By Greg Ellison

(Sept. 30, 2021) The Ocean Pines Environmental and Natural Assets Committee discussed wildlife control measures and possible projects last Wednesday, including how to drum up support for an upcoming native planting event to be held by the Maryland Coastal Bays Program at Bainbridge Pond.

Environmental and Natural Assets Committee Chairperson Ken Wolf said community help is being sought to plant the local flora.

“We’re looking for volunteers to come on Oct. 4 to help Maryland Coastal Bays and us plant,” he said.

Coastal Bays representatives and the Ocean Pines Association are working on the project funded by Chesapeake Bay Trust grant with matching association’ funds.

The planting element is the final phase of the larger Bainbridge Pond project intended to enhance stormwater management, reduce flooding and improve water quality prior to entering coastal bays.

Native plants improve filtration of stormwater entering Bainbridge Pond by soaking up nutrients before flowing into the Isle of Wight Bay.

Volunteers should contact Steve Farr, Coastal Bays Program watershed coordinator, by calling 301-580-0848 or emailing sfarr@mdcoastalbays.org.

Planting is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 4 and should wrap up around lunch time. Although shovels and gloves will be available, participants should consider bringing tools. Organizers said workers should dress accordingly and that wearing boots is advisable.

The committee also reviewed the final version of new signs to be placed around the ponds that remind the public not to feed geese or other wildlife.

The signs warning against feeding the wild geese will be placed around the two North Gate ponds and at the South Gate Pond by Veterans Memorial Park.

“We’re going to get them produced and work with [Ocean Pines] Public Works on where they should be placed around the pond,” he said. “Ultimately, that’s their decision.”

Committee members talked further about a recent recommendation to test turf grass formulated for wildlife deterrence at the North Gate Pond.

Wolf said board liaison Tom Janasek opened discussions about installing FlightTurf during the directors’ meeting on Sept. 15.

FlightTurf, which was developed roughly a decade back, is distasteful to fowl and costs about $2,600 per acre without installation.

“The fellow who runs the golf course was very interested in this concept,” he said.

Golf Superintendent Justin Hartshorne offered to help research the viability of planting FlightTurf.

During the board meeting discussion, Director Collette Horn recommended that Janasek provide information on less costly alternatives.

Wolf said past attempts to discourage geese populations from feeding and nesting have run the gamut from dogs to chemically treated grasses.

“We tried to grow the grass, then we came in and applied chemicals to the lawn,” he said. “We also brought in Border Collies. There was no magic bullet that was going to do anything.”

Also discussed during the session was the water quality testing at various Pines ponds, including water retention areas at the Ocean Pines Golf Course.

“We did talk about the water quality testing, which had started at our behest in the ponds where there are geese,” he said.

Preliminary tests for bacteria had yielded subpar results, but a follow-up sampling found no areas of concern.

“There was an error in the testing that caused concern but there was a retest and it was found that there weren’t any problems,” he said.

Janasek is continuing to seek experts to help improve the committee’s understanding of tests for bacteria-levels.

“We want to get a better understanding of how to  interpret all the testing information that we’re getting back,” he said.

Additional progress was made on efforts to enhance a scarcely used pond and nature trail in the woods behind the Ocean Pines Library.

Located just south of Route 90, Off Shore Lake encompasses roughly half the footprint of South Gate Pond.

Wolf said committee members reviewed a recently completed land plat of the site commissioned by the association and completed by Vista Design.

Before taking any steps to develop the area for a nature preserve, the lake area’s boundaries must be clearly established.

“We’re working in concert with the Maryland Coastal Bays Program on this,” he said. “How we can make it more of a nature preserve.”

Committee members also voted to recommend that board of directors consider renovating a small number of neglected mailbox clusters.

“At least one mailbox site and potentially two,” he said.

Last November, the Ocean Pines Budget and Finance Committee decided a proposal to rehabilitate  three mailbox sites for between $60,000-$70,000 was too expensive, but agreed that repairs were needed.

“It was the last thing last year that didn’t make the budget,” he said.