Monday, February 27, 2012

Delaware Spring 2012 Trout Season

Delaware's DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife recently announced that its spring 2012 downstate trout season will begin Saturday, March 3 with the opening of two ponds stocked with rainbow trout.

Tidbury Pond near Dover in Kent County and Newton Pond outside of Greenwood in Sussex County will open for trout fishing beginning at 7 a.m.

According to officials, the ponds will receive 2 stockings of trout, including a few trophy-sized trout weighing more than 2 pounds.

Newton Pond, a restored borrow pit, will be stocked for its third year. The 10-acre site was renovated using Federal Aid in Sportfish Restoration funds and features a boat ramp for car top boats and canoes with no gasoline motors allowed, a fishing pier, and shoreline access for fishing.

According to DNREC, anglers fishing in Newton Pond are allowed to keep up to six rainbow trout, as they are a cold water species and can only survive while water temperatures in the pond remain cool.

Tidbury Pond is owned and managed by Kent County Parks and Recreation, and anglers are asked to be respectful of the vegetation and fences erected to protect landscaped areas. Newton Pond is owned and managed as a state wildlife area by the Division of Fish and Wildlife.

Each pond will initially be stocked with about 300 pounds of rainbow trout, average size 11 to 13 inches. Some “trophy-sized” rainbows weighing 2 pounds and measuring well over 14 inches also will be included. Stocking will be repeated Thursday, March 15 with the same amount of fish in each pond.

source: DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

2012 Mid Atlantic Salt Water Fishing Expo

The Mid Atlantic Salt Water Fishing Expo will be held March 30-April 1, 2012 at The Show Place in Richmond Virginia.

The Expo showcases Mid Atlantic pier fishing, surf fishing, spear fishing, inshore, and offshore fishing.

According to organizers, The Mid Atlantic Salt Water Fishing Expo is the largest salt water fishing show in Virginia.

Admission is $10.00 for adults and free for children 15 and under when accompanied with a paying adult. Parking is Free.

Show Hours:

Friday, March 30 - 4:00pm-9:00pm

Saturday, March 31  - 9:00am-6:00pm

Sunday, April 1 - 10:00am-6:00pm

Chesapeake Bay Oyster Restoration Master Plan Public Meetings

In April, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) will hold public meetings around the Chesapeake Bay to discuss plans to restore native oyster populations in the watershed.

During public meetings, audiences will have opportunities to ask questions and provide feedback. Members of the Norfolk and Baltimore district's oyster teams will be present at all meetings.

USACE will also be using Social Media via Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/NAOonFB). Questions posted during the meeting(s) will be shared and discussed at the public meetings and responses will be posted on Facebook.

People can also email questions and comments prior to the meetings to: NativeOysterRestMasterPlan@usace.army.mil.

The Native Oyster Restoration Master Plan is the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' plan for large-scale, science-based oyster restoration throughout the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.

Public meeting dates and locations are:

April 10 from 3-8PM
The Philip Merrill Environmental Center (Chesapeake Bay Foundation)
6 Herndon Ave., Annapolis MD 21403

April 19 from 3-8PM
Chesapeake College (Route 50)
1000 College Circle, Wye Mills MD 21679

April 17 from 4-9PM
Thomas Nelson Community College
99 Thomas Nelson Drive, Hampton VA  23666

source: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Friday, February 10, 2012

Green Streets - Green Jobs - Green Towns Grants

On February 8, 2012, the Chesapeake Bay Trust, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the state of Maryland unveiled an expanded Green Streets-Green Jobs-Green Towns grant initiative. The initiative is intended to help cities and towns in the Chesapeake Bay watershed accelerate greening efforts that improve watershed protection, community livability, and economic vitality.

The grant program is open to local governments and non-profit organizations in urban and suburban watersheds in the Chesapeake Bay region of Maryland, D.C., Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia who are interested in pursuing green streets, green infrastructure, and green jobs as part of their community or watershed planning.

Grant assistance up to $35,000 is available for infrastructure project planning and design, and up to $100,000 for implementation and construction. The strongest proposals will incorporate innovative green infrastructure and best management practices that maximize cost-effectiveness.

Projects selected will enhance sustainable watershed protection and green infrastructure stormwater management through low impact development practices, renewable energy use, local livability and green job creation. The request for proposals is available at www.cbtrust.org  with a deadline of March 9, 2012 for all applications.

The Green Streets-Green Jobs-Green Towns grant initiative will award more than $400,000 in 2012, double the funding from 2011. For more information on the Green Streets grant program please visit cbtrust.org.

source: Chesapeake Bay Trust