Warren Teets used to be a civilian employee of the Air Force until he tired of wading through 200 e-mails a day and retired, then headed to the Eastern Shore, where he got his captain’s license. One day last year he was painting his house when a friend came by and asked if he wanted to get his feet wet by mowing grass—in the water.
“Sure, why not,” Teets said, paintbrush in hand. Soon he was piloting a small, slow, but highly maneuverable boat with paddle wheels on each side that is designed to mow the underwater grasses that filled boat channels or surrounded docks.
This June, he was piloting the boat off Crisfield, MD, mowing his way through underwater grass beds. But rather than eliminating the grasses, he was trying to help them proliferate. The blades on the front of the boat were set to cut the top portion of the plants—reproductive shoots packed with seeds.
Worries persist about health of blue crab stock: A new analysis of the Bay’s blue crab stock indicates that the species has been overfished for six of the past seven years—including 2004—despite efforts to reduce harvest pressure.
Monitoring shows late storms sent surge of nutrients into Bay in 2004: A series of hurricanes, followed by a wetter than normal fall carried a late-season wave of nitrogen into the Bay last year, making it the third worst year for nitrogen loads since watershedwide river monitoring began in 1990, according to figures from the U.S. Geological Survey.
Bay region leads nation in stream restoration but lags in monitoring: The Bay watershed leads the nation in stream restoration, with more than 4,700 projects undertaken since 1990 at a cost of more than $400 million, according to a new study.
American shad spring spawning runs disappointing: American shad defied predictions of a big spring spawning run this year and veered away from most Bay tributaries.
Farmers, environmentalists seek creative solutions for manure: When President Bush pardoned “Biscuits” shortly before Thanksgiving last year, the president thanked local turkey farmer Kevin Foltz for feeding his turkey “American corn” and “American soybeans.”
Future of the past pits preservationists against developers: Centuries ago, when Native Americans were the principal inhabitants of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, many bands favored riparian settlement sites, owing to their fertile soils, defensible positions and proximity to food sources and transportation routes. Albeit for different reasons, many of the watershed’s contemporary inhabitants also favor waterfront dwellings.
EPA rejects bid for new cleanup rules, calls current actions adequate: The EPA has rejected a 2003 request by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation to take a series of regulatory actions aimed at controlling nutrient pollution to the Bay.
Ariakensis oyster research to require another six months of study: Another six months are needed to study the environmental impact of introducing Asian oysters to the Chesapeake Bay, state officials said.
Elementary students having a ball participating in reef project: School may be out for the summer, but some Eastern Shore elementary students have decided that class will continue at the Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center.
