Environmental Writer Tom Horton to Assess Bay's Health in Oct. 18 Talk Co-sponsored by CES

CHESTERTOWN—Tom Horton, one of the Chesapeake Bay’s foremost advocates and authorities, will present a wide-ranging talk on “lessons learned” during a special appearance in Chestertown on the 40th anniversary of the Clean Water Act. Horton’s presentation, “40 Years of the Clean Water Act Through the Lens of the Chesapeake Bay,” will take place Thursday, Oct. 18, at 6 p.m. at the Garfield Center for the Arts, 210 High Street, Chestertown.  Sponsored by the Chester River Association and the Center for Environment & Society at Washington College, the event is free and open to the public.

Horton has covered the Bay and the environment for The Baltimore Sun and other publications since 1972, the same year that the Clean Water Act was reauthorized in what he calls “a modern, post-Earth Day” way.

Among other talking points, Horton will highlight the progress that has been made with Bay restoration as well as examine some of the disappointments. He will also issue a clarion call for a broader, more ambitious agenda for environmentalism – one that includes a deep and diverse base of support.

Horton, who has written several books about the Bay, teaches at Salisbury University and writes for the Chesapeake Bay Journal.

Please call the Chester River Association at 410-810-7556 for more information.

Waterkeeper Alliance President Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. To Speak At Washington College October 16

Dedication of Chester Riverkeeper Boat Set for Afternoon

Chestertown, MD, October 9, 2002 — The Chester River Association (CRA) and Waterkeeper Alliance will formally inaugurate the new Chester Riverkeeper Program and dedicate the Riverkeeper's vessel during ceremonies beginning at 1:30 p.m. at the Town Landing in Chestertown, Wednesday, October 16, 2002. Waterkeeper Alliance founder and president, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., will join CRA president Andrew McCown to dedicate the 20-foot boat. Newly appointed Chester Riverkeeper Eileen McLellan will use the vessel as part of her work to revive and preserve the health of the Chester River and the living resources it supports. Citizens of the Chester River watershed and the general public are invited to attend the dedication.
Kennedy and McLellan will be the featured speakers at a free public forum, "Riverkeeping: A Vision for the Chester", to be held from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. in Hynson Lounge at Washington College. McCown and Dr. Wayne Bell, director of Washington College's Center for Environment and Society, will introduce a discussion of the challenges of local stewardship for our waterways and the progress Waterkeeper Alliance member programs have achieved in reversing the decline of impaired rivers. The forum will conclude with a question and answer period.
The Chester River Association has linked citizens of Kent and Queen Anne's Counties in efforts to protect and promote the health of the Chester River for more than 16 years. In 2001, CRA announced its acceptance into Waterkeeper Alliance and its plans to bring a Chester Riverkeeper to the watershed by fall 2002. Through financial support, volunteer efforts and the ongoing commitment of individuals, foundations and businesses throughout the area, CRA met that objective, announcing the appointment of Dr. Eileen McLellan as Chester Riverkeeper in August.
Waterkeeper Alliance is the fastest growing environmental organization in the Americas. With more than 90 Waterkeeper programs spanning North America, Latin America and Europe, and prospective groups in Australia, England and Japan, Waterkeeper Alliance celebrates and actively supports the link between healthy waterways and healthy communities. The Alliance connects and supports local Waterkeeper programs to provide a voice for waterways and their communities worldwide. The Waterkeeper concept started on New York's Hudson River where a coalition of commercial and recreational fishermen mobilized in 1966 to rescue the Hudson from its polluters. In 1983, these local activists launched the first Riverkeeper program, constructed a boat to patrol the River, and hired the first full-time public advocate for the river. As a result of this work, a river that was once dead for large stretches in 1966 is now one of the richest bodies of water in the North Atlantic. The Hudson's miraculous recovery has helped make the Waterkeeper program an international model for ecosystem protection.
In addition to the October 16 dedication, the CRA also will host the second annual "Celebrate the Chester: The Great Pumpkin Party" on Saturday, October 19. The Party kicks off at 1:30 p.m. to welcome McLellan as the Chester Riverkeeper and to celebrate the beauty and bounty of the Chester River with food, prizes and educational programs. A flotilla of vessels will arrive at the Town Landing in Chestertown to deliver its cargo of pumpkins, as well as flowers and other fall produce picked up from landings up and down the Chester River. The event is free and the public is encouraged to attend.
The celebration of the Chester will continue that evening at 8 p.m., when Chesapeake Scenes, joined by special guest Tom Wisner, will evoke the beauty and magic of the river in music and words in a concert at the Prince Theatre. All proceeds from the concert will benefit the Chester Riverkeeper Program. Tickets are available through the Prince Theatre box office by calling 410-810-2060.

Chester Riverkeeper Takes To The River In September

First Riverkeeper on Major Maryland Tributary of Chesapeake Bay

Chestertown, MD, October 9, 2002 — The Chester River Association (CRA) has named Dr. Eileen McLellan as Chester Riverkeeper. As Chester Riverkeeper, McLellan will serve as a guardian and advocate for the river and its living resources. She will be headquartered with the Center for the Environment and Society in Washington College's 18th century Custom House on the Chester Riverfront. Her primary mission will be to remove the Chester River from the list of Maryland's impaired waterways. Classified as a Category 1 scenic river, the Chester has been rated "impaired" because of degraded water quality from non-point source pollution, primarily in the form of nutrients.
Rapid development in Kent and Queen Anne's Counties, one of the fastest growing corridors in the state, is impacting the rural character and compromising both water quality and biodiversity in the watershed. Through programs and actions designed to promote citizen stewardship of the river, McLellan will seek to halt the decline and begin to revive the river by addressing nutrient pollution and habitat degradation. She will work to empower all citizens in the watershed to hold those in authority accountable for the impact of their decisions on water quality and for the enforcement of environmental policies and laws.
Announcing the appointment, CRA President Andrew McCown stated, "We were fortunate to have a significant number of highly qualified applicants apply for the Riverkeeper position. In the end, we concluded that Eileen was uniquely suited to become an effective guardian and voice for the Chester River."
McLellan earned a doctorate in geology at Cambridge University in England, has conducted fieldwork throughout the U.S., and has many years of experience working with watershed groups. For the past three years, she has helped watershed groups in the Pacific Northwest secure funding and technical assistance for restoration projects. She has an in-depth knowledge of the Clean Water Act and has helped develop the EPA's TMDL (total maximum daily load) standards for impaired waters. With two segments of the Chester River scheduled for TMDL development this year, McLellan plans to work with citizens throughout the watershed to design TMDL plans that will restore the river's health. During her five-year tenure as a professor at the University of Maryland-College Park, McLellan conducted research on wetlands and watershed management and created the College Park Scholars in Environmental Studies program. As Chester Riverkeeper, she will continue to work as an educator, with the public, with local elementary and secondary schools, and with Washington College students through CRA's partnership with the Center for the Environment and Society.
Founded in 1986 by a group of citizens from Kent and Queen Anne's Counties, the Chester River Association is an advocate for the Chester River and the living resources it supports. CRA promotes stewardship of the Chester River watershed-its forests, marshes, fields and streams-as well as an understanding of the river's place in the economic and cultural life of our communities. It seeks to educate the public about a broad spectrum of river-related issues through public forums, recreational and educational activities, and a yearly river journal. CRA's water quality monitoring program, Chester Testers, has established the first long-term measure of water quality at 14 sites along the river. The Chester River Association has sought to articulate the link between actions on the land and the declining health of the river. Its volunteer Board of Directors includes watermen, farmers, educators, elected officials, biologists, architects, artists, writers and photographers.
CRA hopes that the Chester Riverkeeper program will serve as an example for protecting other Maryland waterways, and indeed, that hope is already becoming a reality. Watershed protection groups on the Patapsco, Severn and South Rivers have recently announced initiatives to bring Riverkeepers to their own waters in the near future. McLellan articulates her vision for the Chester River this way: "Ten years from now, I hope other communities will look to us as a model of how to implement the Chesapeake 2000 Agreement at the local level. That would mean that everyone in the watershed is aware of their connection to and dependence on the Chester River-and I say 'dependence' because there is a real connection between a healthy river, vibrant communities and a sustainable economy. More than awareness, I would like to see all of the river's citizens live their daily lives in a way that respects that connection and dependence. We will need everyone whose life touches the Chester River to become 'riverkeepers' who make sound choices that will protect our natural resources and quality of life for future generations."
For more information on the Chester River Association and the Chester Riverkeeper program visit www.chesterriverassociation.org, or call the CRA office 410.810.7445.

College To Host Living Shorelines Forum September 13

Keeping Our "Edge" to Preserve the Health of the Chesapeake Bay

Chestertown, MD, August 28, 2002 — The Washington College Center for the Environment and Society, the Upper Eastern Shore Tributary Team and the Chester River Association will host a LIVING SHORELINES FORUM on Friday, September 13, 2002, from 3:00 to 5:30 p.m. in Room 100 Goldstein Hall on the College's campus. The public is invited to this forum to learn about and discuss various efforts to combat shoreline erosion while maintaining the critical habitat that is necessary for many Bay species.

The beauty of the Chesapeake Bay is tied directly to its bountiful tributaries whose edges and shorelines team with life. As more and more people seek out these distinctive areas to live and to work, there is a risk that the landscape that defines the unique environment of the Bay might be lost as homeowners and businesses opt for shoreline measures for recreation, business and farming that actually threaten and destroy habitat and, with it, the very quality of life that we seek by living on the Chesapeake Bay.

What happens to the environment when we lose "the edge" and what measures can be taken to prevent shoreline erosion? What is the State of Maryland doing to help counties deal with this issue? These questions are critical, both environmentally and economically, and will be addressed at this public forum. Guest speakers will include John Flood, a shoreline design consultant who has witnessed the loss of Anne Arundel County's shorelines to hardened approaches; Kevin Kelly, owner of Environmental Systems Analysis, Inc., in Annapolis, who uses alternative, bio-engineering methods to protect eroding shorelines; and Cornelia Pasche Wikar, a Coastal Hazards Planner with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, who is leading a statewide project to identify the shorelines most susceptible to erosion and the appropriate measures to protect them. Public questions and participation are greatly encouraged.

To learn more about educational events sponsored by the Washington College Center for the Environment and Society, visit the center online at http://ces.washcoll.edu or call 410-810-7151.

Great Pumpkin Party to Launch Riverkeeper Initiative October 20

Chestertown, MD, October 9, 2001 — The Washington College Center for the Environment and Society and the Chester River Association invite all to join in A CELEBRATION OF THE CHESTER: THE GREAT PUMPKIN PARTY on Saturday, October 20, 2001, at the Washington College Custom House garden and High Street landing, Chestertown, beginning at 1:30 p.m. The public is invited to enjoy educational events, fun and games for all ages, plus food and refreshments and to learn about the Chester Riverkeeper Initiative.

The Great Pumpkin Party will bring the communities along the Chester River together in recognition of the many ways in which the Chester enriches our lives and to introduce the Chester River Association's Riverkeeper Initiative as way to preserve the quality, environmental health and unique character of the river.

In tandem with the Chestertown Wildlife Exhibition and Sale, the Great Pumpkin Party will begin with informal gatherings at many of the public landings along the Chester and its 43 tributaries. Up and down the Chester, pumpkins, fall produce and fall flowers donated by local farmers and gardeners will be delivered to the docks and loaded onto boats to be brought to Chestertown. Look for posters and signs telling where and when to gather to see the beginning of the pumpkin boat parade.

The boats are scheduled to converge at Chestertown's High Street landing at 1:30 p.m. to unload their harvest bounty. The Town Dock and the last riverfront block of High Street will be closed to traffic from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. to accommodate the public for the Great Pumpkin Party.

As part of the Great Pumpkin Party, prizes will be awarded for the gourd with the largest girth and the heaviest homegrown pumpkin. Winners of the Kent and Queen Anne's County Arts Councils' "Bounty of the Chester" contest will be announced. Contest entries include poems, paintings, essays and photographs that illustrate how the Chester River enriches our lives. In addition, Great Pumpkin Party door-prize entry forms will be available throughout Kent and Queen Anne's counties and all who attend may enter their names for the prize of a 16-foot Old Town Loon Kayak.

Since its founding in 1986, the Chester River Association has served as an advocate for the Chester River and the resources it provides. Yet, despite the best efforts to address an array of complex river issues, the health of the Chester has continued to decline and the river is currently on the State of Maryland's list of impaired waterways.

As explained by Andrew McCown, president of the Chester River Association: "It was becoming clear that our volunteer board could not adequately respond to the Chester's growing needs. We had to commit to a more aggressive program in defense of the Chester and its water quality. That is the origin of our Riverkeeper Initiative."

As part of this new program, the Chester River Association petitioned for admittance and was unanimously accepted as a new member of the International Waterkeeper Alliance. The Waterkeeper Alliance directed by Robert Kennedy, Jr., will guide and support the Chester River Association in its Riverkeeper Initiative to hire a full-time professional riverkeeper by Fall 2002. To be employed by the Chester River Association, the Chester Riverkeeper will be based in Washington College's Custom House, headquartered with the College's Center for the Study of the Environment and Society, the C.V. Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience, and Center for the Study of Black Culture.

The Waterkeeper Alliance also promises an important partnership for the Chester by assigning the Hudson Riverkeeper, Alex Matthiessen, as mentor to the new Chester Riverkeeper. Matthiesen will be a guest at the Great Pumpkin Party to help explain the responsibilities of a riverkeeper and the importance of the Riverkeeper Initiative.

Later the same night, the Chester River Association will present "Chesapeake Scenes," words and music of the Bay in concert, at 8 p.m. in the Prince Theater, High Street, Chestertown. Join Washington College alumni Andrew McCown '77, Sue Matthews ' 75, Bill Matthews '71 and the gang in a celebration of the Chesapeake and Chester. Tickets are $25. For more information and reservations call the Kerns Collection at 410-778-4044.

For more information about the Great Pumpkin Party, call Andrew Stein at the Washington College Center for the Environment and Society, 410-810-7151.

Regional EPA Administrator to Speak on Nutrient Control

Event Inaugurates College's New Center for the Study of the Environment and Society

Chestertown, MD, November 9, 2000 — Bradley Campbell, Regional Administrator of the EPA, will speak on "The Bay and the Politics of Regulation" on Wednesday, November 15 at 7:30 p.m. in Washington College's Casey Academic Center. Then event is free and the public is encouraged to attend. Campbell will discuss the issue of voluntary versus mandatory nutrient reduction and the impact of the dynamics of regional politics in preserving the Chesapeake Bay's ecosystem.

A graduate of Amherst College and the University of Chicago Law School, Campbell gained extensive experience in criminal and civil litigation focused on the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Appointed Regional Administrator for the EPA Mid-Atlantic Region by President Clinton, Campbell is responsible for environmental concerns in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. Previously, Campbell served on the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), which was the principle advisor to the President and Vice President on environmental issues. In his five-year tenure with CEQ, Campbell managed a wide range of efforts to protect the environment and helped to develop the Brownfield Initiative, Safe Drinking Water Act and Food Quality Act. Under the Clinton administration, he has worked on national initiatives for reinventing environmental regulations and enhancing the protection of wetlands.

This event inaugurates Washington College's new Center for the Environment and Society. The Center's mission is to broaden the understanding of environmental concerns by approaching them as complex social, political and scientific issues. Its multi-disciplinary approach addresses the need to integrate education, technology, policy and sense of place in finding real-world solutions to environmental problems. The Center is committed to providing a neutral academic forum in accomplishing these goals. Public outreach is a major component of its mission.

The Eastern Shore Land Conservancy and the Chester River Association are co-sponsoring the event. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Conservancy is a nonprofit organization committed to preserving farmland and other natural areas on Maryland's Eastern Shore by helping landowners to discover, evaluate and implement a variety of preservation options. The Chester River Association is an advocate for the health of the Chester River and the living resources it supports. As a watershed organization, it strives to promote stewardship of the Chester River — its forests, marshes, creeks and streams—as well as an understanding of the river's place in the economic and cultural life of our communities.