number of year-round of Georgetown, DE, and Deputy County residential homes, seasonal homes, and Administrator for Sussex Countyftom 1988 to commercial building that has taken place in the the present. He has also been a member of the Inland Bays Watershed. Property assessment for Delmarva Advisory Council, the Executive the Inland Bays Watershed area was $70,114,444 Council of the Delaware Inland Bays Estuary in 1960; in 1990 the assessment grew to Program, the Delaware Private Industry $892,322,377 for the same area. This is an Council, as well as other organizations. increase of 1, 172% in four decades. As we look ahead to the year 2020, populations are Sussex County's portion of the Delmarva estimated to increase an additional 31.59% for Coastal Bays has changed dramatically since the our County. 1950's. Geographically, Sussex County is one of the largest counties east of the Mississippi. Unfortunately, rules and regulations protecting This has resulted in a diversified economy. In the environment and the welfare of the residents the 1950's and 1960's, the County's primary and visitors of Sussex County did not develop as industry was agriculture. In the 1970's, the quickly as our population and buildings economy started to diversify with tourism increased. Public acceptance of regulations has becoming the second largest industry in the been very slow. In the 1960's, it was the County. The total County population in 1950 attitude that if you owned the property, you was 61,360; in 1990 it was 113,226. The entire could do what you want with it. The 1970's led population impact cannot be measured totally on to development of zoning ordinances and census figures. Census figures do not include regulations. A major breakthrough in the 1970's summer and part-time population. It is was the adoption of the Coastal Zone Act. It estimated that 5.4 Million people visit our has been stated that former Governor Russell W. County's beaches annually. This has been a Peterson, who was the author of this legislation, dramatic change from the 1950's and 1960's, led a major breakthrough that pointed the way when most of the beach resorts closed at Labor for other states and the federal government to Day. Sussex County beaches are located within preserve priceless coastline resources. In the a four hour drive of one-third of the population 1980's, the Sussex County Council realized that of the United States. density should be reduced as well as the heights of buildings if Sussex County coastlines were to avoid duplicating Ocean City, Maryland. Page 14 DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Over the decades, we have learned that it is in federal, state and local regulations. Federal not enough just to have zoning ordinances if we and state agencies cannot expect local are going to protect the environment and the governments to be more restrictive than their quality of life that has been expected in Sussex own requirements. If the state feels that there County. The infrastructure must be in place. should be property line setbacks from state This infrastructure should provide protection for wetlands, local ordinances should be supported water quality. With the completion of the West with state law. Local governments cannot be Rehoboth Sewer District, a $70 Million project, expected to develop ordinances that restrict all homes located along the Atlantic Ocean have building in federal wetlands if the federal the capability of being connected to central government will still issue permits to allow for wastewater. This is a vast improvement from construction. Consistency in rules and the 1960's, when on holiday weekends, residents regulations between the three levels of actually had wastewater flowing in the streets. government is necessary. Once this consistency The County's South Coastal Area Planning is developed, we will have to obtain public Study lays out new sewer districts in the Inland acceptance, political fortitude and administrative Bays area. Over 5,000 users have been wisdom if we wish to see the Delmarva area connected already to Inland Bays central sewer continue to be a desirable place to live and systems. The County has plans to spend over vacation. $25 million over the next five years to connect more homes. Creation of central water and sewer districts is not the entire answer for the protection of the Coastal Bays. Reduction in density and greater setbacks from wetlands are also important. However, public acceptance of additional regulations is not always easily obtained. It has been my experience that a majority of the people living in the Coastal Bays area are only here for a short period of time. Many people only live in the area for a three to seven year period. People who purchase summer homes may only wish to visit the area for a three to five year period before their recreational interests change to other areas. Retirees who move to the area are usually on a fixed income and wish to take advantage of Sussex County's low tax base. Many of these people are unable to pay what is needed to protect the bays. The difficulty lies in trying to come up with long-term cost effective solutions. I hope I do not sound like a doornsayer. I do believe we are going in the right direction. Sussex Countians are willing to do their share to protect Delmarva Coastal Bays. There is evidence that water quality is already improving. If we are going to continue to make improvements, we are going to need consistency DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Page 15 SUSSEX, COUNTY DELAWARE.q. ASSESSMENT TOTALS,% . . . . . . . . . . Millions $1,000 ----------- -------- ------------------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- 77- $800 ------------------------------- ---------------------- ------------ ----------- $600 --------- - ------------------------------------------ -------------------- ----------- ---------- ------------------- $400 A A 00. $200 $0 1960 1970 1980 1990 ASSESSMENTS Series 1 335 333 iE P-Ilil@41@11 @V,."el", Ir, .. ..... ... low Page 16 DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference t2l . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . > . . . . . . : . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..... . ....... ... ... ..... .- . . . . . . . . . . . ... U:-INGREASES. 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A > w "UN EX". PUL ION ........... ............. . ..... ... ....... . .............. ...... ... .......... .... ..... . .... ..... . .. ....... 2 20: 195 0 ............. .... ...... ... .... . ........... .... ... ....... ... ..... . . ..... ......... .... ..... .... 167,914 fD -t 155,913 ----------------- ---------------------------------- ------ --------------------------------------------------------- 139,482 113,226 VY 98,004 -------------------------------------- --------------------- 73,195 80,356 ------------- 61,336 Lo .... . . ..... 020:1:@: 196Q:w: 970::::198 ::m: O.H@2000:::' 2010.:-2 ......... ......... W.. ...... . ...... . . . ................ ..... WORCESTER COUNTY9 MD Phil Hager Worcester County Planning Department Phil Hager is a graduate of Frostburg State Worcester County is Maryland's eastern-most University and holds a Master's degree in jurisdiction. Additionally, it is the only Maryland Intergovernmental Policy Analysis ftom The subdivision bordering the Atlantic Ocean. Nearly George Washington University School of 20 percent of the County experiences some form Government and Business Administration. Mr. of tidal influence. A ridge extending the length of Hager previously worked for the Maryland the County running roughly northeast to southwest General Assembly and on Capitol Hill for the divides the two major watersheds. The land areas United States Senate. For the past 7 years, he on the west side of this feature flow to the has been actively involved in land use planning Pocomoke and eventually to the Bay. Areas to the and demography. In that capacity, he has east drain into one of the four major inland bays workedfor the Maryland National Capitol Park systems. With the exception of western Garrett County, Worcester County is the only Maryland and Planning Commission, and as a consultant jurisdiction whose entire waters do not flow into for the telecommunications industry. Since the Chesapeake Bay. August 1995, he has been employed as a Planner for Worcester County Maryland. Archaeologists believe that human contact with The following is a descriptive analysis 0 what is now Worcester County has been relatively f brief and notably recent. Native Americans did Worcester County, Maryland. In a moment, I will not begin to settle in this area until sometime in be delivering a brief historical overview, a series the Twelfth Century. These American Indians of facts and figures detailing Worcester's present were Worcester's first immigrants. Historians conditions, and a cursory analysis for our future. believe that there were never more than Some of these demographic data are contained in approximately 300 Native Americans in permanent the tables on the blue sheets that have been residence here, but that significant numbers passed distributed, or are in the process of being through the area or rested here briefly while distributed. enroute to other destinations. I suppose these In addition to increasing our overall awareness were Worcester County's first vacationers. relative to local demographic conditions, it is also Early native settlements were located along the my desire to go a little bit beyond the statistics and coastal plain and adjacent to the waterway attempt to offer interpretive analysis. In short, we systems; primarily, this translates into the will look at what has been happening, what is Pocomoke River, Nassawango Creek, and the currently happening, what we expect to happen, as Coastal Bays and their tributaries. They hunted well as why. This may be helpful to us as we the rich forests, fished the streams, rivers and collectively strive to address the issues before this bays, and they began to cultivate the fertile soils. conference. The first European settlers moved into the area through what is now Virginia in the latter portion Page 20 DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference of the 1600's. Then, as today, the region was Today, agriculture and tourism share the geographically remote; consequently, the area was spotlight, but other forces are at work as well. A slow in growing. The primary activities of these tremendous proportion of Worcester's newest peoples were little different from those of the wave of immigrants are over the age of 55. Native Americans: principally hunting, fishing, Worcester County is becoming a retirement locale agriculture, and similar extractive activities. for increasingly larger numbers of people. Its low piggyback tax is also attracting large numbers of The County grew slowly through the 1700's and second home purchasers and part time residents. into the 1800's. As there was a surplus of This is a benefit to the construction and real estate available land, and waterways were of significant industries. The vast majority of these new citizens importance, the early populations tended to be well are establishing residence within the Coastal Bays' dispersed. What concentrations that existed, were Watersheds. The water access, the beaches, the primarily aligned along the transportation corridors gulf courses, and the recreational opportunities that these waterways represented. It was not until available to these residents is a tremendous selling the 1800's that people began to congregate in point. towns and villages in appreciable numbers. As can be seen from the data in the handout, The advent of steam and railroad spurred some Worcester County is beginning to grow extremely economic and population growth, however, the rapidly. The County's growth from 1940 to 1969 area was never the scene of a massive influx of was slow, but consistent. From 1970 onward, new residents. The economy and the population however, the rate of growth has increased maintained remarkable stability through this era. markedly. From a statewide perspective, or when compared to East Coast regional standards, Despite many changes and innovations, Worcester County with its current population of Agriculture's importance as a mainstay of the local 40,300 is still comfortably rural. But when economy has remained undiminished. Historically, compared to historical trends the expansion is this activity has been the primary source of income incredible. In 1940, the population was 21,245. and employment. Although of slightly less In less than six decades, the population has nearly importance from an employment standpoint today, doubled. It took nearly three centuries to reach farming and related activities continue to the 1940 total. Current projections indicate that determine Worcester's economic well-being. we will achieve that number again by 2030. In less than 35 years, we will have tripled the 1940 Most of the County's most significant growth figure. occurred after World War 11. The role of the "baby boom", notwithstanding, it is no accident This rapid growth is not consistent with this that this transformation occurred in conjunction jurisdiction's history, nor is it in proportion to the with the expansion of this nation's highway and growth being experienced by other Eastern Shore railway systems during the 1950's. The most counties. This is vividly illustrated in the table notable alterations came about as a consequence of that compares Worcester's population growth rate the Bay Bridge construction. This advent forged with the combined growth rates for the four Lower a closer relationship between the Eastern Shore Shore Counties. These statistics suggest that there and the balance of the state. The people of is something unique or different about Worcester Southern Delmarva began to focus on Baltimore County. Many would argue that it is the and Washington, and the markets in Delaware and proximity to the Ocean and other water resources points north declined in importance. These that serves as such a draw. The ramifications of transportation improvements provided a that assumption are a double-edged sword. On tremendous boost for agricultural interests. It also one hand, it makes the importance of the bays and had another effect. It began an unprecedented their watersheds more of a priority from an wave of tourism. economic standpoint. Conversely, preservation DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Page 21 issues and natural resource health take on a greater County residents who were residents before 1980, level of importance. actually moved out of the County by 1990. The second table emphasizes the importance of One final set of data is appropriate for this that assessment. Clearly, these growth trends will forum. Since 1987, 15,887 acres of agricultural continue through the foreseeable future. In the land has been converted from active farming to coming decades, it seems that Worcester County some other use. That represents a loss of nearly will once again be on the receiving end of a 13 percent. Simultaneously, the total number of disproportionate population expansion. farms has declined by nearly one-fourth, from 631 to 474. It would be tempting to conclude that this There are two additional factors that should be is due to development, but that assumption would of significant interest to any demographic not be entirely true. The majority of it is probably discussions relative to the bays. First, although due to conversion for residential purposes, but the growth projections and the existing trends for some of it can be attributed to other factors, not Worcester County are noteworthy, they pale in the least of which is the conditions under which consequence when you look at the distribution of we mandate that agricultural concerns operate. people within the County. 1990 Census figures Another possible explanation is the trend for show that 62.2 percent of the County lived within assimilation of small farms by larger agricultural the watersheds. operations. Projections suggest that this percentage will Because of time constraints, I have had to cover increase both in number and in speed. Nearly a great many variables in a short period of time. three-fourths of the County could live in the It is probably not necessary that we remember Coastal Bays Watersheds by the year 2020. The each of the statistics which I have cited here. It is second item of interest is that these numbers fail to more important that we recognize that Worcester consider seasonal population. These trends reflect County and the Coastal Bays area is undergoing a only permanent year-round residents. During the metamorphosis; it is in a constant state of change. Summer, Worcester's population can be measured It has been that way for centuries. What is now in millions. For several months of the year, the different is the speed and degree of those changes. coastal bays infrastructure is faced with tasks approaching the same magnitude as the large urban People sometimes make the mistake of seeing centers that are the sources of these tourists. nature as static or stopped in time. This is probably not the case with most things, and it is Of equal or greater importance as "how much?" definitely not the case with Worcester County and is "from what source?". Generally, a significant the Coastal Bays environment. It may help us to portion of any population increase can be remember that the entire Delmarva Peninsula was attributed to natural growth (ie., total births created by change, and it is still changing, outnumbering total deaths). This Js true with growing and evolving. The single most important Worcester County, but it cannot account for the and dominant factor in that evolution has been the explosive nature of this population rise. As role that man has played in it. That is why it is previously stated, in-migration is the culprit. most important to note that this factor is also Voluntary re-location is the single greatest factor growing, changing and evolving. And the speed in Worcester's continuing growth trends. Since with which it is taking place is increasing . . . at 1990, it has accounted for more than 71 percent of a rate approaching geometric proportion. the County's growth. From 1980 to 1990, in- migration represented 120 percent of the total increase. During this decade, the County grew by 4,139 persons, and 4,977 people moved to Worcester County. This means that at least 838 Page 22 DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference COMPARATIVE HISTORICAL POPULATION GROWTH RATES STATE WORCESTER LESR' 1990-95 5.6 Percent 15.1 Percent 6.9 Percent 1980-90 13.3 Percent 13.4 Percent 12.3 Percent 1970-80 7.5 Percent 26.4 Percent 14.4 Percent 1960-70 26.5 Percent 2.9 Percent 4.0 Percent 1950-60 32.3 Percent 2.5 Percent 9.6 Percent 1940-50 28.7 Percent 8.9 Percent 6.3 Percent Since 1940, Worcester County has experienced an annual average growth rate of 1.3 percent. During the same time period, the State and LESR grew by 3.3 and 1. 1 percent, respectively. Since 1990, however, the state has had an annual growth rate of only 1. 1 percent, the LESR has remained somewhat steady at 1.4 percent, while Worcester County more than doubled that rate to slightly over 3.0 percent. This means that Worcester County has been growing twice as fast as the rest of the Lower Shore, and more than two and one-half as fast as the State, since 1990. COMPARATIVE RATE OF PROJECTED POPULATION GROWTH WORCESTER LESR STATE 1990-95 15.1 Percent 6.9 Percent 5.6 Percent 1995-00 7.5 Percent 5.2 Percent 5.3 Percent 2000-05 6.2 Percent 4.5 Percent 4.4 Percent 2005-10 4.8 Percent 4.0 Percent 3.5 Percent 2010-15 3.5 Percent 3.1 Percent 3.4 Percent 2015-20 3.0 Percent 2.6 Percent 3.2 Percent If the projections for the thirty (30) year period 1990-2020 hold true, the County will experience an absolute growth of nearly 12,000 and a percentage growth rate of 134.2. It is interesting to note, that the County grew by an almost identical amount in the previous thirty (30) year time span (1960-90). This growth translates into a factored increase of 147.6 percent. 1 - LESR: Lower Eastern Shore; includes Dorchester, Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester Counties. SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Maryland Office of Planning, and the Worcester County Department of Planning Permits & Inspections. DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Page 23 THE COASTAL BAYS WATERSHEDS' COMPONENT (Proportion of Worcester County's Total Population) ABSOLUTE PERCENTAGE 1940 10,832 50.9 1950 11,974 51.7 1960 12,296 51.8 1970 12,898 52.8 1980 18,057 58.5 1990 21,781 62.2 1995 26,526 65.8 2000 29,122 67.4 2010 33,765 68.9 2020 39,447 72.1 By 2020, the portion of Worcester County's population lying within the Coastal Bays Watersheds will approximate the current County total. If these projections hold, the Watershed population component will nearly double in the time period 1990-2020. During the same time span the County is only expected to increase by 56.3 percent. SOURCE: Estimates and Projections, 1996; The Worcester County Department of Planning Permits & Inpections. Page 24 DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference ACCOMACK-NORTHAMPTON PLANNING DISTRICT COMMISSION James McGowan James McGowan is Director of Planning at comprises the areas to the east, beginning with the Accomack-Northampton Planning District Assateague Island and Chincoteague Bay. We Commission, the regional planning commission have 14 barrier islands that run from Assateague for the eastern shore of Virginia. As Director of Island to the tip. The only island on the coast Planning, Mr. McGowan provides coastal that is accessible by vehicle is Assateague. This resourcesplanning, transportationplanning, and is one of the most significant features of the technical assistance to 2 counties and 19 eastern shore of Virginia; the ocean beaches are incorporated towns along the eastern shore. He not open for development. They are all either also supervises Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act owned by the Nature Conservancy or by state implementationfor the 13 eastern shore towns in and federal agencies. the Chesapeake Bay watershed A graduate of the New York State University College at The population on the eastern shore in 1990 Plattsburgh, Mr. McGowan also holds a was 44,764; it has gone up slightly since then. Master's degree in Planningftom the University In 1950, the population was just over 50,000. of Virginia. Before moving to Virginia, he was It dropped until 1980, and has since gone up a State Park Manager with the New York State slowly. Projections to 2010 actually indicate Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic that we are expected to lose population. While Preservation. we do not have any hard figures and the net population is not expected to change much, new The eastern shore of Virginia is that part of people are coming in and others are leaving. A the State which is east of the Chesapeake Bay. lot of retirees come to the shore or build second The peninsula is about 70 miles long, which is homes. A lot of young people, however, cannot as much coast as the rest of Delmarva coastline. get jobs and migrate out. We are, however, a lot different than Maryland and Delaware. Twenty-six percent of the eastern shore population is below the federal poverty level and The eastern shore is both on the Chesapeake the area has an eight percent unemployment rate Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. The peninsula (as compared to four percent for the rest of the varies from about 15 miles to 5 miles in width, state). So we are an economically which gives us a very unique geography. We disadvantaged area; 2,500 dwellings (or 17 have a lot of waterfront, both bayside and percent of the housing stock) do not have indoor seaside (i.e., the Delmarva coastal bay plumbing. This is one of the major issues that watershed). One of the major features is Route we are dealing with. We have a lot of programs 13 which runs down the spine of the peninsula to rehabilitate substandard housing and introduce and is pretty much the divide between the indoor plumbing, but we still have a long way to Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean go. watersheds. The Delmarva coastal bays area DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Page 25 As far as the economy, in 1991, services In terms of the cost of public actions, while were the largest sector of the economy at 22 there is not a tremendous amount of growth, percent; manufacturing was 18 percent; there is always the need to build new schools government was 17 percent; and retail was 14 and roads as development occurs. Also, health percent. Fishing and farming only employed 8 care is a big issue as the number of retirees percent, but farming involves a lot more than increases. In terms of political activity, there is the people who work the land and much of the a mix of interests. Local people want jobs and manufacturing is food processing. As far as wealthy retirees want to protect the shore. But industrial expansion possibilities, the poultry both groups are thinking about the future. industry is expanding (e.g., Tysons and Perdue), vegetable production is increasing (e.g., tomato We are also concerned about transportation growers are moving up from Florida, and and the future of Route 13 and potential impacts Accomack County is the largest vegetable on development and preservation efforts. State producer in Virginia), aquaculture is growing and federal governments are involved, such as (e.g., clam growers), and tourism is always through the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act, increasing (Chincoteague is the biggest area for which requires a 100 foot setback along tourism and coastal development, but there is preservation areas. State ground water some development all over the shore). One of regulations are in place, and will hopefully be the new programs is the sustainable development improved. Also, state and federal grants help technology industrial park in Cape Charles, fund programs. which just landed a new employer that is building solar panels. Also, the second home As far as growing pains, there is a lot of industry is slowly growing. So, we do not ground water but it has to be managed properly. expect any major changes, but the potential is Industries can cause cones of depression that can there. For example, if the Chesapeake Bay affect adjacent water users. The best way to Bridge Tunnel toll is eliminated, there would be deal with this is to pump water from well fields an immediate change since there is a $10 toll covering 'a larger area and store it as public each way. water supplies, but only a few exist. Lack of sewers is a problem, although it can also slow As far as land use changes, we do not have a growth. In order to provide for water and lot of good data. Accomack County now has a sewer to substandard housing, a central system GIS system so we are hoping that we can put it is needed. Also, this will hopefully allow for into a more useable form. Northampton County focused growth and prevent sprawl. Currently, does not have a GIS system, but is working unsuitable soils make it difficult to cluster towards this. The major factors in development growth. are the local ordinances and future land use plans. A ground water plan prepared a few Farm loss is also a concern. Although years ago estimated that the area in the middle agriculture only employs eight percent of the of the peninsula, which is the main ground population, a lot of related businesses depend on water recharge area, has the potential for 37,000 it. We are starting to try some new techniques more dwelling units (there are only 21,000 such as open space zoning and cluster now). This indicates that there is a tremendous development. We need to do better planning capacity here. Both counties are looking into and zoning, but Northampton County hired their this situation, with Accomack County updating first planner in 1976, and Accomack County did their plan and Northampton County developing not hire a planner until 1990. Without the a new zoning ordinance. people, it is hard to know what to do. For example, the build-out analysis conducted previously estimated that the 37,000 new Page 26 DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference dwelling units would require 5.6 million gallons per day. That is as much water as is currently used by all the houses and industry on the eastern shore. Also, it is estimated that the deep aquifers on the eastern shore only have a capacity of 5.5 to 11 million gallons per day. Therefore, we really have to look at these issues, but are not being forced to. It has been said that people are either inspired to action or do it out of desperation. I don't think we are at the desperate stage yet, but hopefully we can act before it is too late. DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Page 27 REPORT ON PRE-CONFERENCE QUESTIONNAIRE ON PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS James M. Falk University of Delaware Sea Grant Marine Advisory Service Lewes, DE 19958 For the past 17 years, James Falk has been a age. Forty-one percent of the respondents were marine, recreation and tourism specialist at the from Maryland, 32 percent resided in Virginia, University of Delaware's Sea Grant Marine and 24 percent were residents of Delaware. Advisory Service. He is responsible for Thirty-six percent of respondents indicated that developing and tabulating the pre-conference they lived on the bay's waterfront. Forty questionnaire that was received by many percent indicated that they lived less than five participants. This questionnaire is only one of miles from the water and 24 percent reported the numerous applied research studies Mr. Falk living five miles or greater from the bays. has conducted to help resource managers better Eighty-nine percent of respondents indicated that understand the perceptions and attitudes of they recreated on the bays or visited them. different user groups. . Sixty percent of respondents reported that they Introduction were college graduates and one-third of all respondents indicated that they had graduate During the late winter, 1996, a sample of level education experiences. The largest residents living around Delmarva's coastal bays percentage of the responding sample indicated were mailed a survey instrument seeking their that they were retired (34%), 15 percent were input and attitudes about a number of issues employed in the farming/agriculture industry, related to the environmental and economic health and twelve percent were government employees of these important coastal ecosystems. Eleven (local, state or federal). Twenty-two percent of hundred questionnaires were mailed to a cross- the respondents were employed in private section of individuals who represented a variety business, with 8 percent of this total being of interest groups. These groups included: tourism-related employment. Fifty-two percent farmers, private citizens, environmental of all respondents had annual family incomes of organization representatives, and watermen. At greater than $50,000. Only three percent the time of the current data analysis, 321 reported that they earned less than $20,000 respondents had replied to the survey. annually. About one-third (34%) earned between $30,000 and $50,000 annually. Who Are Coastal Bay Respondents Coastal bay respondents were predominantly males (74%) and were, on average, 55 years of Page 28 DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference How Do Coastal Bay Respondents Rate seldom do anything about it. Fifty-six percent Conditions Around the Bays of respondents support political candidates based on their environmental stands and 46 percent When bay residents were asked how they donate money to environmental causes. Twenty- would rate the ."quality of life" (e.g. jobs, clean four percent of bay-area residents belong to an environment, public services, etc.) around the environmental organization and 41 percent bays, the overall rating was 2.7 (based on a 4- belong to two or more environmental groups. point scale; with I = poor and 4 = outstanding). Sixty-three percent of the respondents rate the What Are Coastal Bay Respondents' "quality of life" either "good" or "outstanding". Environmental Factors of Greatest Concern When a rating for "environmental quality" was Respondents were asked to rank a series of solicited, the average rating was 2.4 (on the 4- environmental factors that were of greatest point scale), with 48 percent of the respondents concern to them, using a scale of I to 3, with I indicating either "good" or "outstanding". When being the most important. Water quality (218 a similar rating for "economic prosperity" was total responses) and loss of fish/wildlife habitat solicited, the average rating was 2.1, with only (196 total responses) were most often mentioned one-third of the sample reporting a "good" or by respondents as issues that were important to "outstanding" rating response. When asked what them. The least mentioned issues were toxic they thought of their state's efforts at managing waste cleanup (25 total responses) and air quality and protecting their state's bay's resources, 38 (36 total responses). When the average percent responded that their state did either a importance rating was calculated for each factor "good" or "outstanding" job and rated their (using the 3-point scale, with I being most actions 2.2. important), water quality (1.7), protection of drinking water supplies (1.8) and loss of What Are Coastal Bay Respondents' Feelings fish/wildlife habitat (1.9) were rated the highest. About the Role of Citizens and the Wastewater management (2.4), open space Environment preservation (2.3), and air quality (2.3) were rated the lowest. When asked what position they felt citizens should take with respect to environmental issues, What Do Coastal Bay Respondents Feel Are 62 percent believe that individuals can do much the Most Serious Water Pollution Problems more to improve the environment, 29 percent Around the Bays feel individuals would do more, but are confused about what is good and bad for the environment, Since water quality was mentioned as a major 7 percent believe it is basically large companies concern by respondents, their opinions were also who are responsible for environmental problems solicited on what they felt were the most serious and they should solve them and 3 percent feel water pollution problems around the bays. that since other people won't make sacrifices Agricultural runoff (68%) was reported as the their contributions won't matter either. most serious water pollution concern, followed by sewage discharge (59%) and environmental How Do Coastal Bay Respondents Categorize impacts caused by tourism-related development Themselves on Environmental Issues (50%). Only 3 percent of all respondents indicated that they were generally not interested in environmental matters. Thirty-one percent indicated an interest in the environment, but DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Page29 How Do Coastal Bay Respondents Feel About How Do Coastal Bay Respondents Feel About Growth and Development Issues Tourism Issues Coastal bay respondents were quite candid Coastal Bay respondents reacted both about issues related to growth and development. positively and negatively to statements related to They were requested to rate the issues using a 5- tourism around the regions coastal bays. The point scale, with I = strongly disagree and 5 = statement that received the most support with 73 strongly agree. Respondents rated limiting percent of the respondents "agreeing" or economic growth around their state's coastal "strongly agreeing" was, long-term planning by bays a!3.8 on the 5-point scale and 66 percent of local governments can control negative impacts the respondents "agreed" or "strongly agreed" of tourism on the environment--the statement with the statement. Fifty-six percent of the received a 4.1 rating (on the 5-point scale). respondents "agreed" or "strongly agreed" with Respondents also reacted favorably to the the statement, I feel my state's counties are statements, the tourism industry provides many growing too fast (3.6 rating). Sixty-three worthwhile employment opportunities for percent of the respondents "agreed" or "strongly residents, 3.6 rating and 67 percent agreement agreed" with the statement, industries and response and, tourism is one of the bright spots businesses located around my state's coastal in my state's coastal bay's economicfUture, 3.4 bays contribute significantly to the local rating and 54 percent agreement response. economy (3.6 rating), however, only 27 percent Respondents did not react positively to the "agreed" or "strongly agreed" with the statement statements, the overall benefits of tourism that developing land around my state's coastal outweigh the negative environmental impacts, bays provides needed economic growth (2.6 2.5 rating and 23 percent "agreeing" or "strongly rating). agreeing" and, I support tourism and would like to see it become the main industry in and around How Do Coastal Bay Respondents Feel About my state's coastal bays, 2.7 rating and 27 Agricultural Issues percent agreement response. Seventy-four percent of the respondents What Future Issues Do Coastal Bay "agreed" or "strongly agreed" with the statement, Respondents Feel Are Most Important agriculture contributes a great deal economically to the residents of my state's coastal area (3.9 When asked what they felt were the most rating on the 5-point scale). Fifty-seven percent important future issues they needed to be of the respondents "agreed" or "strongly agreed" concerned about, coastal bay respondents with the statement, agriculture around my state's indicated that protecting the coastal bays from coastal bays provides diverse employment environmental degradation (79%) and preserving opportunities for local residents (3.4 rating). forest, wetland and habitat areas (79%) were The lowest rated statements related to agriculture most important. Other issues receiving majority were, environmental impacts resulting ftom support included protecting drinking water agriculture practices are relatively minor, with supplies (65%) and controlling growth in coastal a 2.7 rating and only 28 percent of the counties (54%). The least important issues as respondents "agreeing" or "strongly agreeing" reported by respondents included, addressing with the statement, and taxes in my state's global environmental issues (18%) and attracting coastal counties are kept low because of new industries and businesses (20%). agriculture, with a 2.8 rating and 23 percent agreement response. Page 30 DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference How Do Coastal Bay Respondents Feel About Paying More to Improve the Bays Sixty-nine percent of respondents indicated they would pay more taxes or higher prices to protect and improve the environmental quality of Delmarva's coastal bays. They felt user fees (59%) would be the most preferred mechanism to collect additional revenues to direct towards bay improvements. The only other revenue mechanism that received close to majority support was voluntary private donations, with 45 percent of the respondents supporting this revenue-generating mechanism. The least supported methods for generating revenues were property tax transfers (18%) and personal income taxes (19%). Conclusions This preliminary analysis of coastal bay residents provides a "snapshot" of how they feel about many issues and concerns affecting the health of the region's coastal bays. The information present is based on frequency responses for all respondents collectively and is by no means exhaustive. There are additional methods for analyzing the data which can provide a thorough picture of how respondents feel about coastal bay concerns. These could include comparing results by state of residence (Maryland vs. Delaware vs. Virginia) or by occupational status (retired vs. agriculture vs. private business). This further analysis will provide a more-effective way to approach management and policy concerns in the different jurisdictions. This study was supported by the University of Delaware Sea Grant College Program and the Delaware Centerfor the Inland Bays. A special thanks is also extended to the agencies and organizations who assisted in mailing the survey questionnaires to their clientele groups and to University of Delaware, College of Marine Studies' graduate students Cecelia Linder and Lexia Valdes for their assistance during various phases of the project. DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Page 31 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: A FRAMEWORK FOR A NEW CENTURY Peggy Duxbury President's Council on Sustainable Development The originally scheduled speaker, Molly I thought I'd begin by giving you some Harris Olson, Executive Director of the background on the concept of sustainable President's Council on Sustainable Development development and its genesis. It is a fairly new (PCSD) was unable to attend due to other buzzword; I remember doing a search for the commitments. Ms. Olson was represented by term "sustainable development" at Harvard Peggy Duxbury, Coordinator of the PCSD's Library and not really finding the term until Principles, Goals, and Definitions Task Force. about four or five years ago. Then we will talk This Task Force was responsible for bringing about the work of the Council and the contents together, integrating, and synthesizing all of the of the report. work of the many subcommittees and work groups that comprise the President's Council. Beginning with the environment, while a Prior to working for the PCSD, Ms. Duxbury doom-and-gloom scenario is extreme, is it not a held a one-yearfaculty research appointment at crisis when: Harvard Business School where she helped develop a curriculum on environmental e 15 million people die annually from management. She holds a Bachelor's degree in poverty-related causes? Political Science ftom Old Dominion University * 35,000 children die daily from diseases that and a Master's degree in Public Administration are entirely avoidable? ftom the Kennedy School of Government at e 100-300 species are lost daily from this Harvard University. planet? 9 There are holes in the ozone layer? It's extremely exciting for me to be here this * The climate is undergoing changes? evening. This is the first group that we have * Fish stocks disappear? met with since the Council members met with e Wildlife habitats are devastated? President Clinton and Vice President Gore 24 e Soils erode? hours ago to deliver the PCSD's report, which is * 1,500 scientists, including 99 Nobel Prize a unanimous consensus document on their vision Laureates, issue a warning to humanity that for sustainable development in the United States. human beings and the natural order are on It's also very fitting that as the PCSD starts a collision course? winding down our efforts, I am in a filled-to- capacity room with individuals who are The planet is in a severe state of interested in taking these concepts and applying disequilibrium. Humanity cannot survive when them to a regional level. Without a doubt, the one-third of the world is wealthy and two-thirds "just do it" crowd will be a crowd like this one. of the world is in poverty, and most of those, in devastating poverty. The planet cannot sustain Page 32 DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference 20 percent of the population consuming 80 prosperity; conversely, you cannot have percent of the world's resources. It cannot serve economic prosperity without environmental as a repository for industrial waste, while integrity. Underpinning all of this is the providing clean air, clean water, and soils fundamental need that all human beings have a sufficient to support food and an expanding basic level of social welfare. In other words, population, all at the same time. these three issues are interwoven in the most fundamental way, and yet in a way that most These crises bring me to the concept of societies have failed to recognize or appreciate. sustainable development. In the last decade, this concept has gained widespread political It was because of the discussions of the legitimacy, not just here in the United States, but Bruntland Commission that in 1992 leaders from across the world. How can we restore some across the globe came together at the Rio balance to that ledger? How can we restore Summit. One of the many agreements that came economic prosperity, social equity, and out of the Summit was to form national environmental integrity, all at the same time? strategies for sustainable development. It was With that said, sustainable development is really that commitment that caused President Clinton to the politics of hope. It is the politics of looking form the PCSD. He asked the Council, which is towards the future with the idea that we do comprised of 25 individuals (8 industry leaders, control our destiny and fate. 5 environmentalists, a number of key Cabinet positions, and representatives of several civic To understand sustainable development, we societies) to develop recommendations on how also have to understand its historical context. the United States should address the rubric of You could argue that many of these concepts sustainable development. existed for centuries. You can find many of these ideas and philosophies in the Old and New Before going on to the PCSD's activities and Testaments, as well as many of our tribal nations findings, I want to quickly discuss who is the in the Americas. But as a modem political United States. We are the wealthiest nation on philosophy, sustainable development really had earth; we consume, produce and waste more per its genesis in the mid- to late-1980s. It was at capita than any other country on this planet. We that time that the United Nations formed the are very religious (more people participate in Bruntland Commission, which had leaders from organized religion than in almost any other the developed and developing countries. They developed country), fiercely independent, and published Our Common Future, which contained skeptical of government (sometimes healthy, many recommendations, and perhaps most sometimes destructive). And we spend a lot on useful, a definition of sustainable development. environmental protection - 2.5% of our GDP. While this concept does mean different things to We also have a lot of fears; e.g., crime, the different people, there is now some consensus federal deficit, and quality of education. regarding this definition, which is also used by the PCSD. This definition states that: The PCSD examined all of these issues three years ago under the President's direction to be "Sustainable development is development that bold and creative. It was a daunting time; jobs meets the needs of the present without vs. the environment were viewed as conflicting compromising the ability of future generations to concepts. The 25 members of the Council, meet their own needs. leaders in their respective fields, each brought their own perspective to the process. They met Sustainable development then really rests on four times per year during the last three years at three interrelated concepts: that you cannot have locations nationwide. Eight Task forces were environmental integrity without economic formed that presided over dozens of meetings DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Page 33 involving thousands of individuals. Mostly the more partnerships between agencies, levels of Council members listened and tried to learn what government, and stakeholders. Specific policy issues need to be considered in developing a recommendations developed by the Council national strategy. include: increasing the cost-effectiveness of the existing regulatory structure; allowing for First, the Council members needed to develop alternative, performance-based management a shared vision of the future, which took about systems to go beyond compliance; and eight months to develop. From there, they set encouraging voluntary systems for corporations goals through their Task Forces. Ultimately, of extended product responsibility. One success they developed approximately 350 goals that story involved Malden Mills in Massachusetts were very specific, but cumbersome due to their that uses recycled materials, stayed in an number. Therefore, the list of goals for the industrial "brownfields" , site, hired a 70% future was narrowed down to the following 10: minority workforce, worked with the community to clean the river, and ultimately, gained national Health and the environment attention when it burned down before Christmas Economic prosperity and committed to rebuilding. The other Equity recommendations in this section deal with the Conservation of nature government's macroeconomic tools; e.g., tax Stewardship shifts and subsidy reforms to change economic Communities policy to encourage more sustainable Civic engagement development. Population International leadership The next chapter addresses natural resource Education stewardship. The Natural Resource Task Force used watersheds as its unit of study. The most Following the establishment of goals, the PCSD important lesson learned was collaboration across set indicators of progress or benchmarks to boundaries, agencies, and stakeholders. The measure progress towards goals. Task Force also emphasized the importance of ecosystem management based on examinations After establishing goals and measures, the of sustainable agriculture, sustainable forestry, Council started looking at ways to change how and restoring fisheries. One of the success we do business today. This information is stories involved the striped bass in the contained in the second chapter of the report, Chesapeake Bay. Another important finding was entitled "A New Framework for a New the need for better information to identify the Century", which focuses on the environment and nation's biological heritage. A final priority was the regulatory framework. It examines how we biodiversity conservation. can regulate better, be more cost effective, and achieve the same environmental goals. First and Another critical part of the report addresses foremost, the Council agreed that our existing population and consumption. Population is an environmental framework developed over the issue for the United States as well as developing past 25 years is a good one. Given the countries; we are the third largest nation in the backgrounds of the individuals and the political world and are the fastest growing developed climate at the time, this was a fairly profound country. Our comparatively fast population consensus. The Council members also growth and extremely high consumption rate is recognized that the framework is far from not a sustainable combination and should not be perfect, and at times, needs to be more cost- mimicked by the rest of the world. Reductions effective, goal-oriented, performance-oriented, in population are eclipsed by our consumption and flexible. The framework needs to encourage Page 34 DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference rate, and vice versa. Equity considerations are also interrelated. Finally, perhaps the heart of the work performed by the Council was at the community level. It quickly became apparent that the lack of a local government representative on the Council was a loss, but was compensated for somewhat by the meetings that were held. One notable success story was Chattanooga Tennessee; 20 years ago it was identified as the dirtiest city in the country and was losing jobs. Over several years, different groups collaborated and turned the city around until it was listed by EPA four years ago as one of the best places in the United States to live. While the report contains bold ideas, the members agreed that the process was the most remarkable accomplishment of the PCSD. This process entailed really listening and learning from each other over several years. In general, it was a process of consensus that leads to better decisions and policies. The challenge is now captured by the phrase, "To plan is human, to implement, divine." The report, itself, contains a lot of good ideas, only about one-third of which are aimed at the federal government. Implementation will have to come from groups like yourselves. At the federal level, President Clinton and Vice President Gore have given a commitment to start implementing some of the ideas over the next eight or nine months. The report will help guide implementation at other levels of government and can be most easily obtained v i a t h e Internet a t : [email protected], or it can be purchased from the Government Printing Office. DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Page 35 REPORT ON BREAKOUT GROUPS TO DEVELOP A COMMON VISION FOR ACHIEVING BOTH HEALTHY ECONOMY AND ENVIRONMENT, FOCUSING ON SPECIFIC COASTAL ISSUES Introduction the session and access to copies of ground rules for effective meetings. Each group was then On the afternoon of the first day, a series of subdivided into three smaller groups to identify breakout groups were held to discuss commonalities and differences among environmental and economic issues relevant to participants, and later, to identify influential Delmarva's coastal bays. While there are many factors for their particular topic area over the issues, all conference participants were assigned past 20 years. On an individual basis, small to one of the following four areas, which best group members were next instructed to list their reflected both environmental and economic expectations as to what thefuture would be like, interests as deten-nined by responses to the pre- given the factors previously identified, if nothing conference questionnaire: different was done. Statements were shared on a round robin basis with other small group Tourism and Recreation members, before reconvening the large group for Residential Growth and Development discussion. Based on input from the three small Fisheries, Shellfisheries, Aquaculture; groups, a single list was developed of Agriculture: Poultry, Crops and Forestry expectations for the future if nothing different occurs. Finally, while still in the large group The goal for each group was to enable setting, participants were asked on a round robin participants to better understand and respect the basis to identify elements of their ideal future, wide range of perceptions and opinions involved linking them to previously discussed themes. in working toward a common vision for Each group also selected a spokesperson to achieving both a robust economy and a health report on their findings. environment for the Delmarva Coastal Bay watersheds. Due to the large number of Following dinner, the spokesperson for each participants, two groups were held for each topic of the eight groups reported back to all for a total of eight groups. In assigning conference participants on their findings. Flip participants to groups, the organizers of the charts of the large group findings concerning the conference tried to maximize the diversity of future if nothing changes and the ideal future backgrounds and interests represented, based on were displayed along the walls of the meeting information supplied on the conference room (flip charts of the small group findings registration form. Each group was lead by concerning commonalities, differences, and facilitators who had earlier completed training to influential factors were compiled for future standardize the process and recording of review). At the conclusion of the presentations, findings. all participants were asked to affix colored dots next to the statements that most closely captured On arrival to the breakout rooms, participants their own beliefs (each participant was provided were given a brief introduction to the purpose of with seven dots that could be used separately for Page 36 DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference seven different statements, or combined for Ideal Future emphasis). The different colors of the dots represented the backgrounds of the participant as Bay ferry, bikes, public transportation (14 follows: dots: 6 recreation and tourism, 4 government, I business and industry, I Agriculture fisheries, I citizen, I public interest group) Government Restoration of bays (I I dots: 5 recreation Business and Industry and tourism, 3 government, 2 academia, I Recreation and Tourism business and industry) Fisheries o More ecotourism (8 dots: 4 government, 2 Academia recreation and tourism, 2 public interest Citizens group) Public Interest Group o More public water front access (6 dots: 4 government, 2 recreation and tourism) The remainder of this section presents the o Limit intensive recreation to Ocean City (5 large group findings as listed on the flip charts. dots: 3 government, 2 recreation and The findings do not necessarily suggest group tourism) consensus. The total number and composition of e Better fish and shellfish - more and bigger dots associated with particular statements is (4 dots: 2 government, I public interest identified, where applicable. Statements group, I business and industry) receiving the most dots are listed at the top of * Bring money and leave it here; just send each group. (Note: when several popular money (don't come) statements appeared next to each other, a "best o Wider beach (3 dots: 2 government, I guess" has been made with respect to which business and industry) statement is intended based on the proximity of o Balance between business and residential the dot.) o More cultural activities - theater, arboretum, etc. (I dot: recreation and tourism) Tourism and Recreation, Group #1 o Safer boating practices - licenses, education/certification (2 dots: I Future if Nothing Changes government, I business and industry) o 15 more golf courses (I dot: recreation and � Loss of habitat (I dot: government) tourism) � Loss of open space (I dot: citizen) � Transportation congestion Tourism and Recreation, Group #2 � Surface water quality deterioration � Aquatic resources stress/fisheries decline Future if Nothing Changes � Higher taxes and cost of living � Increased storm damage o Decline of experience and quality of life - � Population increase too many people; conflicts over diminished � Decline in supply and quality of resources; fisheries ground water o West shore would have to support east � Urbanization shore � Casinos * Deterioration of natural resources � Infrastructure demand increases o Change in type of recreation - gambling 9 Aging population puts increased burden on local government services DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Page 37 � Conflict of tourism vs. aging population Promote/encourage year-round vs. seasonal this will change the political landscape as tourism values of society change Develop ecotourism � Demographic changes and different recreational needs Residential Growth and Development, Group #1 Ideal Future Future if Nothing Changes � Increase density in designated growth areas and protect agricultural land and forests 9 Increase in golf courses from conversion to other uses (28 dots: 9 9 Loss of habitat and sense of place government, 8 agriculture, 4 public interest * Decline in quality of life and more group, 3 business and industry, 2 recreation development and tourism, I fisheries, I academia) 9 Decline in quality of environment � Restrict development to areas with planned 9 Decline in farmland and disappearance of infrastructure (5 dots: 3 recreation and farms tourism, I government, I public interest * Water quality of bays reduced group) 9 Development on mainland will increase � Innovative wastewater treatment - no 9 Decline and demise of watermen sewers, limit growth (4 dots: 2 * Decline in water quality government, 2 citizen) * Increase in number of immigrants � Transfer of development rights or purchase 9 Shift in job availability to service jobs development rights (3 dots: all * Sprawl - conversion of agricultural land to government) residential � Restrict shoreline development, maintain o High-density on coastal highway natural habitat (3 dots: 2 public interest * Fragmentation of ecosystem group, I government) o Higher demands on government facilities � Clean saltwater (2 dots: both public * Higher taxes interest group) o Collapse of ecosystems � Uncongested roads o Overcrowding � Federally funded sewer systems o Tragedy of the commons � Abundant fish and wildlife (I dot: o Interstate highways recreation and tourism) o Impact of natural disasters � Ability of people to enjoy the area without 9 Increased urban runoff negative impact (I dot: citizen) o Unplanned "strip" development � More hands-on educational opportunities - e Water shortage - polluted aquifers, amount cultural, historical, and natural resources (2 of groundwater vs. demand, declining dots: I business and industry, I academia) quality for recreation � Planned siting of marinas, discharge o Lowering of expectations for quality of life controls (I dot: government) o Depletion of resources - fishing, farming, � Purchase more parkland (I dot: public etc. interest group) * Increased crime as population increases � Greenways (2 dots: I government, I o "Negative feedback" of decreasing life fisheries) quality may decrease development pressure � Sustainable recreation and tourism - only dependent on this location, low impact recreation, sustainable development, non- consumptive recreation Page 38 DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Ideal Future * Sustainable economic development (I dot: public interest group) � Population control (27 dots: 13 public 9 Prevent litter and solid waste from entering interest group, 10 government, 2 academia, waterways (3 dots: I agriculture, 1 2 citizen) government, I public interest group) � Mandatory environmental education as part 9 Increased profitability of agriculture (3 of school (9 dots: 6 public interest group, dots: agriculture) 2 government, I agriculture) * Intensive 20-year study (2 dots: � Increased stewardship (7 dots: 3 government) government, 2 public interest group, 1 9 Determine carrying capacity (I dot: agriculture, I citizen) government) � Sustainable development (4 dots: all 9 "Tragedy of the Commons" required government) reading in high school (I dot: public � Compromise between developers and interest group) environmentalists for land restrictions (4 dots: 2 government, 2 public interest Residential Growth and Development, group) Group #2 � Eliminate political influence (4 dots: 2 public interest group, I agriculture, I Future if Nothing Changes government) � Public education, appreciation, and * Failed infrastructure - water, transportation, awareness (3 dots: all public interest schools, sewage, stormwater management, group) public utilities � Similar environment elsewhere * Decline in quality of life - crime, property � Systematic approach to planning taxes, traffic, siltation of channels, cost of � Watershed planning (3 dots: 2 government, living I public interest group) o Increase in human population - loss of open � Stricter land use control space, decline in air and water quality, loss � Effective buffers next to water (3 dots: 2 of habitat, loss of woodlands, loss of government, I citizen) agriculture � Public realization and acceptance to limit o Some cause for optimism - through growth (3 dots: 2 public interest group, I planning and awareness, NEP government) o Loss of biological resources - habitat loss, � Lack of effective critical areas water quality � Greater use of conservation easements (3 * Economic opportunities - limited; rich get dots: 2 public interest group, I richer government) * Human health related problems � Restoration of wetlands and barrier islands * Funding shifts/, change in priorities for (5 dots: 2'government, 2 public interest government groups, I citizen) o Northern bays could serve as harbinger for � Better understanding of habitat (I dot: future of southern bays public interest group) � Preservation of biodiversity (2 dots: I Ideal Future government,J public interest group) � Serious effect for land base runoff (2 dots: Ecological quality index to educate public - I business and industry, I public interest for each coastal bay (20 dots: 14 group) government, 3 academia, 2 citizen, I public interest group) DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Page 39 �Adaptive reuse of abandoned/degraded Fisheries, Shellfisheries and Aquaculture, properties (13 dots: 6 government, 4 public Group #1 interest, I agriculture, I tourism and recreation, I academia) Future if Nothing Changes �More shoreline/marsh preservation (9 dots: 4 government, 2 citizen, I fisheries, 1 9 Diminished commercial and recreational academia, I public interest group) opportunities �More community involvement in * Increase in aquaculture conservation issues/decisions (8 dots: 5 * Increased degradation of water quality government, I academia, I citizen, I public 9 Altered species composition interest group) e Shift away from fisheries activities to less �Expanded environmental education outdoor-oriented activities programs in schools (8 dots: 2 * Loss of species/biodiversity government, 2 business and industry, 2 9 Increasingly restrictive regulations public interest group, I academia, I citizen) * Increased development because of �County planning 50 years in future (6 dots: degradation of environment government) e Decreased property values �Habitat preservation (6 dots: 2 business * Public desensitization and industry, 2 citizen, 2 public interest * Biotechnology may save us group) * Death of the bay �Would like to see it look like Outer Banks (3 dots: 2 government, I citizen) Ideal Future �Control growth with adequate environmental protection More conservation areas - land, water, �Farmland preservation (4 dots: 2 citizen, I wetland, forests (22 dots: 9 government, 4 agriculture, I government) public interest group, 2 recreation and �More compatible industry (2 dots: I tourism, 2 fisheries, 2 citizen, I agriculture, government, I tourism and recreation) I academia, I business and industry) �Increased wildlife (I dot: citizen) Fishermen more conservation-minded (10 �Clean air and water (4 dots: 3 citizen, I dots: 5 government, 2 public interest government) group, I agriculture, I business and �Land use decisions that reflect cumulative industry, I fisheries) impact (4 dots: 2 government, I business Increased eco-tourism (10 dots: 5 and industry, I public interest group) government, I business and industry, I �Higher standard of design applied to recreation and tourism, I fisheries, I commercial and residential development (I academia, I public interest group) -dot: business and industry) Eliminate nutria (8 dots: 5 public interest � More restrictive land use regulations (3 group, 2 government, I business and dots: all government) industry) � Balanced ecosystem (3 dots: all Increase in aquaculture (8 dots: I government) agriculture, I government, I business and industry, I recreation and tourism, I fisheries, I academia, I citizen, I public interest group) Improved water quality (5 dots: 2 recreation and tourism, I government, I academia, I public interest group) Page 40 DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference �Participative decision making by all 9 More expensive and difficult to solve involved parties (5 dots: 4 government, I problems recreation and tourism) * High unemployment �Sustainable fisheries at level above/higher 9 Increased preservation of shorelines to than today's (3 dots: all government) protect commercial properties - beach �Fisheries at pre-settlement levels restoration �No aquaculture * Inability to get away from jet skis - only �High quality development that increases use for water is recreational property values (3 dots: all government) 9 Fish wars - warring anglers between nations and/or states due to diminished stocks Fisheries, Shellfisheries and Aquaculture, * More steak restaurants on coastal highway Group #2 9 More large commercial shopping centers - increased development Future if Nothing Changes 9 "Coastal bays landfill project" - "Fill it in and build on it" �Big brother regulations * Job loss due' to decreased fish/shellfish �Reduced opportunities - recreational, stocks commercial * Loss of reasons to improve environment �Economic collapse - unemployment, crime, * Need new development to replace jobs, but drug trafficking, desperation development will further reduce water �Twilight of the sea quality �Eventual environmental destruction * Expensive seafood �Eventual end of water-based recreation 9 Loss of desirable species may encourage �Degraded habitat and ecosystem "trash" species �Deteriorated quality of life o May lose tradition of "watennen" culture �Changes in economy o Increased regulation of all fishing �Diminished water quality o Loss of recreational industry �Increased anoxic levels - algae blooms o Aquaculture will expand leading to deaths in higher organisms like o Diminished food stocks (and drinking shellfish water) �Vacancy signs on tackle shops o Increasing stress on reduced fish stocks �Increased closures of areas for swimming, a Further loss of habitat fishing, and clamming o Algal blooms/"red tide" �Increased disgruntled public demanding o Anoxia government solutions 9 Sediment contamination �No more fishing/crabbing (recreational and o Altered natural landscape commercial) �Decreased aesthetic and financial value of Ideal Future property �Greater residential development of wetlands 9 No more jet skis (34 dots: 16 public �Total government regulation to point of interest group, 9 government, 4 recreation socialism and tourism, 3 fisheries, I academia, I �More expensive seafood citizen) �Huge trade deficits o Restoration of submerged aquatic vegetation �No more kids with chicken necks on strings (22 dots: 9 government, 6 public interest, �Imitation seafood 3 academia, 2 citizen, I business and �Increased reliance on other fish populations industry, I fisheries) and eventual destruction of those species DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Page 41 � Greater understanding of coastal processes within the natural resource capacity; and ecosystems (8 dots: 4 government, 2 enriched by their environment and each public interest group, I academia, I citizen) other (3 dots: 2 government, I academia) � Healthy economic base built on Opportunities for present and future environmentally-friendly and environmental generations to enjoy and use resources and businesses (7 dots: 3 citizen, 2 the natural environment - leave better than government, I business and industry, I we found it academia) � Rural character of area maintained (6 dots: Agriculture, PoultKy, Crops and ForesLu, 4 government, 2 public interest group) Group #1 � More wetlands (6 dots: 4 government, 2 public interest group) Future if Nothing Changes � No more waterfront development � Carefully planned communities 9 Decreased land available for agricultural � Partnerships between schools, government, development due to production and business to take hard science and 9 Decreased water supply due to irrigation, transform it to marketable products (2 dots: development demands, pollution both public interest group) * Increased cost of living � Sustained natural resources * More productivity and efficiency per acre � Economic growth (4 dots: 2 business and due to technologies and new products industry, I citizen, I public interest group) e Decreased agricultural productivity due to � Look like it did 75 years ago (2 dots: I soil degradation, disease, and pests government, I fisheries) * Less farming/less family farms � Ocean and bay nature reserves (3 dots: 9 Domination by forest monoculture and government) many poultry farms � Increased awareness by public of what has * Less concern for local agricultural interests been done and what can be done (I dot: * Continued stakeholder conflicts citizen) 9 Health concerns � Aquaculture developed so it is a household o Increased population word (2 dots: I government, I business o Less tourists and industry) o Habitat and wetlands loss � No more marine debris/trash (2 dots: I * Less open space government, I public interest group) 9 Reduced recreational opportunities � All shoreline development halted and o Decreased surface water quality beaches returned to natural state for public 0 More transportation and infrastructure use (4 dots: 2 government, I citizen, I demands public interest group) 0 Waste management problems � Open shellfish beds o Increased pesticide and herbicide use � Diversified use of bays � Sustainable fisheries stocks/industry Ideal Future � Controlled development - designate natural areas o Regional planning based on ecosystems and � Local Pride (I dot: citizen) better knowledge of ecosystems and � Sustainable use of all resources (4 dots: all function - forestry, agriculture, poultry, and government) other uses (31 dots: 8 government, 6 � Goal of "zero discharge" (I dot: citizen) agriculture, 6 public interest group, 5 � Commerce, agriculture, marine industry, academia, 3 citizen, 2 fisheries, I recreation tourism, and residents living in harmony and tourism) Page 42 DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference � Protection of sensitive and critical areas (26 o Politics/less subsidies dots: 14 government, 6 public interest e Less conservation planning/more adverse group, 2 fisheries, 2 citizen, I agriculture, impacts I academia) o Equality loss � Education of problems and solutions, o Ocean will move in including regulated community and o Changes in lifestyle stakeholders (23 dots: 13 government, 5 o Population increase public interest group, 3 academia, I o Conversion o f farmland to recreation and tourism, I citizen) residential/commercial uses � Population control (15 dots: 10 public o Fragmented forest/coastal lands interest group, 2 government, 2 citizen, I e Production will decrease due to land/water agriculture) pollution � Tri-state agriculture planning for estuary o Increasing amount of arable land owned by preservation (9 dots: 5 public interest agribusiness group, 3 academia, I government) a Loss of open space, rural life, biodiversity � Promote "green" farming practices - reduce o Reduction in quality of drinking water pesticide/herbicide use and increase o Forestry and agriculture will diversify and recycling or containment (9 dots: 6 intensify government, 2 public interest group, I o Increase in impervious surface, decrease in academia) water quality � Involve stakeholders - increased cooperation o Agriculture becoming more friendly (2 dots: I business and industry, I o Loss of forestry market academia) * More efficient use of farmland/poultry � Balanced approach to land use and industry management (I dot: public interest group) o Government will streamline regulations for � Incentives for multiple land use (2 dots: I conservation planning government, I academia) o Increase in nonpoint source pollution � Agricultural diversity o Too many peopleibirth control � More understanding of how market forces o Pollution decreasing through affect local farming practices (3 dots: I technology/BMPs agriculture, I government, I public interest o Negative impacts on wetlands group) 9 Create more wetlands through new � Resource management enforcement and techniques strengthening existing policy Ideal Future Agriculture, Poultry, Crops and Forestry, Group #2 o Government with common sense (17 dots: 5 agriculture, 4 government, 3 citizen, 2 Future if Nothing Changes academia, 2 public interest group, I recreation and tourism) � Development will swallow up forestry - o Development prohibited along shorelines short-term gains and long-term loss of and wetlands (9 dots: 5 government, 3 sustainable use public interest group, I agriculture) � No forests - development of farms o Effective public/private partnership to � Less farmers/less land - increase in land maintain productive and environmentally values compatible farming (7 dots: 3 public � Less fartners/more poultry interest group, 2 government, I business � Factory fan-ns - growing food for chickens and industry, I citizen) DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Page 43 � Inclusion of agricultural community in * Zoning to limit housing development for watershed planning (7 dots: 5 government, open land and parks (2 dots: both 2 public interest group) government) � More open space, less density around inland 9 Technology of farming more in harmony bays (6 dots: 2 public interest group, I with nature values agriculture, I government, I academia, I & Reforestation of large tracts of land (I dot: citizen) government) � Leave wetlands alone and protect forest (6 * Protection of prime agricultural land and dots: 4 government, I fisheries, I citizen) directed growth (I dot: public interest � Grocery stores agreeing to sell locally group) grown products (6 dots: 4 government, 2 9 End of the plague of greed (2 dots: both public interest) public interest group) � Forest buffers on all streams and shoreline (4 dots: 3 government, I public interest group) � Development of more organically growing farms (4 dots: 2 government, I fisheries, I academia) � "Better" chicken (4 dots: 3 agriculture, I government) � Prosperous and environmentally friendly � Farms increase productivity through technology using less damaging chemicals and buffers to prevent runoff (I dot: recreation and tourism) � Improve balance between farming and development (2 dots: both agriculture) � Extend high profits for agriculture and forestry while enhancing environmental quality (2 dots: both agriculture) � No net loss of farm acreage, increase in family farms and use of best available technology to reduce pollution � Produce wetlands as a cash crop (2 dots., I government, I public interest group) � Realistic, comprehensive land use planning fully implemented (2 dots: both government) � Less supply-side intervention (I dot: government) � More vegetable farming, fewer chickens (2 dots: both citizen) � People with attitudes of conserving rather than consuming (3 dots: I government, I business and industry, I fisheries) � Balance between development and conservation (I dot: government) � Fully-funded conservation reserve program Page 44 DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference STATE OF MARYLAND REMARKS Verna Harrison Maryland Department of Natural Resources Verna Harrison is an Assistant Secretary at Yesterday we gave thought to what the future the Maryland Department ofNatural Resources, might hold, and this morning we are going to and is responsiblefor the Chesapeake Bay and hear about science and assessment - the watershed programs. findings of today. My purpose in speaking to you is to commit Maryland's full support to Good morning. Very briefly I would just like work with Delaware and Virginia, the various to say on behalf of the Maryland Department of federal partners, our very important local Natural Resources and Governor Glendening and government partners, citizen interests, and the members of his Cabinet, that the Governor is Congress, towards the development and strongly committed to the preservation, implementation of actions that can make our protection, and restoration of the coastal bays. visions a reality. So I want to commend you for We want to assure you of our support in taking your time on a Friday and Saturday to working with the very many partners that are work together. Thank you. here in making this a reality. One of the things that struck me last night as I listened to the speaker from the President's Council on Sustainable Development was that the Council members noted a couple of things associated with successful actions. These are among the lessons that we have learned from the Chesapeake Bay restoration program. And they are obviously embodied in what we are seeing today in that people are gathered here to cooperate and collaborate, and in the process, listen. It is a long road, but with the kind of enthusiasm and energy that we have seen, it can absolutely happen. DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Page 45 ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH OF THE DELMARVA COASTAL BAYS AND THEIR WETLANDS Dr. Frederick Kutz EPA Region III Dr. Rick Kutz received a Ph.D. ftom Purdue We found a wealth of new information University with a concentration in Medical about the bays and also confirmed on a Entymolog@, Physiology, andEcology. Dr. Kutz system-wide basis some older existing has worked for EPA for the past 20 years, findings. On behalf of the Delmarva including 12 years with the Office of Prevention, Coastal Bays Assessment Group who Pesticides and Toxic Substances where he planned and implemented the study, I am worked on studies involving environmental pleased to briefly describe our findings. epidemiology and human exposure to pesticides and other toxic substances. He joined EPA's This was a truly cooperative effort among Office of Research and Development in 1985, the State and Federal agencies listed here. and is currently a Regional Scientistfor EPA's All phases of the study - planning, Region Iff. sampling and examining results - were accomplished together over about a four Slide No. 1 - Title and Cooperators year period. � Good morning! I am pleased to be here. Slide No. 2 - Picture of Benthic Sampler (Not Included) � The objective of my presentation today is to share with you some findings about the This study emphasized the condition of the condition of the Delaware and Maryland living resources of the coastal bays -- the coastal bays. In order to gain a more fish, the submerged aquatic plants and the detailed understanding of our study, you are bottom-dwelling organisms. This slide invited to see the exhibit on display here at shows the scientific equipment (Young- the conference. If you are particularly modified Van Veen sampler) used to interested in the entire scientific report, sample bottom-dwelling organisms. As you please leave your name and address, and a will note, it's not as simple as reaching copy will be sent to you when it is down to the bottom and grabbing a handful available in a few months. A two-page of muck. summary is provided at the exhibit booth. All of these living creatures represent � This study was designed to provide a crucial elements of a healthy bay. We also "report card" on the condition of the measured other important parameters - coastal bays. It was intended as a snap shot water quality, chemical contaminants in the to characterize the major problems. bottom sediment. We studied most of the important stresses affecting the bays. Page 46 DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Slide No. 3 - Significant Findings SAV. Vegetation beneath the surface of the water provides crucial habitat for � This slide summarizes the major scientific spawning and development of fish, crabs findings of the study. and other estuarine animals. This hostile habitat for SAV is caused by elevated � Major portions of the coastal bays were nutrient levels which stimulate algal blooms found to have degraded environmental and decrease water clarity, thus reducing conditions due largely to excessive nutrients light required for the growth of submerged from human activities. Twenty-eight plants. percent of the area in the coastal bays had degraded communities of bottom-dwelling Traces of pesticides and other toxic organisms (worms, insects and clams). compounds were detected, probably a These bottom-dwelling or benthic remnant of historic inputs. Most frequently communities are important because they detected pesticides were DDT, dieldrin and represent a critical level in the food chain, chlordane; most frequently detected other serving as food to many types of fish and toxic compounds were nickel and arsenic. crabs. They also serve as good indicators of water quality. Man-made dead-end canals were profoundly degraded. About 57% of their area had - Within the coastal bays, Chincoteague dissolved oxygen concentrations less than Bay at the southern boundary was in the state standards of 5 ppm. Man-made, dead- best condition of the four major end canals were also biologically barren, subsystems, while Indian River at the averaging only 4 bottom-dwelling (benthic) northern part was in the worst. This species per sample compared to 26 species seems to form a gradient of the best per sample in the remaining portions of the condition in the South and the worst in coastal bays. Traces of pesticides were also the north. Only 11% of the area in found more frequently in these canals. Chincoteague Bay had degraded communities of bottom-dwelling worms The scientific approach used in this study and insects compared to 77% in Indian allowed comparison of conditions in the River. Less than 10% of the area in coastal bays with that in other major Indian River was suitable for the growth estuarine systems in EPA Region 111. The of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV). coastal bays were found to be in about the In comparison, almost 45% of the area same condition as Chesapeake Bay or in Chincoteague Bay was shown to Delaware Bay with respect to water quality support SAV. In fact, the most abundant and condition of bottom-dwelling growth of SAV is found in Chincoteague communities. Of course, the actual size of Bay. the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays far exceed the area of these coastal bays and - Tidal streams (tributaries to the bay) must be considered when making these were in poorer condition than the main comparisons. There are many other bodies of the coastal bays. differences as well. Eutrophication (nutrient enrichment) The variety and abundance of fish in threatens recolonization of submerged Maryland's coastal bays were found to have aquatic vegetation. More than 75% of the remained relatively unchanged during the area in the coastal bays was found to have past twenty years, while that of similar water quality unsuitable for the growth of systems in Delaware have changed DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Page 47 substantially. The kinds of fish found in Maryland from Virginia falls across the Maryland coastal bays are dominated by Chincoteague Bay. Obviously, the Atlantic silversides, bay anchovy, Atlantic movement of pollutants across this line menhaden, and spot, which is similar to would be unobstructed. Therefore, a those measured in the Delaware coastal Delmarva-wide watershed management bays 35 years ago. The fish fauna in approach is imperative. Delaware's coastal bays today has shifted markedly toward killifish and sheepshead Related to a Delmarva-wide approach to the minnows which are more tolerant to management of these areas, we need to adverse environmental stress. While know what is happening in the Virginia silversides, anchovy, menhaden and spot coastal bays. A powerful advantage of the have a broad range which includes both bay approach used to examine the Delaware and and ocean waters, the killifish and Maryland coastal bays is having the sheepshead minnows have a much more environmental information to tell whether restricted range and usually stay within the actions that are taken are doing the several hundred feet of their hatching right things in the right way. Therefore, a ground. This means that the food chain has real priority in this Delmarva-wide been weakened because they are less approach is gathering similar data for the available to predator birds and fish feeding Virginia coastal bays. on them. The construction of additional dead-end Slide No. 4 - Potential Management canals needs careful study. These canals Implications are defined as being at least 200 feet in length with engineered side walls. These � A number of potential management canals are for practical purposes devoid of implications logically follow the results of living organisms, and thus, contribute little this study. to the ecological health of the bays as a whole. � Nutrients appear to be the major stress affecting this system. The sources of these Decisions to dredge new channels and to nutrients need to be identified, and redredge existing ones need thorough strategies to reduce them need to be consideration because of the unexpected implemented. Eutrophication is affecting detection of traces of pesticides and other the plants and animals so important to toxic chemicals. The actual operation of restoring the health of these estuaries. dredging exposes the organisms living in the bay to these chemicals. With the data � When these results are examined on a that we have now, it is difficult to predict system-wide basis, it becomes apparent that whether any kind of biological effect will relationships exists among the bays in the occur. Additionally, the bottom sediment three-state area. For example, much of the removed during dredging operations may stress associated with these bodies of water need to be placed in areas where it will not comes from non-point sources. Many of the drain back into the bays. non-point sources affecting the northern part of Maryland bays are actually within Slide 6 - Summary (picture of bay - not the State of Delaware. This is because included) some of the area which drains into Maryland bays fall within Delaware. This study shows that major parts of the Looking at a map, the State Line separating Delaware and Maryland coastal bays are Page 48 DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference degraded resulting from man-induced stresses. Plants and animals living in the bays are showing indications of decline and change. Nutrients appear to be the most important problem; however, other potential problems also have been detected. A frequently-asked question of audiences after hearing this presentation is "What happens if no changes are made?" That is a difficult prediction to make. The stressful conditions that we found will certainly not change without our intervention. if nutrients continue to increase in these systems, certainly algal problems will become more prominent. Episode5 of algal blooms and other related effects will become more common. DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Page 49 Delaware= Maryland Coastal Bays Joint Assessment A Collaborative Effort of Delaware Department of Natural Resources and- Environmental Control to Maryland Department of the Environment Maryland Department of Natural Resources Region III k@ Zia Delaware Inland Bays Estuary Program PA7elll Office of Research and Development (EMAP). Significant Findings Degraded Environmental Quality Found in Major Areas Eutrophication Threatens Living Resources in Bays Traces of Pesticides and otherToxic Chemicals in Sediments Man-made, Dead-End Canals are the Most Severely Degraded Areas Coastal Bays are as Degraded as Delaware Bay or Chesapeake Bay Changes in Fish Communities in Delaware Over Past 35 Years. No Change in Fish Communities in Maryland Over Past 20 Years. (rQ (IQ tv U1 N Potential Management Implications * Eutrophication Appears to Be Major Stress; Need to Identify and Reduce. Nutrient Inputs Into Bays & Delmarva-Wide Watershed Management Approach Recommended Because of Interrelations of Bays eCoastal Bays in Virginia Need Assessment Additional Dead-End Canals Require Careful Study; rA Detrimental to Ecological Health of Bays Dredging Decisions Need Consideration Due to 'A Pesticides and otherToxic Chemicals in Sediments ECONOMIC STATUS OF FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE John Dunnigan Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission John Dunnigan is the Executive Director of Director of our Habitat Program and did most of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, the legwork in putting this information together. which wasformed over 50 years ago to improve I would also like to thank all of our resource inter-state cooperation and coordination to specialists who are listed in the conference protect the public's interest in coastal fishing program. In addition, I want to recognize Tim resources. The Commission is best knownfor its Goodyear from the National Marine Fisheries inter-statefisheries management program, which Service, Jeff Tinsman from the State of coordinates regulatory planning among states Delaware, and Mark Homer and Jim Casey with coastal fisheries. Prior to joining the from the Maryland Department of Natural Commission, Mr. Dunnigan had an extensive Resources. career with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the National It is interesting that fisheries seem to always Marine Service, serving in a variety of legal and receive such a specific focus. The fact that it programmatic positions in the field as well as gets highlighted is a testament to the enduring headquarters. and intrinsic values that we all place in fish and fisheries when we start to think of coastal areas. What we do at the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries are a good indicator; they are one of Fisheries Commission is something that all of the ways that you know whether or not a good you will be focusing on over this period of study job is being done in husbanding the coastal - find ways of bringing people together. The environment. It's one of the ways that we first Commission recognizes that none of the 15 see the results of what we are doing, or the pain coastal states can adequately protect their long- of what we are not doing. term interests without working together. This whole concept of working together is both The Delmarva Bays are a microcosm of a lot critical and exciting, based on the Commission's of the issues that play out up and down the experience of bringing 15 sovereign states Atlantic coast. However, there are also certain together to mutually define their common issues that tend to make this area unique and this interests and then agreeing to move forward by conference will probably want to focus on these. taking steps that are in everyone's best interests. This presentation will cover resources and habitat, commercial and recreational fisheries, At the outset, I want to thank some of the aquaculture, and conflicts. The information, people who helped in the development of this however, will be very qualitative, which should presentation, particularly Dianne Stephan from provide a certain indication of the direction you the staff of the Commission. Dianne is the will want to take. There is a lot of primary DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Page 53 information that is being collected, but we had dependent upon are doing fairly well right now, difficulty finding a lot of that information for example, the success in bringing back the collated in such a way that people who are striped bass resource along the Atlantic Coast. considering and determining policy can fully utilize it. There is a lot of work yet to be done Some seem to be improving, such as summer in this area of trying to provide some structure flounder fishing, which was almost closed a few to the information that is available about these years ago, and weakfish fishing, which appears fisheries. It is also important to note that to be beginning a recovery according to the fisheries must be examined on a system-wide most recent stock assessment. basis, and not as a single issue, because they are tied to many of the other economic and social There are very few charter boats that operate issues that are attendant in these Delmarva in this area. The fishery is dominated by coastal bays. We can't even really look at private, individually-owned craft. This creates individual fish species, because the way that interesting opportunities and interesting they are prosecuted ties everything together. problems. The opportunities for, local businesses and for tourism are closely linked. Commercial fisheries in this area are But the opportunity creates problems when you predominantly small family operations, rela- have large numbers of tourist recreational tively few in number, and very much tied to fishermen who are only in the area for short being able to respond to whatever fish are periods of time. They are a diverse community available at any given time. These small vessel and it is extremely difficult to get in touch with operations are similar to those found in many them concerning the status of the resources and areas up and down the Atlantic Coast, and must good fishing practices. They are also very hard be able to target and switch their catch to sample to determine impacts on the fishery depending on the availability of the resources resources. The major recreational fisheries from season to season and from year to year. sampling mechanism along the Atlantic Coast is A wide variety of species are caught, many of the National Marine Fisheries Services and which are the same as those caught along other Marine Recreational Fisheries Statistics Survey, areas of the coast. which is not designed to yield information and data on a scale that is relevant to inland bays or The economic values of these fisheries are not even on a state level. This survey was designed well-documented. Many of the statistics are 15 years ago to provide broad coastal there, but they do not always distinguish information. In a number of instances, states, between what happens in the bays and what including Maryland, have tried to supplement happens in the oceans. In order to address this survey data. But often there are not enough concerns over the coastal bays, we have to be resources to capture all of the data that is able to develop a system that will capture that needed. information for us. But in general, the whole panoply of species that are important along the Aquaculture is, perhaps, a large area of Atlantic Coast are important in the Coastal Bays opportunity still to be explored in the inland (e.g., flounder, weakfish, shad, striped bass, coastal bays. There are operations underway in and many others). Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia for clarns and scallops. Governments have not yet figured out A much larger fishery in the Delmarva how to respond completely to this opportunity of Coastal Bays exists for the recreational fisheries. using coastal waters for aquaculture. This is Currently, there are both good and bad signs true all along the Atlantic Coast. There are a concerning the state of this resource. Some of number of businessmen who have tried to make the species that the recreational fishery is investments in aquaculture for some species that Page 54 DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference we have been aware of for some time (e. g., information and make it useable to rock fish), as well as others (e.g., summer public policy decision-makers. flounder). Governments have not yet learned how to deal effectively and efficiently with these 3) Focus on education. There is a great businesses, resulting in complaints regarding the opportunity here to raise people's labyrinth of regulations and procedures at all consciousness concerning the critical levels of government. The situation is further nexus between habitat, fisheries, and complicated by technologies that are still under economics. development and businessmen that are trying to break into traditional markets. Therefore, 4) Working together can break down the aquaculture has to undergo much more barriers of communication and overcome development before it is a major factor the rhetoric that clouds public policy influencing the fisheries in the area. decision-making and fisheries conservation and management decision- The Delmarva Inland Bays are distinguished making. from other regional and sub-regional fisheries by the small size of the area, both in terms of miles and the size of the watershed. In addition to being a relatively contained area, barrier islands make this a very fragile environment. Development has consumed much of the buffer zones. Nonpoint source pollution and stormwater management still need to be addressed, and public education needs to be increased. A small area also means less diversity and therefore less buffering between different interests. However, a small area facilitates bringing people together and identifying what their interests are, resulting in more participative decision-making and more locally-controlled public policy decisions. Let me close with the following conclusions: 1) There is a lot of work that needs to be done in terms of studying what is going on in these fisheries. Much primary information has been collected but has not been collated in a format that is useable for public policy decision- making. 2) Find ways to capture non-scientific information. By the time scientific information is collected, analyzed and made usable, it is somewhat dated. The small size of this area creates opportunities to collect real-time DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Page 55 DELMARVA'S TOURISM INDUSTRY Lisa Challenger Worcester County Tourism Lisa Challenger is a graduate of Penn State vegetation, wildlife, clean air and University and moved to Worcester County in water offers many of the resources 1987. She worked in the hospitality industry in that attract tourists Ocean City before taking her current position as Tourism Coordinator for Worcester County six Statistics: years ago. Ms. Challenger serves on the Board of the Maryland Downtown Development 40.4% walkfor health Association and the Lower Eastern Shore 32.8% pursue physical Heritage Commission, and is a member of the fitnesslexercise Maryland Tourism Council. 14.9% b ic le YC 13.75% boat or sail L Past Tourism Trends 12.4% run or jog I . Beaches, beaches, beaches 9.2 million people are involved in 2. Long vacations wildlife related recreation, 71% pursued wildlife viewing 11. Present Tourism Trends $131day spent by typical birdwatcher 1. Heritage Tourism $22-$601day spent by cyclists Educational oriented experiences (Visitation to historic sites, trails, parks Over 1,000 rail-trails in U.S. today with an emphasis on interpretation) 111. Pressing Issues Facing Tourism on 2. Eco Tourism Delmarva Comprising 10-20% of all travel; birdwatching, nature cruises, hiking & 1. Balance of built environment vs canoeing, cycling, etc. natural environment 3. Conservation and outdoor recreation as 2. Jobs - High unemployment rate in tools for economic development Worcester County and a higher than national average across Delmarva Tourism can justify conservation and subsidize conservation efforts. This is because an environment of scenic beauty & interesting features, Page 56 DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference IV. What's Being Done Today 1. Forming partnerships with local, state and federal government 2. Forming grass roots organizations to address our individual needs/concerns, with particular attention to land use issues. Organizations include: Lower Shore Land Trust Eastern Shore Land Conservancy Lower Eastern Shore Heritage Committee Pocomoke River Alliance Nanticoke River Alliance 3. The visions of the 1992 Planning Act which have been or are being incorporated into local plans throughout the state: a. Development is concentrated in suitable areas b. Sensitive areas are protected C. In rural areas, growth is directed to existing population centers and resource areas are protected d. Stewardship of the Chesapeake Bay and the land is a universal ethic e. Conservation of resources, including a reduction in resource consumption, is practiced 4. GIS Mapping Project A visual illustration of correlations between resources and resource uses Source: Statistics - Rivers, Trails & Conservation Assistance Program of the National Park Service DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Page 57 AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY John Tarburton Delaware Department of Agriculture John Tarburton was appointed Delaware's Delaware also has the Governor's planning Secretary of Agriculture in 1993. He graduated committee. I am convinced that most people are from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute with a enthused about geographic information systems Bachelor's degree in Agronomy. For the last 23 (GIS), but do not necessarily understands what years, he has owned and operated a 315-acre the acronym stands for, and even less know what potato and grain farm. His involvement in it can do. We are at the point where we have agriculturalpolicy began well before his current overlaid 17 GIS maps together, 10 of which are position. He servedfor eight years as President priorities and the rest are ancillary. The State of of the Delaware Farm Bureau, and also served Delaware can no longer put water lines, sewer as President of the Delaware Association of lines, schools, and roads in "west Podunk." We Conservation Districts and Chairman of the just don't have the cash. As we overlay the County Conservation District. He was a member population distribution with the school districts of the Delaware and Maryland Governor's and infrastructure, the old geometry formula for Wetlands Roundtable and Co-Chairman of the the circumference of a circle (radius squared) Water Committee of the Governor's shows that it will cost significant amounts of Environmental Legacy Commission. money to incrementally extend services to the next area. This is what is driving planning in Before I get started, I want to give you a few the State of Delaware. "teasers." We have not talked much about the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays, which is a Now on to my topic. The best place to begin model of how to get something done. The is with some education and discuss agriculture Center is a child of 10 years of work conceming on a generation basis; what was it like when the problems of the inland bays in Delaware. your parents were the decision makers and what The process takes several years; the development is it like now? In 1975, there were 3,700 farms; of the Comprehensive Conservation and in 1995, there are 2,500 farms. I am not sure Management Plan (CCMP) almost got into whether this is good or bad. Always question trouble after five years, but was saved by strong the statistics; don't make a snap judgment. leadership and the involvement of other Average acreage in 1975 was 186; today the interested groups that did not feel they had been average is 228 (a +22.5% change). Delaware part of the planning process. It is important to has a total of roughly 1.2 million acres; in 1975, involve all stakeholders at the outset. The about 690,000 acres were productive (in field or process of consensus-building means leaving vegetable crops) and in 1995, about 570,000 your agenda at home and understanding, not acres were in production (a -17% change). As necessarily accepting, other points of view. expected, however, the value of the operating unit has gone up. In 1975, the value was about $181,000 (including infrastructure and Page 58 DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference equipment); today, it's $581,000 (a +221% be allowed to experiment. Manure in a field change). This far exceeds the Consumer Price develops a crust that may result in less nutrients Index. A key point is that agriculture is a highly in run-off than previously assumed. Manure capital intensive business and is not capable of sheds, on the other hand, present a fire hazard accommodating snap decisions (e.g., planters due to spontaneous combustion. cost $60,000). Farms are by far the largest habitat for The value of the poultry industry alone along wildlife. I think many "green" groups now the Delmarva Peninsula is $1.5 billion. On top understand that whatever form agriculture takes, of this, poultry processing has one of the highest they would rather see land in agriculture rather multiplier effects, not only in dollars but also in than I housing unit per acre. Subdivisions do terms of labor (both are over 5). So when you not have wildlife. Forestry is a renewable consider regulations on various aspects of input resource and a great habitat for quail. The for the poultry industry, keep in mind the ripple problem is that forestry has an image problem. effect that occurs over the allied industries. This Trees are only cut down every 30-40 years, and came home when there was a threat to cut off all it disturbs some people when they see a forest poultry imports into Russia. This was a $700 being cut down. But I would suggest that some million threat, which would have resulted in image building is needed; maybe a few bus trips dumping on the domestic market to the to show people what the land will look like 3, 5, detriment of the beef and pork industries, and, in or 7 years later. general, have had a severe impact on the entire corn-soybean-meat complex. Forestry acreage has increased in Delaware since 1909, from 330,000 acres to 376,000 acres today (these are acres that are actively farmed). 23 1,000 of those acres are in Sussex County and 81 percent are privately owned. The industry employs about 3,700 people and gross sales of products are evaluated at $97 million. In terms of environmental impacts, the larger fields have pushed aside smaller fields due to changes in equipment. Lots of small plots have been abandoned. We have made several conversions; the State of Delaware led the nation for years in the percentage of acreage converted to no-till. While this reduces the erosion, more chemicals are used. A lot of capital has also been used to put in water retention systems in dairy and poultry farms. Because it costs $50,000 to put in a waste lagoon on a dairy farm, the State has been involved in cost sharing programs; similarly, the State helps share the cost of manure sheds for poultry farms. Again, good science may make us wonder, however, if this is good or bad. I would suggest that government DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Page 59 QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION Facilitator: Gwynne Schultz Director, Coastal Zone Management Division, Maryland Department of Natural Resources Introduction Question 2. How can we incorporate the effects on fishery resources into the decision-making Following the panel discussion on the processfor human activities on land? Apply this environmental and economic status of the coastal to small permitting decisions and local and bays and their watersheds, conference regional land planning. participants were provided with a 15-minute break in which to develop questions for any of Response: Some of the laws currently focus on the panelists or resource experts. For the fishing activities. Other activities, however, remainder of the hour, the panelists and resource affect fisheries health. This is a basic structural experts addressed several questions, which are problem. The best action available now is to presented below. Due to the overwhelming provide information to citizens and public policy number of questions and limited time, however, makers concerning land use and water quality. the majority could not be discussed. Appendix We also need to coordinate fisheries C lists these other questions that remain for management decisions made by different future discussion. agencies (e.g., land use and water-quality). Question 1. Why are the dead end canals so Question 3. What is the definition of a tourist? dead? The main negative impacts on DE inland bays are ftom what we call "summer people" who Response: Dead end canals go against natural comefor two months and then either go home or forces in estuary systems - estuaries are wider to Florida to avoidpaying DE income tax. They and deeper at the mouth, while dead end canals do not attend environmental conferences so how are uniformly deep (or deeper inside the canal do you reach them? than at the mouth) and do not become wider. Therefore, dead end canals do not have flushing Response: A tourist is someone who drives here and have a dead zone. Also, because these and spends any amount of time and money. One canals are engineered, they have a linear action is to try to market certain types of tourists shoreline. In addition, land uses that cause who will appreciate the resources this area has. problems (e.g., contaminated ground water and How to reach tourists is a challenge to all of us runoff) are in much closer proximity to the here, and any input is appreciated. canal. Page 60 DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Question 4. Iffarmers were in a room together Question 7. Could you speak more as to how, to discuss where they would like farming to go, while providing appropriate environmental what would their vision be (more intensive or protection and "sustainable development" to keep incentives for preserving wildlife and tourism in the inland bays area affordable to biodiversity) ? most citizens? Many places are already out of reach to lower income brackets, which is Response: Tax law is probably the single approximately 35% of the population. I am biggest tool that changes small business. The concerned that close to 2 of every 5 citizens can 1985 law in particular, caused radical changes by no longer afford to see and learn ftom heritage removing the investment tax credit and taking tourism and other valuable resources and thus away the opportunity for private enterprise to many citizens do not understand the need or participate in passive losses. Regarding benefits of conservation and preservation. This production and environmental issues, there is a is a big part of society out of this loop. fair amount of agreement; farmers are the foremost stewards of the soil and are as Response: Heritage tourism is not expensive. concerned about the environment as anyone. For example the Beach to Bay Indian Trail is a Farmers also work primarily by example; e.g., national recreation trail that stops at all of our what is successful for neighbors, the Cooperative museums and parks. The museums do have a Extension, and the USDA. In general, voluntary nominal fee most of the time, but other activities measures will be much more effective than are free. Also, the National Park Service is in regulation. Finally, if an action is economically the process of developing models for sustainable, profitable, farmers will ultimately take it (some affordable ecotourism in St. John. While the time may be required to change equipment). process will take several years, the findings can be transferred to bay localities. Question 5. Is it feasible to renew the headwaters of our estuaries by recycling the Question 8. Agriculture is our most important soils into top soil? Headwaters of the St. industry on the Peninsula. It is also a major Martins River were 25 ft. deep and supported source of water contamination. With the sandy the lumber industry's barge and ships, but are soils over much of the Peninsula, some degree of now 1. 5 ft. deep and spreading out to the larger ground-water contamination Jrom fertilizers and bays. manures is unavoidable. How much more than what we have done (or are doing presently) with Response: Dredging is very expensive. best management practices (BMPs) can we Dredging also raises concerns about spreading expect to improve this situation? historic contaminants that have been found in the sediments. Therefore it may be better to leave Response: Agricultural improvements are the soils in place. continuous. For example, in Sussex County, the "We Care" program brought poultry farmers and Question 6 As a field researcher, you have the environmental representatives together, and first access to primary data. In your years of Delaware was among the first to calibrate experience, how do you feel is the best way to manure spreaders in the 1970's. However, as collate this primary information into a "real noted in the question, contamination is not only time" useable tool for policy members? limited to nonpoint sources, but also ground water, and improvements take a long time to see. Response: The data is being used right now as Nitrate has begun to level off (shallow flow part of a process to comment on 15 management paths have been determined to be approximately plans for different species. The data is also used 10 years long), but it would take several years to for long-tenn monitoring. measure improvements if all activities were DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Page 61 stopped today. Ongoing activities include research into manure spreaders, assigning one nutrient manager per county in Maryland, and implementation of BMPs on a lot of land. Manure use is likely to increase (e.g., on vegetable crops) because it is less expensive than other fertilizers. Generally, there is a lot of awareness in the industry and incentive to protect ground water because farmers also use it for drinking water. Page 62 DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference REGIONAL PERSPECTIVES ON COASTAL BAYS ISSUES W. Michael McCabe Regional Administrator, U.S. EPA Region III The previous speakers talked about many development. We need to use this information different values - social, economic, to determine whether the approach we take has environmental. All of these contribute to the the desired outcome. complexity of the issues we are trying to address concerning the Delaware Coastal Bays. Their The current Environmental Protection impact on the watershed is critically important. Agency Administration has a very strong commitment and orientation towards community- As we have heard today, we have a lot of based environmental protection. This area, important information on the conditions and Region III, has some of the strongest programs impact of development on the bays. What we in the entire country. The Chesapeake Bay need to do now is use this information to mold Program is a model not only for the rest of the the decisions on the future of this area. We country, but for the world, in how to bring need to construct models that are constructive together a regional approach to address a major and useful enough to allow policy-makers to use environmental resource issue. We haven't this information. The assumption that "if we solved all the problems nor been able to always build it, the infrastructure will come, " is no implement what we believe to be the most longer the case, and this presents us with an effective and efficient approach of managing opportunity to develop information and to show growth, but we are certainly further along in that the end product of development does have understanding the issue and providing policy- consequences. Some of these impacts can be makers with information to set objectives. We alleviated if we plan properly and manage are also working very closely with people in the growth in the proper way. mid-Atlantic highlands in Maryland and West Virginia. The approach there brought together Therefore, considerations for the future must all levels of the community to help develop incorporate all of these outlooks - social, priorities for how they want to grow. For this economic, and environmental. Our thinking project, EPA provided technical support and must be on a Delaware Bays watershed level, information for them to use in charting their not on a county- or state-specific level. There future for protecting the environment and is a role for all of us in developing the creating sustainable development. The EPA is information and models. EPA, state also involved in the Delaware and Maryland government, local government, citizens and Estuary Programs that have already been business all must be part of a process to help discussed. An important aspect of this policy-makers gain some control over the future conference is hopefully that we will be able to of growth in this area. Our approach must be coordinate the resources that are operating in consistent with the environmental information Delaware and Maryland already, and bring in that has already been collected and is under Virginia to create a new synergy. DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Page 63 We need to leave this conference with several major commitments among ourselves: � We need to form a partnership to characterize the Virginia coastal bays to understand them better and in a way that is compatible with Delaware and Maryland activities � We need to work with officials from all three states and the interested stakeholders � We need to draw in local government more directly because they need the information and incentive to move forward in a way that protects the area � We need to continually support the implementation of recommendations in the Delaware Inland Bays Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) � We need to develop a solid CCMP for the Maryland coastal bays that reflects all three states' support and participation. To summarize, it is a total regional effort, the model is as nearby as the Chesapeake Bay, and we can draw on the many experiences and technical support available from EPA Region 111. EPA is not the only actor; the strength of EPA lies in our scientific information, technical support, and by virtue of our position, the ability to bring together so many different people. Hopefully, if we ever get a budget, we can free up financial resources to further the development of a very important project and process that will determine the future of this incredibly sensitive natural area. Page 64 DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference NATIONAL ESTUARY PROGRAM IN MARYLAND Gwynne Schultz Director, Coastal Zone Management Division, Maryland Department of Natural Resources Gwynne Schultz is Director of the Coastal The process we'll be following has four key Zone Management Division in the Maryland elements: Department of Natural Resources. She is currently serving as the Interim Chair of the 1) Establish management framework Management Committee for the Maryland 2) Characterize estuary and define problems Coastal Bay Program. 3) Create management plan - Comprehensive Conservation and Last July, the Environmental Protection Management Plan (CCMP) Agency accepted the Maryland coastal bays into 4) Implement plan its National Estuary Program. This is a national program to encourage long-term planning and Key problems and issues identified in the management of nationally significant estuaries initial nomination package are: that are currently threatened by pollution, development or overuse. The overall goals of 1) Eutrophication the program are: 2) Loss of wetlands 3) Decline in finfish populations 1) Protection and improvement of water 4) Toxics contamination quality 5) Areas closed to shellfish harvesting 2) Enhancement of living resources 6) Water-based activities There are a total of 28 estuaries in the program We have set up four committees to ensure all nationwide. constituents are able to participate: Maryland's "new program" will build on * Policy Committee - elected and appointed existing programs - strengthen them and give policyrnaking officials them more focus. We need to decide what will * Management Committee - environmental come out of this planning process and your input managers from federal, state, and local is essential. Success depends on realistic, cost- governments effective, equitable, and fair recommendations. e Scientific/Technical Committee - peer Therefore, we need all input. review/identify data gaps * Citizen's Advisory Committee - provide The geographic scope of the area extends input from the Delaware state line to the Virginia state line and includes the coastal bays and their Some of the key activities we'll be watersheds. undertaking in the near future include: DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Page 65 1) Developing public participation strategy (e.g., how to get tourists involved) 2) Developing an environmental characterization - look at all information, put in usable format, and identify gaps 3) Looking at all existing programs environmental regulations and education 4) Setting up a water quality monitoring program and tracking BMPs. Page 66 DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference DELAWARE CENTER FOR THE INLAND BAYS Dr. Bruce Richards Dr. Kent Price Delaware Center for the Inland Bays Dr. Kent Price is the Chair of the Delaware I . To sponsor and support educational Center for Inland Bays. Dr. Bruce Richards is activities, restoration efforts, and land the new Executive Directorfor the Center. Prior acquisition programs that lead to the to his new position, Dr. Richards worked for present and future preservation and Penn State University in the Philadelphia area enhancement of the inland bays' where he focused on training science teachers, watershed. small animal science, and invertebrate zoology. 2. To build, maintain, and foster the Previously, he spent two years as an agricultural partnership among the general public; the teacher in Lancaster County, PA. He holds a private sector; and local, state, and federal Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science governments, which is essential for ftom the University of Delaware, and his establishing and sustaining policy, Master's and Ph.D. are in Agricultural Science programs, and the political will to Education and Administrative Studies. preserve and restore the resources of the inland bays' watershed. Overview 3. To serve as a neutral forum where inland The Delaware Center for the Inland Bays was bays' watershed issues may be analyzed established as a nonprofit organization in 1994 and considered for the purposes of under the Inland Bays Watershed Enhancement providing responsible officials and the Act (Chapter 76 or Del. C. S7603). The mission public with a basis for making informed of the Center for the Inland Bays is to oversee decisions concerning the management of the implementation of the Inland Bays the resources of the inland bays' Comprehensive Conservation and Management watershed. Plan and to facilitate a long-term approach for the wise use and enhancement of the inland The establishment of the Center was the bays' watershed by conducting public outreach culmination of more than 20 years of active and education, developing and implementing public participation and investigation into the conservation projects, and establishing a long- decline of the inland bays and the remedies for term process for the preservation of the inland the restoration and preservation of the watershed. bays' watershed. A key element of this progression was the publication of a Decisions for Delaware: Sea The goals of the Center for the Inland Bays Grant Looks at the Inland Bg!ys (1983) and the are: participation by Sea Grant researchers and outreach personnel in the problem-solving process. The last six years of this work were DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Page 67 accomplished as part of the National Estuary Committee (STAQ and was also reelected chair Program. of the legislatively-created Center for the Inland Bays. He also serves as a member of the The National Estuary Program, established Advisory Committee for the Delaware/Maryland under the Clean Water Act and administered by Coastal Bays Joint Assessment Program. the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), provided approximately $2 million to Progress to date has included filing and study the inland bays, characterize and set obtaining non-profit status for the Center; priorities for addressing the environmental requesting and receiving a one-time $50,000 problems in the watershed, and develop a start-up line from the state of Delaware; Comprehensive Conservation and Management assisting in the proposal preparation, Plan (CCMP) to protect and restore the bays- submission, and acquiring a grant from the The underlying theme of the program is that a U.S. EPA for $257,000 to conduct collaborative, consensus-building effort involv- demonstration projects relating to the Delaware -ing citizens; private interests; organized groups; Inland Bays Comprehensive Conservation and and federal, state, and local governments Is Management Plan (CCMP); presiding at the essential to the successful development and ceremony where Governor Thomas Carper and implementation of the CCMP. Recently U.S. EPA Administrator Carol Browner completed through a highly successful ratified the CCMP; designing the recruitment participatory effort, the Inland Bays CCMP has strategy; coordinating the hiring of an now been approved by Governor Thomas Carper executive director for the Center, Dr. Bruce and the EPA. Richards; establishing basic operating Accomplishments: 211194-1131196 procedures for the Center through the University and local vendors; and assisting in The Director of the Delaware Sea Grant grants management for the Center, including Marine Advisory Service (MAS), Dr. Kent Price ' acquiring a $25,000 grant from the Crystal continues to serve as chair of the Delaware Foundation to enhance the outreach capabilities Inland Bays Scientific and Technical Advisory of the Center. CENTER FOR THE INLAND BAYS Organization Chart BOARD OF DIRECTORS CITIZENS ADVISORY SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL COMMITTEE ADVISORY COMMITTEE I I I EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/STAFF OFFICE (Secretary, Volunteers, In-Kind Agency Staff (MOUs) Page 68 DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Board Members and Alternates Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee: Kent Price, Chair James Falk, Vice-Chair Citizens Advisory Committee: James Alderman, Chair Grace Pierce-Beck, Vice-Chair Department of Agriculture: Jack Tarburton, Secretary Ed Ralph, Alternate Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control: Christopher Tulou, Secretary Gerard Esposito, Alternate Sussex Conservation District: Greg McCabe, Representative Eric Buehl, Alternate Sussex County Association of Towns: John Johnson, Representative Matthew Falls, Alternate Sussex County Council: Robert Stickels, Administrator Lawrence Lank, Alternate Ex-Officio Members: Danny Magee, Appointee of President Pro-Tempore of Delaware State Senate Pat Campbell-White, Appointee of Speaker of Delaware State House of Representatives Richard Pepino, Representative, Environmental Protection Agency Charles App, Alternate, Environmental Protection Agency Contact: Bruce A. Richards, Ph.D., Executive Director Center for the Inland Bays P.O. Box 297 Nassau, DE 19969 PH: (302) 645-SEA5 Mobile: (302) 670-2515 PH: (302) 645-4243 E-mail: [email protected] FAX: (302) 645-5765 DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Page 69 VIRGINIA'S REGIONAL APPROACH TO SUSTAINABILITY: BALANCING ENVIRONMENT AND ECONOMY Dr. R. Warren Flint The Eastern Shore Institute Exmore, VA 23350 Dr. Warren Flint is Executive Director of the 3) take into consideration the value of non- Eastern Shore Institute in Virginia. renewable resources to future generations; and What Is Sustainable Development? 4) not compromise the ability of other species or future generations to meet their Communities face enormous challenges needs. world-wide as their social, economic, and environmental resources are depleted and The idea of sustainable development not only destroyed. Sustainable development represents implies wisdom and stewardship in resource a way to achieve recovery, improve public management for the future, but also includes health, and seek a better quality of life in these equal fulfillment in the present for basic human communities by limiting waste, minimizing needs, such as food, shelter, clothing, health, and pollution, maximizing conservation, promoting the economic means to achieve these. cooperation and efficiency, and developing local resources to revitalize the economy. This is an In practicing sustainability, one attempts to approach that the two counties on Virginia's balance economic development programs with Eastern Shore (Accomack and Northampton) are environmental quality. This can be beginning to embrace with respect to revitalizing accomplished through both ecological their local economies while also protecting their (environmental) and socio-economic wealth of natural resources associated with the (community) assessments that take into coastal bay systems. consideration and try to balance issues such as quantity vs. quality, value of non-renewable Sustainable development recognizes that all resources, efforts that meet societal needs, extent resources - human, natural, and economic - are of natural habitats, status of environmental interrelated, and therefore they must be degradation, and critical numbers of plants and addressed in concert with one another. In animals to support functional ecosystems. If a practicing sustainable development over the balance is not struck among many of these long-term one will: economic-environmental characteristics than a region can be judged as potentially acting 1) not diminish the quality of the present unsustainable. environment; 2) not critically reduce the availability of An equally important issue of sustainability renewable resources; is the equitable distribution of resources and benefits among all sectors of society. If the Page 70 DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference quality of life for the most disadvantaged sustainable development as a world class model. segment of a community is not improved, Many people are seeking ways to manage sustainability will not happen. Thus, economic change and to retain and restore the sustainability also translates into community environments from which the region derives its solidarity, equal access to resources, and equal character and value. access to opportunities. But in dealing with wide-spread poverty, often the perceived solution Changes on Virginia's Eastern Shore is to grow economies. Can we realistically grow landscape have raised a number of issues of out of poverty? The economy is build upon a concern for this region that focus around: foundation of natural resources, human-made capital, and human resources. All of these agriculture aquaculture elements that support rural economies are groundwater treatment of wastes extremely limited. If we want to grow our transportation recreation economy to expand benefits, this growth will be environment tourism built upon a limited foundation, and sooner or public services economic development later the economy will falter. Alternatives to the affordable housing education philosophy of uncontrolled economic growth are land-use forestry strategies that (1) consider enhancing quality of regional governing historic and rural goods and services (development) rather then approaches character their quantity (growth) and (2) the transformation of economic flows of capital, The Virginia Coastal Resources Management materials, and human resources. Program, a part of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, has devoted significant Virginia Coastal Bays and Sustainability energy and resources to assisting the two counties on the Eastern Shore, Accomack and Features which distinguish Virginia's Eastern Northampton, in addressing many of these Shore, such as natural areas, landscapes, towns, issues, especially as they relate to a more and local culture, are increasingly valuable assets sustainable future for the region. The Virginia on a national and global scale, luring increasing Coastal Program works with the Marine numbers of people from cities for outdoor Resources Commission, Department of Game recreation and the experience of this unique and Inland Fisheries, Department of region. But change is occurring rapidly, as it is Conservation and Recreation, and Department of along the entire Eastern Shore of Delaware, Health in Virginia to carry out its programs on Maryland, and Virginia. The health of the the Eastern Shore. estuaries, bays and forests has declined, and along with them the resources, livelihoods and Cape Charles Sustainable Park: A World social fabric upon which rural communities and Class Model local economies depend. Degradation and alteration of critical ecological components and An example of how the Eastern Shore of processes have occurred due to the magnitude Virginia and its local governments, in this case and distribution of land uses in this region. Northampton County, have begun to take charge of their own destiny in moving towards a more Maintenance of the area's natural resources sustainable future is represented by the fine work and social capital is the foundation of, and on the Cape Charles Sustainable Technologies essential to, a sustainable economy important far Industrial Park. A large number of stakeholders beyond the boundaries of the Eastern Shore. came together and created a vision, design, and Thus, focus upon Virginia's Eastern Shore strategies to implement the creation of an provides the opportunity to demonstrate industrial park that sits at the cutting edge of DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Page 71 sustainability with regards to its connections that approaches 1, meaning that landscape between economic development, environmental alterations have a more immediate impact on the protection and enhancement, and social ethics. contiguous bay waters. These alterations have resulted in declines in water quality and certain The design of this sustainable, industrial park components of biological diversity which in turn has been the result of work by local have caused the decline in health of Atlantic governments, state and federal agencies, non- coastal bay fisheries, devastating traditional profit groups, businesses, and individual citizens. industries of fishing and shellfishing. The design principles and business approach for the eventual park embrace many characteristics Agriculture is important to Virginia's Eastern that are now considered important in achieving Shore rural economy but there are perceived sustainable communities, such as: conflicts between its impacts on the environment and the traditional seafood and aquaculture self sufficiency adequate tax base industries. Contaminant input to coastal bays nature-based business family-wage jobs has been suggested as the agent responsible for not what business environment a eutrophication in these mid-Atlantic estuaries, does, how it does it forethought potentially affecting fisheries and habitats. The industrial ecology environmental design understanding of watershed function is important alternative energy local priorities met in being able to predict the relationships among businesses sensitive to equal access by all agricultural practices, aquatic-transport agents, economic importance societal sectors lagoon water quality, and associated biological of natural resources responses. An ecosystem approach is needed to simulate the physical and biological balances that Coastal Bay Watersheds sustain the ecology of these important coastal bay watersheds in relation to their land-use Tidal wetlands and coastal bay lagoons, patterns. featuring productive salt marshes and shallow bay bottoms behind a chain of 18 barrier islands For example in one Virginia Eastern Shore stretching 60 miles, dominate the Atlantic watershed study, results to-date illustrate a seaside coastal bay area of Virginia's Eastern pattern of nitrate build-up in shallow agricultural Shore. This area of approximately 362 square soil layers during the fall. These high miles of open water and emergent wetlands concentrations of soil nitrate shift from 15-30 cm provides habitat to fish and wildlife, including depth in November, to 45 cm depth by March, varieties and numbers of bird populations and to 60 cm depth by April, coinciding with unequaled on the Atlantic coast. These Virginia spring rains and associated leaching, suggesting coastal bays are a tide-dominated estuarine area that there is significant residual of crop-applied with a complete replacement of water from fertilizer nitrogen occurring on this watershed oceanic flux in as little as 2-3 days. The from agriculture activities. Groundwater quality principal land uses of the watersheds in this measured at selected wells also exhibits a pattern coastal region include agriculture, forestry, and of nitrogen enrichment underlying the recreational tourism. The population within agricultural portions of the watershed. For these watersheds is approximately 47,000. example, total dissolved inorganic nitrogen in the groundwater coming from under agriculture As noted above, through time the coastal fields showed an average of 228.0 umol/L while region of Virginia's Eastern Shore has these same measures in groundwater derived experienced major changes. These impacts are from areas of forest in the watershed showed an compounded by the fact that watersheds in this average of 5 umoIAL. coastal region have a land to water surface ratio Page 72 DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Stream discharge and nutrient flux poverty level as compared with 10.2% for the measurements in this watershed indicate quality State of Virginia as a whole. Many households of the creek surface water is impacted by (greater than 15%) do not even possess in-door surrounding land use as dissolved inorganic plumbing. nitrogen increases during its passage through agricultural dominated regions. Creek dissolved The citizens of the region are hungry for new inorganic nitrogen fluxes show increases during business opportunities that will increase passage through the watershed several fold (up economic development andjobs. The challenge to 10 times) greater than estimated fluxes based will be to balance desires for economic on background nitrogen levels over the extent of prosperity and improved social well-being with the creek. Likewise, measures of nitrate and continued maintenance of environmental quality chlorophyll collected in the tidal creek and and important natural resources in the region. adjacent lagoon areas are indicative of the Nature-based tourism is being promoted as an up dynamic nature of the groundwater flow of and coming business opportunity for Eastern nutrients to the coastal lagoons, and impacts of Shore communities. It is important that we fully these nutrients on water quality. Nitrate is high evaluate the positive and negative impacts of this near the terrestrial confluence (7 uM/L) and potential industry to a region so dependent on its decreases readily (0.7 - 1.8 uM/L) as one moves natural resources as the Eastern Shore is. away from this influence and as the creek waters Economic impact analyses performed for three are further diluted with tidal seawater. years on the Eastern Shore Annual Birding Chlorophyll levels ranged from 80-100 ug/L in Festival have shown significant positive impact March 1994, during low tide (time of greatest to local business over the three-day period of impact from groundwater), in contrast to only 40 this event. The southern end of Northampton ug/L at high tide. Chlorophyll levels decrease County for example, has regularly experience a drastically with distance from land, further gross industrial output from this festival of more emphasizing the potential impact of terrestrial than $60,000 since 1993 with a peak in income nitrogen. These preliminary data suggest that of $112,000 in 1994. seaside watersheds can represent a constant but widely variable nitrogen source to the coastal In working towards a sustainable future for bay systems. Virginia's Eastern Shore, as stated previously, it is also important to guarantee the social well- Socio-economic Systems being of the different communities. Part of this social well-being relates to the development of Other areas of focus in Virginia with regards affordable housing that also takes into to sustainable land-use and coastal bay consideration the preservation of natural environmental quality, include the evaluation of resources on the shore. Work is presently social vitality in this region and how that is underway to explore possibilities for linking impacted by changing environments as well as together affordable housing concepts with serving as a source of impact to the quality of sustainable, resource efficient building designs. the coastal environment. In recent years, as fish The outcome of this work is expected to further stocks have dwindled and agricultural processing enhance the affordability of housing on the has become regionalized closer to metropolitan Shore while also adding measures in residential centers, the Virginia Eastern Shore region has development designed to protect our limited suffered serious economic decline, resulting in water supplies, shortage of building materials, the loss of hundreds of jobs. These poor and enhance the homeowner's energy savings. economic conditions have resulted in ripple effects throughout this region's society in that more than 20% of the households live below the DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Page 73 Delmarva Regional Approach to promote economic prosperity and social development through methods that will also Implementation of sound management preserve and enhance their natural ecosystems. strategies in coastal regions like the Eastern The Institute carries out its mission related to Shore requires the coupling of coastal environmental integrity, economic viability, environmental quality with sound land-use social well-being, and cultural uniqueness by decisions, supported by improved scientific pursuing two programmatic tracks: [11 linking knowledge. The challenge is to design and carry land-use development with conservation and out interdisciplinary programs of integrated protection of economically valuable coastal assessment, focusing on the interactions of watersheds and [2] providing assistance in external forces and associated responses in the developing rural, sustainable communities coastal zone, that will more soundly guide through grassroots empowerment, enhancement landscape sustainable development in these of local economies, and equitable improvement regions. This requires an "ecosystem approach" in quality of life. to management and decisionmaking. It also implies that there is often a direct linkage among The Eastern Shore Institute has become a events that happen respectively in Delaware, respected, independent organization sensitive and Maryland, or Virginia and the outcomes from fully responsive to regional needs. Because its these events being realized in any other of these constituency is all sectorq of Eastern Shore states. In other words, the different regions society, while serving qo special interest group, (states) of the Delmarva Peninsula are truly the Institute can truly facilitate the application of interconnected. Delaware watersheds impact objective and sound information in assisting Maryland coastal bays. Likewise, Virginia others to meet their goals. It serves as a catalyst coastal bays, because of their significant oceanic in assisting communities to improve human well- influence, affect the quality of Maryland bays. being without degrading environmental health. The Delmarva Peninsula represents a coastal Measuring Success compartment. This coastal compartment exemplifies a geornorphologically and physically The next level of effectiveness for work in structured coastal unit repeated around the U.S. Virginia will include the development of tools and the world, and thus serves as an organizing for measuring progress of projects, programs, principle and a model to direct the comparative and campaigns intended to advance sustainability assessment of the many forces acting on the in this region. The challenge in developing new Delmarva Peninsula's coastal ecosystems. Using and different efforts for improving the region's this organizing focus and taking a holistic quality of life will be to balance desires for assessment approach can more effectively guide economic prosperity and improved social well- development of the management strategies h@j@ with continued maintenance of ultimately required to protect the long-term environmental quality and important coastal sustainability of coastal resources in a regional resources. Several governmental-driven context. programs and projects, viewed as ways of improving economic conditions in a sustainable The Eastern Shore Institute way for the region, are either being implemented or in the planning stages. For example, in the The Eastern Shore Institute (TESI) is a non- development of the Northampton County profit organization founded in 1994 to address Comprehensive Plan citizens defined a desired sustainable development on Virginia's Eastern future for the County and strategies to reach Shore. TESI's mission is to study and their goals. The goals specified in the plan are demonstrate ways for rural coastal communities to conserve the County's natural resources and Page 74 DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference rural character, as well as to pursue economic demonstrated to you how these approaches fall self-sufficiency for all citizens. Citizen leaders within the realm of a region focusing in a also developed a Blue Print for Economic systematic way to achieve sustainable Growth which further articulates goals and development for its many diverse communities development strategies that preserve and that emphasizes simultaneous focus on capitalize on the County's natural and cultural environment, economy and social well-being. heritage. Accomack County has defined similar goals through its comprehensive planning process, and with Northampton County, has cooperated in the Countryside Stewardship Exchange Program. At present there is no way of determining (measuring) the success of these various programs and projects. In other words, how will we know we are getting where we want to go, or whether we have arrived? Benchmarks are the indicators that tell us whether elements of a plan are being achieved over time or if we are losing ground. An appropriately designed benchmark program for measuring Eastern Shore progress toward achieving sustainable goals will provide this region with an excellent set of coastal management policy tools. These tools will offer managers new approaches for evaluating the effectiveness of current policies and management strategies designed to link coastal resources with economic development. Positive trends can be highlighted, recognized, and actively maintained. The beginnings of negative trends can be detected and action taken to ameliorate problems. A benchmarks program will also promote community awareness about important issues of sustainability and guide future policy and decision making for the region regarding development that is done in harmony with the important natural resources of the area. With the assistance of The Eastern Shore Institute, governments and public special interest groups in this region of the Delmarva Peninsula are working to bridge the gaps among environment, economy, and society in their programs designed and intended to improve economic conditions within the region. I hope that I have been able to accurately present to you some of the new and innovative approaches that are being taken in Virginia and at the same time DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Page 75 REPORT ON BREAKOUT GROUPS TO DISCUSS MODELS AND THEIR APPLICATIONS TO STATE AND LOCAL STRATEGIES Introduction untouched by human activity. Defining what exists is not complete and additional good At lunchtime on the second day of the science needs to be undertaken to define what is conference, all participants were directed to achievable. Also, while lack of coordination select one of three breakout groups, Delaware, among local jurisdictions is another issued faced Maryland, or Virginia, based on their own by Virginia, a planning district commission has interests. For approximately one hour, each been formed to address cross-county issues. breakout group was directed to discuss the issues and findings raised during the conference in the Therefore, a mechanism is in place and needs context of their particular state as well as to be activated with respect to coastal bay issues. Delmarva-wide. At the conclusion of the breakout sessions, the full conference reconvened Among the areas where they would like to to discuss the findings of each group, which are receive help are: summarized below. Reports focused on Delmarva-wide strategies, with the exception of Support from the State of Virginia for Maryland, which used the time to further discuss eastern shore issues - Unlike Maryland the National Estuary Program (NEP). and Delaware, the rest of the State pays little heed to the eastern shore. No Virginia commissions or coastal bay programs exist. The focus on the Chesapeake Bay The facilitator for the Virginia breakout is almost total. Also, there is a lack of group was Dr. Warren Flint, Executive Director constituency/voting block. of the Eastern Shore Institute. Findings from the breakout session were recorded on flip charts in Development of an overarching terms of issues and obstacles, and presented to purpose/mission to bring the people of the all conference participants. eastern shore together - Virginia should immediately take advantage of the models The first key finding is that, given all of the offered by Delaware and Maryland to activity in Delaware and Maryland, Virginia begin motivating people. wants to be included. Very little of the process to date has crossed the state line. Models have Delaware been developed, organizations are in place, and state boundaries are artificial. What Virginia Dr. Bruce Richards, Executive Director of the offers the process is serving as a model for what Delaware Center for Inland Bays, facilitated the the other bays would like to achieve in their breakout session. Findings were presented on restoration efforts. These bays are to a large flip charts, beginning with the key factors that degree, with the exception of agricultural runoff, contribute to tourism, development, Page 76 DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference fi sheri es/she I I fi she ri es/aquacu I ture, and * Shoreline stabilization agriculture. * Point source pollution 9 Storm/waste water impacts Factors that influence tourism include: o Laws and regulations � No sales tax Factors that influence agriculture include: � Two bridges with access � Stock car races * Jack Tarburton/Frank Perdue � Birding/ecotourism activities o Russian exports � Coastal state parks 9 Profit/costs/equipment � Outlets o Need to eat � Boating/jet skis o Commodity markets o Weather Factors that influence development include: o Proximity to markets/infrastructure o Consumer demand � No sales tax, good economy, job base o BMPs � Infrastructure e Land availability � Proximity to water o Uncontrolled development � Profit/developer 9 Laws and regulation � Quality of life o Drainage/irrigation � Retirement area o Availability of labor � Clean beaches o Urban encroachment � Recreational opportunities o Buffer zone/tax ditches � Pro-development atmosphere (politicians) o Pest/weed control � Availability of housing o Technology � Colleges and universities o Government subsidies � Public schools o Changing demographics (family farm preservation) Factors that influence fisheries/ shellfisheries/aquaculture include: The other key area focused on by the breakout group was Delaware's connection to � Lack of submerged aquatic vegetation Delmarva-wide issues. Issues that were (SAV) identified included: � Political environment � Water quality o Over/underplanned uses of the landscape � Nonpoint source pollution 9 Population growth � Loss of habitat o Changes in age/demographics � Lack of education e Transportation � Agricultural impacts 9 Loss of habitat � Neighboring jurisdictions (PA, MD, VA, o Water quality NJ) o Quality of life � Overharvesting o Dredging Assawoman canal � Loss of wetlands o Rural/urban conflict � Increase in technology o "User" conflicts � Recreational boating/jet skis o Natural disasters and planning � Commercial development o Collective planning and education � Benthic food systems 9 Increased cost for infrastructure � Septic system impacts on habitat o Loss of federal funds DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Page 77 � Political "will" regionally (county and The following comments/questions were state) received concerning the NEP process (responses � Loss of farmland are noted where applicable): � Environmental data collection, use Comment: Please elaborate on development of In summary, key areas were access and the public participation strategy. infrastructure, changing demographics, Response: The Maryland NEP will review and unplanned growth, coordination at all levels of evaluate strategies that were developed for the government, education and outreach, and Chesapeake Bay Program and for other NEPs. regulations and laws. A draft strategy will be developed based on these experiences. We will look at what groups Maryland have been involved in past issues and determine which interests we need to reach to make this The facilitator for this breakout group, new program a success. Gwynne Schultz, Director of the Coastal Zone Management Division, Maryland Department of Comment: Americorp requires goal-orientation, Natural Resources identified four topics for while we keep hearing about the process. There discussion: are numerous Americorp people on the eastern shore who have been trained in databases, 1) upcoming activities; 2) the process; 3) environmental assessment, etc. Citizens need to confirmation of the problems and goals; and, know what is expected of them and what the time permitting, 4) Delmarva-wide strategies, goals will be. We also need to develop a list of community groups with contact names that can Regarding National Estuary Program (NEP) help. activities, a committee structure is under Response: Maryland has used the Conservation development. The management committee Corps in the past to identify problems. In recently met, while the remaining committees general, volunteer assistance is essential. (policy, scientific/technical, and citizen's advisory) have yet to meet. Candidates for the Comment: We need to make sure that different Program Director's position will be interviewed agencies do not have barriers that exclude this week. Conference participants interested in cooperation (e.g., years ago a bridge was built learning more about the program and its that now restricts flushing, dredging actions may committees should call Kathy Ellet at 410/974- bring up contamination, and barrier islands were 3382. created that are now preserved). Different issues will require agencies to work synergistically. Strategic activities underway include Response: The NEP will be looking at linkages development of a public participation strategy to over the next year. reach all stakeholders, development of a data management strategy, preparation of a first-year Comment: What connection is there between the work plan, and signing of a partnership NEP and the Corps of Engineers? agreement among key players. Other activities Response: The Corps of Engineers recently include an environmental characterization study, completed a I 1/2-year long study that used a review of environmental programs, identification holistic approach to examine water resources of priority problems, development of a (e.g., navigation, water quality, and monitoring program, and preparation of a infrastructure). This study set the groundwork management plan. for the NEP, which will elaborate on it. Page 78 DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Comment: Is there a process for getting citizen Comment: None of the studies have shown a lot input? of toxic contamination. Why is this problem Response: The NEP will have two focuses: listed and not sedimentation (like eutrophication, getting input from all stakeholders and getting this affects drainage patterns)? [Note: a information out to everyone. Mechanisms are resource expert responded that toxics are listed under development. because of findings pertaining to historical practices and implications for dredging; Comment: Instead of population control, we sedimentation is a valid issue and should be should recognize that everyone is a "re-creation" covered as a separate problem or as a subset of artist and capable of re-thinking things. another.] Limiting creativity, in general, is a bad idea. Also, why not try to develop other areas of the Comment: Fishing is very poor in the back bays state and bring the whole state into the process, and the flounder are gone. Clam dredges flatten since all resources come from the same pot of out the floor of the bay and create large flows of money? material. In addition, a speed limit should be Response: This leads into the next part of the established for all vessels to control wakes. The discussion, priority problems. MD DNR says concerns are an over-reaction, but the commenter has seen these changes over a 45- The breakout/group next discussed the year period. following priority problems identified by the NEP: The final discussion focused on the four main goals for the MD NEP that were identified in the Eutrophication original submittal package: Habitat modification and loss Decline in living resources * Reduce water and habitat quality impacts Toxic contamination where they are most severe and maintain Shellfish closures quality of areas not degraded Water-based activities * Protect existing high-quality habitat, and The following comments/questions were where possible, restore degraded habitat received concerning the identification of problems: * Control input of pathogens and toxic chemicals for human health and recreation Comment: Flooding and standing water purposes problems due to population pressures should be added. We need better stormwater management. e Plan for sustainable development and We also need to consider land subsidence due to population growth. ground-water withdrawal, as well as sea level rise (the minimum estimates indicate that it will The following comments/questions were affect this area). received on these goals (responses are noted where applicable): Comment: Environmental education is one of the most significant actions to take. Comment: No one has recommended looking at the Chesapeake Bay and what has been done Comment: We need to start demonstration there. Rumor says it has improved. We also projects on sustainable economic development. have not heard anyone talking about critical areas. Is there any movement to push this legislation? DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Page 79 Response: The MD NEP is not aware of any legislation, but does have plans to look at the Chesapeake Bay program. Furthermore, EPA noted that there are 28 NEPs in the country and a technology transfer program exists to exchange information. There are several good examples, beginning with the Delaware Inland Bays. Comment: Anything that happens needs to go through the Maryland State legislature; therefore, we need to push for what we want. Comment: A lot comes down to money and development. We are not going to be able to keep people out. Ultimately, county. regulations are most important and critical areas are a good place to start. We need to figure out how to live with these conditions. For example, we may want to consider opening up areas that are restricted in exchange for controls on harmful types of development. Also, we need to communicate within groups (e.g., via a computer bulletin board or e-mail). Response: Besides regulatory programs, we need to look at offering incentives to the development community. In addition, the MD NEP has flyers available on becoming involved with the Citizen's Advisory Committee. Page 80 DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference FULL CONFERENCE DISCUSSION ON ISSUES AND STRATEGIES BEST ADDRESSED BY A DELMARVA-WIDE APPROACH Following reports from the state breakout needs to be taken into account, including groups, Rick Johnstone, Supervisor of Forestry auto emissions. for Delmarva Power and Light, opened the discussion to all participants on Delmarva-wide Do not underestimate the fondness of the issues. In doing so, he noted that reduced American public for some of the federal funds increase opportunities for regulations that have protected and partnerships. Specifically, his experience in improved our environment far more than developing new Endangered Species Regulations any other nation in the world. emphasized the importance of involvement with Environmental regulations are not respect to non-regulatory approaches. To harmful and were not developed to be elaborate on these approaches, Mr. Johnstone bothersome; they were developed because showed a videotape that outlined the voluntary they are necessary. People do not write pesticide environmental stewardship program unnecessary regulations. between the U.S. EPA and Delmarva Power and Light, and other utilities. The videotape Perhaps the bays should be federalized. provided an example of a partnership between The states will not get together with private industry and regulators to resolve enough clout, and this approach was environmental concerns through best successful for the Grand Canyon. It management practices instead of regulations or should be used here because this resource legislation. These approaches constitute a feeds people. paradigm shift, are economical, and have proven successful in farming and the Chesapeake Bay. Regarding how to reach the people who did not attend, every person here has the The following Delmarva-wide issues were ability to contact other people; everyone then identified by conference participants: here is a carrier of the disease called "bay-saving". It doesn't matter if it's � The scientific and technical communities your Rotary Club, Kiwanis Club, Lion's are very aware of what the problems are Club, sorority, board of realtor's, and some of the solutions, but the public farming organization, or other groups. at large needs to be educated. A series Everyone has jobs that are dependent on of public service announcements in the the health of the economy in this area. tri-state area needs to be undertaken We cannot point fingers and expect others regarding the problems, programs, and to act; we have to do it. objectives. The structure of the conference will be � As revealed by the Chesapeake Bay kept together for a while; i.e., the studies, the significance of air emissions Agenda Planning Committee will meet again. Your input is needed as to what DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Page 81 would be most helpful. Ideas can be sent to Marsha Ramsay, Rick Kutz, Warren Flint, Rick Johnstone, Bruce Richards, Kent Price, and others if you are not comfortable speaking in front of a large audience'. Also, please fill out the evaluation forms. � Can the state representatives get together a few times per year to share information on what works and what doesn't work? � There are many youth in the area that can get involved; e.g., Americorp and Conservation Corps. These people are trained in environmental assessments and environmental restoration. This involvement will improve the environment, provide hands-on training, and help these youth to be of service to their community and become worthy citizens of tomorrow. � Everyone should visit and snorkel in Virginia's inland bays with elected officials and citizens to see pristine bays and develop goals for Delaware and Maryland. � Lack of involvement by the biggest stakeholder, Ocean City, is a concern. We will have a difficult time achieving goals without them. � As a direct consequence of this conference, the Worcester County Planning Department has received tentative comn-litments from the four other planning staffs to begin meeting on a regular basis. Page 82 DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference CONFERENCE FOLLOW UP W. Michael McCabe Regional Administrator, U.S. EPA Marsha Ramsay, President of Assateague staying together. I think we ought to make this Coastal Trust (ACT), began the Follow Up conference an annual event and EPA would session by stating ACT's commitment to certainly be willing to help if that is the desire advancing the work of the conference. She of the stakeholders. expects ACT tofacilitate communications among conference sponsors and participants, to build We need to reach out and pull in more on this coalition to reach others, to reach out to people. One disappointment, I think, with this and educate all Delmarva stakeholders, and to conference is that there were not more facilitate involvement of local governments. She development representatives. These people are invited all conference sponsors to work with having a tremendous impact on this area and we ACT ACT will seek public and private funding need to bring them in, talk to them, and educate to carry out this commitment. Ms. Ramsay then them. We also need to involve local turned the podium over to Michael McCabe for government; I was pleased to see the level of closing remarks. local government participation but I think it can be better. We are lucky that with the I just want to thank everybody for coming, Chesapeake Bay Program in such close and in particular, thank all of the members of proximity, we can have a lot of overlapping the Planning Committee, especially Marsha benefits. One of the exciting new things in the Ramsay and the people at the Assateague Coastal Chesapeake Bay Program is our local Trust. When they first started talking about government initiative. It's being put together putting this conference together, I think they this year, including an action plan scheduled for were envisioning 60 or 70 people coming, and completion by this October. This action plan obviously with 275 involved, this has been can be applied to several other communities as beyond the planners' wildest expectations. This well, including the coastal bays. As has been says great things about the level of involvement discussed, EPA can tap into the community at in this region. every level, and this is what we need to do. Everyday new people move into this community I am not about to provide a summary or because of the quality of life and they do not synthesis of what went on; I think everybody can want to see that jeopardized. To the extent that take away different things from this conference. we can involve these new residents as But I think it's pretty clear that we need to build stakeholders, they will be a potent force in on the success of this conference in order to making sure that we have the kind of sustainable accomplish some of the goals and objectives that future that we all care about and are looking for. have been set forth here. I was really pleased to hear that the four counties will be getting If you are not involved, get involved with the together and that the agenda committee is Delaware and Maryland Estuary Programs. DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Page 83 Also, as discussed, Virginia has a number of new initiatives in the coastal area that need our involvement and a broader stakeholder base. With that kind of involvement, we can make some changes. To my knowledge, there has been no natural tidal wave that has hit the Delmarva Peninsula, but we are experiencing a tidal wave approach to development in this part of the country. Unlike the natural phenomenon, we can plan for the impacts of the man-made kind. If we don't, however, the destruction to the quality of life and to the environment could be no less severe, although a lot more prolonged. We are looking for ways to deal with the impact of that tidal wave. Your commitment and participation indicates that you care about how we manage that, and I think that the future looks hopefu 1. 1 am glad that I was part of this process, and I certainly plan on being a part of future events of this kind, whether I am in a politically appointed position or as a private citizen. Thank you and I look forward to the next meeting of this group. Page 84 DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference APPENDIX A DELMARVA COASTAL BAYS CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS DELMARVA COASTAL BAYS CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS March 8,9,1996 Robert Abele Billy Barroll Ocean Pines The Conservation Fund 4667 A Ocean Pines 1800 North Kent Street, Suite 1120 Berlin, MD 21811 Arlington, VA 22209 Raymond W. Alden III Steven D. Beaston Old Dominion Univ./AMRL USCG Sea Partners 1034 W. 45th St. 19 Hassell Ave. Norfolk, VA 23503-0456 Bethany Beach, DE 19930 Edward Ambrogio * Gene A. Bechtel U.S. EPA Region 111 1901 L street, N.W., Suite 250 Mail Code 3EPIO Washington, DC 20036 841 Chestnut Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 Robert Beckett MD Dept. oi-Natural Resources Carol Anderson-Austra Tawes State Office Bldg., E-2 Corps of Engineers, Baltimore Dist. 580 Taylor Ave. P.O. Box 1715 Annapolis, MD 21401 Baltimore, MD 21203-1715 Kim Beidler Charles App JACA Corporation US EPA Region 111 550 Pinetown Rd. 841 Chestnut Building Ft. Washington, PA 19034-2682 Philadelphia, PA 19107 Geraldine Bell Suzanne Aucella Assateague Island Nat. Seashore MD Dept. of Natural Resources 7206 National Seashore Lane Tawes State Office Bldg., E-2 Berlin, MD 21811 580 Taylor Ave. Annapolis, MD 21401 Jeri L. Berc USDA Nat. Resources Cons. Serv. Geraldine Bachman 339 Busch's Frontage Road Lower Eastern Shore Heritage Com. John Hanson Business Center 30485 Prince William St. Annapolis, MD 21401 Princess Anne, MD 21853 Sponsors' Committee Agenda Planning Committee DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Page 85 Paul F. Berge Michael Busacca Accomack-Northampton Planning Dist. 2726 Superior Ave. P.O. Box 417 Baltimore, MD Accomac, VA 23301 Jim Butch Elysabeth Bonar-Bouton US EPA MD Dept. of Natural Resources 841 Chestnut Bldg., 3EPIO Tawes State Office Building. E-2 Philadelphia, PA 19107 580 Taylor Avenue Annapolis, MD 21401 Jo Campbell Ecotopics International News Serv. Jane Boraczek P.O. Box 2309 EA Engineering Ocean City, MD 21842 110 19 McCormick Road Hunt Valley, MD 21031 Pat Campbell-White Center for Inland Bays Donald E. Briggs 702 Rehoboth Avenue National Park Service Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 Conservation Assistance Program 200 Chestnut Street, Suite 260 Christopher Carbaugh Philadelphia, PA 19106 Lawrence T. Whitlock Associates 3409 Coastal Highway Dave Bunting Ocean City, MD 21842 Dorchester Street Dock 307 Dorchester Street Ron Cascio Ocean City, MD 21842 Chestnut Creek, Inc. 10046 Silver Point Lane Randy Burgess Ocean City, MD 21842 Center for Marine Conservation 306A Buckroe Avenue James F. Casey Hampton, VA 23664 MD Dept. of Natural Resources Matapeake Terminal - Fisheries Mary Burton 301 Marine Academy Drive Sussex LWV Stevensville, MD 21666 R.D. 6, Box 98 Millsboro, DE 19966 Lisa Challenger Worcester County Tourism Patrick Burton 105 Pearl Street MD Dept. of Natural Resources Snow Hill, MD 21863 Tawes State Office Bldg., E-2 580 Taylor Ave. Lee Anne Chandler Annapolis, MD 21401 Critical Areas Commission, MDNR 45 Calvert St., 2nd Fl. Agnes Busacca Annapolis, MD 21401 2726 Superior Ave. Baltimore, MD 21234 John K. Chlada Perdue Farms Inc. P.O. Box 1537 Salisbury, MD 21802 Page 86 DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference John Chubb Susan Y. Demas Citizens for a Better Eastern Shore USDA - Natural Resources Cons. Ser. P.O. Box 882 301 Bank Street Eastville, VA 23347 Snow Hill, MD 21863 Jessica Cogan Judy Denver DE Center for the Inland Bays U.S. Geological Survey P.O. Box 297 300 S. New Street, Rm. 1201 Naussa, DE 19969 Dover, DE 19904 Sumner Crosby Chester T. Dickerson Jr. US EPA Region III Draper Dickerson Ent. 841 Chestnut Building, 3EP 10 11313 Willowbrook Dr. Philadelphia, PA 19107 Potomac, MD 20854-2568 Charlotte A. Cully Sally D. Dickerson Assateague Coastal Trust Draper Dickerson Ent. 3802 Perry Hall Rd. 11313 Willowbrook Dr. Perry Hall, MD 21128 Potomac, MD 20854-2568 Carolyn Cummins Steve Doctor West Ocean City Association MD Dept. of Natural Resources 9628 Oceanview Lane Matapeake Terminal - Fisheries W. Ocean City, MD 21842 301 Marine Academy Drive Stevensville, MD 21666 Dennis W. Dare Town of Ocean City Mark Duffy P.O. Box 158 Assateague Island Nat'l. Seashore Ocean City, MD 21842 7206 National Seashore Lane Berlin, MD 21811 Celia Dawson MD Dept. of Natural Resources William Dunstan Tawes State Office Bldg., D2 Old Dominion University 580 Taylor Ave. Norfolk, VA 23529-0276 Annapolis, MD 21401 Samuel H. Dyke Frank Dawson Glatfelter Pulp Wood Company MD Dept. of Natural Resources P.O. Box 1971 Tawes State Office Bldg., E-2 Salisbury, MD 21802-1971 Annapolis, MD 21401 Ajax Eastman George P. Demas Assateague Coastal Trust USDA - Natural Resources Cons. Ser. 112 E. Lake Avenue 301 Bank Street Baltimore, MD 21212 Snow Hill, MD 21863 Beth Ebersole ICF Kaiser 9300 Lee Highway Fairfax, VA 22031 DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Page 87 Kathleen Ellett * Patricia Ficken MD Dept. of Natural Resources Coalition of Coastal Communities Tawes State Office Bldg., E-2 Rt. 3, Box 297A 580 Taylor Ave. Selbyville, DE 19975 Annapolis, MD 21401 Cynthia Field Donna R. Emory MD Dept. of Natural Resources Assateague Coastal Trust 580 Taylor Avenue 1525 Bolton Street Tawes State Office Building, C-2 Baltimore, MD 21217 Annapolis, MD 21401 Richard W. Emory Jr. Erin M. Fitzsimmons Assateague Coastal Trust Assateague Coastal Trust 1525 Bolton Street Salisbury State University Baltimore, MD 21217 Political Science Dept. Salisbury, MD 21801-6837 Pamela L. Eng Salisbury State University Ingo Fleming Bioenvirons Club National Marine Fisheries 3) 12 Gay Street, Apt. 2 P.O. Box 474 Salisbury, MD 21801 Ocean City, MD 21842-0474 Steve D. Engel R. Warren Flint" Lawrence T. Whitlock Associates The Eastern Shore Institute 3409 Coastal Highway P.O. Box 688 Ocean City, MD 21842 Exmore, VA 23350 Richard Eskin * Woody Francis MD Dept. of the Environment Baltimore Dist. Corps of Engineers 2500 Broening Highway P.O. Box 1715 Baltimore, MD 21224 Baltimore, MD 21203-1715 Joe Farrell Julia M. Fritz University of Delaware Worcester Soil Conservation Dist. Sea Grant Marine Advisory Service P.O. Box 97 700 Pilottown Road Snow Hill, MD 21863 Lewes, DE 19958 Rebecca Gast Joseph W. Fehrer MD Geological Survey Worcester Environmental Trust 2300 St. Paul St. I 10 W. Federal St. 'Baltimore, MD 21218 Snow Hill, MD 21863 Elinor Gawel Ilia J. Fehrer Kent County Planning Office Worcester Environmental Trust 103 N. Cross St. I 10 W. Federal St. Chestertown, MD 21620 Snow Hill, MD 21863 Page 88 DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Jim George Harriett Hankins MD Dept. of the Environment Dorchester County 2500 Broening Highway 1902 Pig Neck Rd. Baltimore, MD 21224 Cambridge, MD 21613 Barbara Gillespie Audrey Hansen Assateague Coastal Trust Salisbury State University 10046 Silver Point Lane Bioenvirons Club Ocean City, MD 21842 9137 Libertytown Rd. Berlin, MD 21811 Charles B. Glover Ocean Pines Association, Inc. Walter B. Harris 239 Ocean Parkway CWRAC P.O. 2700 Ocean Pines 13650 Blooming Neck Road Berlin, MD 21811 Worton, MD 21678 Michael N. Goldberg Verna Harrison P.O. Box 548 MD Department of Natural Resources Berlin, MD 21811 Tawes State Office Building, C-4 580 Taylor Avenue Tim Goodger Annapolis, MD 21401 Nat'l. Marine Fisheries Service 904 S. Morris St. Molly Harriss Olson Oxford, MD 21654 President's Coun/Sustainable Devel. 730 Jackson Place, N.W. David Goshorn Washington, DC 20503 MD Dept. of Natural Resources Tawes State Office Bldg., D2 Philip E. Hartman 580 Taylor Ave. Assateague Coastal Trust Annapolis, MD 21401 1604 Ralworth Rd. Baltimore, MD 21218-2232 Bob Haase South Point Association Zlata Hartman 7146 Chandler Drive Assateague Coastal Trust Berlin, MD 21811 1604 Ralworth Rd. Baltimore, MD 21218-2232 Phil Hager* Worcester County Ian Hartwell One W. Market St. MD Dept. of Natural Resources Room 116 Court House Tawes State Office Bldg., D2 Snow Hill, MD 21863-1070 580 Taylor Ave. Annapolis, MD 21401 Robert Hand R D Hand and Assoc. Sue Hayes 13354 Cove Landing Road Oceanside Advisory Committee, DNR Bishopville, MD 21813 Oyster Bay Tackle 11615 Coastal Highway Ocean City, MD 21842 DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Page 89 John Heisler Henry W. Immanuel U.S. EPA 2250 Mail Code 4504-F Elliott Island Road 401 M St., SW Elliott Island, MD 21869 Washington, DC 20460 William Jenkins Frederick B. Higgins MD Dept. of Natural Resources Temple University Tawes State Office Building, E-2 Philadelphia, PA 19122 580 Taylor Avenue Annapolis, MD 21401 Louise Hildreth Assateague Coastal Trust Judy Johnson 912 Rolandvue Road Assateague Coastal Trust Baltimore, MD 21204 Broadmead, Apt. K- 17 13 801 York Road Margarita Hill Cockeysville, MD 21030-1808 University of Maryland Dept. of Horticulture & L.A. Rick Johnstone College Park, MD 20742-5611 Delmarva Power & Light P.O. Box 1739 Charles H. Hocutt Salisbury, MD 21802-1739 University of MD, Eastern Shore Princess Anne, MD 21853 Evelyn Kampmeyer NO Conservation Corps, DNR Ralph Hoen Tawes State Office Building, E-3 South Point Association 580 Taylor Avenue 7146 Chandler Drive Annapolis, MD 21401 Berlin, MD 21811 Lee Karrh Mark L. Homer University of Delaware MD Dept. of Natural Resources College of Marine Studies P.O. Box 150 700 Pilottown Road Piney Point, MD 20674 Lewes, DE 19958 Nancy L. Howard. Renee Karrh MD Dept. of Natural Resources MD Dept. of Natural Resources 201 Baptist Street, Suite 22 Tawes State Office Bldg., D2 Salisbury, MD 21801 580 Taylor Ave. Annapolis, MD 21401 Bill Hu1slander Assateague Island Nat'l. Seashore Katie Kause 7206 National Seashore Lane MD Dept. of Natural Resources Berlin, MD 21811 Forest, Wildlife & Heritage Service 201 Baptist St., Suite 22 Margot Hunt Salisbury, MD 21801 Assateague Coastal Trust P.O. Box 26 Chincoteague, VA 23336-0026 Page 90 DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Joan Kean Marc Koenings CWRAC Assateague Island Nat. Seashore P.O. Box 269 7206 National Seashore Lane Chincoteague, VA 23336-0269 Berlin, MD 21811 Frederick Keer Jr. John Koslosky Assateague Coastal Trust 9133 5th Street P.O. Box 21887 Lanham, MD 20706 Baltimore, MD 21222-6887 Stella Koslosky Willett Kempton 9133 5th Street University of Delaware Lanham, MD 20706 College of Marine Studies Newark, DE 19716 Steven Krasnow Assateague Coastal Trust Randall Kerhin 12604 Celtic Court MD Dept. of Natural Resources Rockville, MD 20850 MD Geological Survey 2300 St. Paul Street William K. Kroen Baltimore, MD 12118 Wesley College 120 North Street Butch Kinerney Dover, DE 19901 DE Dept. of Natural Resources 89 Kings Highway Jack Kumer P.O. Box 1401 Assateague Island Nat'l. Seashore Dover, DE 19903 7206 National Seashore Lane Berlin, MD 21811 Dennis G. Klosterman Corps of Engineers, Baltimore Dist. Rick Kutz P.O. Box 1715 US EPA, Region III Baltimore, MD 21203 Suite 200, 201 Defense Hwy. Annapolis, MD 21401 Chris Klump 2522 Bayview Rd. Abigail Lambert Girdletree, MD 21829 Lower Shore Land Trust P.O. Box 271 Kim A. Klump Secretary, MD 21664 Worcester County One W. Market St. Chris Lea Room 116 Court House Assateague Island Nat'l. Seashore Snow Hill, MD 21863-1070 7206 National Seashore Lane Berlin, MD 21811 Henry Koellein Jr. Atlantic Coast Chapter, M.S.S.A. Cyrus Lesser 538 Marlinspike Drive MD Dept. of Agriculture SevernaPark,MD 21146-3355 50 Harry S. Truman Parkway Annapolis, MD 21401 DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Page 91 Mary Jane Lindblad Gregory McCabe DE Center for Inland Bays Center for Inland Bays 204 West I I th St. Rt. 2, Box 120-A South Bethany, DE 19930 Selbyville, DE 19975 Cecelia Linder Michael McCabe University of Delaware US EPA Region III Administrator 700 Pilottown Road 841 Chestnut Street Lewes, DE 19958 Philadelphia, PA 19107 Calvin D. Lubben John McCloud Chesapeake Forest Products Co. NOAA P.O. Box 300 MD Pocomoke City, MD 21851 Jack N. McDonald Jeanne R. Lynch York (PA) Suburban School District Worcester County Commissioner 455 Sundale Drive 10464 Azalea Rd. York, PA 17547 Berlin, MD 21811 Susan McDowell Dale A. Maginnis US EPA Region III Delmarva Advisory Council 841 Chestnut Building, 3EP 10 P.O. Box 4277 Philadelphia, PA 19107 Salisbury, MD 21803-4277 Margaret McGinty Stacey A. Marek MD Dept. of Natural Resources Corps of Engineers, Baltimore Dist. Tawes State Office Bldg., D2 P.O. Box 1715 580 Taylor Ave. Baltimore, MD 21203-1715 Annapolis, MD 21401 Joe Margraf James McGowan University of MD, Eastern Shore Accomack-Northampton Planning Dist. MD Fish & Wildlife Coop Unit P.O. Box 417 Room 1120 Trigg Hall Accomac, VA 23301 Princess Anne, MD 21853 J. Chapman McGrew Jr. Lora Martin Salisbury State University DE Center for Inland Bays Dept. Geography/Regional Planning P.O. Box 297 212 Devilbiss Hall Nassau, DE 19969 Salisbury, MD 21801 Lora Martin Kate Meade DE Center for the Inland Bays MD Dept. of Natural Resources P.O. Box 297 Tawes State Office Building, B-3 Naussa, DE 19969 580 Taylor Avenue Annapolis, MD 21401 Page 92 DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Joseph N. Melson Jr. William F. Moyer P.O. Box 1468 DE Dept. of Natural Resources Bethany Beach, DE 19930 89 Kings Highway PO Box 1401 Cornelia Melvin Dover, DE 19903, The Nature Connection 24 Pack Lane Laura Murray Lewes, DE 19958 University of MD, Horn Point P.O. Box 775 Mark Mendelsohn Cambridge, MD 21613 Corps of Engineers, Baltimore Dist. P.O. Box 1715 Robert W. Nelson Baltimore, MD 21203-1715 Ocean Pines Association 239 Ocean Parkway Samantha Metcalf 2700 Ocean Pines Penn State University Berlin, MD 21811 4101 Woodley Dr. Alexandria, VA 22309 Vivian Newman MD Wetlands Committee Andy Meyer 11194 Douglas Ave. CWRAC, HaTford County MD Marriottsville, MD 21104-1622 220 South Main Street Bel Air, MD 21014 Bruce E. Nichols USDA - Natural Resources Cons. Ser. Bruce Michael 301 Bank Street MD Dept. of Natural Resources Snow Hill, MD 21863 Tawes State Office Bldg., D2 580 Taylor Ave. Raymond Nornes Annapolis, MD 21401 South Point Association 7146 Chandler Drive Saralynn C. Molliver Berlin, MD 21811 Assateague Coastal Trust I 10 Woodbrook Lane John C. North Baltimore, MD 21212 Chesapeake Bay Critical Areas Comm. 45 Calvert Street Ralph Moore Annopolis, MD 21401 Perdue Farms P.O. Box 1537 Katherine Nowarth Salisbury, MD 21802-1537 Newark, De Dana Morris-Jones Peter Noy Morris-Jones Associates Corps of Engineers, Baltimore Dist. 279 Fairtree Plaza P.O. Box 1715 Severna Park, MD 21146 Baltimore, MD 21203-1715 Mary Ochse Assateague Coastal Trust P.O. Box 551 Ocean City, MD 21842 DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Page 93 Bill Painter Christina Pompa US EPA 206 Windsor Avenue Office Policy Planning/Evaluation Centreville, MD 21617 USEPA, Mail Code 2124,401 M ST.,SW Washington, DC 20460 Stephanie Poole University of Delaware Tom Parham Center for Study of Marine Policy MD Dept. of Natural Resources 301 Robinson Hall Tawes State Office Bldg., D2 Newark, DE 19711 580 Taylor Ave. Annapolis, MD 21401 Shirley Price Murray's Bait & Tackle Mitch Parker RD 2 Box 120 Frontier Town Campground Millville, DE 19970 P.O. Box 691 Ocean City, MD 21842 Kent S. Price DE Center for Inland Bays R. G. Parks P.O. Box 297 Kegotank Bay Clam Co. Nassau, DE 19969 19081 Glenn Drive Parksley, VA 23421 Til Purnell SWAB Jim Parsons R.D. 6, Box 98 Perdue Farms Inc. Millsboro, DE 19966 P.O. Box 1537 Salisbury, MD 21802 Rose Railey Assateague Island Nat'l. Seashore John W. Passwater 7206 National Seashore Lane 99 Woods Drive Berlin, MD 21811 Lewes, DE 19958 John Ramsay Tom Patton Assateague Coastal Trust Assateague Coastal Trust 6009 Lake Manor Dr. P.O. Box 578 Baltimore, MD 21210 Berlin, MD 21811 Marsha Ramsay Michael Peirson Assateague Coastal Trust Cherrystone Aqua-Farms 6009 Lake Manor Dr. P.O. Box 347 Baltimore, MD 21210 Cheriton, VA 23316 Bruce A. Richards Robert Perciasepe DE Center for Inland Bays US EPA, Asst. Admin. for Water P.O. Box 297 Washington, DC Nassau, DE 19969 Grace W. Pierce-Beck Spencer Rowe Delaware Audubon Society 12409 Kent Road 20 Muirfield Court Ocean City, MD 21842 Dover, DE 19904 Page 94 DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Bill Satterfield Kevin M. Smith Delmarva Poultry Industry MD Dept. of Natural Resources RD 6, Box 47 Tawes State Office Bldg., E-2 Georgetown, DE 19947-9622 Annapolis, MD 21401 Jeff Schoellkoff Ray Smith P.O. Box 237 Balfour Holdings Inc. Warren, VT 05674 1180 Sunrise Valley Dr., Suite 925 Reston, VA 22091 Pat Schrawder Baywatch Kelly Snannahan 12808 Harbor Rd. Worcester County Ocean City, MD 21842 Room 112 Court House One West Market Street John D. Schroer Snow Hill, MD 21863 U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Chincoteague NWR Ralph Spagnolo P.O. Box 62 U.S. EPA, Region III Chincoteague, VA 23336 841 Chestnut Bldg., 3EP30 Philadelphia, PA 19107 Gwynne Schultz ** MD Dept. of Natural Resources Carl F. Steinitz Tawes State Office Bldg., E-2 Harvard University 580 Taylor Ave. Graduate School of Design Annapolis, MD 21401 48 Quincy Street Cambridge, MA 02138 Chris Shelton Town Creek Foundation Charlie Stek P.O. Box 159 Sen. Paul Sarbanes'Office Oxford, MD 21654 Washington, DC Diana L. Sienicki Naki Stevens 21 Cognac Drive Restore America's Estuaries Newark, DE 19702 1400 16th St. NW, Room 236 Washington, DC 20036 Michael L. Sienicki 21 Cognac Drive Barbara E. Stratton Newdrk, DE 19702 Corps of Engineers, Phila. District Wanamaker Building Anne Sloan 100 Penn Square East MD Dept. of Natural Resources Philadelphia, PA 19107-3390 Tawes State Office Building, E-2 580 Taylor Avenue David Sutherland Annapolis, MD 21401 The Conservation Fund 1800 North Kent Street, Suite 1120 Evan Smith Arlington, VA 22209 The Conservation Fund 1800 North Kent street, Suite 1120 Arlington, VA 22209 DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Page 95 Betsy Tam Barry Truitt US EPA The Nature Conservancy 1079 South Fprest Drive Virginia Coast Reserve Arlington, VA 22204 P.O. Box 158 Nassawadox, VA 23413 Jack Tarburton DE Dept. of Agriculture Jerry Truitt MD Delmarva Poultry Industry RD 6, Box 47 Mitchell Tarnowski Georgetown, DE 19947-9622 MDNR Shellfish Program 361 Sherwood Trail John G. Trumpower Annapolis, MD 21401 12943 Windy Drive Ocean City, MD 21842 Steve Taylor U.S. EPA Alice M. Tweedy 401 M St., SW 3522 Figgs Landing road Washington, DC 20460 Snow Hill, MD 21813 Allen B. Teasley Lexia Valdes Broadwater Academy University of Delaware P.O. Box 546 700 Pilottown Road Exrnore, VA 23350 Lewes, DE 19958 Cal Thomas Elizabeth Valentine Salisbury State University MD Dept. of Natural Resources Dept. of Geography Tawes State Office Bldg., E-2 Salisbury, NO 21801 580 Taylor Ave. Annapolis, MD 21401 Terry Thompson * Virginia Coast Reserve - TNC Eric S. Walbeck P.O. Box 158 Assateague Coastal Trust Nassawadox, VA 23413 110 Marykay Road Timonium, MD 21093 Paul C. Ticco Critical Areas Commission Larry Walton 45 Calvert St. Chesapeake Forest Products Co. Annapolis, MD 21401 P.O. Box 300 Pocomoke City, MD 21851 Carol Toomey Assateague Coastal Trust Perry Weed 15004 Reserve Road Rep. Wayne Gilchrest's Office Accokeek, MD 20607-9403 121 N. Washington St. Easton, MD 21601 Amanda Truett Wildfowl Trust of North America Thomas Weiss Horsehead Wetlands Center MD Office of Planning 600 Discovery Lane, P.O. Box 519 201 Baptist St., Suite 24 Grasonville, MD 216' ) 8 Salisbury, MD 21801 Page 96 DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Darlene V. Wells Philip Wirth Maryland Geological Survey Univ. of MD, Eastern Shore 2300 St. Paul Street MD Fish & Wildlife Coop Unit Baltimore, MD 21218 Trigg Hall, Rm. 1120 Princess Anne, MD 21853 Alan E. Wesche MD Dept. of Natural Resources Philip Wirth Matapeake Terminal - Fisheries University of MD, Eastern Shore 301 Marine Academy Drive MD Fish & Wildlife Coop Unit Stevensville, MD 21666 Room 1120 Trigg Hall Princess Anne, MD 21853 Lee Whaley Sen. Paul Sarbanes'Office Harry Womack Salisbury, MD 21801 Salisbury State University Department of Biology Christopher Williams Salisbury, MD 21801 MD Geological Survey 2300 St. Paul St. Frances A. Wright Baltimore, MD 21218 Assateague Coastal Trust 15004 Reserve Road Lana Williams Accokeek, MD 20607-9403 Worcester County Public Schools 6270 Worcester Highway Marie Youngs Newark, MD 21841 Assateague Coastal Trust P.O. Box 731 Stephen N. Williams Berlin, MD 21811 DE Dept. of Natural Resources 89 Kings Highway Ann Zahn P.O. Box 1401 7814 Glenbrook Road Dover, DE 19903 Bethesda, MD 20814 Roger C. Williamson Theodore Zahn 100 Woods Dr. 7814 Glenbrook Road Lewes, DE 19958 Bethesda, MD 20814 Carolyn Windsor Mark Zankel Assateague Coastal Trust The Nature Conservancy, DE Chapter 8406 Maymeadow Court 321 South State Street Baltimore, MD 21244 Dover, DE 19901 Sandy Winter Nick Zimmerman Wor-Wic Community College University of MD, Eastern Shore ' )2000 Campus Drive Princess Anne, MD 21853 Salisbury, MD 21801 Carl S. Zimmerman Assateague Island Nat'l. Seashore 7206 National Seashore Lane Berlin, MD 21811 DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Page 97 APPENDIX B CONFERENCE EVALUATION FORM Please turn in this completed form at the end of the conference. 1. Did the conference meet your expectations? 73 Yes 10 No 2. The conference was Well organized 75 Yes 4 No Informative 76 Yes I No Good presentations 68 Yes 6 No How could the conference have been improved? Comments: Audio-visuals should have been suitable for large audience and large room so all could see. Some presentations not effective. More local officials, developers, local citizens should have attended Subject matter too general. More breaks needed 3. How were the conference accommodations? Meeting rooms 34 Good 36 Fair I I Poor Food 35 Good 40 Fair 6 Poor Comments: Too cold and noisy in breakout groups. 4. Should this conference set the stage for followup actions? 81 Yes 0 No Future Conferences 70 Yes 5 No Newsletters T9 Yes -5 No Committees 62 Yes 3 No If YES, what issues should be addressed? Comments: Most respondents stressed needfor public education and involvement and cited issues raised at conference (agricultural practices, development, tourism, fishing) as well as good land planning, preservation offtagile areas, and updates on three-state efforts as being most important issues for fiture focus. Page 98 DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference If YES, at what governmental level? 49 Local (County) 34 State 59 Delmarva-wide 5. Are you willing to commit your time and/or money to ensure follow up actions are successful? 71 Yes 5 No 6. What is your personal vision for the future of Delmarva's Coastal Bays? Comments: There was considerable agreement that nature and human needs be in harmony: affordable and good quality of life; clean environment; open space; reasonable growth; protection ofsensitive areas such as wetlands and shorelines; goodfishing; clean bays throughout Delmarva. 7. How can this vision best be achieved? Comments: There was considerable supportfor education of all citizens, visitors and political leaders; for better planning for growth, involving all stakeholders and including reduction of waterside development and putting sensitive lands in conservation; for local zoning ordinances to protect sensitive areas and guide development to already developed areas and away ftom wetlands and shorelines. Everyone working together: cooperate, build consensus, stop finger- pointing. 8. What role do you envision for elected and appointed officials? Comments: There was almost unanimous agreement that officials need to listen to stakeholders' concerns and lead an effort toward sensible growth in the region that considers responses summarized in 6 & 7 above. Elected officials, most believe, should lead public education and involvement efforts and fund projects that protect and restore fragile and sensitive areas. Other suggestions include creating incentives to businesses that operate in environmentally protective ways and establishing userfees to payfor restoration. There was considerable criticism of local elected officials who chose not to attend the conference. There was additional criticism that these officials tend to make decisions that favor special, rather than public, interests. Most agreed, however, that it's time to move forward together. Total attendance at the conference was 269. The summary above is based on the 83 Evaluation Forms that were turned in at the end of the conference, representing 31 percent of conference attendees. DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Page 99 APPENDIX C REMAINING QUESTIONS Following the panel discussion on the environmental and economic status of the coastal bays and their watersheds, conference participants were provided with a 15-minute break in which to develop questions for any of the panelists or resource experts. For the remainder of the hour, the panelists and resource experts addressed several questions, which are presented on page 60. Due to the overwhelming number of questions and limited time, however, the majority could not be discussed. This Appendix lists these other questions that remain for future discussion. I . How can overuse/abuse of resources be prevented or curtailed? 2. Discussions of this conference have all emphasized sustainable development practices as a means of assuring good quality of life and healthy ecosystems for the future. If this approach is adopted, we will need a means to persuade the public to adopt this idealogy. Will there be any focus on the economic benefits of sustainable development approaches that can be translated to pocketbook savings meaningful to the individual taxpayers? 3. We keep talking about growth management and control. This issue has even been addressed in comprehensive management plans. So, why are growth limits/boundaries not drawn and implemented by co-governments? Why don't we do what Portland has done? 4. How much of the original wetlands have been lost to development over the years? 5. The majority of attendees are either from the government or are involved in grass roots efforts. How do we involve in the planning process those people in the middle? 6. What efforts are underway to enact better land use planning mechanisms such as: transfer of development rights and cluster zoning to create open space, etc.? 7. The perception among citizens is that their input is not truly desired because they may not be qualified or have a different agenda that is contrary to the environmental protection. This is not true! They offer real time, on-site data. However, they may need more information. What efforts will be made to inform and involve the public? 8. Why not set up a "Tributary Strategies" type process for the Coastal Bays involving DE, MD and VA? Since nutrients are the major problem, a "Coastal Bays Strategies" would involve citizens, local, state and federal governments, businesses and environmental groups, and could concentrate on specific issues that are unique to each state's coastal bays. Page 100 DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference 9. We have heard about limited resources, but have not tapped our most available - volunteers. The governmental agencies do not seem to have had, as a part of their process, harnessing this resource for gathering data, interviewing people and in general creating an army of extra help. Can you do more to integrate public groups into your teams? Example: Ocean Pines has several groups to help: Boat Club, Fishing Club (Anglers), Power Squadron, and individuals. 10. It was mentioned that the benthic community in southern Chincoteague Bay was in good shape and that northern Indian River Bay was in poor shape. Does this indicate a general north to south trend in degradation which may correspond with numbers of individual septic systems going north to south? Were the northern Indian River Bay sites and the southern Chincoteague Bay sites sampled simultaneously? 11. Do manmade canals act as a sump keeping runoff pollutants from entering the main bodies of water in the bays? 12. What are the largest sources of nutrient pollution into the bays? What causes the oxygen and toxic chemicals? What two to three things would have the most impact on reduction? 13. Are county economic development and tourism staff talking to planning and zoning staff to ensure that natural resource amenities that serve as attractions to companies to locate in this area are protected? If so, how is the planning process affected? 14. Functionally, a stand of trees does not make a forest. What is Delaware doing to foster a sustainable forestry ethic among its forest industry? 15. Hasn't Delaware put the cart before the horse by creating major access routes between its bays and beaches and the metropolitan areas to the north before establishing, fully, management plans relating to the coastal area? 16. What about the loss of biodiversity associated with Loblolly Pine Plantations; i.e., less of mixed hardwoods and old growth forest? How will this highly potential problem be addressed? 17. Is the environmental degradation in the north, i.e., Delaware Bay, reversible? 18. How will the new Farm Bill affect Delmarva agriculture ("Freedom to Farm")? 19. Are the tree farms monoculture? If so, is there any effort to change this? 20. Has the amount of eutrophication caused by agriculture and human habitation been quantified? 21. What needs to be done to stop eutrophication? If implemented, how long to see an improvement? 22. What has caused the decrease in spot and mullets in Indian River? 23. Who is benefitting from the poultry industry on the shore? 24. How would life change if the poultry industry was not here? DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference Page 101 25. For the benefit of the eastern shore, agriculture should diversify! 26. Is it true that intensive farming (use of pesticides, fertilizers, manure, etc.) is indicated in the nonpoint source of pollution? What role does the poultry industry play? Please discuss the economic and environmental bad buys; how it got that way and what needs to be done. 27. Ecotourism is a developing concept globally. Where is Delmarva going with this concept, or have they even considered marketing this concept? 28. Is it feasible to promote (or require) trapping of storm runoff from farms and elsewhere into ponds? These could serve as sediment traps, sources of irrigation water, recreational fishing etc. and help lessen bay pollution. 29. Do you know of any way to "garner" the numbers of individual farmers who are implementing BMPs on their own but aren't being "captured" in existing reporting systems? This would be a valuable information/education source for the general public to realize farmers, on a whole, are good stewards. 30. What is the adverse impact of tree farms on the ecosystems (include use of toxics, pesticides, fertilizers, etc.)? 31. Do the fish that we find in the ocean spawn in the coastal bays, and if so, what percentage? 32. Offering incentives to recreational fishermen for filling out a simplified survey before a fishing license is issued. 33. How can you reconcile your studies showing no fisheries stock change in MD waters over the past 20 years with the undoubted severe decline in the flounder fishery? 34. For discussions of water quality, no one has mentioned the trends in sediment loads in the bays or the actual effects of sediments on SAV; etc. What are the trends and effects? 35. Rick Kutz stated that species in Chincoteague Bay "haven't changed in 20 years." Does that mean that healthy populations of fish and shellfish exist? 36. Dredging of clams during winter months disturbs crab beds and also creates serious silting conditions in the shallow water bays. Please comment on whether it may be desirable to modify the practice of dredging. 37. Recently proposed crab regulations are geared to conditions in the Chesapeake Bay and do not adequately address the problems of over-crabbing in the coastal bays. Please comment on the need for additional conservation measures such as establishing sanctuary areas where commercial crabbing would be prohibited and also placing greater restriction on the taking of sooks. 38. If dredging brings up toxic chemicals and is considered bad and submerged vegetation is so important, why are hydraulic clam dredges allowed to operate in our beleaguered bays? Page 102 DELMARVA's Coastal Bay Watersheds, 1996 Conference 39. In the species changes that have occurred in Delaware Coastal Bays, has there been biomass shifts as well? In the Maryland Bays has there been number changes; i.e., have numbers and age classes shown declines while species composition may be insignificantly changed? 40. What is ASMFC doing about the decline of the horseshoe crab population and its impact on shorebirds and fin fish? 41. Secretary of Agriculture DE brought this home: in other words, economics controls everything including conservation, which is unfortunate for the planet! For me, I am in a quandary since my employment is dependent upon agriculture yet it is clear that how things are done are controlled first by economics not conservation. We find ourselves educating how to conserve based on economics, which is not always the correct way. 42. Why not require a salt water recreational fishing license (like hunting) that requires "catch" information to help assess the resource "taken" and enhance knowledge of scientists? (Should be done statewide) 43. Is recreational water usage and aquaculture compatible in populated areas such as that surrounding Ocean City? 44. Isle of Wright Bay's filling with sand in its interior sections, probably due to the severe channeling of its two (east and west) sides and due to the addition of rock pilings by the Route 50 bridges. What environmental impacts will the continued reshaping of the bay have? Is anyone doing anything to combat those manmade changes? 45. Studies show that industrial tourism coupled with corporate farming practices are a major contributor to loss and degradation of critical finfish nursery and spawning habitat in the Delmarva Bays. The ASMFC manage both weakfish and winter flounder which occur here and are in serious decline. What is the ASMFC doing to address this matter? 46. Can a resort community like Ocean City be made to stop - by overbuilding, overcrowding, and overstressing utilities and water supplies - the destruction of the natural features tourists come to enjoy? 47. Where was the Army Corps of Engineers, the EPA, Assateague Coastal Trust, etc. when the last remaining shoreline of West Ocean City (including Captain's Point) were allowed to be developed by a few very wealthy people, thus excluding all of the mostly working class people of West Ocean City from their beaches that they have used for generations. The only people I noticed at the local hearings were worried "summer people" and lawyers for wealthy property owners. "Locals" say "oh, the EPA was bought off." 48. Seems to be an absence of those involved in tourism; perhaps having them as the tourism experts would have been wiser than using the government employees. What efforts are being made to involve the general public and to educate them in this conference so they could participate with some "real time" information? 49. What is your organization doing, or what can it do to support ecotourism ventures? Is there financial or logistical support? 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