PO environmental committee looks to spring

By Greg Ellison

(April 21, 2022) As spring approaches its full bloom, the Ocean Pines Environmental and Natural Assets Committee met last week to review the community’s wildlife preservation efforts.

Committee chair Sharon Santacroce said the recent covid outbreak at Public Works has delayed the installation of “Keep Wildlife Wild” signs around the ponds.

“Everyone is recovering,” she said.

Nonetheless, Santacroce said the new anti-feeding signs would be erected shortly.

Despite problems with Public Works staff, Santacroce said crews were able to clear a clogged drainage ditch that feeds the South Gate Pond to allow shad to come up from Manklin Creek to spawn.

“So the water now flows between Manklin Creek and South Pond,” she said.

Santacroce said the committee was leading the charge to “save the shad”.

“They have an end of their life cycle when we see some of the mortality happening, which is natural,” she said. “What we don’t want to see is the fish dying because they’re trying to get back into the ocean to grow.”

Santacroce said the goal is to make the shad thrive.

“There are still a lot of invasive species growing in that ditch, but for the most part they’ve cleared it up,” she said. “The water is flowing so the shad can come and go as they need right now.”

Committee members also learned of an abandoned kayak launch at the Route 90 pond that may be an addition to a comparable site tentatively planned for Pintail Park.

“We found out from a resident who lives there that he already had a kayak launch that was there that hadn’t been maintained,” she said.

Although a specific timetable has not been established, the hope is that the dilapidated launch area can be restored to working order.

“We’re optimistic that Public Works will be able to get that kayak launch cleaned and revitalized,” she said.

Looking ahead, the committee is planning a visit at next month’s meeting Billy Weiland with Assateague Coastal Trust regarding goose deterrence strategies.

“Our goal right now is to work on a presentation with explanations and pictures for our plan at South Gate Pond to control erosion and deter large gatherings of geese,” she said.

To that end, Santacroce said Weiland, a watershed specialist, had tentatively agreed to give a presentation on how best to deploy native plants.

“We want to know what the best recommendations for pond buffers are,” she said. “He’s going out to educate us.”

Santacroce called Weiland after noticing his details on a poster promoting a native plant giveaway sponsored by Assateague Coastal Trust on May 7.

On another future front, committee members also reviewed plans for the next Bay Day scheduled for May 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at White Horse Park.

“We have members who are going to participate,” she said.

The third annual Bay Day is produced in conjunction with the Maryland Coastal Bays Program through the Ocean Pines Association. The event aims to educate residents about environmental campaigns in the area and motivate individual efforts to preserve watersheds.

Bay Day plans went awry for the past two years due to covid and were canceled in 2019 due to an approaching hurricane.

“We haven’t had one in three years,” she said.

Santacroce said members of the environment committee would operate a table during Bay Day and also help the marine activities committee haul debris from the waterways.

“Marine Activities implements ‘marine plunder’ for boats to remove trash from the river,” she said.

The next meeting of the Environment & Natural Assets Committee is scheduled for May 18 at 10 a.m.