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As I sat down to come up with ideas for this article, my mind wandered to “Will my toddler ever fall asleep?” as I

heard her singing “Old McDonald” through the monitor and “How exactly did she get that scrape today on the playground?” Like many working moms, I struggle with finding balance at times. I could write this article about the reasons why I am proud to dedicate my career to protecting the environment for future generations like my daughter to enjoy, which is certainly true, but I keep returning to the word “balance.” The Nanticoke Watershed Alliance proudly strives to take a balanced approach to all of its programs and initiatives by presenting all viewpoints on a topic in a respectful format. Our Board of

Directors and Partners in Conservation reflect this balance by representing diverse sectors of interest, including agriculture, industry, government, conservation, academics, and more. This is what makes the Alliance unique and me proud to serve as its director. “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving.” Albert Einstein’s words also resonate through our day-to-day operations. Despite recent staff turnover and this newsletter itself being on somewhat of a hiatus, we

are moving forward with renewed energy and excitement. We are grateful to have Mary Poudel join our team as our new Education Coordinator and look forward to a

rewarding year of educating nearly 1,000 seventh graders in Wicomico County, Maryland, and 300 seventh graders in Sussex County, Delaware. Make sure to check out the “Meet Mary” article on page 2.

As the Nanticoke Watershed Alliance moves forward, we are also initiating new programs to accomplish a balanced effort to address all watershed concerns, . Two new National Fish and Wildlife Foundation funded initiatives include a residential water quality outreach and cost-share program in Cambridge and a watershed-wide agricultural outreach and restoration design project. In closing, I hope everyone has found time to accomplish their own work / life balance and enjoy the beautiful natural resources we are working so hard to protect. The Nanticoke River and Chesapeake Bay watersheds have endless supplies of unique and scenic spots to discover. I have personally enjoyed introducing my daughter to a few of them. There’s still time this autumn to plan some new adventures of your own at www.paddlethenanticoke.com

We would love to hear from you and I can be reached at shellybaird@nanticokeriver.org or 410-430-6263.

From the Bridge

Nanticoke currents Fall 2016

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Meet Our New Education Coordinator: Mary Poudel Mary grew up on the Eastern Shore working in her family’s business on the Ocean City Boardwalk, King’s Cotton Candy. Her childhood memories of going to the beach with her family, learning how to surf with her dad, and putting on an apron to make a funnel cake have created a personal connection between herself and the seashore. Ocean City has provided a livelihood for Mary’s family, is the place where she grew up, and is even where she met her husband. The beach is her home and inspired her passion to protect the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Mary graduated from Stephen Decatur High School in 2005. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biology and a minor in Environmental Studies from St. Mary’s College of Maryland. Shortly after returning to the Eastern Shore, Mary began her career in environmental education at the Salisbury Zoo. She pursued an internship providing animal care and teaching about

animals and conservation. Due to her dedication and hard work, the Zoo promoted Mary to an educator position; Mary worked at the Zoo part-time for six

years. While continuing at the Zoo, Mary became a Park Naturalist at Delaware Seashore State Park in 2012 and led a

variety of recreational and environmental programming for over three years. Mary created many of the current youth programs still offered at the park, including “one-day” day camps and Girl Scout programs. Some of her favorite programs she enjoyed teaching were “Introduction to Surf Fishing”,” Sea Glass Jewelry Pendants”, and a children’s program entitled “Jelly, Jelly, Jellyfish.” As the new Education Coordinator, Mary has hit the ground running with Wicomico County, MD field trips this fall and is looking forward to expanding the watershed education program to include more Sussex County, DE students, leading a “Green School,” initiative, and becoming more involved in the award-winning Creekwatchers program. In her spare time, Mary enjoys relaxing on the beach with a good book. She and her husband are world travelers and enjoy visiting his family in Nepal; they currently live in Ocean City.

Educating Our Youth The Nanticoke Watershed Alliance (NWA) continues to expand

its environmental education program and strives to foster a new generation of watershed stewards. Last school year, NWA worked with four schools in Maryland and Delaware, reaching over 600 seventh grade students. During the current 2016-2017 year, we are doubling our efforts by partnering with all five middle schools in Wicomico County, Maryland, along with Seaford and Georgetown Middle Schools in Sussex County, Delaware. In all, over

1200 seventh grade students will participate in the NWA’s education program. Under the leadership of our new Education Coordinator, Mary Poudel, a comprehensive effort is underway to work with all of the seventh grade students in Wicomico County, while meeting environmental literacy and serving learning requirements. The NWA held an orientation and outreach meeting with lead science teachers to kick off the school year. During September and October, the NWA coordinated and led nine full-day, outdoor field trips. Bennett, Salisbury and Pittsville Middle School students attended field trips at the Ward Museum in Salisbury, MD, and participated in hands-on activities focused on water quality testing, macroinvertebrate sampling, soils, watersheds and stormwater runoff, and the climate’s impact on migration patterns. Wicomico and Mardela Middle School students attended

field trips at Trap Pond State Park in Laurel, DE. Interactive activities once again included water quality testing, macroinvertebrates and watersheds, as well as the power of water and plant identification. Over 900 students participated in these outdoor experiences over nine days of fun-filled learning. Future efforts for the winter and spring include working with the same Wicomico County teachers and students on planning and implementing on-the-ground stewardship action projects. Previously completed action projects have included school-wide recycling and composting, vegetable gardens, tree plantings, production of outreach videos, and more. Efforts in Delaware will initiate later this month, with four days of in-classroom presentations on watersheds, stormwater runoff, non-point source pollution, and solutions. Field trips and action projects will also be completed in Delaware this spring, with a potential greenhouse project in the works.

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Nanticoke River Watershed Town Profile: Hurlock, MD

By Joanne Maturana and Beth Wasden

The Town of Hurlock

proclaims it’s been “on track. . .

since 1862,” but the origins of

the town date back to the

Washington Chapel and its tree

groves, which would eventually

delineate the town’s limits.

Hurlock was not incorporated

until the railroad arrived in the

1860s, however. Although

Hurlock is today known mostly for

its industrial park, an autumn

festival and a monument provide

a link to the town’s past.

In 1867, the Delaware

Railroad constructed a train

station. That same year, the

town’s founder and namesake,

John M. Hurlock, built a home and

a storehouse near the Delaware

Railroad. In 1887, only five

homes and one hotel, The Glen

Oak Hotel, existed in town.

Although the railroad brought in

some guests to Hurlock, the

town’s population continued to be

limited until the Baltimore,

Chesapeake,

and Atlantic

(BC&A)

Railroad

intersected the

Delaware

Railroad in

1892. Due to

the impact of the railroad

intersection, Hurlock became a

large transporter of goods and

people. With this change, the Glen

Oak Hotel became a popular

eating place and resting place for

visiting salesmen. Currently, the

former Glen Oak Hotel is divided

into many different apartments

but is listed on the National

Register of Historic Places.

Today,

Hurlock Railroad

Station is no longer

used as a hub to

regularly transport

goods or people.

However, that does

not mean the

railroad station is no longer

active. On the first Saturday of

October, Hurlock hosts an annual

Fall Festival, which features train

rides from Hurlock to

Federalsburg, and a number of

food and craft vendors. If you

plan to enjoy a train ride,

purchase your ticket in advance,

as the train rides

are extremely

popular and usually

sell out. You may

even discover

Hurlock’s best-kept

secret—the Freedom

Shrine—while you

enjoy your journey on the train!

According to Dr. Carl

Barham, the Freedom Shrine is a

20-ton, blue granite monument

that honors the ten brave men

from different races, religions,

and political parties who brought

voter reform to the county in

1985. The reform ended at-large

voting for Dorchester County

Commissioners and instead

created five

equal districts

in the county.

In turn, only

district

residents

could vote for

their district

commissioner.

To learn more about the Freedom

Shrine, visit http://

www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?

marker=45944.

Hurlock is not a town you

will pass through if you are on

Route 50, but it is worth a visit!

Enjoy a train ride at the Fall

Festival, and see all the beauty

Hurlock and the surrounding area

have to offer. Or if you are not

around in October, make your

own expedition to the Freedom

Shrine to learn more about

Hurlock’s and Dorchester

County’s recent past.

Photo courtesy of Dr. Carl Barham, who has researched the Freedom Shrine since 2012.

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Fourth Annual Toast to the Nanticoke

The NWA held the Fourth Annual Toast to the Nanticoke on May 13, 2016. Following what felt like weeks of rain, the sun came out with less than an hour to spare before the event kicked-off. We quickly relocated exhibitors and “center stage” outside to enjoy yet another beautiful evening at Layton’s Chance Winery in Vienna, Maryland. Over 150 guests enjoyed great company, food, wine, and live music while celebrating the Nanticoke River and its community.

The event theme “Growing Up Nanticoke” was intertwined throughout the evening. Participants viewed a slideshow of historical photos and Terry Crannell presented Nanticoke watershed artifacts. Guest speaker and renowned environmental journalist Tom Horton inspired the audience with reflections on his life and the importance of watershed conservation. Board President Joe Layton presented the “Toast to the Nanticoke” as a gesture of community celebration and appreciation for the Nanticoke River. This event would not have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors, including our Diamond and Platinum sponsors: Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, Friends of the Nanticoke River, and KJ Grace

LLC. A special thanks to Fog After Midnight and JohnEWah2C for filling the evening with live music, all of our generous silent auction donors, and to Layton’s Chance Winery for offering the perfect venue.

The Toast provided a wonderful evening of fun and friendship in celebration of the Nanticoke River, while also serving as a successful fundraiser to support the growing programs of the Nanticoke Watershed Alliance. Thank you to everyone who attended this event! We look forward to seeing you all next year.

Save the Date: 5th Annual Toast to the Nanticoke

May 12, 2017

Homeowner Workshops 2016

From April-August 2016, the Nanticoke Watershed Alliance held two series of

Homeowner Workshops in the towns of Laurel, DE, and East New Market, MD.

Twenty-five Laurel residents and twelve East New Market

residents learned about nonpoint source pollution and

received the tools and resources needed to improve water

quality in their local waterways.

Special thanks go to:

Laurel Public Library for hosting the Laurel series,

MD Sea Grant Extension for assisting at the MD workshops,

Reclaim Our River team for promoting the workshops in DE,

Town Creek Foundation for funding the MD series, and

Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control for funding the DE series.

Guests enjoy a hay ride at the Toast.

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Creekwatchers and Report Card Launch

On July 28, the Nanticoke Watershed Alliance released the 2015 Nanticoke River Report Card. As in 2014, the

River received a B- and the Creeks a B. All subwatershed scores were flat between 2014 and 2015 except for

Broad Creek’s decline and the Lower Creeks’ improvement. Total nitrogen continues to be an issue, but total

phosphorus greatly improved in 2015 over 2014 scores. Water clarity declined in some areas, and chlorophyll a

remained moderate.

Access the 2015 Nanticoke River Report Card online at http://nanticokeriver.org/2015-nanticoke-river-report-

card-now-available/.

The Creekwatchers program will enter its tenth season next year, and the NWA intends to make 2017 a very

special year. If you would like to become a Creekwatcher, plan to join us at training on Saturday, March 18.

The table shows 2015 Nanticoke River Report Card grades for each subwatershed and for each parameter.

Nanticoke Musselwatchers

Nanticoke Musselwatchers kicked off on an unseasonably chilly Saturday morning in May. Six volunteer

attended training, which included information on freshwater life cycles, why freshwater mussels are so

important in ecosystems, and how to conduct mussel surveys.

Unlike Creekwatchers, Musselwatchers may choose to conduct mussel surveys on any day of any week,

providing that water and weather conditions are safe. Several volunteers are undertaking surveys with the

assistance of kayaks, but surveys via shoreline and in-stream wading are also options.

The NWA is still looking for a few great Nanticoke Musselwatchers to join the team next year. Please contact

Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator Beth Wasden at bethwasden@nanticokeriver.org or at 443.944.1175 for

more information or to be notified of 2017 training opportunities.

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C O N S E R V I N G T H E N A T U R A L , C U L T U R A L , A N D R E C R E A T I O N A L R E S O U R C E S O F T H E N A N T I C O K E R I V E R WATERSHED

#Nanticoke_ River

MEET THE NWA BOARD

NWA Staff

Shelly Baird, Executive Director shellybaird@nanticokeriver.org

Beth Wasden, Volunteer & Outreach Coordinator bethwasden@nanticokeriver.org

Mary Poudel Education Coordinator marypoudel@nanticokeriver.org

www.nanticokeriver.org

PO Box 111 Vienna, MD 21869

Joe Layton, President Dorchester Farm Bureau

Mike Pretl, President Elect Wicomico Environmental Trust

Alan Girard, Treasurer Chesapeake Bay Foundation

Richard Ball, Secretary Nanticoke Creekwatchers (MD)

Sandi Dew Nanticoke Creekwatchers (DE)

Joe Gannon Envirocorp Labs

Bill Giese Dorchester Soil Conservation District

Dave Nemazie University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science

John Schneider Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control

Martin Stewart Perdue Farms

Charles Wright Wicomico Farm Bureau

Board of Directors

Richard Ball: Nanticoke Creekwatchers Where do you live and what is your present/past profession? I live in Bucktown, just southeast of Cambridge in Dorchester County, MD. I am a retired Registered Nurse, previously employed for 30 years with the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene at Eastern Shore Hospital Center as a night shift supervisor and admissions officer. Why did you decide to become a Board member with the Nanticoke Watershed Alliance? I strongly support the mission of the NWA-to conserve the natural, cultural and recreational resources of the Nanticoke River Watershed for the benefit of present and future generations. I have had a life-long passion for protecting our natural environment-our rivers, forest and air quality. The Nanticoke River is a jewel of the Delmarva Peninsula, and serving on the Board of the NWA (as well as being a Creekwatcher for the NWA) puts me in a position as an individual citizen to do the most I can to preserve this river. Why is the Nanticoke River important to you? I first crossed the Nanticoke on the old Vienna drawbridge on a vacation trip in 1963 with my family. Upon moving to Maryland in 1965, I began traveling to Dorchester County to explore and fish the waters of the Nanticoke, Chicamacomico, and Transquaking Rivers. When I moved to Dorchester County in 1973, my primary recreational activity was paddling and fishing in these rivers. What is your favorite place you have ever traveled?

The Columbia River gorge as it forms the boundary of Oregon and Washington State and the rivers and forests to the south in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon. What is your favorite food on a stick?

A shish kebab

of bell peppers,

cherry

tomatoes,

onions, and

eggplant.

Beth Wasden and Richard Ball greet Toast to the Nanticoke guests.