Rose Haven, MD (July 1, 1998) -- Maryland's Lower Western Shore Tributary Team is marking the start of National Clean Boating Week by launching a bold new effort at improving water quality in southern Anne Arundel County.

During kick-off festivities of National Clean Boating Week at Herrington Harbor South in Rose Haven on July 11, the team will unveil plans for its Herring Bay Clean Watershed Initiative.

"It is hoped that this initiative will raise the awareness of water quality issues in the watershed and the causes of pollution from land uses within it," said Team Chair Joan Willey. "The successful lessons we learn from this project can then be applied to other watersheds in the Lower Western Shore area."

The Lower Western Shore Tributary Team reviews water quality issues within Anne Arundel and Calvert counties that drain into the Chesapeake Bay. Their work is focused on reducing nutrient pollution, considered to be one of the largest threats to good water quality in the state.

Nutrient pollution, primarily excess nitrogen and phosphorus, come from both point and non-point sources and the team focuses on both.

The Herring Bay watershed is 25 square miles, running from Curtis Point on the north to Holland Point on the south and is bordered by Route 2 on the west and the Chesapeake Bay on the east. It encompasses the communities of Deale, Churchton, Shadyside and Rose Haven. The team asserts that Herring Bay is comparable to the Chesapeake Bay. Many of the types of groups and landowners located along the Chesapeake can also be found along Herring Bay. The team hopes that the Herring Bay Clean Watershed Initiative will be used as a management model to examine strategies and outcomes of a citizen-driven plan.

First the Herring Bay Clean Watershed Initiative calls for the assembly of volunteers and organizations within the watershed to assist in conducting a survey of the area. The survey would provide a complete assessment of the watershed by helping identify areas that are beneficial to the environment and those that are detrimental. From that point, corrective actions can be considered or taken.

An organizing committee for the Herring Bay Clean Watershed Initiative is already being formed.

At Herrington Harbor on July 11, the community can pick up literature and learn more about the Lower Western Shore Tributary Team and the Herring Bay Clean Watershed Initiative at the team's display booth. The Enviroscape model at the booth will also demonstrate the dynamics of a watershed and how rainfall and man impact our natural world.

The 10 tributary teams throughout the state are composed of individuals from farming, business, academic, government, environmental and citizens' groups.

Watermen, farmers, citizens and representatives of the development/business community who have an interest in participating on the Lower Western Shore Tributary Team or in the Herring Bay Clean Watershed Initiative can contact team coordinator Joshua Feldmesser at (410) 260-8701 or the team's Outreach/Education Coordinator Peg Burroughs at (410) 867-0366. New members are appointed by the Governor.

Governor Parris N. Glendening appointed the teams in fall 1995 to assist with the implementation of the state's watershed-based plans to reduce nutrient pollution reaching the Chesapeake Bay and Maryland rivers. Maryland has pledged to reduce nutrients reaching the Bay by 40 percent between 1985 and 2000.

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Posted on July 7, 1998