SALISBURY, Md. - The Eastern Shore of Maryland is getting an environmental upgrade. With the help of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and a number of collaboration projects, more trees, shrubs, and meadow plantings are coming to at least five jurisdictions, including Cambridge, Oxford, Easton as well as Talbot and Queen Anne's Counties. The City of Salisbury will also receive $70,000 to conduct a tree canopy study to look into bringing more tree cover to the area and the effect of climate change.
"In working with other state agencies and the federal government, we can provide support for this type of locally-driven work that can be cost-effective and more-effective in the long run," Maryland of the Environment Secretary Ben Grumbles said in a press conference on Tuesday.
Grumbles says the innovative project will also save money, eliminating administrative and grant costs by all working under one contractor called a "circuit rider."
The projects being installed help reduce nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution, which is a required part of Maryland's Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint. The Blueprint is the multi-state effort to reduce pollution across the Bay watershed by 2025.
"The goal of this program is to help local governments grow the capacity they need to achieve the 2025 pollution reduction goals," said Alan Girard, CBF's Eastern Shore Director. "This collaboration empowers Eastern Shore counties, cities, and towns to put more projects in the ground at reduced cost to local governments. It demonstrates a cost-effective way to stop polluted runoff from entering streams, rivers, and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay."
City and county leaders agree the measure will provide grant money in an area that is often hard to obtain funding.
"The planting of the trees will really make an impact on the livability and quality of life," Cambridge Mayor Victoria Jackson-Stanley said.
"This really is a win-win for the Eastern Shore," said Talbot County Councilmember Pete Lesher. "By working together Talbot County and its neighbors will have more trees, meadows, and other vegetation throughout the landscape. The new additions will beautify our communities and help improve the Bay's health."
More than 50 acres of foliage will be added to the Eastern Shore. The projects are expected to be worked and completed through the Winter.
"I would expect that we'll see more measures of local assistance in the years to come," Girard said.
A PowerPoint with project specifics can be found here.