"DIRECT CONNECTION" IS MADE BY MPT TO SERVE ALL OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

LIVE FROM MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, THIS IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" WITH JEFF SALKIN.

*] >> JEFF: GOOD EVENING WELCOME TO YOUR "DIRECT CONNECTION".

JUST AHEAD TONIGHT, WHAT THE HEALTH OF A LITTLE STREAM IN THE MIDDLE OF PENNSYLVANIA TELLS US ABOUT THE FUTURE OF OUR CHESAPEAKE BAY.

>>> BUT WE BEGIN TONIGHT TALKING ABOUT YOUR HEALTH.

JOINING US IN THE STUDIO ARE SDR SILKE NIEDERHAUS, A TRANSPLANTS SURGEON AND TWO TIME TRANSPLANT RECIPIENT.

AND JOINING HER IS HER DONOR FOR HER SECOND TRANSPLANT IS FELICIA STOLUSKY.

>> THANK YOU.

>> DOCTOR YOU WERE WALKING AROUND WITH WUNSCH FELICIA STOLUSKY'S KIDNEYS.

>> NAILED IT.

>> Jeff: HOW DID IT COME ABOUT?

>> IT WAS A LONG JOURNEY.

I HAD MY FIRST TRANSPLANT IN 1988 AND IT FAILED.

>> Jeff: YOU WERE A CHILD?

>> YES, A KID I WAS 11.

THE KIDNEY I MADE IT LAST FOR A LONGTIME AND WHEN IT FAILED TRIED TO GET BACK ON THE LIST AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

I KNEW FIVE YEARS THAT MY KIDNEY WAS NOT DOING WELL AND I WAS ABLE TO BE WAITING ON THE LIST.

>> Jeff: AND, FELICIA YOUR SITUATION IT WAS YOUR MOTHER WHO NEEDED A KIDNEY?

YOU WERE NOT ABLE TO DONATE TO HER?

>> CORRECT.

BUT I WAS HAPPY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PARROT EXCHANGE PROGRAM.

>> Jeff: HOW DOES THAT WORK?

>> IF YOU ARE NOT A MATCH FOR YOUR LOVED ONE THEY WILL MATCH YOU WITH SOMEBODY THAT ARE YOU COMPATIBLE WITH.

AND THEN YOUR LOVED ONE IN RETURN WILL GET A KIDNEY OR ORGAN FROM ANOTHER DONOR.

>> Jeff: THE TWO OF YOU DID NOT KNOW EACH OTHER.

WE HAVE VIDEO FROM WHEN YOU FIRST MET.

WHAT WAS THAT LIKE?

>> IT WAS IN A WAY AMAZING.

WITH MY FIRST TRANSPLANT I KNEW IT CAME FROM A NINE-MONTH-OLD BABY AND WE FELT SORRY FOR THE PARENTS AND HOPING WE COULD HAVE MET THEM BUT WE DID NOT HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE AT THAT TIME THERE WAS NO SUCH CONNECTION AS POSSIBLE.

AND TODAY THESE CONNECTIONS ARE POSSIBLE.

FOR ME MEETING SOMEONE WHO DONATED A KIDNEY WAS UNBELIEVABLE.

I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO ACT AND WHAT TO EXPECT.

YOU KNOW WE DECIDED TO FILM IT AND DO IT LIVE ON TV FOR THE BENEFIT OF POSTERITY SAKE AND EMBARRASS ME PROPERLY.

>> AND BRING AWARENESS, TOO.

>> Jeff: HOW DID YOU THINK ABOUT IT?

IT IS A PART OF ME THAT IS THERE NOW?

>> I THOUGHT IT WAS ABSOLUTELY GREAT TO MEET HER BEFORE I HAD THE SURGERY.

MY GOAL WAS IF THE RECIPIENT WAS OPEN TO IT, I WOULD HAVE REALLY WANTED TO HAVE THE CHANCE TO CONNECT.

SO I WAS HAPPY THAT WE DID THAT AND OUR CHILDREN WERE PART OF IT.

AND THE CHILDREN GOT TO INTERACT TOGETHER AS WE ALL MADE POTTERY.

IT WAS A SPECIAL EXPERIENCE.

>> Jeff: AND IT WAS YOUR MOM WHO NEEDED A KIDNEY AND SHE GOT IT FROM SOMEBODY ELSE.

HOW IS SHE DOING?

>> SHE IS DOING GREAT.

SHE RESPONDED REALLY WELL.

SHE WILL TURN 80 IN JULY.

AND SHE KEEPS IN TOUCH WITH HER DONOR.

SO IT'S JUST REALLY SPECIAL TO HAVE THOSE CONNECTIONS.

>> Jeff: DOES THAT TEND TO HAPPEN IN THE PAIRED CASES?

>> MORE AND MORE.

THE TROUBLE WITH TRANSPLANTATION IS THE LONG WAITING LIST.

AND ONE WAY TO OVERCOME THIS LONG WAITING TIME THAT CAN EXCEED 10 YEARS WHERE THEY NEED TO BE POTENTIALLY ON DIALYSIS IS WE'RE TRYING TO INCREASE HOW MANY LIVING DONOR TRANSPLANTS WE DO.

AND IN MANY FAMILIES AND FRIENDS PEOPLE ARE NOT COMPATIBLE BUT HEALTHY ENOUGH TO DONATE.

SINCE ABOUT THE MID-2025, 2006 PEOPLE HAVE STARTED THINK BEING HOW CAN WE TRADE ORGANS.

AND THEN SOMETIMES THEY MET IN THE HOSPITAL BECAUSE THEY WERE ALL IN THE SAME VICINITY.

AND NOW WE'RE DOING IT IN LONGER CHAINS AND IT'S HELPED TREMENDOUSLY.

>> Jeff: WITHOUT BEING TOO TECHNICAL WHAT GOES INTO A MATCH?

ARE SIBLINGS MORE LIKELY TO MATCH?

>> IT DEPENDS HOW YOU DEFINE A MATCH.

BACK IN THE DAY WE DEFINED ON SIX TISSUE TYPES THREE FROM YOUR MOM AND THREE FROM YOUR DAD.

SO SIBLINGS BECAUSE OF THAT WERE SOMEWHAT MORE CLOSELY RELATED, LIKE IDENTICAL TWINS ARE A PERFECT MATCH PRETTY MUCH ALWAYS.

NOWADAYS WE DON'T MEASURE IT THAT WAY N ORDER TO LOOK FOR A MATCH WE LOOK FOR INCOMPATIBILITY.

WE MEASURE THE ANTIBODY THAT I WOULD HAVE IN MY BLOOD THAT WOULD REACT TO OTHER PEOPLE IN GENERAL.

AND THEN WE KNOW ABOUT HOW MANY PEOPLE COULD BE A MATCH.

AND IF THE OTHER PERSON DOESN'T HAVE THOSE ANTIGENS WE CONSIDER THEM AS MATCH.

IT IS A LITTLE BACKWARDS AND MUCH MORE COMPLICATED.

>> Jeff: LET ME REMIND OUR VIEWERS IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT KIDNEY DONORS OR TRANSPLANTS SEND IT TO... FELICIA YOU WANTED TO RAISE AWARENESS.

WHY IS THAT SO IMPORTANT TO YOU?

HOW LONG WAS YOUR MOM WAITING?

>> SHE WAS ON DIALYSIS FOR A YEAR-AND-A-HALF.

AND THE PROCESS WAS VERY SMOOTH.

I FELT VERY CONFIDENT AND TRULY TRUSTED WHAT THE DOCTORS INFORMED ME ABOUT IN TERMS OF HOW SAFE THE SURGERY IS.

THE LONG-TERM OUTCOMES ARE VERY COMPARABLE WITH ANYBODY THAT HAS TWO HEALTHY KIDNEYS.

AND BECAUSE THE SURGERY IS SO SUCCESSFUL, WHY NOT SAVE MORE PEOPLE'S LIVES?

AND I THINK THAT THERE IS A NOTION AND IN FACT WHEN I WAS PREPARING FOR THE SURGERY, THERE WERE PEOPLE THAT WERE CONCERNED ABOUT MY HEALTH AND THAT I WAS STILL YOUNG AND HAD YOUNG CHILDREN.

BUT I THINK CORRECTING THAT MISCONCEPTION THAT AFFECTS YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE, IS A REALLY IMPORTANT THING TO DO.

>> Jeff: THE ONLY THING YOU WOULD WORRY ABOUT IS MOSTLY COME WITH TWO OF THESE AND IF YOU TAKE ONE OUT, ARE YOU AT RISK OF SOMETHING HAPPENING TO THE OTHER ONE?

DOES IT WEAR OUT?

OR NO?

>> WELL, YOU ARE ALWAYS AT RISK.

YOU COULD CROSS THE ROAD AND GET HIT BY A CAR.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT RISK IN DIFFERENT WAYS THERE HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT STUDIES.

WHEN WE COMPARE KIDNEY DONORS WITH THE GENERAL POPULATION THEY TEND TO LIVE LONGER HEALTHIER LIVES BECAUSE THEY ARE CHERRY PICKED TO BE THE HEALTHIEST TO START WITH.

THEY DID STUDIES MATCHING PEOPLE, AND THOSE WHO DONATED AND THOSE WHO DIDN'T AND THE OUTCOMES WERE VERY MINIMALLY DIFFERENT.

TO THE POINT THAT IT IS A LITTLE BIT OF A STROKE OF LOVE.

AND THE ORGAN DONATION HAS A SYSTEM AND WE TRY TO GET THEM NEAR THE TOP OF THE LIST IF THEY WERE TO GO ON TO NEED A KIDNEY.

AND THE CHANCES ARE ONE OUT OF 10,000 OR LESS.

>> Jeff: AS THE RECIPIENT YOU HAVE TO DO IMMUNE SUPPRESSION SO THE BODY DOES NOT REJECT THE ORGAN BUT IT'S PREFERABLE TO DIALYSIS.

HAS IT CHANGED?

>> THE IMMUNOSUPPRESSION HAS CHANGED SOME.

IT'S DIFFICULT TO DO TRIALS BECAUSE THE OUTCOMES ARE GOOD WITH WHAT WE HAVE.

SO IF WE'RE TRYING TO DO BETTER, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE DRUG AFTER 15 YEARS, AND THAT IS AN EXPENSIVE TRIAL.

SO THEY ARE HARD TO FUND AND HARD TO PROVE BENEFITS.

IT'S HARD TO MAKE PROGRESS AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

>> Jeff: I READ THE STORY OF YOUR FIRST SURGERY RECEIVING THE TRANSPLANT AND THE DOCTOR YOU WERE 11, I GUESS, AND THE DOCTOR ASKED WHAT YOU WANTED TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP?

>> AND I SAID A TRANSPLANT SURGEON, AND HERE IT IS.

>> Jeff: AWESOME STORY.

HOW MANY KIDNEYS OR ORGANS HAVE YOU TRANSPLANTED?

>> I HAVE NO IDEA.

I TRANSPLANTED 45 KIDNEYS IN THE FIRST TWO MONTHS OF MY FELLOWSHIP IN 2012 AND KEPT GOING BUSYLY AND SORT OF I DON'T KNOW, I HAVE NO IDEA.

HUNDREDS.

>> Jeff: WHAT IS NEW IN KIDNEY TRANSPLANTATION?

THE LIVING DONOR THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND PIONEERED THAT.

AND THAT AND THE WHOLE PROCESS AND THE TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF THE SURGERY IT'S OLD HAT AT THIS POINT?

>> THE TECHNICAL ASPECTS ARE SAME OLD SAME OLD.

WE TRY TO BE MORE AGGRESSIVE USING SICKER ORGANS AND ORGANS FROM SICKER DONORS AS THE GENERAL HEALTH OF THE POPULATION DECLINES OUR DONOR POPULATION IS DIFFERENT FROM THE 1980s.

THAT SAID THERE IS A A HUGE SHORTAGE OF DONOR ORGANS.

THE NEWEST THING IS XENO TRANSPLANTATION WHERE WE TALK ORGANS FROM ANOTHER SPECIES AND YOU MIGHT HAVE SEEN THAT THAT THIS IS STARTING TO HAPPEN.

BUT IT'S VERY MUCH STILL RESEARCH AND USUALLY ALWAYS A ONE OFF.

>> Jeff: WHAT IS YOUR EXPERIENCE, WHAT ARE YOUR INSTINCTS TELL YOU ABOUT WEATHER THAT IS -- WHETHER THAT IS GOING TO BE A THING DOWN THE ROAD A DECADE OR TWO?

>> I THINK SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT OTHER THINGS HAVING MADE PROGRESS, COMPUTERS NOW OUR SMARTPHONES THE DIALYSIS MACHINE IS STILL LIKE A BOX WHEN YOU GO.

SHE IS LAUGHING BECAUSE IT'S TRUE.

AND WE CAN DO BETTER.

WHETHER THAT WILL ULTIMATELY BE A BIONIC KIDNEY OR GROWING OUR HUMAN ORGANS FROM OUR STEM CELLS IN THE LAB, SOMETHING NEEDS TO GO.

AT THE MOMENT TRANSPLANT IS STARTING TO HAPPEN IN THE LAST DITCH EFFORTS SCENARIOS.

AND I HOPE IT GOES SOMEWHERE.

BUT I THINK THERE ARE HUGE BARRIERS TO REALLY MAKING TRUE CLINICAL TRIALS COME TO LIFE WITH THESE TYPES OF ORGANS IN TERMS OF SAFETY AND EFFICACY FOR A PIG TRANSPLANT YOU NEED MORE IMMUNOSUPPRESSION AND THAT IS OBVIOUSLY DANGEROUS AND YOU WORRY ABOUT INFECTIONS AND VIRUSES THAT CAN COME FROM THE ANIMALS INTO THE HUMANS.

WE LIVED THROUGH A PANDEMIC WE DON'T WANT TO CAUSE ONE.

THERE ARE RISKS AND THINGS THAT NEED TO BE CAREFULLY CONSIDERED.

>> Jeff: WHAT ARE THE CONDITIONS THAT MOST COMMONLY LEAD SOMEBODY TO NEEDING A KIDNEY?

>> MOSTLY IT'S DIABETES AND HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.

IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE WITH DIABETES OR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE IN YOUR FAMILY OR IF YOU HAVE DIABETES OR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE GET YOUR KIDNEYS CHECKED ONCE A YEAR.

VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.

>> .

>> AND THERE ARE CERTAIN MEDICATIONS IF YOU TAKE IN EYE DOSES, ALEVE, YOU DON'T REALIZE THAT LONG-TERM USE OF THEM IT'S YOUR KIDNEY THAT IS PROCESSING THOSE MEDICATIONS.

I MOTHER DID NOT HAVE A CAUSE.

SHE DID NOT HAVE DIABETES.

AND HER HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE WAS MANAGED.

SO.

>> Jeff: HOW WAS IT NOTICED?

ROUTINE BLOOD WORK?

>> BLOOD WORK, YES.

>> SHE IS LUCKY MOST PEOPLE WITH KIDNEY DISEASE DON'T KNOW THEY HAVE KIDNEY DISEASE.

>> I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT STAGE SHE WAS DIAGNOSED BUT FROM THE TIME WE TALKED ABOUT IT SHE DID GO FROM STAGE THREE TO STAGE FOUR TO STAGE FIVE BUT THERE WAS NO KNOWN CAUSE PERHAPS IT WAS FROM OVERUSE OF SOME OF THOSE MEDICATIONS.

>> Jeff: WAS THERE A MOMENT WHERE YOU HAD SECOND THOUGHTS ABOUT IT?

>> NO.

>> Jeff: YOU WERE HELPING YOUR MOM.

>> YES.

>> AND HELPING YOUR MOM ON BILLIARDS TERMS LIKE A BANK SHOT?

>> I WAS 100% FOR EVERYTHING SHE DID FOR ME THIS WAS THE LEAST I COULD DO FOR HER THAT WAS THE MANTRA THE WHOLE TIME.

MY FATHER BEING THE OVERPROTECTIVE FATHER WAS CONCERNED.

>> DO YOU HAVE ONE OF THOSE, TOO?

>> BUT I WAS BECAUSE I FELT SO TRUSTING.

I DID MY RESEARCH, WHETHER IT WAS WITH THE DOCTORS BUT ALSO ON MY OWN.

I DID MY RESEARCH.

I HAD AN ENVELOPE WITH ALL OF THE MATERIALS.

I COMPLETELY TRUSTED THE PROCESS 100%.

NEVER HESITATED.

>> Jeff: ONE WAY PEOPLE CAN DO THE RESEARCH IS YOU HAVE A WEBSITE, UMD.EDU/DONATE-LIFE.

TELL ME ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH OTHER TYPES OF ORGANS YOU DO PANCREAS?

>> I TRAIN IT IN AN DORM NATIONAL ORGANS.

THERE ARE SURGEONS THAT DO THE TRANSPLANT FOR HEART AND THE LUNG, AND AN DORM NATIONAL DO LIVER, KIDNEY AND PANCREAS.

LIVER TRANSPLANTS ARE COMMON WE DO ABOUT 100 A YEAR.

AND KIDNEY 170 A YEAR.

AND THEN PANCREAS TRANSPLANTS WE TRY TO DO 20 A YEAR.

THE BENEFIT IT CURES DIABETESES AND IT'S FANTASTIC WHEN YOU COMBINE IT WITH A KIDNEY YOU CAN CURE DIABETES AND KIDNEY FAILURE AND GET A PATIENT WHO IS FREE FROM DAY-TO-DAY WORRIES THEY WOULD HAVE.

>> Jeff: WHAT WAS THE MOST COMMON QUESTION WHEN YOU GOT WHEN YOU TOLD YOUR FLEDGEDS WHAT YOU WERE DOING?

>> I DIDN'T GET QUESTIONS BUT I GOT SURPRISE.

OH, MY GOSH, I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU ARE REALLY GOING TO DO THIS.

AND I GUESS THERE WAS SOME QUESTIONING ABOUT THE HEALTH IMPACTS ON ME.

WHICH.

>> Jeff: WORKED OUT GREAT.

>> WORKED OUT GREAT.

>> Jeff: REALLY SO GLAD YOU BOTH COULD BE HERE.

SILKE NIEDERHAUS AND FELICIA STOLUSKY THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> MPT'S CHESAPEAKE BAY WEEK WRAPPED UP THE 20TH ANNUAL EVENT AND OUR FOCUS ON THE BAY AND THE ENVIRONMENT CONTINUES YEAR-ROUND JOINING US IS JOEL DUNN THE PRESIDENT OF THE CHESAPEAKE CONSERVANCY.

JOEL, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

>> IT IS SUCH A PRINCE HARRY TO BE WITH YOU -- PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU.

>> Jeff: LET'S START WITH GOOD NEWS.

YOU WERE IN PENNSYLVANIA AT A CREEK CALLED TURTLE CREEK WHERE THE EPA HAS DELISTED PARTS OF THAT CREEK FROM SOMETHING CALLED THE AGRICULTURALLY IMPAIRED STREAMS LIST.

TELL US ABOUT THAT?

>> WELL, IT'S MY PLEASURE.

SO YESTERDAY I WAS ON THE BANKS OF TURTLE CREEK, WITH A BUNCH OF ELECTED OFFICIALS, SECRETARIES OF VARIOUS AGENCIES, CONSERVATION PARTNERS AND WE WERE ALL CELEBRATING.

WE WERE CELEBRATING BECAUSE AFTER 10 YEARS OF EFFORT, THE PORTIONS OF THE STREAM WERE TAKEN OFF THE IMPAIRED WATERS LIST.

WHICH MEANS THAT THE WATER HAD BEEN CLEANED UP ENOUGH TO BE DEEMED HEALTHY.

IT HAD THE INSECTS HAD RETURNED.

SO THAT THE FISH COULD RETURN.

AND OVERALL IT IS A GREAT SIGN OF ECOLOGICAL RECOVERY.

IN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY WE HEAR A LOT OF BAD NEWS ABOUT THE CONDITION OF THE BAY, AND ITS STREAMS AND ITS OTHER ECOLOGICAL ELEMENTS AND TO HEAR GOOD NEWS ABOUT HOW A SEGMENT HAS BEEN DELISTED OR SEVERAL SEGMENTS HAVE BEEN DELISTED IT'S JUST SUCH A THRILL.

AND THE WAY THEY DID IT WHICH IS CREE AF AND IN-- CREATIVE, WE USE DATA STRATEGIES, PARTNERSHIP ORIENTATION WE LEVERAGED EACH OTHER'S STRENGTHS AND DIFFERENT FUNDING SOURCES.

MORE CENTRAL CONSERVANCY DID AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF WORK TO ENGINEER THIS RESULT.

THE CONSERVANCY WAS A COORDINATING PARTNER.

HERE IS THE BIGGER IDEA.

WE ARE DOING THIS ON 56 OTHER STREAMS IN PENNSYLVANIA.

THIS IS A GROWING TREND TO HAVE THESE FOCUSED EFFORTS ON THE FEEDER STREAMS TO THE CHESAPEAKE BAY.

WHICH WILL REDUCE NUTRIENT COMING INTO THE CHESAPEAKE BAY AND CLEAN UP THE ECOSYSTEM.

>> Jeff: LET ME ASK YOU TO EXPLAIN FOR OUR VIEWERS WHY IT MATTERS THAT THIS LITTLE CREEK WHICH IS SORT OF CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA, I THINK A LITTLE BIT EAST OF STATE COLLEGE, HOW DOES THAT RELATE TO ANYTHING HERE?

>> WELL, THE CHESAPEAKE BAY IS A MAJOR WATER BODY, BUT THE LAND FEEDS THAT BAY.

IT OPERATES WITHIN A WATERSHED AND THAT SHED GOES FROM NEW YORK STATE DOWN TO VIRGINIA.

SO YOU HAVE SIX STATES IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PORTIONS OF SIX STATES AND THE DISTRICT THAT DRAIN TO THE CHESAPEAKE BAY.

REMARKABLY IT IS A 14 TO ONE LAND TO WATER RATIO.

SO WHAT HAPPENS ON THE LAND UP IN PENNSYLVANIA REALLY AFFECTS THE WATER BODY OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY.

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT HOW TO SAVE THE BAY TO RESTORE THE BAY, WE'VE BEEN LEARNING A LOT FROM SCIENTISTS AND THEY PUT OUT A BIG REPORT IN MAY OF 2023 THAT SAID WE NEED TO CHANGE THE WAY WE'RE DOING BUSINESS.

WE ARE NOT DELIVERING THE RESULTS WE THOUGHT WE WOULD.

WE NEED TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY.

SO I THINK THAT THE STREAM DELISTING EFFORT IS A STRATEGY OF DOING THINGS DIFFERENTLY THINKING INTO THE HEAD WATERS, THE WATERS THAT FLOW DOWN INTO THE BAY LET'S START THERE.

LET'S MAKE THOSE RESULTS HYPER LOCAL SO THAT FARMER GETS A RESULT FOR ALL THAT CONSERVATION EFFORT.

HE CAN NOW FISH HIS STREAM OR SHE CAN FISH HER STREAM.

BUT ALSO WHEN THAT WATER FLOWS OUT OF THAT FARM IT'S CLEANER, IT DELIVERS RESULTS FOR PEOPLE DOWNSTREAM AS WELL.

SO I THINK THE STRATEGY IS A MAJOR NEW COMPONENT TO THE CHESAPEAKE BAY PROGRAM WHICH IS 4 A-YEAR EFFORT TO CLEAN UP THE CHESAPEAKE BAY.

I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT.

THE CONSERVANCY IS DEEPLY INVOLVED IN THE PARTNERSHIPS UP IN PENNSYLVANIA.

IN FACT, MARYLAND JUST PASSED A BILL CALLED THE WHOLE WATERSHED ACT REPLICATING ASPECTS OF THAT STREAM DELISTING IN MARYLAND.

IT'S SPREADING ACROSS THE WATERSHED AND IT IS A HOPEFUL SIGN FOR THE CHESAPEAKE.

>> Jeff: DO YOU THINK IT IS A HOPEFUL SIGN IN TERMS OF THE LEVEL OF COMMITMENT IN PENNSYLVANIA WHERE BASICALLY, THE SUSAN ELLERBEE A LITTLE BIT OF A CON SUSQUEHANNA A CONVEYOR FOR NUTRIENTS FOR POLLUTION IN PENNSYLVANIA SO IT LEAVES PENNSYLVANIA.

IT'S OUR PROBLEM.

THERE'S BEEN FRUSTRATION AMONG MARYLAND OFFICIALS WITH THE PACE OF CHANGE IN PENNSYLVANIA.

>> THAT'S TRUE.

BUT I TELL YOU WHAT, I WAS ON THE BANKS OF THAT STREAM WITH THE CHAIRMAN OF THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE IN THE SENATE, THE PENNSYLVANIA SENATE AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE FROM THE PENNSYLVANIA SENATE.

BOTH OF THEM REPUBLICANS.

BOTH OF THEM DEEPLY COMMITTED TO THE CHESAPEAKE BAY RESTORATION MOVEMENT AND THEY WERE CELEBRATING AS MUCH OR MORE THAN ME.

THEY ARE THRILLED BY THE RESULTS.

THEY HAVE BEEN DEVOTING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS TO RELATED EFFORTS.

AND EVEN SOME OF THEIR STATEMENTS COMING OUT OF YESTERDAY REDOUBLED THEIR COMMITMENTS TO THOSE PROGRAMS THAT ARE DELIVERING THOSE RESULTS.

SO I SEE IT AS A HOPEFUL SIGN.

I WAS THRILLED TO BE THERE WITH THEM.

GRATEFUL FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND ENGAGEMENT.

AND ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THEY LIKE THIS STRATEGY IN PARTICULAR, IS BECAUSE YOU ARE REALLY LEVERAGING DATA AND YOU ARE LEVERAGING OTHER PEOPLE'S TIME AND MONEY TO DELIVER RESULTS FOR THE PUBLIC.

AND SO IT IS A GREAT PARTNERSHIP-DRIVEN MODEL THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA HAVE ALL BOUGHT INTO.

FROM THE GOVERNOR TO THE LEGISLATURE, TO THE LOCAL COUNTY, OR COUNTIES, YOU'RE SEEING THIS CONCERTED EFFORT TO ADDRESS POLLUTION AND RESTORE THE ENVIRONMENT.

AND THEY ARE NOT NECESSARILY DOING IT FOR THE CHESAPEAKE BAY PROPER.

THEY ARE DOING IT FOR THEIR OWN STREAMS AND THEIR OWN COMMUNITY WHICH MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.

YOU ARE A LOT MORE DRIVEN TO DELIVER THOSE RESULTS AND DEVOTE THE TIME AND ENERGY AND MONEY WHEN YOU GET TO ENJOY THOSE BENEFITS.

AND IT'S -- IT IS A BOTTOM UP INITIATIVE.

>> Jeff: ALL POLITICS IS LOCAL AS THEY SAY.

YOU ARE ALL ABOUT BIG IDEAS A COUPLE OF BIG IDEAS.

ONE IS THE IDEA OF THE CHESAPEAKE NATIONAL RECREATION AREA NOT A NEW IDEA.

IS IT MOVING?

>> YEAH.

I LOVE THAT YOU BROUGHT THAT UP THANK YOU SO MUCH.

SO THIS IS NOT A NEW IDEA.

INDEED IT WAS BROUGHT UP IN THE 80s BY THEN COUNTY EXECUTIVE IN A LETTER TO THE EDITOR IN THE ANNAPOLIS CAPITAL.

HE SUGGESTED THIS IDEA THAT THE CHESAPEAKE WAS WORTHY OF A UNIT IN THE NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM AND SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLAND AND REPRESENTATIVE JOHN SARBANES INTRODUCED LEGISLATION IN JULY OF LAST YEAR TO ESTABLISH A CHESAPEAKE NATIONAL RECREATION AREA AND THE GOAL IS TO PROTECT THE CHESAPEAKE'S ECOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL RESOURCES AND ENABLE THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE TO ACQUIRE LOCATIONS IN THE BAY TO INCREASE RECREATIONAL ACCESS, AND TO TELL THE HISTORY OF ALL THE BAY'S PEOPLE STARTING WITH THE NATIVE-AMERICANS.

WE WANT TO UPGRADE THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE TO THE CHESAPEAKE BAY AND PUT IT ON PAR WITH THE COUNTRIES OTHER WONDERS WHICH IS WHERE IT BELONGS.

YOU KNOW FROM THE 20 YEARS YOU HAVE KNOWN ME, I THINK THE CHACH IS AS GRAND AS THE GRAND CANYON OR SPECTACULAR AS YELLOWSTONE OR THE GREAT SMOKEYS.

BUT WE DON'T HAVE A UNIT DEVOTED TO THE CHESAPEAKE BAY.

AND IT'S TIME TO FIX THAT.

SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT.

THERE'S 17 MEMBERS OF CONGRESS THAT SIGNED ON TO THIS.

FROM BOTH PARTIES REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRAT.

AND I THINK WITH OUR LEAD SENATOR AND CONGRESSMAN WE'RE IN A REALLY GOOD POSITION WE ARE HOPING FOR A HEARING IN THE NATURAL RESOURCE CHEMISTRY.

AND I DO THINK THERE'S HOPE FOR PASSAGE OF THE BILL.

>> Jeff: BIG IDEA NUMBER TWO.

THE SOUTHERN MARYLAND WOODLANDS WILDLIFE REFUGE.

I FRANKLY HAVE NOT HEARD OF THIS ONE BEFORE.

>> YES.

SO THIS IS A REALLY EXCITING PROPOSAL COMING FROM THE U.S.

FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE.

THEY HAVE BEEN FOCUSED ON PRESERVING HABITAT FOR MIGRATORY BIRDS AND CREATURES.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE'S BEEN TO A NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE BUT IT IS A WONDERFUL PLACE TO LEARN AND EXPERIENCE THE OUTDOORS AND NATURE SOMETHING WE ARE STARVED OF THESE DAYS.

AND IN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY, WE HAVE SEVERAL NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGES LIKE BLACK WATER OR RAP HANDIC RIVER VALLEY BUT IT'S BEEN 26 YEARS SINCE ONE HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED.

AND THE FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE RECOGNIZED THAT SOUTHERN MARYLAND WAS IN REMARKABLY GOOD ECOLOGICAL CONDITION.

AND THEY ARE FOCUSED ON THE LOSS OF BIRDS.

WE'VE LOST THREE BILLION BIRDS SINCE I WAS BORN.

THREE BILLION BIRDS I WAS BORN IN 1977.

THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT LOSS.

AND SOUTHERN MARYLAND HAS THIS WONDERFUL FOREST HABITAT ACROSS THE VARIOUS COUNTIES.

AND THERE IS A LOT OF REALLY AMAZING SPECIES DOWN THERE WHETHER IT'S FISH OR BIRDS THAT THE FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE WANT TO PROTECT EVEN INSECTS OR BATS, SOME REALLY COOL SONGBIRDS.

SO THE FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE PROPOSED A NEW NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE IN SOUTHERN MARYLAND AND THE PUBLIC COMMENT ENDED ON EARTH DAY, WHICH IS KIND OF COOL.

AND THEY ARE HOPEFUL TO ESTABLISH THIS REFUGE.

THIS IS THE LONG-TERM PROJECT.

REFUGES TAKE, 30, 40 YEARS TO ACQUIRE THE LAND, THE U.S.

FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE IS VERY THOUGHTFUL ABOUT HOW THEY PURSUE LAND ACQUISITION OR CONSERVATION EASEMENTS THEY ONLY WORK WITH WILLING SELLERS.

IT TAKES A LONGTIME TO BUILD A REFUGE BUT IT IS AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY FOR THE STATE OF MARYLAND AND FOR THE CHESAPEAKE BAY AS A WHOLE.

AND I FOR ONE CAN'T WAIT TO VISIT THE REFUGE SOME DAY WITH MY KIDS.

YOU MAY RECALL WE HELPED CREATE A NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY.

SO THIS IS COMPLIMENTARY TO THE NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY DOWN THERE.

>> Jeff: JOEL DUNN IS THE PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF THE CHESAPEAKE CONSERVANCY.

ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME ON.

AND THANKS FOR HAVING A GREAT CHESAPEAKE BAY WEEK.

>> Jeff: AND THAT IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" FOR THIS WEEK.

WE'RE BACK FRIDAY WITH "STATE CIRCLE" THE LATEST ON MARYLAND POLITICS FRIDAY EVENING AT 7:00 P.M.

REMEMBER YOU CAN SEE OUR RECENT PROGRAMS AND VIDEO.MPT.TV AND THE FREE PBS APP AS WELL.

FOR ALL OF US AT MPT THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

"DIRECT CONNECTION" AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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