MARYLAND

Chesapeake Bay Enviironments

This project seeks to improve the water quality of the main stem of the Chesapeake Bay by reducing non-point source pollution, namely inputs of nitrogen, phosphorus, and suspended solids. To achieve this goal, we are requesting funding to re-establish native forests on 89.7 acres of private and public land in Garrett, Allegany, and Washington Counties, Maryland, including 24.6 acres of new riparian buffer and 19.9 acres of formerly mined lands. Project funds will be used to secure a private contractor to reforest sites located on 8 properties across Garrett, Allegany, and Washington Counties according to shovel-ready planting plans that have been developed by the DNR Forest Service.

Ecological Benefits

This project aims to address the levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment which exist in the Chesapeake Bay through the reforestation of sites located across western Maryland. The planting of 24.6 acres of new riparian buffer will be of paramount importance to addressing several major conservation efforts, including improving the water quality of the local watersheds, erosion control, flood mitigation and storm water management, carbon sequestration, and young forest habitat restoration. The young forest habitat restoration is especially important for promoting population rebounds of vulnerable and threatened species such as the Golden-winged and Cerulean warblers.  The plantings will contribute towards Maryland’s goal for no net loss of forests, and Maryland Stream ReLeaf prioritization in floodplains and headwaters. This project will also address the 2014 Bay Agreement goals of promoting abundant life, clean water, increasingly engaged communities, and climate change resiliency in the Chesapeake Bay watershed through the establishment of young forest habitat in western Maryland in tandem with our proposed radio broadcast, social media, and in-person outreach. Specifically, this project supports the long-term goal of 70% riparian forest

Community Benefits

There will be 4 private landowners participating in the project. Each of these landowners will benefit from the increased ecological and recreational value that the reforestation projects will bring to their properties. The location of the plantings on the Antietam National Battlefield and within the Ridenour Swamp Wildlife Management area will mean that the public will have the opportunity to benefit from the added aesthetic and ecological values of those plantings.

Tree Species

American Basswood (Tilia americana) 3.2%, American Beech (Fagus grandifolia) 0.1%, American Plum (Prunus americana ) 5.9%, Bigtooh aspen (Populus grandidentata) 0.4%, Bitternut Hickory (Carya cordiformis) 0.5%, Blackshaw (Viburnum Prunifolium ) 0.3%, Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) 4.7%, Black gum (Nyssa sylvatica ) 1.0%, Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia ) 6.5%, Black Oak (Robinia pseudoacacia ) 1.9%, Black Walnut (Juglans nigra ) 5.3%, Black Willow (Salix nigra) 0.1%, Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa ) 1.0%, Chestnut Oak (Quercus montana ) 2.5%, Chickasaw plum (Prunus angustifolia) 0.2%, Chinkapin oak (Quercus muehlenbergii ) 2.0%, Dunstan chestnut 0.3%, Eastern Cottonwood (Populus deltoides ) 1.4%, Eastern Redbud, (Cercis canadensis ) 0.8%, Elderberry (Sambucus) 0.2%, Hackberry (Sambucus) 2.8%, hazlenut (Corylus avellana ) 0.3%, Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra ) 6.4%, Norway Spruce (Picea abies ) 1.7%, Pawpaw (Asimina triloba ) 0.5%, Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) 8.8%, Pin Oak (Quercus palustris ) 1.0%, Pitch/Lob (Pinus rigida x taeda ) 1.0%, Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) 0.8%, Red Maple (Acer rubrum ) 2.1%, Sassafras (Sassafras albidum ) 1.4%, Sawtooth Oak (Quercus acutissima) 8.5%, service berry (Amelanchier) 3.4%, Shagbark hickory (Carya ovata ) 1.4%, Silky dogwood (Cornus obliqua) 0.5%, Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum ) 1.0%, southern crab apple (Malus angustifolia ) 1.5%, Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) 1.4%, spicebush (Lindera) 0.4%, Swamp Chestnut Oak (Quercus michauxii) 0.7%, Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor) 0.6%, Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis ) 3.3%, Tulip Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera ) 3.8%, Virginia Pine (Pinus virginiana) 0.1%, Washington Hawthorn (Crataegus phaenopyrum) 0.2%, Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana ) 0.3%, White Oak (Quercus alba ) 5.6%, White Pine (Pinus strobus ), 0.5%, yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera ) 1.9%

Planting program information with usage permission provided by One Tree Planted