In addition to the Osprey Cam, the Eagle Cam, and the Butterfly Garden, the Friends
of Blackwater have also recently undertaken the following projects:
The Friends of Blackwater have created three canoe/kayak trails that were opened on June 28, 2003 at the refuge:
- Purple Trail - 9 miles one way
- Purple Spur Trail - 2.8 miles round trip
- Green Trail - 8 miles round trip
- Orange Trail - 7.6 miles round trip
You can learn more about the trails on our
Paddling page. You can also
purchase our wonderful Paddling Trails map in our
online store. We strongly
suggest purchasing a map before entering any of our trails. The maps also make a terrific guide
to the wildlife refuge in general.
The Friends of Blackwater recently opened a new educational
observation/photography blind on the Wildlife Drive. From its unique
vantage point, the handicap-accessible blind oversees a perfect
marsh scene. Photographers and students can use
this shielded location to observe wildlife up close.
The Friends of Blackwater, in conjunction with the Dorchester
County of Tourism, are now operating a low-power AM radio station
to alert travelers to the location of the refuge and to provide
information on what's happening at the refuge and in the county. The equipment,
which is a ten-watt transmitter, is located at the County Visitors Center
and is capable of providing a signal with a reach of approximately
three miles. Messages are telephoned to the transmitter
where it is recorded and then played back on a continuous loop. Visitors near the refuge can now tune into 1700 on the AM dial
to hear the "Voice of Blackwater."
Since 2001, the Friends of Blackwater have been working in conjunction with the
National Aquarium in Baltimore on a major marsh restoration project at Barren Island in the
Chesapeake Bay
(Barren Island is located twelve miles south of the Choptank River and is
part of the Chesapeake Marshlands NWR Complex; the island is adjacent to Blackwater Refuge).
Latest Update:
The efforts of this partnership (which includes the Army Corps of Engineers, NOAA,
the FWS, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and MD Conservation Corps) have resulted in
the planting of over 302,000 native marsh grasses with
the help of 927 volunteers totaling 7,700 volunteer
hours. During this three-year restoration project, 21 acres of marsh were reestablished.
Aquarium staff and Friends of Blackwater have returned to the site semi-annually to monitor
the success of this restoration project. Topographic, vegetative, and fish utilization data have
been collected. Initial monitoring indicates that the project has been successful as wave
energy is being absorbed and sediment is in fact being accreted. A very natural marsh
community which includes small invertebrates that live in the sediments, larger invertebrates
including crabs and shrimp, and fish and birds can be found in the more mature parts of the
site that were planted in 2001. The more recently planted areas appear to progressing well
toward a similar community.
Background Information:
It's no secret that the islands in the Chesapeake Bay have been undergoing major transformations
as a result of erosion caused by a number of factors including sea level rise, land
subsidence, and human intervention. Islands represent a unique ecological component of the
Chesapeake Bay watershed in that they have fewer predators, greater isolation, and therefore
are less subject to human disturbances. That's why islands are preferentially selected by a
host of colonial water birds for nesting sites. The islands also support the most expansive
submerged aquatic vegetation beds in the Chesapeake Bay due to their wave buffering
effect. We are losing this valuable habitat resource to erosion at an alarming rate. If nothing
is done, the islands will disappear in the next one hundred years.
The Friends of Blackwater are excited about this wonderful opportunity to improve
the health of the Bay. Visit our Planting page for information
about the next trip to Barren Island.
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