7th Class rescheduled for March 9, 2010, at University of Maryland Extension – Howard County office, 3300 N. Ridge Road, Suite 240, Ellicott City, MD 21043 (phone, 410-313-2707) 7th Class, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010, 9:00 am – 3:30 pm, Howard Co. Dept. Rec. & Parks Headquarters Bldg. Canceled due to snow and DRP closure Understanding the Environmental History of the Watershed
1. Daily Update with Program Coordinators (9:00-9:15)
2. What is the Status of Life in the Chesapeake Bay? (9:15 - 10:15) Ned Tillman, Principal Advisor, Growth Adventures; nedtillman@growthadventures.org
Speaker objectives: o Introduce participants to the historic and present ecosystem (flora and fauna) of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. o Illustrate, with examples, what used to live there but can’t live there now. o Describe the current status of the bay o Explore, with examples, the potential, resources, and limits of the Chesapeake Bay's capacity to clean itself.
As a result participants will be able to explain, in laymen’s terms: o The main species in the area and their relative health and importance to us all. o The impact of population growth on the Bay and in the watershed.
Q & A (10:15-10:30)
Break (10:30–10:45)
3. History and Current Physical Processes Impacting the Bay (10:45 – 12:00) Ned Tillman, Principal Advisor, Growth Adventures; nedtillman@growthadventures.org
Speaker objectives: o Identify the extent of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed o Introduce participants to the historical and current dynamic aspects of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, including geological events, soils, hydrology, mineral and energy resources, mining history, and Native and Modern Americans’ relationship to the land/water.
As a result participants will be able to explain: o What areas make up the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. o What estuaries are and why they are important. o Why the Bay watershed is important, unique, and vulnerable. o The Maryland physiographic provinces, describing characteristics and species of each. o Illustrate how humans have shaped the Chesapeake Bay environment for hundreds of years. o The differences between toxins, pollutants, and sediments. o How their actions impact the health of the Bay.
Q & A (12:00-12:15)
Lunch (12:15 – 1:00)
Afternoon Field Experience
4. Field Trip to Illustrate the Geology and Soils of Howard County (1:00 – 3:30) Ned Tillman, Principal Advisor, Growth Adventures nedtillman@growthadventures.org
Speaker objectives: o Show participants examples of important geologic aspects of Howard County o Illustrate the soils of Howard County.
As a result participants will be able to explain o How geologic events shaped our county. o How our soils have been used, conserved and degraded. ___________________________________________________________________
8th Class rescheduled for February 25, 2010, at Wilde Lake Interfaith Center, 10431 Twin Rivers Road, Columbia, MD 21044 8th Class, Thursday, February 11, 2010, 9:00 am – 3:30 pm Howard Co. Dept. Rec. & Parks Headquarters Bldg.
Canceled due to snow and DRP closure Howard County’s Environmental Status I
Watershed Issues and Efforts
1. Daily Update with Program Coordinators (9:00-9:15)
2. Watersheds Need Protection from Storm Water (9:15 – 10:15) Tom Schueler, Coordinator, Chesapeake Stormwater Network; watershedguy@hotmail.com; www.chesapeakestormwater.net
Speaker objectives: o Explore urbanization and the impervious cover model and how both affect the watershed. o Give examples of how small groups of individuals can significantly alleviate these problems.
As a result participants will be able to explain: o Why storm water runoff is an environmental problem that must be managed. o The relationship between impervious surfaces and water quality. o Some simple actions that individuals and communities can take to reduce storm-water runoff.
Q & A (10:15 – 10:30)
Break (10:30 – 10:45)
3. Patapsco River (including video presentation; 10:45 – 11:45) Robin Melton, Park Manager, Patapsco State Park; rmelton@dnr.state.md.us
Speaker objective: o Describe the Patapsco River and its connection to the Chesapeake Bay. o Discuss interactions of people with the park.
As a result participants will be able to explain: o The history and heritage of the Patapsco Valley (Daniels to Elkridge). Q & A (11:45 – 12:00)
Lunch (12:00 – 12:30)
4. Patuxent River (12:30 – 1:30) Fred Tutman, Patuxent River Commissioner and Riverkeeper; Fred@paxriverkeeper.org
Speaker objective: o Describe the Patuxent River and its connection to the Chesapeake Bay, through its history (especially human activities), water quality, biodiversity and restoration efforts.
As a result participants will be able to explain: o The areas that make up the Patuxent River watershed and how the river has changed over time, especially the last 400 years. o How what people do upstream affects people and natural resources downstream. o How one or two key restoration efforts could improve the river’s water quality.
Q & A (1:30 – 1:45)
Break (1:45 – 2:00)
Afternoon Field Experience
5. The Patuxent River Watershed: Howard County (2:00 – 3:30) Fred Tutman, Patuxent River Commissioner and Riverkeeper; Fred@paxriverkeeper.org Brian England, Member Columbia Watershed Advisory Committee, beenglad@comcast.net
Speaker objectives: o Point out problems in Howard County contributing to degradation of the Patuxent River and its tributaries. o Examine mitigation and/or restoration efforts and impacts on restoring water quality of the Patuxent River.
As a result participants will be able to explain: o Actions volunteers might take to improve water quality in the Patuxent River. _________________________________________________________________________ 9th Class: February 16th lectures will take place at Wilde Lake Interfaith Center, 10431 Twin Rivers Road, Columbia, MD 21044
If February 16 lectures are canceled because of new snow, the snow date will be Tuesday, March 2, at Recreation and Parks Headquarters 9th Class, Tuesday, February 16, 2010, 9:00 am – 3:30 pm Howard Co. Dept. Rec. & Parks Headquarters Bldg.
The Chesapeake Bay Watershed
Understanding the Human Impact on the Watershed
1. Daily Update with Program Coordinators (9:00-9:15)
2. Smart Growth Principles and Initiatives in Maryland (9:15 – 10:15) Andrew Ratner, Director of Communications and Education, Maryland Department of Planning. aratner@mdp.state.md.us
Speaker objectives: o Familiarize participants with the history and tenets of Smart Growth. o Explore the Maryland Smart Growth Initiative and its current status. o Identify how Smart Growth principles and practices could help address environmental problems as Maryland’s baby boomers “age in place.” o Explain how Smart Growth principles can influence planners to include natural areas in their projects.
As a result participants will be able to explain: o Why we need Smart Growth. o Smart Growth principles, especially applications of Smart Growth principles and practices to Maryland, and to “aging in place” in Maryland. o Concepts/methods useful for maintaining environmentally diverse areas within high-growth priority areas.
Q & A (10:15 – 10:30)
Break (10:30-10:45)
3. History of Political Action in Restoring the Chesapeake Bay (10:45 - 12:15) Terry Cummings, Manager of Advocacy, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, tcummings@cbf.org Speaker objectives: o Review key points in the history of Chesapeake Bay environmental decline. o Describe Federal, Regional and State efforts to “Save the Bay.” o Explain why the Chesapeake Bay Foundation filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). o Highlight what actions need to be taken to restore the health of the Bay.
As a result participants will be able to explain: o What led to the first regional efforts to clean up the bay, including history and politics of the Chesapeake Bay agreements, Maryland laws, and implementation of public policy. o Present-day issues affecting the environmental health of the Bay and approaches that are likely to be effective in addressing them. Q & A (12:15 – 12:30) Lunch (12:30– 1:00)
4. Effective Environmental Advocacy (1:00 - 2:45) Joshua D. Feldmark, Director, Howard County Office of Environmental Sustainability; jdfeldmark@howardcountymd.gov
Speaker objectives: o Describe how to be an effective advocate for the environment in a variety of situations. o Illustrate, by example, the use of such skills.
As a result participants will be able to explain: o How to be an effective advocate for the environment to a variety of audiences.
Break (2:45-3:00)
Afternoon Exercise
5. Class Discussion about Regional Watershed Issues, (3:00– 3:30) HoLLIE Progam Coordinators |
-classes 7-9 |