Gunpowder Valley Conservancy

'Super Socks' Help Stem Pollution Runoff

ScienceDaily (July 25, 2010) — Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists and their collaborators have improved on an existing method for removing contaminants from storm water runoff. These findings could provide surface waters additional protection against runoff containing pollutants from point sources such as construction sites, storm waters and other urban landscapes.

Read the rest of the article here: Click here

Greening Block Party

Evening in the Forest - Sponsorship Opportunities

We would like to thank our sponsors:

Oak Tree Sponsor

Sycamore Sponsors

Food and Beverage Sponsors

Rogue Caterering will be providing an exquisite menu for the evening

Boordy will be providing select wines from their collection for the event

 

Clipper City will be providing their beer ~ Heavy Seas ~

Willow Tree Sponsors:

 

Addition sponsors:

 

Kiwanis Club of Timonium

Cromwell Valley Park

Towson Optimist Club

 Bob Batchelor

Roger C Birkel and Ellen Stokes

Charles Conklin

Gunpowder Valley Conservancy

“Evening in the Forest”

Celebrating the 20^th Anniversary of the GVC

 

Sponsorship Opportunities

 

Forest Circle    $5,000 

               • 30 tickets to Evening in the Forest

               • 4 reserved parking spots

               • Top billing on all event signage and event program

               • Logo placement on the printed invitation

               • Recognition that evening as premier GVC sponsor

               • Recognition in all media and printed materials

               • Sponsorship recognition in 2 issues of GVC’s newsletter  

               • Listing on the GVC website for 1 year with link to sponsor’s website 

 

Oak Tree Circle    $2,500

               • 14 tickets to Evening in the Forest

               • 2 reserved parking spots

               • Logo placement on the printed invitation

               • Logo placement on event signage

               • Recognition from the podium during program

               • Recognition in all media and printed materials

               • Sponsorship recognition in GVC’s newsletter 

               • Listing on the GVC’s website for 6 months with link to sponsor’s website 

 

Sycamore Tree Circle     $1,500

               • 10 tickets to  Evening in the Forest

               • Name placement on the printed invitation

               • Logo placement on signage

                •Recognition from the podium during program

               • Recognition in all media and printed materials

               • Sponsorship recognition in GVC’s newsletter 

               • Listing on the GVC  website for 6 months   

 Willow Tree Circle    $1,000

• 6 tickets to Evening in the Forest

               • Name placement on the printed invitation

               • Sponsorship recognition on signage

                •Recognition in all media and printed materials

               •Recognition from the podium during program

               • Sponsorship recognition in GVC’s newsletter 

               • Listing on the GVC  website for 6 months   

  

Dogwood Tree Circle    $500

               • 4 tickets to Evening in the Forest

               • Name placement on the printed invitation

               • Sponsorship recognition on signage

               •Recognition from the podium during program

                •Recognition in all media and printed materials

               • Sponsorship recognition in GVC’s newsletter 

              

Red Bud Tree Circle   $250

               • 2 tickets to Evening in the Forest

               • Name placement on the printed invitation

               • Sponsorship recognition on signage 

               • Recognition from the podium during program

               • Recognition in all media and printed materials

               • Sponsorship recognition in GVC’s newsletter 

To become a sponsor - please email info@gunpowderfalls.org and a marketing committee member will contact you shortly.

 

 

An Evening in the Forest

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE GVC AND ATTENDING THIS EVENT!

WE HAD A GREAT TURN OUT AND GREAT WEATHER!

IF YOU HAVE PICTURES - PLEASE Email to info@gunpowderfalls.org - if you have a disk or many photos please email us and we'll give you an address if you can send us them on a CD.

You can also upload your photos to Facebook!

Thank You,

GVC Staff

J

oin us on Saturday, September 25, from 5pm-8pm for wine from Baltimore County Vineyards such as Boordy Vineyards and beer from local breweries such as Clipper City, delight in some tasty hors d'oeuvres while exploring the beautiful grounds of Camp Puh’tok in Monkton, Maryland. The evening will feature wonderful food provided by the finest restaurants and caterers from the Gunpowder Valley, each highlighting their specialty. Dessert will be served under the stars and full moon.

 

What a perfect way to welcome in the Fall, spend the Evening in the Forest with great food, local wines, a silent auction and live entertainment, while raising funds to benefit the mission of the Gunpowder Valley Conservancy.

For the past twenty years, the GVC has preserved the character, history and environmental integrity in the watershed of the Big Gunpowder and Little Gunpowder Falls. By conserving lands that support agriculture and ecological systems; protecting and restoring wetlands, streams, and riparian areas; preserving historic and natural resources; and promoting education, stewardship and outdoor activities the GVC has an extensive mission.

 

There are two ways to purchase tickets - either by check or through Google's Secured Checkout.
For check orders - please mail checks, along with number of tickets requested and a return address to:

Gunpowder Valley Conservancy
P.O. Box 9733
Towson, MD 21284
Make checks payable to Gunpowder Valley Conservancy.

 

If you were unable to attend the event, please consider a tax-deductible contribution to the GVC.

$

Interested in becoming a sponsor? - Click here to learn more.

A special thank you to our Sponsors :

Oak Tree Sponsor

Sycamore Tree Sponsors

               

Willow Tree Sponsors

  

Dogwood Tree Sponsors

Red Bud Tree Sponsors

Food and Beverage sponsors:

 

Local Winery ~ Boordy~ will be providers of the evenings wine selection

Local brewery ~ Clipper City ~ will be providing beer for the evening

 

$

Interested in becoming a sponsor? - Click here to learn more.

A special thank you to our Sponsors :

Oak Tree Sponsor

Sycamore Tree Sponsors

               

Willow Tree Sponsors

  

Dogwood Tree Sponsors

Red Bud Tree Sponsors

Food and Beverage sponsors:

 

Local Winery ~ Boordy~ will be providers of the evenings wine selection

Local brewery ~ Clipper City ~ will be providing beer for the evening

 

Media Resources

Are you looking for more information on how you can become a part of the Jennifer Branch restoration and clean-up?

Below are sites and materials that will help you better understand our efforts and those of others participating in the Jennifer Branch project.

Jennifer Branch Presentation from April 2009 Community Meeting (Download)

Baltimore County DEPRM has proposed stream restoration for a portion of Jennifer Branch between Northwind and Harford Roads. Jennifer Branch is experiencing common problems found in many of the County's suburban stream systems. Baltimore County responds to degraded streams with a naturally functioning self sustaining approach that will restore essential stream system processes. More information on this approach can be found in the EPA publication Baltimore County Stream Restoration Improves Quality of Life(2.1 MB PDF).

Maryland Master Gardener Program promotes the vision of a healthier world through environmental stewardship. Our mission is to educate Maryland residents about safe, effective and sustainable horticultural practices that build healthy gardens, landscapes, and communities. The Maryland Master Gardener Program was started in 1978 as a means of extending the horticultural and pest management expertise of Maryland Cooperative Extension to the general public.Today, this popular program can be found in 18 Maryland counties, Baltimore City, and two Maryland prisons. http://mastergardener.umd.edu/

Baltimore County Master Gardeners www.bcmastergardeners.weebly.com

Baltimore County Master Gardeners mission is to educate county residents about safe, effective, and sustainable horticultural practices that build healthy gardens, landscapes, and communities.

The MD Bay-Wise Program focuses on water quality. It comprises a comprehensive set of environmental topics that affect the quality and quantity of water here in Maryland. Most of these topics relate to landscape management, however, a few, like hydrology, wells & septic systems, hazardous household products and water conservation, address household issues.http://baywise.umd.edu/bwprogram.cfm

The University of Maryland provides their Home and Garden information center. Visit their page at http://www.hgic.umd.edu/

Working together, 38 (and growing) partners are implementing a RainScaping Campaign to improve the health of Anne Arundel County's tributaries and the Chesapeake Bay. The campaign highlights pollutants carried to our waterways in stormwater runoff such as sediment, excess nutrients from overuse of fertilizers, pesticides, oils, metals, and other contaminants; as well as the lack of natural filtering processes and infiltration. The RainScaping Campaign promotes a comprehensive approach to easy-to-use solutions to clean up our streams, creeks, rivers, and the Chesapeake Bay. RainScaping techniques such as rain gardens, native tree and shrub planting, rain barrels, and permeable pavers are proven and widely-accepted "beautiful landscaping techniques" that effectively manage stormwater runoff at the source, while protecting natural resources and providing wildlife habitat.www.rainscaping.org

Volunteers Needed! - May 29th!

HELLO VOLUNTEERS,

The Gunpowder Valley Conservancy is in need of 20 more volunteers for this Saturday, May 29th!  

What:  Trail Maintenance/Invasive Plant Removal/Native             Planting Workshop at Loch Raven Reservoir, sponsored        by Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI).                   

When: May 29th, 9:30-2:30 pm.  FREE WORKSHOP!

       Download Flyer-Trail Maitenance Workshop May 29 2010            

                      2010 Trail Maintenance Workshop

Why:  Our goal is to offer a hands-on learning experience within Loch Raven Reservoir on the proper techniques of trail maintenance, (such as rolling grade dips to prevent sediment erosion and improve water quality), and on an invasive removal and native planting project by a Dr. of Biology from the Catonsville Community College of Baltimore.  A bonus educational presentation on the history of Loch Raven Reservoir and the water supply system by the Baltimore City Gov. Watershed Manager will also be offered. 

This FREE event is made possible by a conservation grant from Recreational Equipment, Inc., a new partner with Gunpowder Valley Conservancy (GVC), and partnerships forged with the City of Baltimore Reservoir Natural Resources Section and the Watershed Rangers, the Mid-Atlantic Off Road Enthusiasts, Sierra Club, and the Prettyboy Watershed Alliance.

Who:  No Experience is necessary!  We are looking for middle, high, and college level students, REI  employees, community businesses and residents, scouts, and trail users who care about our drinking water, our watershed, and the Chesapeake Bay!  Do you like being outside in nature and don't mind working hard?  Do you want to receive community service hours?  Then join us, and help improve the quality of our drinking water and the environment!  (Ages 12 and up.)

When: Please arrive by 9:15 am to sign in/register.  We will start the workshop at 9:30 am sharp. Rain date June 6^th, same time.

Where: From 695, take exit 27 -Dulaney Valley Rd. north.  Follow for about 3 miles and cross the Dulaney Valley Bridge at the reservoir.  Bear right at the light just after the bridge to stay on Dulaney Valley Rd. and go about 2 miles to the T intersection where Peerces's Landing is on the left.   At the T intersection, go straight onto Loch Raven Drive.  You will go about 1 mile, pass the next intersection at Morgan Mill Rd., and stop at the Pines area just before the bridge.  Park on the water side of road.  Meet at road where all are parked. 

Equipment: Remember to wear sturdy shoes, bring a hat, gloves, large shovel and clothes that can get dirty.   Bring your own lunch and water.  We will break for lunch around noon.

Registration: Volunteers must register by May  22, (space limited to 40 volunteers).  To register or for questions, contact Peggy Perry, Program Director of Gunpowder Valley Conservancy at 410-668-0118 or pperry@gunpowderfalls.org .

A special thanks to:

New Spring 2010 Newsletter

Hello GVC Members and Volunteers,

 

*The Gunpowder Valley Conservancy would like to invite you to check out our newly designed, colorful  Spring 2010 Newsletter attached here. 

 

Included within are:

• great color photos of volunteers
• articles about our fantastic volunteer efforts
• Save the Date-our 20th Anniversary Fundraising Celebration coming this September 25th
• our new Jennifer Branch Preservation Project in Carney
• upcoming GVC events
• our amazing land preservation efforts

With the goal of conservation in mind, we are continuing to send out  our newsletter via email in addition to as much information to our volunteers and members as possible.   We have reduced our newsletter mailings from 800 to 300,  and now reach over 500 volunteers and GVC members by email.  Via email we can now expand our audience to more volunteers, members, and friends of GVC while reducing the costs of printing and postage.   We are very pleased with the success of our going green efforts in order to save resources, to become more sustainable and to alter our funds for critical restoration projects.

 

We hope you enjoy our newsletter, and please feel free to forward to anyone you think may be interested in the great work that YOU and the rest of our volunteers accomplish as well as the Gunpowder Valley Conservancy.

 

Thank you and have a GREEN SPRING!

 

Sincerely,

 

Peggy Perry

Program Director

Gunpowder Valley Conservancy

410-668-0118

Weekend event: Loch Raven Day

"No, this has nothing to do with Baltimore's professional football team. Loch Raven is one of the city's three drinking-water reservoirs, and it's going to be abuzz with activity this Saturday (May 8).

To cap off National Drinking Water Week, the city is inviting the public to come out and see where their water comes from. You can even walk out on the 82-foot high dam holding back some 23 billion gallons of water from the Gunpowder Falls and a batch of smaller creeks and streams.   

Engineers from Gannett-Fleming, the firm that managed a reconstruction of the dam completed five years ago, will be on hand to explain the mammoth $28.8 million overhaul. And there'll be opportunities to learn about the history of the Gunpowder valley and how the water system serving the city and surrounding counties operates... "

View the rest of this blog entry here

4/17 Loch Raven Tree Planting

Hello Tree Stewards,

 

I want to thank all the volunteers for doing such a great job at the Loch Raven Reservoir Tree Planting last Saturday on 4/17/10, especially Matt Bolton, the Boy Scout who organized this tree planting in order to earn his Eagle Scout honors, and volunteers from Towson University Beta Alpha Psi club. Hopefully all of you enjoyed yourselves and made some new friends. 

 

Each of you helped to plant 123 trees on .5 acres to restore forest buffers within  the reservoir.  Your hard work of planting trees has helped to improve water quality, create wildlife habitat, and provide cleaner air for us all.  For every acre of trees (about 200 trees) 3,036 lbs, over 1 ton of carbon dioxide is absorbed and 4 tons of oxygen is provided.  You should feel proud for making a difference for our environment and for future generations.

 

I want to thank our two new Crew Chiefs, Chris Nehus and Sherry Kolbe, and our veteran Crew Chiefs, Jim Kelly and Jan Reis for their leadership, time, and enthusiasm to lead and teach others about the significance of planting trees!  They all did an excellent job! 

 

And I want to thank the Chesapeake Bay Trust for helping to make this planting possible by providing the funding for the event.  Through their watershed stewardship grant to the Gunpowder Valley Conservancy the GVC and and hundreds of volunteers plant 2,000 trees on 10 acres per year.  That is fantastic! 

 

I hope you all had a fun, educational day and feel really good about yourselves for helping to improve our environment.  Thank you!  I hope to see you again at future plantings.

 

In the meantime, enjoy the photos below.  They turned out great!

 

Sincerely,

 

Peggy Perry

Program Director of Education and Restoration

Gunpowder Valley Conservancy

410-668-0118

www.gunpowderfalls.org

Gunpowder Valley Conservancy to plant 796 trees at Loch Raven Reservoir this spring!

Gunpowder Valley Conservancy to plant 796 trees

at Loch Raven Reservoir this spring! 

 

Loch Raven Reservoir (April 27, 2010) - The Gunpowder Valley Conservancy (GVC) and enthusiastic volunteers have planted over 18,500 trees in the Gunpowder Watershed since the early 1990’s.  This spring the GVC and hundreds of volunteers will plant 796 trees to restore riparian and upland forest buffers on 4 acres directly within Loch Raven Reservoir.  “Riparian” simply means the area where land borders a body of water.  This is one of the most beneficial areas on which to plant, as the trees will help filter and clean groundwater before it enters streams, rivers, or reservoirs.  Thus, simply by   planting trees in riparian areas in Loch Raven Reservoir, volunteers help to make our drinking water cleaner.  Local wildlife benefits as well.  Planting trees along a stream or tributary to the reservoir contributes to plant diversity, improves stream bank stability, provides leaf litter on which aquatic invertebrates forage, and shades and cools the water, creating optimal habitat for aquatic life.

 

The GVC tree planting program within Loch Raven Reservoir is a 4 year project to continue these restoration efforts on over 15 acres of reservoir land.  The location of the plantings this spring will be along the Skeet and Trap Range driveway, directly within Loch Raven Reservoir and in the surrounding area in a large 10 acre field.  The planting dates are April 14^th, 17^th, 28^th, May 8^th, and May 23^rd.  All trees to be planted are native to the Chesapeake region, including; Red Oak, White Oak, Burr Oak, Chestnut Oak, Swamp White Oak, American Beech, Sycamore, Silver Maple, Red Maple, Silky Dog Wood, and Black Willow

 

This program is part of a partnership among the Baltimore City Reservoir Managers, the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, the Chesapeake Bay Trust (CBT), and Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI).   Funding for this spring’s Loch Raven tree plantings have been provided by CBT and REI.  Participating volunteers will be from:  The Baltimore County Department of Aging, Towson University Beta Alpha Psi, Rosedale Alternative School, Al-Rahmah Sunday School

Islamic Society of Baltimore, Marriott Inc., two Eagle Scout groups, and community families.  

 

On April 24^th, GVC planted 96 trees at Cromwell Valley Park to restore riparian buffers along Mine Bank Run.  Members of Cromwell Valley Park and ServeFest provided 72 volunteers to assist in this project. And on May 15^th, the GVC will also plant 110 trees at Bee Tree Preserve in Hereford, MD to restore local wildlife habitat and reforest an upland restoration site where gypsy moth damaged many acres of trees.  This final planting will bring the total trees to be planted this spring to 1,002 on 5 acres within the Gunpowder Watershed.  The Dulaney High School Key Club, JOINS youth group, and Towson Presbyterian Church will be providing over 60 volunteers for the Bee Tree Preserve planting. 

 

For those who may be interested in volunteering for the tree planting events, please contact Peggy Perry, Program Director of Education and Restoration for Gunpowder Valley Conservancy at

pperry@gunpowderfalls.org.  

 

 

 

 

Did You Know? 

 

Forests currently cover 2.6 million acres or approximately forty-one (41) percent of the State of Maryland. Seventy-six (76) percent of Maryland’s forest land is owned by an estimated 130,600 private landowners. Federal, State and other public owners hold the remaining twenty-four (24) percent.  Landscaping, especially with trees, can increase property values as much as 20%. (Maryland Department of Natural Resources- http://www.dnr.state.md.us/forests/ ) 

 

One acre of forest absorbs over one ton of carbon dioxide and produces four tons of oxygen. This is enough to meet the annual needs of eighteen people. (USDA Forest Service)

 

The Gunpowder Valley Conservancy, a non-profit organization, mobilizes people and resources to care for the lands, waters and character of the Gunpowder Watershed.  Its emphasis is on land preservation, restoration, stream cleanups and education.