Spa Creek Conservancy initiatives focus on developing and implementing restoration and protection programs as well as community educational programs. To date we have spent over hundreds of thousands in grant money on a number of important programs.
Clean Up Under Spa Creek Bridge with AYC
The Annapolis Yacht Club is going green and the Conservancy is pleased to be a partner with the Club in this initiative.
The Club has a number of environmental initiatives underway, and it kicked off its public action in this area by declaring a volunteer work day to remove unsightly litter from the State Highway Administration right of way under the Spa Creek Bridge. The clean up project was conducted jointly with the Conservancy on June 28, 2008, with some 20-30 volunteers.
Annapolis Yacht Club’s property straddles the eastern side of the bridge, but approximately 15 feet on either side belong to the Maryland State Highway Administration. That area is a mini living shoreline where native grasses are growing. However, over the course of the years, litter and trash had accumulated.
Rain Gardens at Heritage Baptist Church
On June 14, 2008, the Conservancy joined with Heritage Baptist Church, 1740 Forest Drive, to plant shrubs and other plants in seven rain gardens on church property. The church to filter storm water runoff coming from Forest Drive and the church’s parking lot, near the Creek’s origin. More than 50 volunteers — Conservancy members and Church members — worked together to plant over 1300 shrubs in one morning. Trees will be planted in the fall. This major initiative, representing over $100,000 in materials and labor on Church property, is being funded by a grant awarded to the Conservancy by the Chesapeake Bay Trust.
Rain Gardens
Rain gardens use plants, soils, and soil dwelling organisms to naturally remove pollutants from stormwater. Gardens built with native Maryland plants require no fertilizer, pesticides, or herbicides to flourish in the local ecosystem. Built in low lying areas, rain gardens naturally filter runoff, reducing stormwater pollution from entering Spa Creek.
Rain gardens have been built near the Weems-Whalem and Bates Middle School athletic complex and at the street entrance to the Chesapeake Children’s Museum. In addition, an interpretive nature trail was created by the Conservancy with plant signage and three education plaques showing a riparian forest, estuarine wetlands and Spa Creek flow and interaction with the Chesapeake Bay. These projects were funded through Chesapeake Bay Trust and built in partnership with Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Maryland Conservation Corps, and the City of Annapolis Recreation and Parks Department.
Riparian Forest Clean-Up
Over the past two years several creek and woodland clean up days have been held. Several tons of debris have been pulled from the creek and its banks. The junk has ranged from auto engines to refrigerators. This activity is in its early stages and has only covered about 150 feet of the creek. Two areas of the creek were used as dump sites by the City before the environment became a concern to the community. The clean-up will go on for many years.
Invasive Species Eradication
In partnership with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the Chesapeake Children’s Museum, SCC is in its second year of a multiyear program to eradicate the Phragmites infestation that is choking the headwaters estuarine wetlands area of the creek where the non-tidal stream meets the tidal creek. In the past two years SCC has cleared over an acre. In 2004, more than 150 United States Naval Academy Midshipmen volunteered to clear another three acres. The cleared area from 2001 has started to reestablish itself with native submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) and wetlands plants. Future projects will include the massive planting of native grasses, shrubs, trees, and herbaceous wetland plants.
Spa Creek Data Collection Project
In collaboration with the EPA, scientists are pulling together existing water quality data and maps in order to conduct a preliminary assessment of the status of the streams and tidal portions of Spa Creek. Future goals include the development of a Restoration and Management Plan and the implementation of a water quality monitoring system.
Rain Barrels
The Conservancy’s goal is to encourage homeowners and business owners to install rain barrels on their properties to catch storm water from rooftops. We’d like to see a rain barrel under every downspout!
Catching quickly flowing water in rain barrels and slowing down its release via soaker hoses in the garden keeps our Creek and the Chesapeake Bay cleaner. We need Good Creek Neighbors to get the word out on their blocks and at their street ends.
The Conservancy will help you host a short gathering at your home or business to discuss the importance of rain barrels and how easy it is to install them. We’ll show you how.
We can have rain barrels on hand to sell on the spot or you can order for later pick-up. Contact us at rainbarrels@spacreek.org to volunteer or for more information.. Be a Good Creek Neighbor. Help us save the Creek one rain barrel at a time!
Oyster Gardening
The purpose of this programs is for waterfront residents and businesses to grow spat for one year and then plant them in sanctuary sites where the oysters enrich the local ecology.
Other projects:
Eco-Fair in the Parole Community, October 2013
General Creek Shoreline Clean-Up
Project Clean Stream
Lincoln Drive Rain Garden
Amos Garrett Park Restoration Project
Fall GreenScape 2009
St. Mary’s Parking Lot
Make a Difference Day
St. Martin’s Lutheran Church
Rockfish Restaurant Parking Lot
St. Anne’s Church Parish House
Stewardship Program
BMPs Seminar