NOAA Environmental Science Training Center
904 South Morris Street
Oxford, MD 21654
Driving Directions
Bart Merrick
NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office
410-295-3142
bart.merrick@noaa.gov
Session 1: Shorelines, Wetlands, and Uplands ~ Habitat Restoration for a Healthy Bay
Restoring the Chesapeake Bay and its 64,000-square-mile watershed is an enormous undertaking. Four centuries of population growth, land use changes and the harvesting of Bay species has taken its toll on the Bay ecosystem, resulting in polluted waterways and dwindling natural resources. Today, after more than two decades of Bay and watershed restoration efforts, we have seen a decrease in the amount of pollution coming to the Bay from the major tributaries. Although that's good news, a clean Bay is the ultimate restoration measure and we are still a ways away from this end. Some signs are positive, but other key indicators are lagging. Overall, the Bay remains degraded. However we are working harder than ever to bring the estuary back to health through restoration efforts.
During this workshop series we will explore the science that underlies some of the major restoration strategies being implemented in the Chesapeake region, and consider how the science could be applied to education-scale restoration efforts being supported by the environmental education community. We will look at specific case studies to illustrate habitat, species, and ecosystem restoration efforts in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Session 1 Highlights
In Session 1, we will look at the complex process to restore shorelines, wetlands, and upland areas in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. What environmental issues must be considered in projects such as these, and what science concepts are applicable to local small scale restoration designs? Join us as we visit a local shoreline restoration project to help illustrate the many challenges of ecosystem/ habitat restoration, with strategies to help you plan projects at your site, or support schools who may need assistance with similar efforts.
Workshop Goals
Workshop Format
Workshops in this series will take place at NOAA’s Environmental Science Training Center in Oxford, Maryland, and will be about five hours long, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. If you are interested in participating or have questions please contact Bart Merrick.
Session 2: Species Restoration: A Focus on Oysters is scheduled for March 14, 2013.