Baltimore partnership begins new integrated assessment and restoration project
The Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore has committed to a bold and ambitious plan to restore Baltimore's Inner Harbor area to "fishable and swimmable" status in the next 10-15 years. EcoCheck is working with the Partnership and other team members to recommend sampling and data analysis methods to assess current status and track progress toward project objectives. The project kicked off on Friday, September 24, 2010 with team and board meetings at the Institute of Molecular Environmental Technology located at the city waterfront. In addition to the Waterfront Partnership, the team includes IAN/EcoCheck, the Center for Watershed Protection, and Biohabitats Inc. Key components of the project will include a November workshop with stakeholders and scientists to develop ecological health and watershed-based indicators and relevant data needs to track progress. A newsletter-style report, technical report, and training for volunteer data collection will follow the workshop.
Baltimore State of the Harbor Conference
In an effort to secure a swimmable and fishable Baltimore Harbor by 2020, the Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore has prepared a Healthy Harbor Initiative to help guide sustainable land practices. Together with the Waterfront Partnership, EcoCheck is working toward a baseline assessment of conditions in Baltimore's Inner Harbor and its watershed. An overview of current harbor conditions, including bacteria, trash, nutrient, and toxin statuses, will be presented by Dr. Heath Kelsey at the State of the Harbor Conference on February 5, 2011. The conference is free and open to the public. Though registration is full, you can still be placed on the conference waiting list by registering online.
Baltimore Harbor Assessment
The Integration & Application Network worked with the Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore (WPB) to assess the current health status of Baltimore's Inner Harbor. Using six ecological indicators and three human health indicators, the current health of Baltimore's Harbor was evaluated and reported in a baseline report card. An extensive technical report was produced that included additional tidal indicators and watershed (non-tidal) indicators. This project is part of the WPB's larger plan to make the Harbor swimmable and fishable by 2020. The report card will be updated annually.
UMCES researchers attend biennial Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation Conference
IAN and UMCES researchers attended the biennial Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation's conference in Daytona Beach, Florida in early November 2011. This international conference brings together all the diverse disciplines within coastal and estuarine science, such as geochemistry, physical oceanography, biological systems, management, and education. Several IAN researchers presented on their integrated assessments of Baltimore Harbor, National Park Service parks, and the Great Barrier Reef, as well as attended plenary and poster sessions.
Baltimore Healthy Harbor Report Card rates a C- for 2012
The Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore and Blue Water Baltimore published this Healthy Harbor Report Card to help lead the public, government, and businesses toward a healthy Baltimore Harbor, one that is swimmable and fishable by 2020. Using water quality indicators, the health condition of the Harbor was determined for 2012. Human health indicators are also discussed in the report card. This newsletter provides the overall results, and describes how the public has been helping clean up their Harbor as well.