Welcome to the Corsica River Conservancy
This website is devoted exclusively to providing information on efforts designed to restore and the Corsica River, its tributaries and its watershed. The Corsica River Conservancy and its partners are dedicated to this task.
How To Navigate Our Site
This site is designed to be interactive. You will be able to obtain specific information on restoration projects completed, underway and planned by clicking on Corsica River Projects and following the directions on that page.
Maryland Phase II WIP Draft Released - Public Comment Period Now Open!
After making changes over the past few months and taking into consideration the individual county plans, Maryland has released its Phase II Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) Draft for public review. The comment period started January 26th, 2012 and extends until March 9th, 2012. It is the opportunity for citizens to submit comments emphasizing their support for clean water, a healthy environment, and a strong Plan. The comments will be taken into consideration when the State submits its final plan to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on March 30th, 2012.
Comments can be submitted to the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) by email: wipcoordinator@mde.state.md.us or by post: Tom Thornton, Maryland Department of the Environment, 1800 Washington Boulevard – Suite 540, Baltimore MD 21230-1718.
Information on the Chesapeake Bay TMDL, Maryland's Watershed Implementation Plan and Maryland's 2012-2013 Milestone Goals can be found on the MDE website using the following link:
March 12-26 Free Soil Testing
Living within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, Marylanders play a vital role in the health of our streams and tributaries. Routine soil testing of lawns and garden beds can help reduce excessive nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus from entering our waterways. As these nutrients enter our waterways “dead zones” can be created, where aquatic life (fish, crabs, sub aquatic vegetation and oysters) cannot survive. Not only do these practices harm our streams, but cultural excessive fertilization especially in Spring or Summer may damage our lawns by stressing the roots and increasing susceptibility to disease.
As part of a program to encourage Bay-Wise friendly landscape practices, CRC is again offering to provide FREE soil testing to watershed residents that apply between March 12-26. To take advantage of this offer, go to the University of Maryland Extension Office, 505 Railroad Ave, Centreville, MD. Talk to Rachel Melvin (Horticulture Educator) and tell her you would like to participate in the CRC Soil Testing Program. CRC will sponsor a workshop on April 9 at the Centreville Library where Master Gardeners will discuss how to use the soil test results in setting up your lawn care program.
Funding Now Available for Upgrading Septic Systems
Traditional septic systems do not remove all nitrogen and deliver about 15-20 pounds of nitrogen per year to groundwater - new Best Available Technology "BAT" systems can cut nitrogen loads in half. Residents of Queen Anne's County are currently eligible to receive up to 100% BAT tank funding for upgrades to a nitrogen removing system. Funding is based on 1040 Tax Return Income for all but the top priority "failing in critical areas). Anyone interested in upgrading their septic may be eligible to apply, but top priority is given to those who live in the critical area (land within 1,000 feet of tidal waters) and have old or failing septic systems. The Bay Restoration Fund provides money to counties to help Marylanders install nitrogen removing systems, and these funds are generated through local flush fees. Without this funding, installation of a nitrogen removing system would typically cost a homeowner approximately $11,000-$13,000.00. 100% BAT tank funding should be available for failing septic systems in the Critical Areas in the next few years. Funding may not be available after this fiscal year, which ends June 30, 2012, for other systems. For more information in Queen Anne's County contact Dan Covington, Queen Anne's County Environmental Health at 410-758-2281, ext. 4443 or dcovington@dhmh.state.md.us.
Oyster Restoration Update
CRC has been growing oysters under the state Maryland Grows Oysters (MGO) program since 2009. These have been deposited annually on the Possum Point bar. In 2011, 40 properties owners on the Corsica hosted 221 oyster cages filled with shells that had been seeded with oyster spat at the University of Maryland Horn Point Laboratory in Cambridge. Oysters from the cages are deposited on oyster sanctuaries in the river. We plan to continue and expand the program. If you have a pier or dock along the river and think you might like to participate in the program, please contact Frank DiGialleonardo (franardo@gmail.com) or Steve Sharkey (stevesharkey@verizon.net) for details.
