Friday, April 21, 2023

ARE.

>> Bill: CONNECTING MARYLANDERS TO THEIR GOVERNMENT THIS IS "STATE CIRCLE".

WELCOME TO A SPECIAL EDITION OF "STATE CIRCLE" FOCUSED ON THE CHESAPEAKE BAY.

WE BEGIN WITH WHAT HAS BEEN CALLED A TICKING TIME BOMB AT THE TOP OF THE BAY.

THE RIVER DELIVERS ABOUT HALF OF THE BAY'S FRESH WATER.

WITH THE WATER COMES POLLUTION ACCUMULATED ALONG THE WAY THROUGH PENNSYLVANIA.

SOME OF THE POLLUTION AND SILT PILED UP BEHIND THE DAM TO THE POINT WHERE THE RESERVOIR IS EFFECTIVELY FILLED UP.

THAT IS THE TIME BOMB.

THE TRIGGER WOULD BE THE NEXT BIG STORM STIRRING IT ALL UP.

THIS WAS THE SATELLITE VIEW OF MARYLAND SHOWING A MUDDY BAY AFTER A TROPICAL STORM A DECADE AGO.

ENVIRONMENTALISTS FEAR SOMETHING FAR WORSE IF THERE IS A REPEAT OF HURRICANE AGO NEWS FROM THE 1970s.

LATE LAST YEAR, A FEDERAL APPEALS COURT REJECTED A 50-YEAR LICENSE FOR THE DAM THAT WAS BASED ON A POLLUTION CONTROL AGREEMENT NEGOTIATED BY THE HOGAN ADMINISTRATION.

ENVIRONMENTALISTS WANT THE DAM'S OWNER TO PAY FOR MORE CLEAN UP WORK.

NOT FAR DOWNSTREAM IS THE SASSAFRAS RIVER.

WE CAUGHT UP WITH CAPTAIN ZACK, THE SASSAFRAS RIVERKEEPER.

>> IT'S A PRETTY SECRET RIVER AMONGST LIFELONG MARYLANDERS.

AND THE ICONIC BOOK RIVERS OF THE EASTERN SHORE, HE CALLS THE SASSAFRAS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL OF EASTERN SHORE RIVERS BUT THE MOST UNKNOWN.

SO I THINK THAT IS A REALLY FITTING DESCRIPTION OF IT.

IT IS A REALLY TRANQUIL QUIET RIVER BUT HAS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF CHARACTER AND 17 TRIBUTARIES THAT EACH S&L THEIR OWN CHARACTER AND FLAVOR AND MAKE FOR INCREDIBLE KAYAKING AND RECREATION AND COMMISSIONER SAL FISHING.

>> >> Bill: HOW IS IT HOLDING UP WHAT DO YOU SEE?

>> LIKE MOST OF OUR WATERS IN THE CHESAPEAKE THERE IS A LOT OF POLLUTION ISSUES AND THERE'S ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT.

COMPARATIVELY IT TENDS TO BE ONE OF THE HEALTHIER RIVERS ON THE EASTERN SHORE.

IT IS A FRESH WATER SYSTEM SO WE SEE A LOT OF DIFFERENT ECOSYSTEMS AND ANIMALS AND WATER IMPACT SYSTEMS COMPARED TO SALTY WATERWAYS.

WE ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND SEEING POSITIVE TRENDS BUT THERE IS A LOT OF WORK LEFT TO BE DONE.

>> Bill: WE'RE PROBABLY A GOOD 20 MILES AWAY FROM THE CON WING GO DAM HERE.

AND IT IS ACROSS THE MOUTH OF THE BAY UP TO THE NORTHWEST A LITTLE BIT STILL YOU CAN POTENTIALLY FEEL THE IMPACTS OF IT THIS FAR?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO FROM THE MOUTH OF THE SASSAFRAS TO THE MOUTH OF THE SUSPEND QUA HANNAH IT'S 11 MILES.

WE ARE ONE OF THE FIRST RIVER SYSTEMS TO BE IMPACTED BY WHAT COMES THROUGH THE DAM ESPECIALLY WITH THE PREVAILING WINDS AND TIDE A LOT OF THAT IS PUSHED OFTEN THE EASTERN SHORE WHICH IS IMPACTED BY THE FLOWS AND THE DEBRIS THAT COMES OUT OF THAT DAM.

>> HOW DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE WAKES AT THE DAM AS IT STANDS NOW?

>> WE DID HAVE A MAJOR WIN IN DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR WHERE THE FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION DID THROW OUT THE LICENSING AGREEMENT FOR THE OPERATION OF THE DAM.

WE WERE ACTIVELY INVOLVED WITH WATER KEEPER CHESAPEAKE THE LOWER RIVERKEEPER, REPRESENTED BY EARTH JUSTICE FOR A LITIGATION EFFORT AGAINST THE FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION TO GET THAT LICENSE OVERTURNED.

SO WE HAD A REALLY SMALL CHANCE WHEN THEY RULED IN OUR FAVOR AND WE'RE MOVING BACK TO SQUARE ONE WITH THE STATE AND WITH THE FEDERAL LEVEL REGULATORS.

>> Bill: HOW DO YOU HOPE THAT THIS NEW AGREEMENT IS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT OR BETTER?

>> THE BIGGEST THING IT NEEDS TO HAVE THE PROPER WATER QUALITY PROTECTIONS ANDS TRANSPARENCY THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS AS WELL AS AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY THAT REGULAR STAKEHOLDERS LIKE YOU AND I CAN HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE MITIGATING AND PROTECTING THE WATERWAYS WHICH ARE A PUBLIC RESOURCE.

>> Bill: THE ODD THING ABOUT THE DAM IN SOME WAYS IT'S BEEN AN ENVIRONMENTAL PLUS.

TELL ME IF I'M WRONG IT'S TRAPPED A LOT OF POLLUTION AND PROVIDED CLEAN ENERGY GO GOING BACK 100 YEARS, IT IS THE RISK OF A BIG STORM THAT EVERYBODY IS FOCUSED ON?

>> IT IS A COMBINATION OF BOTH THINGS.

IT BEING AN ENVIRONMENTAL PLUS OR BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICE IT'S COMMON RHETORIC THAT IS AROUND IT.

THERE'S MIXED SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT ON THAT.

IT HAS PROVIDED SOME BENEFIT BY TRAPPING THAT SEND.

AND THAT POLLUTION ENTERING THE WATER IN THE FIRST PLACE.

SO IT'S GIVEN PENNSYLVANIA AND NEW YORK A PASS TO CLEAN UP THEIR ACT AND DO RESTORATION WORK ON THE GROUND THEY CAN SAY THE RIVER WILL CATCH IT NOW THAT IT'S REACHED CAPACITY AND WE'RE THAT POLLUTION THROUGH THE DASH THEY DON'T HAVE AS MUCH OF A LEG TO STAND ON IT'S NOT TRAPPING ANYTHING MORE.

THE RESERVOIR REACHED CAPACITY.

WHATEVER IS FLOWING DOWN THE RIVER IS FLUSHING DOWN INTO THE BAY AND IMPACTING THE DOWNSTREAM COMMUNITIES.

>> Bill: IS IT FEASIBLE TO EVEN DREDGE OR WOULD YOU WINDUP MAKING MORE OF A MESS WHEN YOU STIR EVERYTHING UP?

WOULD IT BE COUNTERPRODUCTIVE?

>> THERE IS A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT STIRRING UP THAT SEND MEANT IN THE WATER COLUMN.

BUT DREDGING TECHNOLOGY HAS COME A LONG WAY.

THERE ARE A LOT OF WAYS THAT THOSE ISSUES CAN BE MITIGATED.

I AM NOT A DREDGING EXPERT OR ENGINEER THAT IS ONE PART OF THE PUZZLE.

THE BIGGEST PRIORITY HAS TO BE ON REDUCING THE INPUTS IN THE FIRST PLACE AND A SECOND COMPONENT IS TREATING THE ISSUE AT THE DAM.

>> Bill: WORST CASE SCENARIO, ANOTHER HURRICANE AGNUS COMES THROUGH WHAT WOULD IT MEAN FOR THE NORTHERN PART OF THE BAY?

>> IT WOULD BE DEVASTATING.

WE ARE STILL FEELING THE IMPACTS OF AGNUS40-50 YEARS LATER WE ARE SEEING THE WATER QUALITY TRENDS MAKE PROGRESS.

AND SO IF WE HAD ANOTHER STORM OF THAT CALIBER IT WOULD BE DEVASTATING FOR A LOT OF THE RESTORATION WORK THAT MARYLAND HAS BEEN WORKING ON FOR THE PAST 50 YEARS.

>> Bill: WHEN YOU TRAVEL THE SASSAFRAS DOING YOUR WORK WHAT ARE THE KEYS TO PRESERVING IT FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS APART FROM THE TWO KIFERS?

>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.

MOST OF THE DATA WE COLLECT, SHOWS THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE POLLUTION IN THIS RIVER AND IN THIS WATERSHED IS COMING FROM THE LOCAL WATERSHED FROM WITHIN THE LOCAL AREA.

AND SO THAT'S A TREND WE SEE ON A LOT OF THE RIVERS WHERE THE POLLUTION IS ORIGINATING WITHIN THE LOCAL AREA WHICH SOUNDS DEPRESSING AT FIRST BUT IS ACTUALLY THERE'S INSPIRATION TO BE HAD IT MEANS WE CAN WORK WITH THE COMMUNITIES AND IN THESE AREAS AND WORK ON THE LAND SURROUNDING THIS IMMEDIATE RIVER TO MAKE MEANINGFUL PROGRESS.

SO EVERY YEAR WE INSTALL DOZENS OF MASSIVE RESTORATION PROJECTS ON AGRICULTURAL LANDS.

WE WORK WITH DOZENS OF LOCAL CHURCHES COMMUNITY GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO DO SMALLER SCALE RESIDENTIAL RESTORATION AND WE SEE THE IMPACTS ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.

>> Bill: IN A STATEMENT TO MPT THE OWNER OF THE DAM SAID EFFORTS TO UNDO THE CURRENT AGREEMENT WILL RISK NOT ONLY MORE THAN 700 MILLION DOLLARS CONSTELLATION COMMITTED TO DIRECTLY BENEFIT WATER QUALITY AND AQUATIC LIFE AND YEARS OF CONTINUED LITIGATION AND LACK OF PROGRESS IN THE MEANTIME.

NO MARYLAND COMPANY IS DOING MORE TO CLEAN UP THE WATERSHED THAN CONSTELLATION BUT WE CAN'T SOLVE THIS LONG-TERM PROBLEM ALONE.

NOW, THE ENTIRETY OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY MAY SOON BE DESIGNATED A NATIONAL RECREATION AREA.

WHAT WOULD THAT MEAN FOR THE BAY?

SUE COPPIN HAS THE STORY.

>> THIS IS THE LIGHTHOUSE BUILT IN 1875.

THE ORIGINAL LIGHTHOUSE.

THIS IS THE LAST SURVIVING LIGHTHOUSE IN THE WORLD STILL BEING USED FOR NAVIGATIONAL PURPOSES IN ITS ORIGINAL LOCATION.

THIS IS A SPECIAL PLACE.

>> THE THOMAS POINT SHOAL LIGHTHOUSE SOUTH OF ANNAPOLIS IS LIVING HISTORY IN THE BAY.

JOHN IS ITS MANAGER.

>> THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS LIGHTHOUSE IS FOR SHIPPING TO GO TO BALTIMORE.

HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ANNAPOLIS IT'S ABOUT THE PORT OF BALTIMORE.

THERE WERE 65 LIGHTHOUSES ON THE BAY AND WE'RE DOWN TO 30.

THE COAST GUARD HAS BEEN RECLAIMING THEM FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

>> THE LIGHTHOUSE MAYBE PLAYING A NEW ROLE AS PART OF AN ONGOING EFFORT TO CREATE THE CHESAPEAKE NATIONAL RECREATION AREA UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE.

THE PLAN CALLS FOR FOUR SITES TO BE PART OF THE INITIAL CHESAPEAKE NATIONAL RECREATION AREA.

ONE IN VIRGINIA, THREE IN MARYLAND AND IT INCLUDES THE THOMAS POINT SHOAL LIGHTHOUSE.

>> THE CHESAPEAKE BAY IS A NATIONAL TREASURE.

IT'S ICONIC.

AND IT DESERVES TO BE PART OF OUR NATIONAL CONSCIOUSNESS AND WE BELIEVE IN DOING SO IT WILL BRING GREAT BENEFITS TO THE BAY BOTH IN TERMS OF CONSERVATION BUT ALSO IN TERMS OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WHO MAKE THEIR LIVELIHOOD OUT OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY.

>> CREATING THE CHESAPEAKE NATIONAL RECREATION AREA HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR DECADES.

BUT MARYLAND SENATOR VAN HOLLAND AND CONGRESSMAN EXPECT TO SUBMIT LEGISLATION THIS SUMMER TO WIN CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL.

A PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD WRAPS UP THE FIRST OF MAY.

>> WE'VE RECEIVED OVER A THOUSAND COMMENTS OVERWHELMINGLY POSITIVE.

THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO HAVE REASONABLE QUESTIONS ABOUT FOR EXAMPLE TRAFFIC IMPACTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT OVERALL, WE'VE HAD AN OVERWHELMINGLY POSITIVE RESPONSE TO THE IDEA.

WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC COULD HAVE INPUT BEFORE WE INTRODUCE THE LEGISLATION.

>> AND HOLLAND SAYS THERE WILL BE PROTECTIONS WRITTEN IN THE LEGISLATION AS WELL.

>> THIS IS NOT A FEDERAL TAKEOVER OF ANY WATERS OR LANDS.

IN FACT IT DOESN'T IMPACT THE WATERS OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY.

SO IT DOESN'T IMPACT PEOPLE'S CURRENT FISHING RIGHTS OR ANY OTHER RIGHTS OF NAVIGATION.

PERIOD.

AND THAT WILL BE WRITTEN RIGHT INTO THE LEGISLATION.

>> IN ADDITION TO THE THOMAS POINT SHOAL LIGHTHOUSE WHICH IS A NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK THE MARYLAND SITES INCLUDE THE BURDEN DISHOUSE WHICH IS THE LAST SURVIVING WATERMAN'S HOUSE AT THE ANNAPOLIS CITY DOCK AND WHITEHALL A NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK NOT FAR FROM THE BAY BRIDGE BUILT IN 1764.

>> WE LANDED ON THOSE BECAUSE THEY WERE HISTORIC THEY PROVIDED ACCESS TO THE BAY.

AND THEY WERE AVAILABLE ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE CLEAR ABOUT IS THAT NATIONAL PARK SERVICE IS NOT GOING TO BE THESE ARE PURELY VOLUNTARY TRANSACTIONS.

SO THAT'S -- AND WE HOPE GOING FORWARD THAT WE CAN ADD TO THAT LIST.

>> JOHN HOPKINS SAYS HE LOOKS FORWARD TO WHAT THE CREATION OF THE CHESAPEAKE NATIONAL RECREATION AREA WILL MEAN FOR THE FUTURE OF THE LIGHTHOUSE.

>> WE ARE PEOPLE TRAINED IN THE HISTORY OF THE LIGHTHOUSE WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO LIVE HERE AND NOW THE CNRA GIVES US AN OPTION OF EXPANDING THAT ROLE AND HAVE MORE OF THE PUBLIC COME.

>> THE IDEA IS TO MAKE THE BAY AND ITS HISTORY AND STORY MORE PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE.

WE THINK THAT WILL CREATE A GREATER APPRECIATION OF EVEN MORE MARYLANDERS FOR THE BAY AND ALSO FOR OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS AND GUARANTEE A LONGTIME FEDERAL COMMITMENT TO PROTECTING THE CHESAPEAKE BAY.

>> I'M SUE COPPIN FOR "STATE CIRCLE".

>> Bill: MARYLAND'S NEW GOVERNOR HAS APPOINTED A NEW LEADER FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES.

WE CAUGHT UP WITH SECRETARY JOSHUA KURTZ IN ANNAPOLIS.

Mr. SECRETARY THANK YOU FOR TALKING WITH US.

JUST TELL US ABOUT THE OVERALL PRIORITIES FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES.

>> FIRST, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME AND THANKS FOR JOINING US IN A BEAUTIFUL REPRESENTATION OF WHAT OUR NATURAL RESOURCES MEAN TO MARYLAND.

A LOT OF THINGS ON THE PRIORITY LIST.

I START WITH THE BAY SYSTEM SCIENCE.

WE MAKE A LOT OF MANAGEMENT DECISIONS AT THE DEPARTMENT WHEN IT COMES TO WATER QUALITY, BUILDING CLIMATE RESILIENCE, MANAGING THE SPECIES THAT PEOPLE CARE ABOUT AND THAT STARTS WITH DATA.

A BIG FOCUS IS MAKING SURE WE UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE RESOURCE AND UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE ENVIRONMENT.

FOCUSING IN AND INVESTING IN ON OUR PEOPLE THAT DO SCIENCE AND THE TYPES OF SCIENCE WE DO.

WE ARE AT A REALLY EXCITING AND INNOVATIVE PLACE WHEN IT COMES TO DATA COLLECTION.

YOU LOOK AT THE TOOLS WE HAVE NOW WHETHER THAT BE REALLY FINE SCALED GIS LANDSCAPE SCALE DATA THAT HELPS US MAKE DECISIONS, WATER QUALITY DATA COMING OUT OF OUR ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS, PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

I MEAN IT'S JUST AN INCREDIBLE LIKE ALMOST AN EXPLOSIVE TIME OF DATA AND SCIENCE AND IT ALLOWS US TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT MANAGING THE RESOURCES, ONE IS THE SCIENCE AND THE DATA.

NUMBER TWO IS WHAT WE THEN DO WITH IT.

AND THAT HOW WE ARE SPENDING MONEY, WHAT PROGRAMS WE'RE DOING AND BUILDING AND THAT AT DNR IS BASED OFF OF PARTNERING.

WHAT WE DELIVER HAPPENS IN COMMUNITIES ALL ACROSS THE STATE.

AND SO WE TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE IN IT AND WORK HARD TO WORK WITH COMMUNITY GROUPS, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, LAND OWNERS THE PEOPLE THAT ARE PUTTING THE CONSERVATION PRACTICES ON THE GROUND.

FAITH BASED INSTITUTIONS.

MARYLAND'S GOT AN INCREDIBLE ECOSYSTEM OF FOLKS WORKING ON THIS CONSERVATION RESTORATION WORK.

AND THEN I THINK THE NEXT PIECE IS HOW WE THINK ABOUT SCALE.

@MAKING SURE IT'S IMPROVING LOCAL WATER QUALITY AND HAVING THAT IMPACT FOR THE BAY SUCH A CRITICALLY IMPORTANT PIECE OF BEING A MARYLANDERS THE CHESAPEAKE BAY.

WE THINK ABOUT THE BAY WHEN WE THINK ABOUT WHAT WE DO ON OUR LANDSCAPES AND FORESTS IN OUR CITIES FRANKLY.

SO I THINK THAT THE SCALE PIECE IS ALSO REALLY IMPORTANT FOR HOW WE THINK ABOUT THE CHESAPEAKE.

>> Bill: CONNECT A COUPLE OF THOSE THINGS.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE DATA THAT YOU COLLECT WHEN IT COMES TO THE CHESAPEAKE BAY WHAT TRENDS ARE YOU SEEING >> ONE OF THE THINGS I WILL TART WITH THE POSITIVES.

WE'VE SEEN OVER THE 40 YEARS THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING HARD WITH THE BAY AGREEMENTS THAT WE HAVE BEEN MAKING PROGRESS IN TERMS OF REDUCING OUR NITROGEN OR PHOSPHEROUS AND THE SET MEANT AND THE DEAD ZONES IN THE BAY.

WE'VE SEEN POSITIVE FREND TRENDS AND AT THE SAME TIME, WE'VE GOT MORE AND MORE CHALLENGES.

CLIMATE CHANGE BRINGING MORE FRESH WATER INTO THE BAY MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT.

WE LOOK AT INCREASING I AM PERV ROUSE SURFACE OUR SUBURBS ARE GROWING.

PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE AND WORK HERE AND THAT LEADS TO A LITTLE BIT MORE FRESH WATER A LITTLE BIT MORE POLLUTION OFF THE LANDSCAPE WHICH MAKES THE JOB MORE CHALLENGING.

>> Bill: IS THAT THE BIGGEST HEADWIND FOR THE CHESAPEAKE BAY THAT PEOPLE FOR SOME REASON LIKE THIS AND IT'S NOT JUST THEY ARE MOVING INTO MARYLAND OR TRIBUTARIES OF THE BAY IN VIRGINIA, MARYLAND, PENNSYLVANIA, BUT THE WHOLE WATERSHED WHICH GOES INTO UPSTATE NEW YORK.

>> I THINK THAT IS THE THING THAT MAKES THIS SUCH AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY AND SUCH A CHALLENGE.

WE NEED TO WORK ACROSS THOUSANDS OF SQUARE MILES TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DELIVERING CLEAN WATER FOR THE STATE OF MARYLAND AND THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS ARE SO IMPORTANT AND STATE PARTNERS ARE SO IMPORTANT.

YOU LOOK AT THE PRINCIPLE STAFF COMMITTEE AND THE CHESAPEAKE BAY COMMISSION AND HOW THEY WORK.

AND WE HAVE A LOT OF INSTITUTIONS AND STRUCTURES IN PLACE FOR US TO BE GOOD PARTNERS AND WORK WELL TOGETHER.

AND I THINK A KEY PART OF THAT PARTNERSHIP IS UNDERSTANDING WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WATER THED SHED.

YOU MIGHT CARE ABOUT A CERTAIN SPECIES OF FISH IN PENNSYLVANIA AND THAT LEADS YOU TO MAKE CONSERVATION CHOICES.

YOU MIGHT CARE ABOUT HAVING WATER TO HUNT ON YOUR PROPERTY ON THE EASTERN SHORE AND THAT LEADS YOU TO MAKE CHOICES HOW YOUR PROPERTY FUNCTIONS.

AND I THINK THE MORE THAT WE WORK CROSS STATE AND ACROSS JURISDICTIONS AND WITH PEOPLE THE BETTER WE'RE GOING TO UNDERSTAND HOW WE CAN SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

I'M OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THAT.

YOU KNOW, THE MORE PEOPLE WE HAVE MOVING TO THE WATERFRONT SEEMS LIKE IT COULD BE A CHALLENGE BUT I SEE THAT MORE PEOPLE THAT CARE ABOUT THIS AND ARE WILLING TO INVEST AND DO THE WORK TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A CLEAN CHESAPEAKE BAY AND CLEAN WATERWAYS FOR ALL THE GENERATIONS THAT WILL FOLLOW OURS.

THE BAY FROM A DISTANCE.ERS SEE- MAYBE YOU SEE IT WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING OVER THE CHESAPEAKE BAY BRIDGE AND IT LOOKS FABULOUS.

WHAT IS HAPPENING BENEATH THE SURFACE WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE FISHERIES AND I KNOW YOU HAVE INVASIVE SPECIES TO WORRY ABOUT.

>> YEAH.

INVASIVE SPECIES ARE A MAJOR CONCERN.

BLUE HEAD CATFISH, SNAKE HEADS SPECIES THAT EVOLVED IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD AND THEY ARE INCREDIBLY VOW RAYCIOUS EATERS.

THE BLUE CATFISH PROBLEM IS STARTING TO BALLOON.

WATERWAYS WE'RE GETTING VIDEOS SENT TO US, WHERE LOOKS LIKE YOU COULD WALK ACROSS AT NIGHT BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF BLUE CATFISH.

AND TRIBUTARIES HAVE 70% CATFISH AND WE NEED TO FLIP THE WAY WE'RE THINKING ABOUT INVASIVES.

WE THINK ABOUT MANAGING OUR IMPORTANT COMMERCIAL SPECIES.

WE NEED TO DO THAT, YES, WE NEED TO LEARN FROM THOSE APPROACHES BUT WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO STAN INTO THE MOST IMPORTANT MECHANISMS WE HAVE FOR REMOVING THESE SPECIES AND THAT IS OUR WATER MEN COMMUNITY HOW WE'RE PROCESSING THEM AND CHALLENGES BECAUSE OF FEDERAL REGULATION BUT IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO WORK WITH THE WATER MEN COMMUNITY AND CREATE MORE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS THE BAY WATERSHED.

>> Bill: ARE YOU SAYING WE'RE GOING TO EAT THE SPECIES?

>> I HOPE SO.

THERE ARE INTERESTING THINGS GOING ON IN THAT SPACE.

SOMEONE ON THE EASTERN SHORE AND SHE IS PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS AND DOES THESE BLUE CATFISH CAKES THAT ARE FANTASTIC.

THEY ARE DELICIOUS FISH AND THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THERE IS A HUGE GLOBAL MARKET FOR THEM.

I THINK BLUE CATFISH ESPECIALLY IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US AN ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.

BUT A VERY SCARY CHALLENGE.

WE'RE STARTING TO SEE IMPACTS TO THE ROCK FISH, TO OYSTERS, TO BLUE CRABS, BLUE CRABS AND ROCK FISH ESPECIALLY.

WHERE THEY ARE OUTCOMPETING OUR YOUNG THEY ARE EATING THE JUVENILES AT HIGH RATES.

WE'RE WORKING HARD TO GET OUR ARMS AROUND THE ISSUE.

WE NEED MORE SCIENCE AND DATA TO UNDERSTAND IT.

BUT IN THE MEANTIME WE NEED TO TAKE MORE ACTION AND PULLING MORE SPECIES OUT OF THE BAY.

>> Bill: THIS YEAR IS THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY AGREEMENT.

TALK A LITTLE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT LANDMARK?

>> IT HAPPENED REALLY QUICKLY WE GOT TO 40 YEARS.

I THINK WE'VE LEARNED A TON.

IF WE LOOK BACK OVER THE COURSE OF THE 40 YEARS WE LEARNED WHAT WE CAN DO WHEN WE DEDICATE FUNDING TO A CAUSE AND WITH OUR WASTEWATER TREATMENT IN THE BAY AND WE NEED TO TAKE WHAT WE'VE LEARNED AND PUT THEM TOGETHER.

ONE OF THE THINGS I'M CHITTED ABOUT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE DATA IS OUR ABILITY TO DO PROJECTS AND RESTORATION WORK THAT HAS MULTIPLE BENEFITS.

WE CAN DO PROJECTS AND EVALUATE PROJECTS IN WAYS THAT GET US CLEAN WATER, YES, THAT PLANT TREES AND CREATE HAB AT THIS HABITAT AND ACCESS.

PEOPLE DON'T THEY SEE THE BAY IF A DISTANCE THEY DON'T GET TO EXPERIENCE IT.

AND MANY COMMUNITIES IN THE WATERSHED HAVE LARGER OF A GAP TO GET THERE, WHETHER THAT BE TRANSPORTATION, ACCESS, YOU KNOW WE NEED TO BE BETTER ABOUT CREATING EQUITABLE ACCESS TO THE RESOURCE AND THE RESTORATION WORK WE DO AND THE BENEFITTINGS WE NEED TO THINK WHERE THAT IS HAPPENING.

>> Bill: TALK MORE ABOUT THAT.

EQUITY, SOCIAL JUSTICE VERY IMPORTANT TO THE MILLER ADMINISTRATION WHEN IT COMES TO NATURAL RESOURCES HOW DO YOU PUT IT INTO PRACTICE?

>> THE THING ABOUT OUR NATURAL RESOURCES THEY GIVE US THINGS WE NEED: CLEAN AIR, CLEAN WATER.

AND WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT SOME OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN OVERBURDENED.

WE KNOW WHERE THERE ARE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE HIGHER IMPACTS FROM POLLUTION AND WE NEED TO BE WORKING IN THOSE COMMUNITIES WITH THE COMMUNITIES TO MAKE SURE WE'RE PUTTING IN TREE PLANTINGS, BUFFERS, A WIDE RANGE OF PRACTICES THAT CAN PROVIDE THAT BENEFIT.

CLEAN WATER AND CLEAN AIR AND GIVES THEM OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVE GREEN SPACE AND COMMUNITY GATHERING SPACE.

WE THINK A LOT ABOUT WE TALK ABOUT RESILIENCE AND A KEY COMPONENT IS SOCIAL COHESION AND OUR OUTDOOR SPACES PROVIDE THAT.

THAT WAS DRIVEN FOR US DURING COVID.

PEOPLE WANTED TO BE IN OUR PARKS AND OUTSIDE AND GATHER AT A SAFE DISTANCE.

WITH THE PEOPLE THEY LOVE AND CARE ABOUT.

AND I THINK OUR NATURAL RESOURCES OUR STATE PARKS AND FORESTS PROVIDE THAT.

HOW DO WE THINK ABOUT THESE BIG LANDSCAPE SCALE ONS IN OUR URBAN AREAS.

IN THE LOWER EASTERN SHORE WE ARE INTERESTED IN TAKING SOME OF THE DATA AND WHAT WE'VE LEARNED AT THE DEPARTMENT.

WE'VE BEEN DOING PRETTY GOOD ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE WORK WHEN IT COMES TO UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUE AND HELPING TARGET PROJECTS TO COMMUNITIES THAT NEED IT THE MOST AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SCALING THAT UP.

>> Bill: YOU HAVE MORE THAN 70 PARKS AROUND THE STATE AND IT DID TAKE OFF DURING THE PANDEMIC.

PEOPLE WERE LOOKING FOR OUTDOORS, CLOSE BY AND IT WAS A BLESSING YOU BROUGHT NEW PEOPLE IN THE PARKS AND A MANAGEMENT CHALLENGE.

WHAT DO YOU SEE GOING FORWARD?

WILL THOSE PEOPLE KEEP COMING BACK?

>> WE BELIEVE THEY WILL.

YOU LOOK AT THE OTHER THING WE'RE INCREASING IS DIFFERENT TYPES OF RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.

ONE THING WE LEARNED IN THE PANDEMIC IS THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT LIKE TO DO DIFFERENT THINGS OUTDOORS.

WHETHER IT'S YOUR TRADITIONAL HUNTING AND FISHING WHICH WE CONTINUE TO WANT TO SEE MORE OF AND BRING PEOPLE ON THOSE NATURAL RESOURCE AND OUTDOOR RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES AND THINGS LIKE YOGA IN THE PARK, RIGHT.

IT'S A BIRD WATCHING.

IT'S WILDLIFE WATCHING.

IT'S RUNNING VERY LONG DISTANCES.

THERE IS A WIDE RANGE OF THINGS THAT PEOPLE LIKE USING OUR PUBLIC RESOURCES FOR AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR INNOVATION.

AND WE KNOW WE NEED MORE PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO MANAGE OUR PARKS AND WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE GREAT MARYLAND OUTDOORS ACT WHICH PASSED, WE WILL BE GETTING 75 NEW MEMBERS THAT WE WILL BE HIRING.

AND YOU KNOW WE'RE THINKING IT IS A GREAT TIME WHEN YOU GET 75 NEW PEOPLE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT DO WE WANT THE PARK SERVICE TO LOOK LIKE IN 25 YEARS?

WHAT IS THE STRUCTURE OF A PARK SERVICE THAT WE CAN PUT IN PLACE NOW THAT WILL ALLOW US TO GROW AND PROVIDE CONTINUED TO PROVIDE A WORLD CLASS OPPORTUNITY FOR RECREATING IN THE STATE.

>> Bill: JOSHUA KURTZ PLEASURE TALKING WITH YOU, AND CONGRATULATIONS ON THE JOB.

>> THANK YOU.

EXCITED TO BE HERE AND LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THIS.

>> Bill: STUDENTS THE A MONTGOMERY COUNTY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HAVE BEEN LEADING THE WAY ON COMPOSTING.

NANCY AMATTA HAS THE STORY.

>> KIDS THEY HAVE BIG IMAGINATIONS IF YOU SAY PUTTING YOUR FOOD IN THIS BIN YOU CAN SAVE THE WORLD THEY GET EXCITED.

>> AT ROCK CREEK FOREST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN MIKE KRZYZEWSKI.

>CHEF CHEF.

CHEVY CHASE.

WASTE INDEPENDENTS UP IN A COMPOST BIN WHERE THE FOOD WILL END UP BEING CONVERTED INTO NUTRIENT RICH SOIL OR MULCH.

>> IN SEVENTH GRADE, I SAW HOW EASY IT WAS FOR US TO MAKE A CHANGE WITH A SIMPLE HABIT.

>> A JUNIOR AT RICHARD MONTGOMERY HIGH SCHOOL BEGAN WHEN SHE ENTERED A STEM COMPETITION WITH FRIENDS AND MADE IT TO NATIONALS.

>> THE REASON WHY WE CHOSE FOOD WASTE AND COMPOSTING IS JUST LIKE THE AMOUNT OF FOOD WASTE THAT HAPPENS IN SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS DON'T REALIZE WHAT AN IMPACT IT HAS.

>> THEY APPROACHED SCHOOLS IN FREDERICK AND MONTGOMERY COUNTIES TO SETUP COMPOST BINS IN ADDITION TO RECYCLING BINS AND LIQUID BINS TO TEACH STUDENTS AS YOUNG AS PRESCHOOL HOW COMPOSTING WORKS.

>> THOSE BINS THAT ARE IN THE CAFETERIA GET EMPTIED INTO A LARGER BIN THAT WE KEEP OUTSIDE ON OUR LOADING DOCK AND TWICE A WEEK, THE COMPANY COMES AND PICKS UP THE COMPOST.

IT GETS TAKEN TO THEIR FACILITY AND THEN THERE'S INDUSTRIAL COMPOSTERS THERE THAT TURN THE ORGANIC WASTE BACK INTO SOIL.

>> ON THIS DAY, THE SECRETARY OF THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT CAME TO ROCK CREEK FOREST ELEMENTARY TO SEE THE KIDS' ENTHUSIASM FOR COMPOSTING.

>> WHAT IT HAS DONE FOR ME, I REALIZE MORE FUNDING IS NECESSARY.

AND THE MORE WE CAN FUND PROGRAMS LIKE THIS, THE BETTER IT WILL BE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND FOR ALL THE SCHOOLS.

SO WE NEED THIS PARTNERSHIP.

>> THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION LAWMAKERS PASSED A BILL THAT WILL CREATE A 5-YEAR GRANT PROGRAM TO REDUCING COMPOST SCHOOL WASTE ACROSS THE STATE AAT EVERY SCHOOL.

IT IS A SIMPLE YET EFFECTIVE PROGRAM THAT ADVOCATES SAY WILL GO A LONG WAY TOWARD REDUCING FOOD WASTE, THE THIRD LARGEST CONTRIBUTOR TO GREENHOUSE GASES IN THE WORLD.

>> AT ITS CORE IT IS NOT THAT HARD.

IT'S LIKE A SIMPLE HABIT LIKE HOW RECYCLING WAS INTRODUCED STUDENTS ARE LEARNING A DIFFERENT TYPE OF RECYCLING FOR FOOD WASTE.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO START YOUNG.

WE TEACH GREAT HABITS NOW.

AND THIS IS EVERYONE'S OBLIGATION TO HELP WITH THE EARTH.

>> >> Bill: AND THAT IS "STATE CIRCLE" FOR THIS WEEK.

FOR MORE STORIES ABOUT THE BAY AND OUR ENVIRONMENT, YOU CAN VISIT MPT.ORG/BAY WEEK.

FOR ALL OF US AT MPT, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.