Chesapeake Marshlands:
Sea Level Rise and What Can Be Done About It
On Wednesday May 30, 2007, a public meeting will be held at 7pm at the Minnette Dick
Catholic Hall in Cambridge, Maryland. Author Tom Horton will be our moderator
and the topics will include:
The Problem: Global warming and the impacts from sea level rise in Dorchester
County (the impacts to Hooper’s Island if Barren Island erodes away; the impacts to Taylor’s
Island if James Island disappears; the effects of continual loss of wetlands in the
Blackwater/Nanticoke watershed in Dorchester County and the Chesapeake Bay).
Leading the discussion is Dr. Curt Larsen (USGS), Dr. Dennis King (Univ. of MD, CBL), and Dr. Mike Kearney
(Univ. of MD College Park).
The Solution: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Steve Kopecky) and Engineers
for the MD Port Administration (Dick Thomas and Dan Wilson from Gahagan and Bryant) will
discuss future wetland restoration and Chesapeake islands protection projects.
The Benefits of Wetland Restoration: Removing excess sediments from the
Chesapeake Bay to restore Dorchester County wetlands (Dr. Jeff Cornwell from Univ. of MD,
Horn Point) and creating carbon credits through carbon sequestration
(Dr. Brian Needelman from Univ. of MD College Park). USGS will discuss protection from
future storms, hurricanes, and the overall benefits to natural resources in the Chesapeake Bay.
Senator Ben Cardin will be making
statements to the audience via videotape.
Public comments and input are needed as we move forward to address the threats
caused by sea level rise. We are seeking representatives from interested groups to
serve on the Dorchester County Citizen’s Advisory Group to guide our actions as
we manage our wetlands. Please encourage all interested people to attend the meeting
and ask any questions they have. If you would like to become a member of the Technical or
Citizen’s Advisory Groups, please contact Dixie Birch at 410-228-2692, ext. 118 or
dixie_birch@fws.gov
Directions: From Easton heading East on Route 50, cross over Senator
Frederick C. Malkus, Jr. Bridge (Choptank River Bridge) as you enter Cambridge.
At the second traffic light turn right onto Cedar Street. You will see a McDonald’s
just before that intersection and there is a Goodyear Tire Company on the corner.
If you are traveling from Salisbury and heading west on Rt. 50, turn left onto
Cedar Street.
Continue on Cedar Street, go through one light (see a marina on your right) and
continue through 1 more light up to Race Street. Make a right onto Race Street and
stay on it as it changes to Poplar St. and then it changes into Locust Street. Go to the
end of Locust Street and turn left onto Glenburn Avenue. Go 1 block and turn right
onto Glasgow. Go past tennis courts and past Sandy Hill Elementary School. See the
large Catholic Church on your right and turn immediately after the church onto
Hambrooks Blvd. Take the first driveway on the right into Minnette Mills Dick
Memorial Hall.
Army Corps of Engineers Press Release
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Agenda for May 30, 2007
- 7:00pm: Tom Horton -- Welcome and Introduction of Speakers
- 7:10pm: Senator Ben Cardin (via videotaped message) --
Chesapeake Bay Marshlands: Sea Level Rise and What Can Be Done About It
- 7:20pm: Curt Larsen, USGS (retired) -- Sea Level Rise impacts at Barren Island, James Island & Blackwater NWR,
(10 minute talk and 5 minutes for questions)
- 7:35pm: Dennis King, Univ. of MD, Chesapeake Biological Lab --
Costs and benefits of preparing for sea level rise: the case for wetland preservation/restoration in Dorchester County,
(10 minute talk and 5 minutes for questions)
- 7:50pm: Brian Needelman, Univ of MD, College Park --
Carbon Sequestration associated with wetland restoration, (10 minute talk and 5 minutes for questions)
- 8:05pm: Jeff Cornwell, Univ of MD,
Horn Point Lab -- Chesapeake Bay Channel Sedmients for Wetland Restoration, (10 minute talk and 5 minutes for questions)
- 8:20pm: Steve Kopecky, US Army Corps of Engineers --
Chesapeake Marshlands Implementation Strategy, (10 minute talk and 5 minutes for questions)
- 8:35pm: Dick Thomas, Gahagan and Bryant Associates Inc. --
Blackwater Demonstration Project, (10 minute talk and 5 minutes for questions)
- 8:50pm: Rebekah Packett, US Fish and Wildlife Service -- Action Items and Next Steps
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