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Mid-Atlantic Conservation Projects

Included here are the yearly conservation projects by both local groups and regional groups. Please visit here on a regular basis as this page is dynamic thus will change constantly. If you have information pertaining to a conservation project, please contact me and I will add it to this page.






CLEAN WATER IS IN THE BAG - 2009 Buffer in a Bag

Sediments and nutrients wash out of our backyards every time it rains. These pollutants are eventually transported down our creeks into the Monocacy and Potomac Rivers and then carried out to the Chesapeake Bay. Would you like to help restore and protect your local waters and the Chesapeake Bay without leaving your own backyard? The Potomac Watershed Partnership, in cooperation with Maryland Forest Service, the Monocacy River Watershed Restoration Action Strategy Committee, and other state, county, and local conservation groups can help by offering the Backyard Buffers Program to Frederick County homeowners. If you have a drainage ditch, stream, creek, or river flowing through your property or live adjacent to such a waterway, you could qualify for a free "Buffer in a Bag". Qualified Frederick County homeowners will receive one Buffer in a Bag, enough for a 50-foot section of an unprotected waterway on or adjacent to their property. Each bag will include 25 trees and shrubs of native species suited for streamside growing conditions, which will stabilize the soil and act as a buffer by filtering out pollutants before they enter into our local waters and also provide habitat for wildlife. A brief application must be submitted before March 31, 2009.

To learn more about Backyard Buffers and how you can receive your free Buffer in a Bag please contact the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Forest Service:
CHUCK HARRIS - charris@dnr.state.md.us Phone: 301-416-7261



February 05 - Get Out the Dirt Workshop
Halfway Fire House, Hagerstown - 7:00 PM.
Sponsored by Potomac River Keeper - This workshop is designed to train citizens to recognize and report violations of sediment control regulations at construction sites. This workshop has been established in coordination with the Citizens for the Protection of Washington County (CPWC).
For more information, contact Sally or Hank.


MD Department of the Environment, Montgomery Park Building, Baltimore. MD
For more information, contact Ron.


Beaver Creek Country Club, 9535 Mapleview Road, Hagerstown, MD - 8:00 am to 12:00 noon.
Preregistration required by February 6th ($30.00 fee).
For more information, contact Dee Price or Tasha Green at Washington County Soil
Conservation District (WCSCD), 301.797.6821, Ext. 3.


Maryland Stream Waders Training Where: Fairview Outdoor Center, Clear Spring MD. Sponsored by MD DNR, training is provided for volunteer stream sampling, which is part of the MD Biological Stream Survey (MBSS). Registration required by February 15th.. For more information, go to www.dnr.state.me.us/streams/mbss/mbss_volun.html


Antietam National Battlefield - East Woods
For more information, go to www.nps.gov/anti/supportyourpark/treeplanting.htm


More information will follow re time and place.


Where: TBD Additional information will be provided as it becomes available. Also, go to www.potomaccleanup.org/trash_initiative/trash_cleanup.html



This project is part of CBF's Farm Stewardship Program in the Antietam Creek watershed. We will be planting 1,000 plants along 2,000' of a spring tributary after the cows have been fenced out and a water trough has been installed. We will also be expanding a buffer along the main-stem of Beaver Creek that was planted by volunteers in 2005. Beaver Creek is a cold water fishery that is a favorite among fly fishermen. The Newcomer Farm is a Century Farm and in 2008 was put in a permanent agricultural easement through the Maryland Environmental Trust. We encourage adults, families and community groups to come out for a day to help the Bay! Dress for the weather, refreshments and tools provided, but bring work gloves and shovels if you have them. Project partners include the Beaver Creek Watershed Association, Antietam Fly Fishers, Trout Unlimited, the Maryland Department of the Environment Landowner Incentive Program, the Chesapeake Bay Trust and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Partners for Wildlife Program. To sign up, please contact
Marcy Damon at 443-482-2156 or email MDrestoration@cbf.org



Location is approx. 30 miles west of Frederick, MD
We'll be planting 700 native trees and shrubs to create a buffer along Opequon Creek, a tributary to the Potomac River. Partners include the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, Shepherdstown University, and the Opequon Creek Project Team. Dress for the weather, equipment and refreshments provided.

Address: 137 Hinton Rd., Kearneysville, WV 25430 725-2342

Directions: >From Inwood: 1) Take Rt. 51 east towards Charles Town approximately 5 miles. 2) Turn right onto Rt.1/Leetown Rd., drive through Middleway. 3) Turn right onto Hinton Rd. We are the last driveway on the right, at the end of Hinton Rd. It is ~3.4 miles down Hinton Rd., ~0.9 mile past the two-way stop sign. Shortly after our driveway, Hinton Rd. is closed with an old farm gate. We have a black mailbox number "137" and a long driveway with a white house. Park anywhere along the driveway.

>From Charles Town: 1) Take Rt. 51 west towards Inwood approximately 5 miles. 2) Turn left onto Rt. 1/Leetown Rd., drive through Middleway. 3) Follow step 3 in first set of directions

>From Shepherdstown: 1) At the four-way stop, take Rt. 480 south towards Kearneysville. 2) Cross Rt. 9 and continue straight; the road is now called Rt. 1/Leetown Rd. 3) Cross Rt. 51 and continue straight on Rt. 1/Leetown Rd. through Middleway. 4) Follow step 3 in first set of directions

To sign up, send your complete contact information to Marcy Damon at 443-482-2156 or email MDrestoration@cbf.org




Finalizing plans for a planting in PA on the West Branch of the Antietam, looking at Saturday May 2nd. Rob Schnabe,lWatershed Restoration Scientist and Chesapeake Streams Manager will providet information once it is confirmed.


Baltimore Regency Hyatt
Sponsored by River Network, this national, annual event brings together over 500 river conservationists for 3 days of "education, inspiration and celebration". (Fee)
For more information, go to www.rivernetwork.org/rn/rally


Where: TBD Additional information will be provided as it becomes available.


July 1 -
More information will follow re time and place.


Where: TBD
Additional information will be provided as it becomes available.


More information will follow re time and place.


October 08 - 11
National Conservation Training Center (NCTC), Shepherdstown, WV Additional information will be provided as it becomes available.