March 28, 2024
Annapolis, US 48 F

Shady Cove Restoration Project Wins Award

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge as viewed from Sandy...

This partnership, which worked together to restore the eroding Shady Cove Natural Area peninsula on the West River in Galesville, also created more than three acres of tidal wetlands, while protecting the peninsula and nearby coves from additional erosion. This project was funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act by the Maryland Department of the Environment in partnership with the United States Environmental Protection Agency and completed in spring 2011.

“We are honored to be recognized today for the Shady Cove living shoreline project which has successfully stabilized and expanded shoreline while preserving natural habitat for Bay wildlife,” said Karyn Molines, chief of Southern Parks, Natural and Cultural Resources at Anne Arundel County’s Department of Recreation and Parks. “Projects like these are vital to the Bay’s restoration as they provide excellent opportunities to demonstrate ecologically sound practices while improving shoreline habitat.”

During the past 10 years, Shady Cove’s existing shoreline had experienced severe erosion causing the decline of tree buffers. The project plan was to restore the shoreline and create over three acres of tidal wetlands through the implementation of “living shorelines.” Living shorelines are defined as the technique of using natural habitat elements, such as wetlands, to protect shorelines from erosion, rather than hardened shoreline armor such as bulkheads and sea walls.

“I can see Shady Cove from my office window – I was literally watching it erode,” recalls Chris Trumbauer, the West/Rhode Riverkeeper. “Years ago, we had designed the plans and secured the permits necessary in hopes that one day we would be able to restore the area. The stimulus funding became available at a perfect time when we knew we could do great work if we had the dollars we needed.”

In 2009, the Chesapeake Bay Trust was awarded $3 million in ARRA stimulus funding to advance “shovel-ready” projects in Maryland. In total, seven projects were funded, including six living shoreline projects and one green infrastructure effort. The Trust received $811,000 for the Shady Cove project in particular which received tonight’s MRPA Service Award recognition. The Service Award is given each year to a person or group for outstanding service to the field of parks and resource conservation during MRPA’s annual convention.

“The Chesapeake Bay Trust is so pleased to have been a part of the Shady Cove living shoreline project and all of the ARRA stimulus-funded efforts,” said Jana Davis, acting director of the Chesapeake Bay Trust. “These projects not only helped advance the Chesapeake Bay restoration effort, but also provided immediate jobs for Marylanders in the fields of engineering and construction management, as well as many support services.”

Each year the Chesapeake Bay Trust awards more than $5 million in grants to promote Bay restoration, environmental education and community outreach. To learn more about the Trust and the projects its funds, visit www.cbtrust.org.

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