|
134 Species Counted at Masonville Cove BioBlitz
Safety and outdoor fun highlighted Masonville Cove’s seventh annual BioBlitz led by the National Aquarium held on Urban National Wildlife Refuge Day, September 26, 2020. Implementing all of the necessary precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19, 41 participants found a total of 134 species during 230 recorded observations. Visitors were also treated to guided kayak tours led by Ultimate Water Sports in collaboration with Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Port Administration (MDOT MPA), National Aquarium, Living Classrooms Foundation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and Maryland Environmental Service (MES).
With 70 acres of water and 54 acres of restored wetlands and nature trails, Masonville Cove is the perfect place to host an urban BioBlitz. Transformed from a former industrial dumping ground, today it is a beautiful haven for wildlife. Thanks to the efforts of MDOT MPA more than 61,000 tons of trash and debris that dated back to the Great Baltimore Fire of 1904 were removed. So impressive was this “makeover” that Masonville Cove was named the nation’s first Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnership by US Fish and Wildlife Service in 2013.
 Photos: BioBlitz participants learned about local wildlife, enjoyed guided kayaking tours, and birdwatching.
Photo Credit: MDOT MPA and National Aquarium
|
|
Harbor Development Colleagues Receive Prestigious Award
MDOT MPA Director of Harbor Development Kristen Fidler and Outreach Coordinator for Harbor Development Katrina Jones received the prestigious Maryland Watershed Champions Award from the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay (the Alliance).
Nominated by the Alliance’s Maryland staff and former Maryland Restoration Program Manager Abbi Huntzinger, the colleagues were honored for their mutual deep commitment to listening to and balancing the needs of the communities, conservationists, and corporations that they engage with through the Maryland Port Administration to create a more sustainable Maryland.
“From Katrina and Kristen coordinating a tour of Poplar Island for Alliance staff, to presenting at our annual Chesapeake Watershed Forum, to assisting in developing programming with our Local Government Team, we are grateful for the opportunities we have had to work together to improve our local lands and waters,” said the Alliance Executive Director Kate Fritz.
  Photos: A virtual ceremony was held on October 1, 2020, to honor the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay’s environmental leadership award winners.
Screenshot Courtesy of Angie Ashley/Council Fire
|
|
Algal Flow-Way Receives Environmental Award
The American Association of Port Authorities, an alliance of the ports of Canada, the Caribbean, Latin America, and the United States, presented MDOT MPA Office of Safety, Environment & Risk Management (SERM) with its prestigious Mitigation Award of Excellence for the algal flow-way project. The award was presented at the 2020 AAPA Annual Convention Together Apart, a virtual event held September 21-23, 2020.
The algal flow-way, which was in operation at the Dundalk Marine Terminal, diverted the Patapsco River’s nutrient and sediment-rich water to grow algae, which then trapped or consumed the pollutants.
“It’s a great honor to receive this award from AAPA,” said MDOT MPA SERM General Manager Bill Richardson. “My hope is that other ports will learn about algal flow-way technology and replicate similar programs.”
 Photo: Innovating with algae removes nutrients and sediments from the Patapsco and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay.
Photo Credit: Bill McAllen/MDOT MPA
|
|
New Jersey Learns About Port’s Stakeholder Engagement
The New Jersey Clean Air Council wanted to hear more about the Port’s stakeholder engagement successes so, in July, MDOT MPA Environmental Manager Shawn Kiernan and General Manager of C. Steinweg Rupert Denney, who serves as the Baltimore Port Alliance’s (BPA) Environment Committee co-chair, provided a virtual presentation, which was extremely well-received.
Of particular interest to the participants was the unique voluntary partnership, started in 2015 between MDOT, MDOT MPA, and the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), to identify funding sources, and develop and implement projects that reduce emissions or increase energy efficiency. The Council was impressed that citizens, businesses, and other stakeholders all participate in the effort and that through the partnership strong relationships have been forged with Port neighbors.
Recently, the interagency workgroup published a summary of 2019 accomplishments available here.
|
|
Climate Corps Fellow Helps Advance Electric Vehicle Planning
 |
|
The Port has a strong record of emissions reduction for diesel-powered equipment, including leveraging grants received from the EPA through the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) and from MDE’s Maryland Volkswagen Mitigation Plan. Since 2008, 217 older dray trucks, 110 pieces of cargo-handling equipment, 16 locomotive engines, and 10 marine engines have been replaced or retrofitted. This has resulted in emissions reductions of 3,304 tons of nitrogen oxide, 922 tons of carbon monoxide, 165 tons of particulate matter, and 141 tons of hydrocarbons.
MDOT MPA SERM would like to thank Akin Olumoroti for spending his summer helping to advance our future with electric vehicles.
Courtesy Photo
|
|
|
Dredged Material Could Find New Life as Bricks & Pavers that Help the Bay
Recently, the Maryland Board of Public Works approved a contract to Belden-Eco Products LLC to study the use of dredged sediment from Port of Baltimore shipping channels for manufacturing bricks and pavers. These recycled ceramic bricks and permeable pavers could then be put to use to help with stormwater management, an important tool to restore the health of the Chesapeake Bay.
In November 2019, a request for proposals (RFP) was issued for research & development projects to advance the innovative reuse of dredged material with a focus on cost-effectiveness and scalability. Belden Eco-Products LLC was awarded the first contract in response to this RFP. A minimum of six contracts will be awarded, each not to exceed $300,000. To date, nine proposals have been received. MDOT MPA is a nationally-renowned leader in the innovative and beneficial use of dredged material.
 Photo: MDOT MPA Executive Director William P. Doyle with Director of Harbor Development Kristen Fidler, Chief of Project Development Holly Miller, and Innovative Reuse Program Manager Kristen Keene at Cox Creek Dredged Material Containment Facility.
Photo Credit: MDOT MPA
|
|
Shipping Container Finds New Purpose at Garrett Park
This summer, BPA partners came together to help Friends of Garrett Park in Brooklyn with a storage solution for some of their community programs. Ports America Chesapeake donated a 20-foot long shipping container, which was cleaned and given a fresh coat of paint and will now store the equipment for two community gardens, outdoor yoga classes, and other community events. BalTerm delivered the container with help from M&W Towing.
“The Friends of Garrett Park is honored to be selected to receive this donation. We are looking forward to using the container for event programming, storage of our park equipment and as a canvas for a community beautification project. We are so grateful for our community partners and their investment in Brooklyn,” said President of the Friends of Garrett Park Jennifer Berg.
|
|
|
Photo: A special thanks to Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks for allowing this container to be placed at Garrett Park to support community programs.
Courtesy Photo
|
|
Save the Date - DMMP Annual Meeting
The Dredged Material Management Program (DMMP) Annual Meeting will be held virtually on the morning of November 6, 2020.
The DMMP annual meeting is for all the DMMP committees involved in the dredging program and any attendees who would like to learn more about the program. Topics to be discussed at the annual meeting include a State of the Port of Baltimore, a presentation of the 2020 DMMP Annual Report, and the overall dredging program, including innovative reuse and beneficial use. The event will kick off recognition of the 20th anniversary of the Maryland General Assembly enacting the Dredged Material Management Act (DMMA).
“We look forward to the Annual Meeting each year, and while efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19 preclude us from gathering in person, we hope you will join us for this virtual meeting,” said MDOT MPA Director of Harbor Development Kristen Fidler.
Registration is now open here. For more information about the Annual Meeting, contact greenport@marylandports.com.
 Photo: The Port of Baltimore’s fifty-foot shipping channel allows some of the largest, deep-draft ocean-going vessels to safely navigate into and out of the port.
Photo Credit: John Wilhelm/Ports America Chesapeake
|
|
Virtual Connections
As the world continues to face challenges resulting from COVID-19, many are finding ways to stay connected and informed virtually. MDOT MPA is working to keep our community connected and keep our vital outreach and education work alive during this unusual time by hosting virtual meetings and events.
Stay connected and informed!
- Virtual educational resources from the Port of Baltimore and developed by MES and MDOT MPA are available at the Environmental Education E-Learning Portal.
- Keep up with the Paul S. Sarbanes Ecosystem Restoration Project at Poplar Island Head Start terrapins with Ohio University professor Dr. Willem Roosenburg’s Facebook page (Roosenburg Lab at Ohio University). Visitors can watch recaptures and see teachers’ reactions to seeing their “babies” return.
- Check out this vlog from the release of 170 terrapin hatchlings at Poplar Island. While site access is limited to essential personnel and Poplar Island Tours have been canceled for the 2020 season, the team is available for virtual presentations for groups and organizations. If you are interested in having a presentation for your organization, or if you have questions or concerns please contact poplartours@menv.com or 410-770-6503.
- Coming soon! Virtual tours of Cox Creek, Hart Miller Island, Masonville Cove and Poplar Island.
|
|
|
Our meetings are open to the public. Since these meetings are virtual, if you are not on a meeting distribution list and would like to attend, please send a request for the link to Greenport.
DMMP Annual Committee Meeting - November 6th at 9:00AM
Virtual
For questions or to confirm attendance please contact Greenport.
Executive Committee Meeting - November 13th at 10:00AM
Virtual
For questions or to confirm attendance please contact Greenport.
Hart-Miller Island Citizen Oversight Committee Meeting - November 17th at 6:30PM
Virtual
For questions or to confirm attendance please contact Greenport.
Innovative Reuse Committee Meeting - December 1st at 5:30PM
Virtual
For questions or to confirm attendance please contact Greenport.
|
|
GreenPort Newsletter is the Maryland Department of Transportation's Maryland Port Administration’s bi-monthly update of projects and programs that help the agency contribute to a thriving economy, environmental stewardship, and community partnerships. As always, we thank the many private sector businesses, government leaders, communities, and individual citizens who have helped make these achievements a reality. |
|
|
William P. Doyle, Executive Director
MDOT Maryland Port Administration
The World Trade Center
401 East Pratt Street, Baltimore MD 21202
1-800-638-7519 / www.marylandports.com
|
|
|
|
|
