ANNAPOLIS, MD (December 16, 2009) – The Chesapeake Bay Trust joined EPA Region III Administrator Shawn Garvin, Maryland Department of Environment Secretary Shari Wilson and other federal, state, and local officials today for the ground-breaking of six new "green infrastructure" projects in Maryland. The projects, funded by the America Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will control erosion, improve habitat, and create jobs in Maryland. This ground-breaking follows last month’s “green street” project launch in Edmonston, Maryland attended by EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson and elected officials from across the state.

These “green infrastructure” projects, located in Anne Arundel, Talbot, and Prince Georges County, have both environmental and economic impacts. Combined, the projects will:

• Create employment for up to 80 workers.

• Create 5 acres of wetlands.

• Install nearly one half mile of living shoreline.

• Protect 1740 linear feet of eroding shoreline.

Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley said, "These living shorelines projects will not only improve our waterways and the Chesapeake Bay, they will also create and save Maryland jobs. The Chesapeake Bay Trust's 'green infrastructure' projects are just a few of the nearly 100 clean water projects getting underway across Maryland thanks to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. We thank the Obama Administration, the EPA, and Maryland's Congressional Delegation for this much-needed funding."

The Chesapeake Bay Trust was awarded nearly $2 million in federal Recovery Act funding from the Maryland Department of the Environment to install living shorelines in 6 Maryland communities. An additional $1 million was awarded for the innovative "green street" project that broke ground last month.

Maryland Department of the Environment Secretary Shari T. Wilson said, "It is so exciting to see these Recovery-funded clean water projects brought to life, from a line on a spreadsheet to an in-the-ground project that puts people to work and improves the Bay. Living shorelines are so important because not only do they improve water quality by filtering out pollutants, they also provide critical habitat and are an 'adaptation' measure recommended by Maryland's Climate Change Commission to help prepare our State for rising sea levels caused by climate change."

In 2008, the Chesapeake Bay Trust recognized the potential of these projects to address water quality and habitat concerns and provided organizations in the impacted communities funding to undertake initial design and engineering work. This seed funding created seven “shovel ready” projects eligible for federal Recovery Act funds. The Trust then worked with the EPA and the Maryland Department of the Environment to obtain a total of $3 million in grants through the Recovery Act to construct the projects.

“The Chesapeake Bay Trust is proud to partner with EPA, Maryland Department of Environment, and organizations throughout Maryland in bringing much needed Recovery Act funds to local communities,” said Allen Hance, Executive Director of the Trust. “These are exactly the kind of ‘green infrastructure’ projects we need to become the rule rather the exception if we’re going to advance local economic recovery and the recovery of the Chesapeake Bay.”

"Communities throughout Maryland are benefitting from EPA's overall $121.6 million in Recovery Act funding for water projects in the state," said Shawn M. Garvin, EPA mid-Atlantic regional administrator. "MDE and committed partners like the Chesapeake Bay Trust have been diligent in ensuring this funding supports on-the-ground projects that gain lasting environmental and health improvements and create jobs."

In addition to these projects that are creating green jobs in Maryland, the Chesapeake Bay Trust is launching a Clean Water Jobs Training Initiative. Building on lessons learned through the Recovery Act projects, the initiative will help provide Maryland workers with the skills needed to compete in the emerging green economy and link them with the businesses and agencies constructing green infrastructure projects. $116,000 in funding to support the initiative was included in the spending bill approved by Congress last week.

Chesapeake Bay Trust Recovery Act projects:

• Living Shoreline Project at Southdown Shores Community Association

  Project Location: Beards Creek, South River, Edgewater, Anne Arundel County

  Project Cost: $100,700

  Project Summary: This project will replace 150 lf of bulkhead and an additional 100 lf of eroding shoreline with a living shoreline and will create 5000 sq ft of wetlands. This new living shoreline system will be habitat for wetland species of fish, crabs, birds, and other wildlife

• Living Shoreline Project at Annapolis Landing Community Association

  Project Location: Beards Creek, South River, Riva, Anne Arundel County

  Project Cost: $111,400

  Project Summary: This project will protect 340 lf of eroding shoreline with a living shoreline, creating 10,000 square feet of wetlands in the process.

• Living Shoreline Project at Berrywood South Community Association

  Project Location: Cattail Creek, Magothy River, Severna Park, Anne Arundel County

  Project Cost: $81,000

  Project Summary: This project will remove a failing bulkhead, replace it with a 175-lf living shoreline, and create over 4000 square feet of wetland.

• Living Shoreline Project at Franklin Manor Citizens Association

  Project Location: Chesapeake Bay, Churchton, Anne Arundel County

  Project Cost: $681,800

  Project Summary: This project will protect 990 feet of wetland habitat and add 51,600 square feet of new wetlands on the open Chesapeake Bay.

• Wetlands Creation Project at Shady Cove

  Project Location: Parrish Creek, West River, Shadyside, Anne Arundel County

  Project Cost: $811,000

  Project Summary: This project involves installation of 3 acres (129,000 square feet) of tidal wetlands at the tip of an Anne Arundel County owned park, protecting the peninsula from additional erosion. The area has experienced significant erosion over the past 10 years, threatening a significant wetland system. The newly created wetland will protect the existing wetland system as well as a cove home to overwintering waterfowl.

• Living Shoreline Project at the Oxford Cooperative Laboratory

  Project Location: Tred Avon River, Town of Oxford, Talbot County

  Project Cost: $116,900

  Project Summary: The project will replace 370 feet of poor habitat (revetment) with 11,000 square feet of high and low marsh wetlands.

• Green Street Project in the Town of Edmonston

  Project Location: Anacostia River Watershed, Edmonston, Prince George's County

  Project Cost: $1,100,000

  Project Summary: The main thoroughfare of town, Decatur Street, will be transformed into a"Green Street." The design will involve installation of street-side bioretention cells, street swales, street trees, permeable pavement, and LED street lamps powered by wind energy. Interpretive signage will be in English and Spanish.

About the Chesapeake Bay Trust

The Chesapeake Bay Trust is an independent, nonprofit, foundation. Funding provided by the Trust sparks on-the-ground change in communities throughout Maryland and works to cultivate a new generation of Bay stewards. Since its inception in 1985, the Trust has awarded more than $30 million and engaged hundreds of thousands of Marylanders in projects that have a measurable impact on the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. The Trust is supported by the sale of the Maryland Treasure the Chesapeake license plate, donations to the Chesapeake Bay and Endangered Species Fund on the Maryland State income tax form, donations from individuals and corporations, and partnerships with private foundations and federal and state agencies. Fully 90 percent of the Trust’s expenditures are directed to its Chesapeake Bay restoration and education programs.

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