By Greg Ellison

(April 21, 2022) With springtime approaching full bloom the Ocean Pines Environmental & Natural Assets Committee met last week to review the community’s wildlife preservation efforts.

Committee Chair Sharon Santacroce said the recent covid outbreak in Public Works delayed the installation of “Keep Wildlife Wild” signs around pond areas.

“Everybody’s recovering,” she said.

Nevertheless, Santacroce said the new anti-feeding signs would be erected in short order.

Despite Public Works’ staffing challenges, Santacroce said crews were able to clear a clogged drainage ditch that feeds into the South Gate Pond to allow shad to make their way up from Manklin Creek to spawn.

“So the water is flowing now between Manklin Creek and the South Pond,” she said.

Santacroce said the committee was leading the charge to “save the shad.”

“They have an end to their life cycle when we see some of the die-off occur, which is natural,” she said. “What we don’t want to see is the fish dying because they’re trying to get back out to the ocean to grow.”

Santacroce said the goal is to keep shad thriving.

“It still has a lot of invasive species growing in that ditch but for the most part they cleaned it out,” she said. “Water is flowing so the shad can come and go as they need to right now.”

Committee members also learned of an abandoned kayak launch at the Route 90 pond that could be an addition to a comparable site tentatively slated for Pintail Park.

“We found out from a resident that lives there they already have a kayak launch that’s been there that hasn’t been maintained,” she said.

While a precise schedule hasn’t been established, the hope is that the dilapidated launch area could be returned to working order.

“We’re optimistic that Public Works will be able to go over and get that kayak launch cleaned up and revitalized,” she said.

Looking forward, the committee is anticipating a visit during next month’s meeting from Billy Weiland with Assateague Coastal Trust regarding geese-deterrence strategies.

“Our focus right now is working on a presentation with explanations and pictures for our plan at the South Gate Pond to keep erosion in check and deter the large geese gatherings,” she said.

To that end, Santacroce said Weiland, a watershed specialist, has tentatively agreed to give a presentation on the best way to deploy native plants.

“We want to know what’s the best recommendations for pond buffers,” she said. “He‘s going to come out to educate us.”

Santacroce called on Weiland after noticing his contact information on a poster promoting a native plant giveaway sponsored by Assateague Coastal Trust on May 7.

On another future front, committee members also reviewed plans for the upcoming Bay Day scheduled on May 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at White Horse Park.

“We have some members that are going to participate,” she said.

The third annual Bay Day is being produced in conjunction with the Maryland Coastal Bays Program through the Ocean Pines Association. The event aims to educate residents about environmental campaigns in the region and motivate individual efforts to preserve watersheds.

Bay Day plans went awry in the past two years due to covid and were cancelled in 2019 because of an approaching hurricane.

“We haven’t had one in three years,” she said.

Santacroce said the Environmental Committee members would operate a table during Bay Day and also help the Marine Activities Committee haul debris from waterways.

“Marine Activities is setting up the “marine plunder” to have boats pull trash from the river,” she said.

The next Environmental & Natural Assets Committee meeting is scheduled on May 18 at 10 a.m.