On Monday, October 17^th, the Trust celebrated the first of many tree plantings of the Urban Tree Program at a press event that was held at the Harlem and Denison Pocket Park in Baltimore. The Urban Trees program is a new effort created by the Maryland General Assembly’s Tree Solutions Now Act of 2021 and state resources provided through the Chesapeake Bay Trust (the Trust).   The Act calls for five million trees to be planted across Maryland by 2031, with 500,000 of them targeted to urban, underserved areas.

Tree Planted at the Harlem and Denison Pocket Park in Baltimore.

Urban trees have significant benefits to human health, climate, the economy, and the environment. Yet some urban communities are severely lacking in greening, contributing to heat island effect, exacerbating asthma and other health issues, and reducing quality of life.  Providing resources through ground-up, community-based grants empowers people to own this piece of community improvement, leading to sustainability.

The Urban Trees program started with the Maryland General Assembly; it was called on to green communities. To do this the program hopes to enhance the quality of life, human health, community livability, by improving air quality and reducing the urban heat island effect, and mitigating some of the effects of climate change. Ninety million dollars per year over nine years will be distributed by the Trust to communities, neighborhoods, civic groups, schools, and others who commit to planting trees in underserved regions as defined in the legislation. Funding is reserved for urban census tracts with low median household income levels, with high unemployment, or were historically red-lined or for public housing projects.

Many projects have begun to break ground in the past couple of weeks, and many plan to do so soon. Projects such as Blue Water Baltimore (BWB) and University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) are hosting tree plantings and calling for volunteers to assist.

BWB is planting trees in the Irvington and Violetville Neighborhoods in Baltimore City. They were awarded $342,444 to plant 600 trees across four West Baltimore neighborhoods. The plantings will occur on multiple days and welcome volunteers with any skill level. To volunteer or support any of these events individuals are asked to visit https://bluewaterbaltimore.org/events/ to register. See below for dates and times.

Planting dates and times for Irvington:

• 11/12/22 9am-12pm
• 11/15/22 11am-2pm

Planting dates and times for Violetville:

• 11/17/22 11am-2pm

UMB was awarded $39,289 to plant trees across their campus. They are holding a tree planting event on 11/10 from 10am – 12pm. To sign up to volunteer please visit this website https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=SrzNPUx-e0CA93-2dXGC8guqiWAXukhNgq4ivS31IWBUNDVVOE1JRDhBQVZFQklCTTRKQlQ1WjBPQS4u.

To learn more about the Urban Trees program please visit https://cbtrust.org/grants/urban-trees/.

The Town of Edmonston has several “firsts” and “greats” as accomplishments, including being home to one of the “Greenest Streets in America” thanks to the completion of a “green street” in 2010. A “green street” is a technique that can include several green infrastructure practices, such as street trees, rain gardens, pervious pavement, bioretention cells, and bioswales, in one location that is centered around and connected to a street site. Edmonston’s “Green Street” project is a model for others that wish to “Go Green” to make their town greener and healthier.

Pervious gutter and curb on Decatur Street.

Edmonston recently installed its 30th green infrastructure practice, with 10 more being constructed in the summer of 2022. Yes, you read that correctly; this is a lot of green in a small town that 1,545 people call home. Many of these practices were implemented with grant funds including through the Prince George’s Stormwater Stewardship Grant Program supported by the Department of the Environment. The Town plans to continue pushing the envelope by installing green practices while maintaining the existing practices so that they look beautiful and function to clean water while being home to native plants that attract our birds and butterflies.

The Town is touting another “first” with the installation of the first pervious curb and gutter systems in the Maryland. These innovative techniques, which were tested in the west coast and are used extensively in New York City, were brought to Maryland by Ecosite, Inc., a county-based firm, who worked closely with the Town on the projects. The pervious curb and gutter system use the road’s right of way space to house the green infrastructure practice that soaks up stormwater from the roadways before it enters the storm drain. You can visit the pervious curb and gutter systems on Decatur Street (main street) and on Ingraham Street in the industrial district bounded by 46^th Avenue, Ingraham Street, and Lafayette Place. Speaking of “firsts” Edmonston installed several “industrial green streets” bringing green infrastructure to these busy, high traffic areas that are home to many thriving businesses.

Installing an industrial green street bioretention practice.

The Town, with Ecosite’s technical support, has been pioneering and demonstrating the use of “in-situ” bioretention design and construction. This technique minimizes the excavation of existing soils and instead improves these soils by incorporating well aged organic materials like pine fines and composted leaf mulch into the soil. This technique was developed by Dr. Robert Gouin, professor emeritus of the University of Maryland School of Horticulture. By reducing the need to excavate and remove existing soils and replacing them with expensive man-made bioretention media, the practice reduces bioretention system costs to 30% of traditional costs and takes our remediation dollars further. In addition, this practice results in improved soils that provide significantly greater infiltration capacity, treatment of runoff, and pollutant removal.

Finally, the Town considers the green infrastructure practices part of a longer-term strategy that provides many benefits to those who live and visit Edmonston. Mayor Tracy Gant says, “Edmonston is committed to protecting our natural environment for future generations through innovative approaches and practices that protect the Anacostia Watershed and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay.”

These green infrastructure practices reduce flooding, improve water quality, improve air quality, reduce urban heat effects, and support climate resiliency goals for the Town, County, State, and beyond. Learn more about the Town’s greening efforts at https://edmonstonmd.gov/about-edmonston/ and more about the County’s Climate Action Plan at https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/3748/Climate-Change. The Prince George’s Stormwater Stewardship Grant Program supports innovative and sustainable green infrastructure practices throughout Prince George’s County.

Explore other grants supported by the Prince George’s Stormwater Stewardship Grant Program in the Town of Edmonston below.

Water Quality Retrofits for Hamilton Street- for the installation of seven rain gardens on Hamilton Street. $131,785.

Water Quality Retrofits for Gallatin Street Project- for the installation of 10 rain gardens on Gallatin Street. $142,803.

Water Quality Retrofits for Lafayette Place Industrial Green Street Project- to implement the fourth industrial “green street” which will be located in the district of Lafayette Place. $68,527.

Water Quality Retrofits for Ingraham Green Street Project- for green street implementation on Ingraham Street between 46th Ave and Lafayette Street, further demonstrating green infrastructure efforts in the Town and including an industrial pilot for future replication. $169,530.

Water Quality Retrofits for the 46th Avenue Green Street Project- to design and construct eight curbside rain gardens and one permeable concrete curb and gutter to treat over five acres of impervious surface. $148,000.

The Prince George’s County Rain Check Rebate Program is a partnership between Prince George’s County Department of the Environment and the Chesapeake Bay Trust (Trust). This program offers incentives to homeowners, businesses, and others to install practices that will reduce stormwater runoff, reduce pollution, and improve the water quality of local streams and rivers.

The Trust recently welcomed Kathy Somoza as the new Rain Check Rebate Coordinator! Continue reading to learn more about Kathy’s background and experience so far.

Kathy Somoza, Rain Check Rebate Coordinator

Can you tell us about yourself?

I grew up and still reside in Annapolis, Maryland, though my family and I originally hail from El Salvador. As a longtime Annapolitan, I have been lucky to have access to and enjoy the beautiful resources of the Chesapeake Bay region through kayaking and hiking! I graduated from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County with a bachelor’s degree in Biology. I originally came to the Chesapeake Bay Trust as the Intern for the Rain Check Rebate Program, and I am so proud to now be administering this program.

What is your favorite story or project from the Rain Check Rebate program?

The stories and projects that stick out most in my mind are the ones that, for a multitude of reasons, do not follow a straightforward or linear process. These are the projects that encounter unexpected hurdles or delays, yet what impresses and inspires me is the perseverance that I see applicants demonstrate in getting their project to the finish line. This program is completely voluntary, so the commitment applicants demonstrate to their projects highlights just how dedicated these Prince George’s residents are to the protection, improvement, and beautification of their local natural resources.

What are your professional/environmental goals and how does managing the Rain Check Rebate Program align with those goals?

My long-term professional goals are to increase awareness of the environmental issues around the Chesapeake Bay region and share resources and mechanisms to address and manage these issues. I love managing the Rain Check Rebate Program because it helps me simultaneously accomplish the goals of building awareness on the issue of stormwater runoff and providing access to a solution.

What have you most enjoyed so far about your new role as the Rain Check Rebate Coordinator?

I have enjoyed seeing how the program has evolved since the time I spent as an intern, and I’m looking forward to working closely with our Prince George’s County Department of the Environment partners to bring the best and most accessible program to County residents, businesses, and nonprofits.

Anything else you want to share?

I feel very fortunate to administer this program on behalf of our County partners. It is a wonderful resource and I hope that more and more applicants continue to tap into this program to protect natural resources, beautify and strengthen communities, and improve local water quality!

Helping Kathy with the program is our Rain Check Rebate intern, Oliver Vasquez!

Oliver is a senior at Frostburg State University, pursuing a degree in Earth Science with a minor in Sustainability Studies. He is passionate about the sustainable aspects of local environmental issues such as soil, air, and water pollution. After graduation, he hopes to pursue a career out in the field collecting data making others aware of environmental challenges and concerns to our society today. Oliver is excited about working with the Trust and supporting the mission and vision of restoring our local watersheds and natural resources.

Thank you to Kathy and Oliver for their hard work and passion in managing and supporting the Rain Check Rebate Program! Learn more about the program here.

After a decade of community engagement and planning, construction activities associated with the Bellemeade Green Street project began in spring 2021. The James River Association (JRA) in partnership with the City of Richmond, Groundwork RVA, Timmons Group, 3North, and Harbor Dredge & Dock broke ground in early May on the project that spans almost a half-mile segment of Minefee Street in the Bellemeade community of southside Richmond, Virginia. The project builds community resilience by managing stormwater, improving local water quality in Albro Creek, and mitigating the urban heat island effect. In the future, it will help to create a safer walking and biking route for residents of the community. The project was driven by ideas generated by residents of the Bellemeade community and funded by grants secured by JRA, including the Chesapeake Bay Trust’s Green Streets, Green Jobs, Green Towns Grant Program. This program funds projects throughout the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, including Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C.

Construction underway (Photo: James River Association)

The Bellemeade Walkable Watershed Plan was developed in 2012 by Skeo Solutions and the Green Infrastructure Center and established five primary goals: 1) connecting the neighborhood to the creek and the James River; 2) improving walking routes to the community center and school; 3) slowing flow, increasing infiltration and cleaning stormwater; 4) developing a sense of community around the creek and school; and 5) creating outdoor education opportunities. Green streets are at the heart of this plan and Minefee Street was selected as the pilot because of its key role in connecting residents from the Hillside Court neighborhood and the Bellemeade neighborhood to the adjacent Oak Grove-Bellemeade Elementary School, Bellemeade Park, and the Bellemeade Community Center.

Green streets employ the use of green infrastructure practices such as street trees, bioretention, planter beds, and other green infrastructure practices to absorb stormwater runoff, reduce the urban heat island effect, and promote community resilience in the face of climate change. The Bellemeade Green Street project, designed and engineered by Timmons Group and 3North, features a large bioretention filter, two Filterra boxes and eight planter beds along Minefee Street. These practices replaced impervious asphalt and were planted with native trees, shrubs, and perennials that support pollinators. The bioretention filter and Filterras are capable of capturing 39,153.04 gallons (5,234 cubic feet) of stormwater and remove 11.11 pounds of Nitrogen, 1.81 pounds of Phosphorous, and 452.78 of Total Suspended Solids from stormwater before it reaches Albro Creek on an annual basis. Since 2019, 41 native street trees have been planted along Minefee Street using support from the Virginia Department of Forestry’s Trees for Clean Water Program and volunteer assistance. These street trees complement the infrastructure improvements and provide additional resilience for the community. The second phase of the project calls for a protected bike lane along Minefee Street and JRA intends to continue working with the community and partners to implement this in the future.

Bioretention area in progress (Photo: James River Association)

Harbor Dredge & Dock was selected to install the new infrastructure and Groundwork RVA installed and is currently maintaining street trees and plants along Minefee Street. Green workforce development was integrated into the project through JRA’s partnership with Groundwork RVA, a community-based non-profit working to transform the natural and built environment in Richmond. They work on community supported initiatives towards the goal of a greener and more resilient Richmond that works for all.

Volunteer helping create a bioretention area (Photo: James River Association)

Groundwork RVA Executive Director, Rob Jones, shared his thoughts on the project and the partnership:

The pandemic highlighted what many of us have known for quite some time – that there are huge gaps in our community. For many families in South Richmond, that includes a lack of access to fresh foods, green spaces and even shade from trees. All of this leads to serious challenges that make it harder to survive, let alone thrive.

Our partnership with the James River Association on the Minefee Green Street, is an important step towards helping young men and women, many of whom live in South Richmond “earn while they learn.” Our Green Workforce will have the opportunity to be side-by-side as the project proceeds, from the ground-up! Learning to do work that is not only vital for our communities today but that contributes to the survival of future generations, especially as we tackle climate change. Healthy communities need healthy people – physically, emotionally and economically. We appreciate JRA’s stepping up to help us create a full-spectrum learning opportunity for our young people and look forward to many other projects to come.

Finished Planter Bed (Photo: James River Association)

The Bellemeade Green Street project was supported by funding from Altria, City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities/RVAH2O, Virginia Department of Forestry, United States Environmental Protection Agency Region 3, and the Chesapeake Bay Trust Green Streets, Green Job, Green Towns Grant Program.

The Green Streets, Green Jobs, Green Towns Grant Program is currently accepting applications for proposals through March 3rd from entities in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C. If you have any questions regarding the program, please contact Jeffrey Popp, at jpopp@cbtrust.org or at 410-974-2941 ext. 103.

Women’s History Month at the Chesapeake Bay Trust: Jana Davis

Let our female leaders tell you their stories!

When the Chesapeake Bay Trust was created in 1985, our goal was to help improve the watersheds of the Chesapeake Bay, the Maryland Coastal Bays and the Youghiogheny River. Part of this mission involves fostering the inclusion of individuals and groups from diverse backgrounds, including women. This year for Women’s History Month, we would like you to take a look at three women at the Trust who are leading in environmental work. Today, we will focus on Jana Davis, Executive Director at the Trust.

Dr. Jana Davis, Executive Director at the Chesapeake Bay Trust

1) Can you tell me a little about yourself and what your role is at the Trust?

Jana: I am the director at the Trust, and I love it because it’s the perfect combination of two elements of my background: science and policy/management.  My role at the Trust is really to support all the work that our amazing team members do; figure out a way to do it more easily, more efficiently, and better when possible; and determine whether there is some other direction we can/should go.  The Trust has an incredible mission and such a unique and wonderful role in the community.  We are a non-advocacy, independent, trusted entity that provides resources to groups to get amazing work done, which I love – the idea of helping other people get their goals accomplished – and that steps in to solve some key conundrums that others can’t. 

2) What inspired you to become involved in Environmental work?

Jana: What inspired me was my love of natural resources like the ocean and bays and marshes and my love of being outdoors, and seeing what happens to certain parts of our outdoors.  I don’t admit this too often, because I’m a proud Marylander now, but I did grow up on the Jersey shore during the era the Jersey shore because somewhat infamous for medical waste washing up on beaches.  I think I just saw a late-night TV joke on this topic, so while the situation has much improved, it’s still on people’s minds.  It crushed my heart to go out to beautiful spots like the back trails in the Sandy Hook Gateways National Recreation area – these secret spots that when I was a kid I thought were “mine” – and see trash there.  Later, I became a scientist (oceanography), and it seemed only natural to combine my love of the outdoors with my love of science – which to me is more about question asking and problem-solving than memorizing, say, part of a cell – to become part of the environmental management community.

 3) What advice would you give a woman who wanted to pursue a career similar to yours?

Jana: Work hard, be smart, and never be afraid of anything! 

 4) What barriers have you faced as a female leader?

Jana: I know that many women have faced significant barriers to accomplish their goals, and obviously barriers still exist when we look at things like CEO demographics and the fact that we still haven’t had a female President of the United States.  However, I have been very lucky in that I have been very supported along the way by people of all genders, or else worked so hard or was so blind to the barrier that I got my way anyway.  I am the first female Executive Director of the Trust, and at the time, people made a few comments, but by the time I realized that fact, I had already gotten the job!   Interestingly, at the time, the Trust had its first-ever female Chair of the Board of Trustees also.

5) What do you think are the qualities of a great leader?

Jana: Hard work, great vision, ability to get back up when knocked down, empathy.

6) Who is a woman that inspires you now or in the past? How have you used their lessons in your growth?

Jana: I’m going to name two women:  One who for me represents all the women over the centuries who have played a historically downplayed role in so many great human discoveries, and one who directly helped me in my career.   The first is Katherine Johnson (and her colleagues), made famous in the book and movie Hidden Figures, though of course she and her colleagues were famous in certain circles long before that.  Katherine Johnson of course was one of the “computers” who worked at NASA in the 1950s and 60s and who were responsible for so many missions and calculations behind them, most notably the one that put a human on the moon and the backbone of our current GPS system.  To me, she represents all the women on whose shoulders so many great discovers stand, but who in the past have not gotten their due in the history books, such as Marie Curie, Catharine Littlefield Greene, Barbara McClintock, Grace Murray Hopper, Marie Maynard Daly, Maria Mitchell, Flossie Wong-Staal, etc.  My graduate school advisor, Dr. Lisa Levin, was personally a huge inspiration.  She works so hard, excels in her field, and never complains.  She was a huge inspiration to me when I was a graduate student.

Thank you for celebrating Women’s History Month with the Trust! We encourage you to look at women in your life who have influenced you and thank them for their inspiration.