Corsica River 6-Year Progress Report (2012)

Photo courtesy of Cal Gray III CCCCoooorrrrssssiiiiccccaaaa RRRRiiiivvvveeeerrrr TTTTaaaarrrrggggeeeetttteeeedddd IIIInnnniiiittttiiiiaaaattttiiiivvvveeee PPPPrrrrooooggggrrrreeeessssssss RRRReeeeppppoooorrrrtttt:::: 2222000000005555----2222000011111111 The Corsica River Initiative is nationally recognized for its Watershed Plan and restoration effort that continues to receive attention for its outstanding contributions in

research, monitoring and implementation.

Corsica Targeted Watershed Initiative Funded in part by US EPA & NOAA’s Coastal Zone Management 2 CCCCoooorrrrssssiiiiccccaaaa TTTTaaaarrrrggggeeeetttteeeedddd WWWWaaaatttteeeerrrrsssshhhheeeedddd IIIInnnniiiittttiiiiaaaattttiiiivvvveeee PPPPrrrrooooggggrrrreeeessssssss RRRReeeeppppoooorrrrtttt:::: 2222000000005555————2222000011111111 BBBBaaaacccckkkkggggrrrroooouuuunnnndddd The Corsica River is a tidal tributary on Maryland’s Eastern Shore that slowly winds through the

farmland and forests of rural Queen Anne’s County and the Town of Centreville; it then enters the Chester River and into the Chesapeake Bay, one of the largest estuaries in the world. The Corsica River watershed is 25,299 acres, with agriculture being the largest land use (60%). The second largest land use in the watershed are forested areas (25%), which mainly account for private woodland lots and buffers. Approximately 5%

of the watershed is impervious, which accounts for streets, buildings (homes, businesses, etc.) and other hard surfaces.

Land Use in the Corsica River Watershed Agricultu re 60.4% Forest 25.4% Water Residenti Non- 0.4% al 10.4% Wetlands Residenti 0.3% al Urban 3.10% Figure 2: Old Mill Stream Figure 1: Land Use The Corsica River and its watershed are strikingly beautiful. The Corsica watershed character is influenced by the rural nature of the area – fishing the river and streams, hunting deer and waterfowl, boating and kayaking. Unfortunately, like many tributaries

of the Chesapeake Bay, the river’s water quality is considered degraded and does not meet im- Figure 3: State of Maryland—Corsica Watershed portant water quality standards.

3 CCCCoooorrrrssssiiiiccccaaaa TTTTaaaarrrrggggeeeetttteeeedddd WWWWaaaatttteeeerrrrsssshhhheeeedddd IIIInnnniiiittttiiiiaaaattttiiiivvvveeee PPPPrrrrooooggggrrrreeeessssssss RRRReeeeppppoooorrrrtttt:::: 2222000000005555————2222000011111111 WWWWaaaatttteeeerrrr QQQQuuuuaaaalllliiiittttyyyy:::: TTTToooottttaaaallll MMMMaaaaxxxxiiiimmmmuuuummmm DDDDaaaaiiiillllyyyy LLLLooooaaaaddddssss ((((TTTTMMMMDDDDLLLLssss))))

The Federal Clean Water Act (CWA) requires that each State assess, monitor, and protect water quality for all rivers and streams. If a waterbody does not meet water quality standards set for that system, then it must be listed as ‘impaired’ for the pollutant causing the impairment. The Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) is the assimilative capacity of a water body to remain ‘healthy’ with a certain maximum amount of pollutants.

• The Corsica River was listed as impaired in 1996 due to the presence of excessive sedimentation, nutrients, fecal coliform (bacteria), and substantial negative impacts to biological

communities.

• The State of Maryland developed a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for nutrients in the

Corsica River in 2000, bacteria in 2005, and Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCBs) in 2011.

• Based on the Nutrient TMDL, the nonpoint source annual load allocation for the Corsica

Watershed is 268,211 lbs/year of nitrogen and 19,380 lbs/year of phosphorus.

• The Corsica River is a Designated Use II water body, which means that it must be able to

support the basic “swimmable-fishable” goals of the Clean Water Act as well as shellfish harvesting.

• The water quality impairments stated above have not been delisted as of June 2012

Due to the impairments listed by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), the Town of Centreville applied for and received funding and technical assistance to develop a Watershed Restoration Action Strategy (WRAS). The Corsica River WRAS is a comprehensive plan that the Town of Centreville developed in 2005 in cooperation with key local partners (Queen Anne’s Soil Conservation District, Queen Anne’s County and the Chester River Association) and with support and cooperation from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and MDE. In September of

2005, Governor Robert Ehrlich proclaimed the Corsica River as the State’s targeted restoration watershed. Following this announcement many local citizen volunteers formed the non-profit organization called the Corsica River Conservancy (CRC). The CRC has grown to more than 600 members in a watershed of approximately 1,200 households.

The WRAS Plan has been the road map to help guide the restoration and protection activities to date.

The Corsica Implementation Committee (CIC), which formed as an outcome of the planning process, is made up of stakeholders from state and local government agencies and local concerned citizens.

The CIC currently works together to track the progress of the Corsica initiative, understand the problems facing the watershed, and develop solutions to address water quality problems in the Corsica watershed.

4 CCCCoooorrrrssssiiiiccccaaaa TTTTaaaarrrrggggeeeetttteeeedddd WWWWaaaatttteeeerrrrsssshhhheeeedddd IIIInnnniiiittttiiiiaaaattttiiiivvvveeee PPPPrrrrooooggggrrrreeeessssssss RRRReeeeppppoooorrrrtttt:::: 2222000000005555————2222000011111111 CCCCoooonnnnsssseeeerrrrvvvvaaaattttiiiioooonnnn &&&& PPPPrrrrooootttteeeeccccttttiiiioooonnnn AAAArrrreeeeaaaassss Restoring the Corsica River is vital to its recovery and equally important is conserving and protecting

areas within the watershed. Once healthy components of watersheds are identified, a variety of conservation and protection approaches are available. Protection efforts in the watershed include a variety of easements, open space, and rural legacy land programs, which are Conservation Lands in the Corsica Watershed currently protecting approximately MALPF Easement (POS) 5,852 acres (more than 20%) of the

Program Open Space (Non-Contiguous) land in the watershed. The Maryland Deed Restricted Program Open Space (POS) Agriculture Land Preservation Founda- County Park Private Conservation Easement tion (MALPF) and the Rural Legacy Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) Program are programs specifically tai- Maryland Environment Trust (MET) lored to agriculture and farm land pro- Rural Legacy Easement MALPF Easement

tection. Program Open Space (POS) is a unique program in Maryland that pro-

TOTAL 5,822

vides funding to counties and munici- 0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 palities for parks, ball fields, playgrounds, and a variety of other open Figure 4: Conservation Lands in the Corsica Watershed space land preservation opportunities.

Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) is a type of land protection program that some counties currently adopt that provide incentives for developers to build in existing areas with infrastructure, and save open space or farm land in return for increased development or density.

PPPPrrrrooooggggrrrreeeessssssss TTTToooo DDDDaaaatttteeee::::

SSSSlllliiiigggghhhhtttt IIIImmmmpppprrrroooovvvveeeemmmmeeeennnnttttssss iiiinnnn RRRRiiiivvvveeeerrrr HHHHeeeeaaaalllltttthhhh The Corsica River Targeted Watershed initiative has been an on-going endeavor with federal, state, and local agencies, conservation organizations, universities, research institutions and local watershed groups. This effort involves outreach to the community, monitoring, research,

and implementation of water quality and habitat enhancement projects. The restoration activities in the Corsica watershed have been substantial on farm land, suburban residential areas, and in the Town of Centreville by utilizing Best Management Practices (BMPs) and educating citizens on the importance of water quality, nutrient management, and natural resources. The figures 5 and 6 illustrate both progress to date and dollars spent

Figure 5: Percent Complete by major source sector.

5 CCCCoooorrrrssssiiiiccccaaaa TTTTaaaarrrrggggeeeetttteeeedddd WWWWaaaatttteeeerrrrsssshhhheeeedddd IIIInnnniiiittttiiiiaaaattttiiiivvvveeee PPPPrrrrooooggggrrrreeeessssssss RRRReeeeppppoooorrrrtttt:::: 2222000000005555————2222000011111111 Significant changes to water quality at a basin/watershed scale can take many years to show improvements due to groundwater transport lag time, geochemical processes, and other factors.

The Corsica River may be starting to respond to the efforts that have been underway since 2005, with approximately 700 water quality and habitat projects completed.

Concentrations of both nitrogen and phosphorous have shown decreasing Figure 6: Cost per Source Sector trends in the non-tidal portion of the Funding Sources: EPA/MDE 319 Program, MD DNR, QA Soil Corsica Watershed at Three Bridges Conservation District, Maryland Department of Agriculture, Bay Branch and Gravel Run over the last Restoration Fund, Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays 2010 five years. No nutrient trends have Trust Fund, Town of Centreville, Queen Anne’s County, Chesabeen observed in Old Mill Stream at peake Bay Trust, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Corsica

this time.

AAAAggggrrrriiiiccccuuuullllttttuuuurrrreeee Agriculture makes up more than half of the land use in the Corsica watershed, and is vital to the local economy and to maintaining the heritage and rural character of the Eastern Shore. The main crops planted in the Corsica watershed include corn, soybeans, and wheat. Vegetables are grown for farmers markets in the area. The watershed also has numerous equine and

two poultry operations. The agriculture community has been investing significant time and effort toward protecting water quality, which should ensure a sustainable agriculture presence in the Corsica watershed.

BMPs utilized in the Corsica watershed by the agricultural community include: cover crops, forested and grassed buffers, manure storage, and nutrient management plans. There are Total Cover Crop and Small Grain (Acre) several programs at the state and federal 6,000 level, administered by the Queen Anne 5,000 County Soil Conservation District, to provide funding for a variety of practices 4,000 including the Wildlife Habitat Incentive 3,000

Program (WHIP), Conservation Reserve 2,000 Enhancement Program (CREP), Envi- 1,000 ronmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Maryland Agricultural Cost 0 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Share program (MACS), and the Wood- Year land Incentive Program (WIP) which is Figure 7: Cover Crops planted in the Corsica Watershed per year coordinated by DNR Forestry Service.

6 sercA CCCCoooorrrrssssiiiiccccaaaa TTTTaaaarrrrggggeeeetttteeeedddd WWWWaaaatttteeeerrrrsssshhhheeeedddd IIIInnnniiiittttiiiiaaaattttiiiivvvveeee PPPPrrrrooooggggrrrreeeessssssss RRRReeeeppppoooorrrrtttt:::: 2222000000005555————2222000011111111 SSSSttttoooorrrrmmmmwwwwaaaatttteeeerrrr Stormwater is a significant problem for water quality and clarity when there is a high level of sedimentation and other pollutants. There are many effective ways to treat and prevent stormwater from entering our rivers and streams; one of the most effective of these practices is forested buffers, which

protect waterways by intercepting sediments and nutrients, stabilizing stream banks, increasing and improving local biodiversity, and maintaining cooler stream water temperatures. The Corsica River watershed currently contains approximately 5000 acres of forested riparian buffers.

Stormwater wetland ponds and bio-retention practices (also known as Low Impact Development (LID), or Environmental Site Design) are common types of stormwater BMPs implemented in the Corsica. These new or retrofitted retention areas capture and hold excess stormwater during rain/snow events and prevent high flow into nearby streams and rivers, Stormwater Drain thereby reducing nutrient runoff, bank erosion, and heavy sedimentation. Infiltration practices

can greatly improve ground water levels, reduce flooding, and are generally cheaper to install than traditional stormwater practices.

The Town of Centreville has installed many stormwater Rain Garden retrofits and now treats an additional 112 acres of run off.

The Town also has a street sweeping program. In addition, 308 rain gardens have been installed by CRC. Queen Anne’s County Department of Public Works has introduced permeable concrete and asphalt. Permeable pavement allows some water to penetrate parking lot surfaces rather than Street Sweeper rush into storm drains.

7 CCCCoooorrrrssssiiiiccccaaaa TTTTaaaarrrrggggeeeetttteeeedddd WWWWaaaatttteeeerrrrsssshhhheeeedddd IIIInnnniiiittttiiiiaaaattttiiiivvvveeee PPPPrrrrooooggggrrrreeeessssssss RRRReeeeppppoooorrrrtttt:::: 2222000000005555————2222000011111111 WWWWaaaasssstttteeeewwwwaaaatttteeeerrrr TTTTrrrreeeeaaaattttmmmmeeeennnntttt PPPPllllaaaannnntttt ((((WWWWWWWWTTTTPPPP)))) There is one wastewater treatment plant in the Corsica watershed on Gravel Run, a tributary to the

Corsica River. This plant was upgraded to Biological Nutrient Removal (BNR) in 2010. The WWTP current capacity is 542,000 gallons/day. The new system greatly reduces the amount of nutrients exiting the plant through treated water: nitrogen to approximately 5-7 mg/liter and phosphorus to 0.3 mg/liter. This should reduced algae blooms and dead zones along Gravel Run and the Corsica main stem. The use of spray

irrigation onto farm land for eight months of the year has significantly reduced nutrient outputs from the plant as well. Upgrades to the Centerville wastewater treatment have reduced nitrogen and phosphorus pollution to the river by 50,770 lbs/year and 4,260 lbs/year.

SSSSeeeeppppttttiiiicccc SSSSyyyysssstttteeeemmmm NNNNiiiittttrrrrooooggggeeeennnn RRRReeeedddduuuuccccttttiiiioooonnnn RRRReeeettttrrrrooooffffiiiittttssss Best Available Technology (BAT) retrofits to septic systems reduce nitrogen output by 50 percent on average. The Maryland Department of the Environment gives counties in Maryland funding to install retrofit septic systems from the State’s Bay Restoration Fund. The majority of State funding to date is

used for septic systems in the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area, as well as for failing septic systems elsewhere. In the Corsica watershed, sixteen (16) de-nitrifying septic system retrofits have been installed – more than half way to the 30 retrofit goal set for the watershed. In the future, all new homes needing on-site systems may be required to install BAT.

OOOOyyyysssstttteeeerrrrssss Oysters are an important component of restoration because of their water filtering capacity. A single adult oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water a day. Because of the Corsica’s depth and physical characteristics, small improvements in water clarity can lead to larger increases in habitat restoration and overall water quality. The Oyster Recovery Partnership (ORP) is working

to restore original oyster bars and populations in rivers all over Maryland. This partnership has provided research and funding to help replenish 10 acres of oysters in the Corsica River. The CRC also has an active restoration program, currently in its fourth year, which helps residents grow oysters for reef replenishment through the State’s Maryland Grows Oysters (MGO) program at Department of Natural Resources.

The Department of Natural Resources designated the entire Corsica River as an Oyster Sanctuary in 2010, which states that the entire river is closed to shellfish harvesting. This should have a positive effect on restoring oyster populations to near historic levels, if water conditions and other factors can support the native oysters.

8 CCCCoooorrrrssssiiiiccccaaaa TTTTaaaarrrrggggeeeetttteeeedddd WWWWaaaatttteeeerrrrsssshhhheeeedddd IIIInnnniiiittttiiiiaaaattttiiiivvvveeee PPPPrrrrooooggggrrrreeeessssssss RRRReeeeppppoooorrrrtttt:::: 2222000000005555————2222000011111111 Project Highlight As part of the Town of Centreville's stormwater management effort to reduce stormwater runoff and to meet the goals of the Corsica River Watershed Restoration Strategy, the Town made outfall improvements to the existing 24" storm drain outfall located at the Centreville Waste Water Treatment Plant. The existing storm drain system consisted of a concrete headwall that was severely damaged which

resulted in erosion at the outfall and receiving channel. The project removed and disposed of the damaged concrete headwall and broken 24" concrete pipe, re-graded the slopes at the outfall, and installed three vegetated plunge pools in a stepped fashion constructed with large sandstone boulders and smaller silica cobbles.

9 CCCCoooorrrrssssiiiiccccaaaa TTTTaaaarrrrggggeeeetttteeeedddd WWWWaaaatttteeeerrrrsssshhhheeeedddd IIIInnnniiiittttiiiiaaaattttiiiivvvveeee PPPPrrrrooooggggrrrreeeessssssss RRRReeeeppppoooorrrrtttt:::: 2222000000005555————2222000011111111 SSSSttttrrrreeeeaaaammmmssss There are several tributaries in the Corsica River, including Three Bridges Branch, Gravel Run, Old Mill Stream, Emory Creek, Alder Branch and Earle Creek which all empty into the river proper. The

DNR Maryland Biological Stream Survey (MBSS) has monitored 22 sites overall in the river for benthic macro invertebrates (stream bugs), physical conditions, and fish populations to help determine overall stream health. Their findings show that from 2006 to 2011, the majority of sites in the watershed had no change in their biological condition. This would suggest that habitat and water quality conditions have not changed at these sites during that same time period. The analysis of Indicator of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scores in the

Corsica River watershed indicate that higher scores are associated with sites that have greater habitat diversity. Most sites within the sub-watershed areas have an average of good to fair conditions. Research has shown fish and benthic community diversity to be closely linked with habitat conditions; these include intact riparian forest buffers, low sedimentation, and stream temperature. There is

stream restoration potential in the watershed, and specific opportunities are being considered. The dwarf wedge mussel, which is a State Endangered Dwarf Wedgemussel Photo by: and Federally listed endangered species, is found in some of the up- Susi von Oettingen/USFWS per tributaries of the Corsica River.

FFFFoooorrrreeeessssttttssss,,,, WWWWeeeettttllllaaaannnnddddssss &&&& LLLLiiiivvvviiiinnnngggg SSSShhhhoooorrrreeeelllliiiinnnneeeessss Forests occupy over 25% of the land within the watershed, with approximately 75% being privately owned. Forest Stewardship Plans have been prepared within the past six years covering 702 acres.

Since 2007 approximately five Timber Harvest Plans have been written for 152 acres. The healthiest rivers and streams are usually found in highly forested areas. Forests, wetlands, and living shorelines help protect water quality, host an abundance of living habitat, and buffer the landscape from storms and rising sea levels.

To date, 88.3 acres of wetlands have been restored in the watershed, which is above the original goal of 50 acres.

Also, approximately 1,475 linear feet of living shoreline has been restored or enhanced.

10 CCCCoooorrrrssssiiiiccccaaaa TTTTaaaarrrrggggeeeetttteeeedddd WWWWaaaatttteeeerrrrsssshhhheeeedddd IIIInnnniiiittttiiiiaaaattttiiiivvvveeee PPPPrrrrooooggggrrrreeeessssssss RRRReeeeppppoooorrrrtttt:::: 2222000000005555————2222000011111111 AAAAqqqquuuuaaaattttiiiicccc RRRReeeessssoooouuuurrrrcccceeeessss Extensive monitoring is being conducted to track changes in both habitat and biota. The tidal fish

community has been monitored by Maryland’s Fisheries Service since 2003.

Sixteen species comprise 90% of seine or trawl catches collected in the Corsica River annually during 2004-2011, including Atlantic silverside, striped killifish, banded killifish, white perch, spottail shiner, blueback herring, alewife, spot, Atlantic menhaden, pumpkinseed, striped bass, channel catfish, yellow perch, striped and bay anchovy. Blue crabs are common in the Corsica River Yellow Perch

and support local recreational and commercial fisheries.

At this time, there is no indication that the Corsica River is exhibiting improvements or declines in habitat quality based on water quality and fish assemblages. Anadromous fish spawning and larval surveys, and species richness and relative abundance during summer indicated that Corsica River functions as spawning, nursery, and adult habitat for important Bay species.

CCCCoooommmmmmmmuuuunnnniiiittttyyyy IIIInnnnvvvvoooollllvvvveeeemmmmeeeennnntttt The Corsica River Conservancy (CRC) mission is to restore and preserve the Corsica River and its watershed.

Their goal is to reduce pollution, sedimentation and loss of habitat to a level that will remove the Corsica from the EPA list of impaired rivers. The CRC sponsors an annual Corsica Watershed Awareness Day Corsica River Awareness Day that is held on the 3rd Saturday in September from noon to 4 p.m. at Bloomfield Farm on Route 213, just north of Centreville. This is a free event, which combines family fun with engaging environmental education.

During the past six years this has become a local tradition attracting over 1,000 visitors each year. Corsica River Awareness Day 11 CCCCoooorrrrssssiiiiccccaaaa TTTTaaaarrrrggggeeeetttteeeedddd WWWWaaaatttteeeerrrrsssshhhheeeedddd IIIInnnniiiittttiiiiaaaattttiiiivvvveeee PPPPrrrrooooggggrrrreeeessssssss RRRReeeeppppoooorrrrtttt:::: 2222000000005555————2222000011111111 WWWWaaaatttteeeerrrr QQQQuuuuaaaalllliiiittttyyyy TTTTrrrreeeennnnddddssss::::

WWWWhhhhaaaatttt aaaarrrreeee TTTThhhheeeeyyyy TTTTeeeelllllllliiiinnnngggg UUUUssss????

In order to be able to measure water quality improvements as a result of BMP implementation efforts, a comprehensive monitoring program was developed and initiated in the Corsica Watershed by the Maryland Department of the Environment, Department of Natural Resources, and the US Geological Survey in 2005. The water quality monitoring efforts focused on both the non-tidal and tidal portions of the Corsica watershed.

Figure 8: Water quality, biology and habitat monitoring sites in the Corsica Watershed 12 CCCCoooorrrrssssiiiiccccaaaa TTTTaaaarrrrggggeeeetttteeeedddd WWWWaaaatttteeeerrrrsssshhhheeeedddd IIIInnnniiiittttiiiiaaaattttiiiivvvveeee PPPPrrrrooooggggrrrreeeessssssss RRRReeeeppppoooorrrrtttt:::: 2222000000005555————2222000011111111 NNNNoooonnnn----TTTTiiiiddddaaaallll WWWWaaaatttteeeerrrr QQQQuuuuaaaalllliiiittttyyyy MMMMoooonnnniiiittttoooorrrriiiinnnngggg

The Maryland Department of the Environment focused on four monitoring initiatives:

• Continuous Long-Term Tributary Water Quality Monitoring

• Synoptic Survey Nutrient Monitoring

• Septic System Nitrogen Reducing Retrofit Monitoring

• Stormwater and Stormwater Retrofit Monitoring

CCCCoooonnnnttttiiiinnnnuuuuoooouuuussss LLLLoooonnnngggg----TTTTeeeerrrrmmmm TTTTrrrriiiibbbbuuuuttttaaaarrrryyyy WWWWaaaatttteeeerrrr QQQQuuuuaaaalllliiiittttyyyy MMMMoooonnnniiiittttoooorrrriiiinnnngggg There are three continuous long-term water quality monitoring sites located on Three Bridges Branch the three main tributaries that feed into the Corsica River: Three Bridges Branch, Gravel Run, and

Old Mill Stream. These monitoring sites were established to measure the nutrient levels coming from the headwaters of the Gravel Run Corsica Watershed into the main stem of the Corsica River.

Water quality data collected at these sites gives watershed managers some insight into trends over time.

In the non-tidal portion Old Mill Stream of the Corsica Watershed, concentrations of both nitrogen and phosphorous have shown statistically significant decreasing trends in Three Bridges Branch Figure 8: Total Nitrogen 2005 to 2011 and Gravel Run over the last five years. No nutrient trends have been observed in Old Mill Stream at this time.

Figure 9: Three Corsica Tributaries Total Nitrogen (mg/L) 2005 to 2011 13 CCCCoooorrrrssssiiiiccccaaaa TTTTaaaarrrrggggeeeetttteeeedddd WWWWaaaatttteeeerrrrsssshhhheeeedddd IIIInnnniiiittttiiiiaaaattttiiiivvvveeee PPPPrrrrooooggggrrrreeeessssssss RRRReeeeppppoooorrrrtttt:::: 2222000000005555————2222000011111111 SSSSyyyynnnnooooppppttttiiiicccc SSSSuuuurrrrvvvveeeeyyyy NNNNuuuuttttrrrriiiieeeennnntttt MMMMoooonnnniiiittttoooorrrriiiinnnngggg

While the continuous long-term monitoring focuses on the larger scale of the three main tributaries draining into the Corsica Watershed, synoptic survey monitoring focuses on the smaller scale or streams draining into the three Corsica tributaries. A nutrient synoptic survey is comprised of many nutrient water quality samples collected at one time throughout the watershed at approximately fifty sites. The synoptic survey creates a snap shot of water quality

conditions that watershed managers can use to help locate nutrient sources or “hot spots” and therefore focus BMP implementation and track watershed nutrient characteristics.

SSSSeeeeppppttttiiiicccc SSSSyyyysssstttteeeemmmm NNNNiiiittttrrrrooooggggeeeennnn RRRReeeedddduuuuccccttttiiiioooonnnn RRRReeeettttrrrrooooffffiiiitttt MMMMoooonnnniiiittttoooorrrriiiinnnngggg Septic systems have been the traditional method for treating wastewater from residential homes not attached to city sewer. As a large portion of the non-agricultural non-point source nutrients, septic systems are believed to be a critical priority for addressing the nutrient TMDL in the Corsica River

watershed. Groundwater wells were installed in waterfront homes with traditional septic systems and a septic system with a nitrogen retro-fit system installed. These wells have been monitored once a month for five years. A 50% reduction in groundwater nitrogen concentrations has been observed at the site with the nitrogen reducing septic system installed.

SSSSttttoooorrrrmmmmwwwwaaaatttteeeerrrr &&&& SSSSttttoooorrrrmmmmwwwwaaaatttteeeerrrr RRRReeeettttrrrrooooffffiiiitttt MMMMoooonnnniiiittttoooorrrriiiinnnngggg Urban stormwater discharges into the Corsica River carry sediment, nutrients and contaminants. The Town of Centreville is located in the middle of the Corsica watershed which makes stormwater runoff an important factor in any attempt to control runoff entering the river. One such stormwater control

effort is the diversion of a direct stormwater outflow pipe that drained into Gravel Run into a created stormwater wetland. The wetland was designed to capture sediment and treat stormwater runoff from the Town of Centreville before it enters Gravel Run. One way of measuring success of the stormwater wetland is how much sediment was captured. After only eighteen months in operation, four cubic yards of sediment were removed from the forebay (or main sediment capture pond)

which would have gone directly into Gravel Run before the diversion into the wetland. In addition, the wetland significantly improved water quality by removing petroleum and heavy metal contaminants in the stormwater runoff.

14 CCCCoooorrrrssssiiiiccccaaaa TTTTaaaarrrrggggeeeetttteeeedddd WWWWaaaatttteeeerrrrsssshhhheeeedddd IIIInnnniiiittttiiiiaaaattttiiiivvvveeee PPPPrrrrooooggggrrrreeeessssssss RRRReeeeppppoooorrrrtttt:::: 2222000000005555————2222000011111111 TTTTiiiiddddaaaallll WWWWaaaatttteeeerrrr QQQQuuuuaaaalllliiiittttyyyy MMMMoooonnnniiiittttoooorrrriiiinnnngggg Maryland DNR’s Tidewater Ecosystem Assessment division is responsible for the tidal water quality

monitoring and assessment that helps support the management actions of this project. There are five continuous water quality monitors at three locations in the tidal portion of the Corsica River that collect dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll, turbidity, water temperature, salinity and pH data. In addition, there are monthly water quality research vessel cruises that collect samples from April through October.

The observed positive trends toward nutrient reductions in two of the non-tidal tributaries entering into Figure 10: DNR Tidal Monitoring Stations the Corsica have been encouraging. Due to many influential factors such as slow transport of groundwater, tidal mixing, and suspension of legacy sediments similar results have not been observed in the tidal portion of the Corsica River. As we continue implementation efforts in the watershed, future trends may show observable improvements in the

tidal portion of the Corsica River as well.

VVVVoooolllluuuunnnntttteeeeeeeerrrr MMMMoooonnnniiiittttoooorrrriiiinnnngggg ((((CCCCoooorrrrssssiiiiccccaaaa RRRRiiiivvvveeeerrrr CCCCoooonnnnsssseeeerrrrvvvvaaaannnnccccyyyy————CCCCRRRRCCCC)))) A team of local resident volunteers, trained by the Maryland Department of the Environment, conducts weekly water quality testing all along the Corsica River from May to October each year. Tests include temperature, salinity, clarity,

conductivity, dissolved oxygen, pH, and bacteria (Enterococci). The bacteria samples are analyzed by the Maryland Department of Health. Weather conditions surrounding each sampling event are documented. Results are submitted to state and federal databases and published locally. Figure 11: Corsica Volunteer DO Monitoring Results The CRC has been monitoring water quality at five sites in the Corsica River since 2005.

The data collected is very important for tracking the ecological health of the Corsica River. At this time, it is difficult to discern any water quality trends in the tidal portion of the Corsica River.

Figure 12: Corsica Volunteer Bacteria Monitoring Results 15 CCCCoooommmmpppprrrreeeehhhheeeennnnssssiiiivvvveeee IIIImmmmpppplllleeeemmmmeeeennnnttttaaaattttiiiioooonnnn SSSSttttrrrraaaatttteeeeggggiiiieeeessss ffffoooorrrr tttthhhheeee CCCCoooorrrrssssiiiiccccaaaa RRRRiiiivvvveeeerrrr::::

2222000011112222 ttttoooo 2222000011116666 The Corsica Watershed Initiative started in 2005 with specific goals established to move toward the restoration of the Corsica River. Now, six years into the project, it is time to revisit the original goals, see what worked, apply lessons learned, and adapt to move forward with the continued restoration of the Corsica River. The fo llowing table lists the original restoration goals, and the updated (new) goals.

Table 1: Corsica Watershed Implementation Strategies/Goal Status and Future Plans Previous New Best 2005 - 2011 2012 - 2016 Cost Nutrient (N & P) Management $/Unit or $/Acre Reductions Practice (BMP) Status NEW Original Goal End of 2011 Goal

1. Agricultural 100 acres 94.3 acres 125 ac re-enroll Grass Buffers: Grass Buffers:

Buffers 25 ac new en- Avg Implementation $ = N Removal = 16.92lbs/ac/yr roll Cool Season = $425/ac P removal = 1.08lbs/ac/yr Warm Season = $500/ac Forest Buffers:

Forested Buffers: N Removal = 27.28lbs/ac/yr Avg Implementation $ = P removal = 2.15lbs/ac/yr $600/ac.

Based on the Summary of This does not include BMP Nutrient Reduction Caladditional annual culations (MDA source) rental payments

2. Agricultural 3,000 acres 3,374 acres Maintain 5,500 $45/acre is the base payment Cover Crops:

Cover Crops Annually Annual avg. acres annually for cover crops with addi- N Removal = 9.48lbs/ac tional environmental incen- P Removal = 0.13lbs/ac tives added Small Grain:

N Removal = 6.31lbs/ac P Removal = 0.07lbs/ac Based on the Summary of BMP Nutrient Reduction Calculations (MDA Source)

3. Agricultural. 5 Projects 3 Farms are This issue has The cost on a per farm basis

Nutrient currently being been addressed to write a nutrient manage- Mgmt. /Horse planned through out- ment plan for equine ranges Farms reach efforts from $250-$300 based on and will not be estimates received for small part of the operations project going forward

4. Implement ad- NA NA 50 The cost of implementing The nutrient reduction varies

ditional BMPs BMPs varies depending on depending on which BMP is on Agricultural the type and extent of each implemented land practice.

5. Catalog all NA NA 125 Individual The cost associated with this Nutrient reduction for cost

BMPs on farms parcels work is included in the fund- shared BMPs was indicated at including ing for the planner position. the time the BMP was implefarmer funded. mented. Nutrient reduction for farmer funded BMPs will be based on a functional equivalent to be determined.

6. Wetland 50 acres 88.3 acres 20 acres Variable N/A

Creation 16 Table 1 (Continued): Corsica Watershed Implementation Strategies/Goal Status and Future Plans Previous New Best 2005 - 2011 2012 - 2016 Cost Nutrient (N & P) Management $/Unit or $/Acre Reductions Practice (BMP) Status NEW Original Goal End of 2011 Goal

7. Retrofit Septic 30 16 14 $13,000/System Approximately

Systems 12 lbs Nitrogen/System/Year

8. WWTP Enhance Biological Nu- None $4,500,000 N = 50,770 lbs/Year

Upgrade Nutrient trient Removal P = 4,260 lbs/Year Removal (BNR): Operat- Measured from pre-BNR (ENR) ing @ ENR levels with BNR treatment, based on annual average

9. LID Projects 200 Rain 308 Rain 100 Rain $2,000/Rain Garden Rain Gardens per acre:

(Rain Gardens/ Gardens Gardens Gardens $60/Rain Barrel N=4.14 lbs/acre Rain Barrels) 170 Rain 40 Rain P=0.33 lbs/acre Barrels Barrels Rain Barrels: N/A

10. Easements 1,710 acres 5,800 acres 200 acres N/A TBD

and Land Acquisition

11. Oyster Reef 20 Acres 10 Acres 20 Acres $1,000,000/ ≈ 100 million N/A

Replenishment (100 million spat) (50 million spat) (100 million spat) spat

12. New Code Town: Revisions to

and Ordinance Tree and pet parking code waste ordi- requirements nances County:

Septic pump out & lawn fertilizer maintenance

13. Establish 300 300 Acres 112.54 Acres 187.46 Acres $15,000/Acre Varies per BMP since 2006:

acres of storm- N = 138 lbs/yr water retrofits P = 19 lbs/yr Sediment = 1.5 tons/yr

14. Establish SAV 10 Acres 0 Acres 10 Acres $100,000 for 10 acres seeded N/A

only, w/ 3 species

15. Stream 2 Miles 0 Miles 0.5 Miles Approx $150/linear ft., may Per linear ft/lb

Restoration be less for rural streams (new interim rates)

N= 0.20, P = 0.068

TSS = 310

New Practices: NA NA TBD N/A N/A Dam removal Fish Blockage Street Sweeping NA NA 50 tons/yr $25,000/Year Varies per season sediment & debris 17 CCCCoooorrrrssssiiiiccccaaaa TTTTaaaarrrrggggeeeetttteeeedddd WWWWaaaatttteeeerrrrsssshhhheeeedddd IIIInnnniiiittttiiiiaaaattttiiiivvvveeee PPPPrrrrooooggggrrrreeeessssssss RRRReeeeppppoooorrrrtttt:::: 2222000000005555————2222000011111111 LLLLeeeessssssssoooonnnnssss LLLLeeeeaaaarrrrnnnneeeedddd

This watershed restoration effort was designed to address the major impacts and stressors which affected water quality in the main-stem (tidal portion) of the Corsica River. High nutrient loading was specifically identified as the most important stressor to the overall health of the river. As with all dynamic living systems, there must be built-in adaptive management, and some goals identified in the

original WRAS could not be addressed due to various reasons; including costs and cost effectiveness, the current ability of the river to support resources like oysters and submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV), and impacts to the river that involve sensitive species.

The items below include both on-going objectives that have been successful and some that need to be further implemented; all are essential to a highly functioning initiative.

• Effectively communicating conservation goals in the watershed;

• Engaging local communities in protection and restoration;

• Developing clear, measurable, science-based restoration and conservation strategies;

• Forming and maintaining a project implementation team that includes state, county, municipal,

agricultural and local citizen representatives;

• Narrowing focus to the sub-watershed level to assess non-tidal impacts and impairments;

• Focusing protection and restoration efforts that accomplish cost- effective and long-term sustainable gains;

• Accounting for lag time that can be associated with water quality improvements;

• Having a central tracking repository for data and implementation activities, as well as analyzing

data results annually.

18 CCCCoooorrrrssssiiiiccccaaaa TTTTaaaarrrrggggeeeetttteeeedddd WWWWaaaatttteeeerrrrsssshhhheeeedddd IIIInnnniiiittttiiiiaaaattttiiiivvvveeee PPPPrrrrooooggggrrrreeeessssssss RRRReeeeppppoooorrrrtttt:::: 2222000000005555————2222000011111111 TTTThhhhiiiinnnnggggssss YYYYoooouuuu CCCCaaaannnn DDDDoooo TTTToooo IIIImmmmpppprrrroooovvvveeee YYYYoooouuuurrrr LLLLooooccccaaaallll RRRRiiiivvvveeeerrrrssss &&&& SSSSttttrrrreeeeaaaammmmssss

Opportunities for the public to engage in this, or any, watershed effort are many and critically important. Planting trees, growing oysters, participating in monitoring efforts, installing rain gardens/barrels are just some of the opportunities for public involvement and should be utilized to the greatest degree possible. More and more groups and agencies are relying on and fostering community level engagement and education in order to protect and restore water and other valuable resources around

the country and the world.

PPPPllllaaaannnntttt TTTTrrrreeeeeeeessss////BBBBuuuuffffffffeeeerrrrssss Planting riparian buffers along waterways is essential in limiting nutrient runoff, both in urban, suburban, and agriculture areas. The Department of Natural Resources has a several funding sources that can pay for tree buffers and similar projects on private and public land. Contact MD DNR’s Chesapeake and Costal Program for more information. You can also work with the Corsica Conservancy

for specific projects.

http://dnr.maryland.gov/ccp/index.asp http://www.corsicariverconservancy.org/ Forest Stewardship Plan: Any homeowner with 5 acres or more can become certified on their private property. Contact the DNR Forestry Department or your County Forester.

MMMMaaaarrrryyyyllllaaaannnndddd DDDDNNNNRRRR’’’’ssss OOOOyyyysssstttteeeerrrr CCCCaaaaggggeeee PPPPrrrrooooggggrrrraaaammmm The CRC has been growing oysters under the state Maryland Grows Oysters (MGO) program since 2009. In 2011, 40 properties owners on the Corsica hosted 221 oyster cages filled with shells that had been seeded with oyster spat. The CRC plans to continue and expand their oyster recovery program. If you have a pier or dock along the river and want to participate in the program, please

contact CRC.

For other areas in Maryland, contact Chris Judy at MD DNR:

http://www.oysters.maryland.gov/ RRRRaaaaiiiinnnn GGGGaaaarrrrddddeeeennnnssss &&&& RRRRaaaaiiiinnnn BBBBaaaarrrrrrrreeeellllssss The Corsica River Conservancy developed a rain garden program in 2006, and has installed of over 300 residential rain gardens in the Corsica River watershed as of 2011. Rain gardens are an important component to local restoration efforts, by providing a hands-on learning opportunity to

homeowners, and by capturing excess nutrient runoff.

19 CCCCoooorrrrssssiiiiccccaaaa TTTTaaaarrrrggggeeeetttteeeedddd WWWWaaaatttteeeerrrrsssshhhheeeedddd IIIInnnniiiittttiiiiaaaattttiiiivvvveeee PPPPrrrrooooggggrrrreeeessssssss RRRReeeeppppoooorrrrtttt:::: 2222000000005555————2222000011111111 Through several grant programs, homeowners in the Corsica watershed have had rain gardens available to them free of charge. CRC will be looking for funding to continue this highly successful program. Please check

our website at www.corsicariverconservancy.org for updates on the status of our rain garden program.

Rain barrels are available for purchase online through multiple vendors.

http://www.rainbarrelsource.com MMMMiiiinnnniiiimmmmiiiizzzzeeee LLLLaaaawwwwnnnn FFFFeeeerrrrttttiiiilllliiiizzzzaaaattttiiiioooonnnn &&&& RRRReeeeccccyyyycccclllleeee YYYYoooouuuurrrr LLLLaaaawwwwnnnn CCCClllliiiippppppppiiiinnnnggggssss Lawns are Maryland’s biggest “crop” and a large source of nutrient runoff. You can have a nice lawn and still be mindful of your streams and river with just a little thought and care – and less work and

expense! There are several things you can do to accomplish this:

• Established lawns generally do not require spring fertilization. If you do buy weed killer for

spring/summer application, check the label of ingredients since many such products contain mostly unneeded fertilizer.

• The University of Maryland recommends fertilizer with no phosphorus and 0.9 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of lawn per year, preferably in the fall only.

• Cut your lawn so that clippings are recycled back into it. This helps add nitrogen back into the

soil which helps to improve the soil quality and decrease the amount of fertilizer you need.

• Have a soil test done to determine what your lawn actually needs and follow the recommendations from the results.

• If you water your lawn, do so only early in the morning, or late afternoon/evening, and be careful not to overwater since this is also a source of pollutant runoff.

PPPPeeeetttt WWWWaaaasssstttteeee PPPPrrrrooooggggrrrraaaammmm Pet waste not disposed of properly is responsible for substantial nutrient and bacteria deposits in local streams and rivers. The Town of Centreville has a pet waste ordinance that requires owners to properly dispose of all waste from pets.

CCCCoooorrrrssssiiiiccccaaaa RRRRiiiivvvveeeerrrr VVVVoooolllluuuunnnntttteeeeeeeerrrr MMMMoooonnnniiiittttoooorrrriiiinnnngggg The CRC has been monitoring water quality at five sites in the Corsica River since 2005. Monitoring is conducted from May through October. The following parameters are measured at one foot and at depth: Dissolved Oxygen (mg/l), Water Temperature (oC), Temperature compensated Conductivity

(mS/cm), Salinity (ppt), pH, Secchi Disk Water Clarity (m) and Enterococci (CFU).

To join the monitoring effort, go to:

http://www.corsicariverconservancy.org/water-quality-monitoring 20 CCCCoooorrrrssssiiiiccccaaaa TTTTaaaarrrrggggeeeetttteeeedddd WWWWaaaatttteeeerrrrsssshhhheeeedddd IIIInnnniiiittttiiiiaaaattttiiiivvvveeee PPPPrrrrooooggggrrrreeeessssssss RRRReeeeppppoooorrrrtttt:::: 2222000000005555————2222000011111111 AAAAcccckkkknnnnoooowwwwlllleeeeddddggggeeeemmmmeeeennnnttttssss Thank you to the following writers, editors, and contributors of this document:

Teri Batchelor, Maryland Department of Natural Resources Carrie Decker, Maryland Department of Natural Resources Frank Digilianardo, Corsica River Conservancy Jen Dindinger, University of Maryland Extension Program Quentin Forrest, Maryland Department of the Environment David Foster, Chester River Keeper Rob Gunter, Queen Anne County Planning Isabella Junkin, Chester River Association Eva Kerchner, Town of Centreville

Michael Kashiwagi, Maryland Department of Natural Resources Jim Malaro, Corsica River Conservancy Margaret McGinty, Maryland Department of Natural Resources Dave Mister, Maryland Department of Agriculture Debbie Pusey, Corsica River Conservancy Eric Ruby, Maryland Department of the Environment Erin Ryan, (Intern) Maryland Department of the Environment John Scarborough, Queen Anne County Public Works

Kevin Smith, Maryland Department of Natural Resources Katie Starr, Queen Anne’s Soil Conservation District Mark Trice, Maryland Department of Natural Resources 21