The first image is Dr. Roman Jesien, Science Coordinator for The Maryland Coastal Bays Program. The plant he is carrying is the most robust I have ever seen. They were grown on Assateague by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
The young men, seniors from Mount St. Joseph High School in Baltimore, installed them into our pond’s shoreline to keep it from eroding. We figure close to seven hundred plants were given to us. This work took place over several days, not only did they plant, but they also dug them up where they have been growing. Once dug up they had to be separated.
This was part of their Senior Project, which helps them toward graduation. Too often we read about young people that are not a credit to their community, never a mention of young people like the ones that visited us today. They were a pleasure to have here!
They did have more plants that I wish they could have planted at Walkers Pond; unfortunately, there was too much water in the pond. The plants were taken to Macky’s
This is the second time we have lost plants and volunteers to do the planting. It will be interesting to see how much Envirotech charges Montego Bay Civic Association to replace those plants we lost because the water level was allowed to flood the shoreline. We must have plants to stabilize the shoreline or it will erode.
I want to remind you why the shoreline had to be replaced: the Montego Bay Civic Association had cemented over the original outfall pipe causing the water to go over the asphalt walk putting the foundations of the homes in jeopardy. Today the new shoreline is in jeopardy because the depth of the water is not being regulated properly. The roots from the plants will hold the shoreline in place, but first they must become established in the sand. Too much water will wash them away. Which is more important: an algae free pond or a stabilized shoreline?