Restore

UPLAND

Stormwater runoff is the largest source of pollution to the Severn River. As the watershed of the river has been developed, the number of parking lots, roads, roofs, and other impervious surfaces has increased. These impervious surfaces do not absorb rainfall, instead the rainwater runs off of these surfaces with increasing speed and force, causing erosion and flushing pollutants like nitrogen, phosphorus, sediment, and toxics into the river. Much of our stormwater is funneled into the river through outdated gray infrastructure and degraded stream valleys. SRA works to address this pollution by replacing gray infrastructure with stormwater best management practices, and repairing erosive stream channels. From small-scale practices like rain gardens and bioswales, to large stream restoration projects, SRA is laser-focused on making sure stormwater be slowed down, spread out, and soaked into the soil, where it is filtered and cleaned before returning to the river. Native plantings in project areas also take up nitrogen and phosphorus, keeping it from reaching the river and fuelling algae blooms, which cause dead zones.

ON SHORE

Living shorelines integrate offshore stone structures with marsh plantings to stabilize shorelines and provide habitat for aquatic life. These projects include a suite of techniques which can be used to minimize coastal erosion and maintain coastal processes. Site-specific techniques may include the use of fiber coir logs, sills, groins, breakwaters or other natural components such as sand and marsh plantings.

Many times living shoreline techniques result in accumulation of sand at the project site, creating features like that in the picture below, called “tombolos”. These features in turn can diminish wave energy moving along the shoreline, prevent erosion, improve water quality, and allow animals like horseshoe crabs and Maryland terrapins to come on shore to spawn.

This graphic for the timeline of a living shoreline was graciously shared by our friends at Living Shoreline Collaborative.

IN-THE-WATER

Oysters

SRA’s in-the-water restoration focuses on oysters and takes a four-pronged approach to Oyster Restoration. First, we seek to increase the number of oyster growers in the Marylanders Grow Oysters program. Second, we work with the Oyster Recovery Partnership to deliver large-scale oyster plantings. Third, we monitor the health of the reefs to ensure our efforts deliver results. Finally, we look toward the future by pursuing new restoration reef sites to grow the oyster population.

Marylanders Grow Oysters Program

The MGO program uses volunteers to grow oysters on their pier. In the fall each volunteer will receive oyster spat-on-shell and cages to grow in a protected way for the critical first year of life. In the summer, volunteers will deliver their year-olds to a chosen reef to plant their oysters. If you would like more information or to participate, please fill out this form: