By PETER HECK
pheck@chespub.com
Published Kent County News Thursday, October 29,
2009 Page A3
CHESTERTOWN – The Chesapeake Bay is one of Maryland’s
natural treasures. It is also, for many residents, the most
important natural feature of their property, often adding
significant value to their land and buildings.
Nowadays, the health of the bay is in the public eye more
than ever. Fishing, boating, swimming, tourism – a whole
range of activities depend on the bay and its tributaries.
At the same time, an even wider range of activities affect
the bay and its wildlife and all those who depend on it for
a living or take advantage of its scenic and recreational
qualities.
Homeowners in the Critical Area, which includes all land
within 1,000 feet of the bay and its tidal tributaries, are
subject to a number of laws and regulations designed to protect
the bay and its wildlife. The Critical Area Act is one of
the most important bodies of law affecting landowners on the
Eastern Shore. It is also among the most widely misunderstood,
and therefore most widely violated, even by those who sympathize
with its purposes.
Luckily, there’s a great resource available to help
them find the best way to preserve the bay and its shoreline.
“The Green Book for the Bay,” prepared by Adkins
Arboretum, spells out the key facts and offers useful guidelines
for living in the Critical Area.
As in indication of its usefulness, Mayor Margo Bailey said
at the Oct. 19 Chestertown council meeting that the town Green
Committee plans to draw the subjects for its winter lecture
series from the book. A program on rain gardens by Department
of Natural Resources experts will be included on the program.
Developed by the arboretum’s Shore Land Stewardship
Council, the spiral-bound “Green Book” is a comprehensive
guide to best environmental practices for landowners. It is
credited to Tawna Mertz and Adkins Arboretum, with illustrations
by Matthew Frey. A Kent County connection is acknowledged
with a “special thanks” to Amy Moredock, environmental
planner with the county department of planning.
The book begins with frequently asked questions and moves
on to cover the whole range of critical area issues. From
rules on construction and stormwater management to dealing
with nuisance wildlife and creating a living shoreline, it’s
all there in one place. Tips on tree planting, on waterfront
access, and preventing erosion are also here, as is a list
of invasive plants with recommended control methods. There
are photos of beneficial insects along with common pests.
The section on managing stormwater runoff discusses such
strategies as rain gardens, rain barrels and permeable paving
materials. These techniques allow the property owner to prevent
erosion and minimize the amount of pollution entering the
bay after a heavy rainfall. Rain barrels collect the water
from roofs of houses and other structures; it can then be
used to water plants or gardens. Traditional flower and vegetable
gardens are generally permitted in the Critical Area, as long
as they don’t displace natural vegetation.
Property owners looking for natural landscaping ideas will
find some useful practical tips. Particularly instructive
are sidebar essays on how Shore landowners have tackled various
land management challenges, from plantings within the buffer
area to creating a native meadow to rain gardening, all with
photos to show the possibilities.
The book also explains that stricter rules apply within the
buffer zone, the first 100 feet of property from the waterline.
Within the buffer, new development is generally prohibited
and existing vegetation can’t be cut or cleared without
a buffer management plan, which property owners can create
with input from local planning officials. Along with a summary
of the rules, the book includes sample buffer management plans.
In addition to tips on the care and maintenance of Critical
Area properties, the book includes contact information for
county planning offices; federal, state and county government
agencies; town governments; environmental nonprofit organizations;
and watershed associations.
While the book is copyrighted 2008, an updated errata sheet
is included, with additional information and revisions.
One last bit of good news: “The Green Book for the
Bay” is free. Just drop by town hall in Chestertown,
or the Kent County Planning Office at 400 High St. and ask
for a copy, while they last.
