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NOAA Restoration Day: 2009 Maryland Event

2006 Event
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opc signAgenda
Volunteer Supplies
Directions
Carpooling and Reserving NOAA Vehicles
Transporting Grasses to Event

Agenda

9:00AM

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Arrive at Otter Point Creek, Anita C. Leight Visitors Center


9:30 – 10:00 AM

Welcome remarks and review day's logistics

10:00 AM –
12:30 PM

 

Restoration Activities: Morning
Participants were pre-assigned to a team and conducted a variety of restoration activities. There will be 14 teams of 150 NOAA staff in five different areas. Many will be transported by vehicle.

  • 4 Activities at Bosely Conservancy (~70 people):
    Four teams will shuttle to area to remove invasive plants, plant native trees, clean-up trash, and conduct a bird survey.
  • 6 Activities near the Leight Park Visitor Center (~60 people):
    Six teams will be conducting digital leveling exercises, installing a geodetic vertical mark, weeding garden, seining for fish, tracking turtles with telemetry, and maintaining a natural pond. 
  • 2 Activities at Pier Property (~25 people):
    Two teams will be near the pier. Surveying and mapping native underwater grasses via canoes and planting 66 trays of underwater grasses previously grown in NOAA offices, or creating platforms to installing deep rod SET benchmarks in the afternoon.
  • Activities in the Bush River (~4 people):
    One team will use a johnboat to monitor native growth of underwater grass and test water quality along existing research transects.
  • Activities Off-Site (~6-9 people):
    One team will be conducting an off-site search and recovery mission using GPS units and published NGS datasheets to recover bench marks (similar to popular geocaching activity).

12:30 – 1:15 PM

Bag Lunch (bring your own food & drink! Coolers and limited water will be provided)

1:15 – 3:30 PM

Restoration Activities: Afternoon
Participants will be pre-assigned to a team and conduct a variety of restoration activities. There will be 14 teams of 150 NOAA staff in five different areas. Many will be transported by vehicle to activities.

  • 3 Activities at Bosely Conservancy (~55 people):
    Three teams will shuttle to area to remove invasive plants, plant native trees, and clean-up trash.
  • 7 Activities near the Leight Park Visitor Center (~60 people):
    Seven teams will be conducting digital leveling exercises, installing a geodetic vertical mark, weeding native gardens, seining for tidal fish, tracking turtles with telemetry, conducting an animal survey (birds and herps), and maintaining a natural pond. 
  • Activities at Pier Property (~25 people):
    Two teams will be near the pier. One team will be looking for existing wild rice, using GPS to mark locations, and measuring using kayaks and canoes. Then they will transplant wild rice from Jug Bay or installing deep rod SET benchmarks via boat to a marshy area nearby.
  • Activities in the Bush River (~4 people):
    One team will use a johnboat to monitor native growth of underwater grass and test water quality along existing research transects.
  • Activities Off-Site (~6-9 people):
    One team will be conducting an off-site search and recovery mission using GPS units and published NGS datasheets to recover bench marks (similar to popular geocaching activity).

3:30 - 4:00 PM

Finish and Clean-up

4:00 PM

 

Optional Social Event (pay for self)

  • Wet Willy’s Crab Deck. 2207 Pulaski Hwy. Edgewood, MD

Map of Site

opc map


Volunteer Supplies to Wear & Bring

  • Download Volunteer Supply List
  • Download Specific Activity Supply List
  • bootsBagged lunch and/or snacks (coolers will be provided).
  • Reusable water bottle and plenty to drink (Some water will be provided, but NOT food)
  • Fieldwork clothes that can get very dirty and wet (jeans, shorts and t-shirts). Remember to wear your NOAA logos if you have them.
  • Old sneakers or boots. NO BARE FEET ALLOWED!!
  • Long-sleeved shirts
  • Long pants
  • Waterproof sunscreen
  • Towel
  • Dry change of clothes and shoes
  • Plastic bag for your wet items (or those in contact w/poison ivy)
  • Bug spray
  • Sunglasses
  • Hat
  • Bag to hold your gear (backpack or dry bag). NOTE: plan on bringing all necessary items with you throughout the day.

    SAV Planting and Wildrice Planting Activities:

    • Teva-type sandals, dive booties, or old sneakers that can get wet.
    • Swimsuit and old clothes, you will get wet and muddy!! Quick dry fabrics work best (nylon, not cotton); we will have a tent for changing.

Optional Items:

    • Binoculars for birding (some will be provided)
    • Tecnu poison ivy preventative (can be found at drug stores, a limited quantity will be available)
    • Jacket/sweatshirt (if necessary)
    • Cell phone (in waterproof case if taken near water)
    • Work gloves (some will be provided)

Be prepared for the weather, check the forecast before leaving your house in the morning: http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Edgewood&state=MD
&site=LWX&textField1=39.4205&textField2=-76.2992

Directions

We are meeting at the Anita C. Leight Estuary Center Visitor Center by 9:00 AM. Carpooling is strongly encouraged.

  • Address: 700 Otter Point Rd, Abingdon, MD 21009 (approx. 1 hour 15 minutes north of Silver Spring, MD)
    In case you get lost, call Alison Hammer: 703-966-6525
  • Download pdf of Directions

Directions from I-95 (N) via Silver Spring, MD or Washington, DC:

  • Travel North on I-95, Take Exit 77A – Route 24 South to Edgewood
    • Note: There will be a $2.00 toll (each way) for the tunnel in Baltimore
  • As you exit I-95 stay to the right on the exit ramp and merge onto Route 24 (South)
  • Turn left at the third stop light onto the Route 40 access road
  • Turn left at the three-way stop (T) onto Route 40 East
  • Proceed east 1.5 miles along Route 40 East. (This area is a known speed trap with many police – be careful!)
  • Turn right at the stop light onto Otter Point Road
  • Proceed 1/2 mile and turn right into the driveway at the Anita C. Leight Estuary Center entrance sign.
  • Park at Visitor Center or in nearby overflow parking lot.

**NOTE to SAV Tanks Hosts:

  • On Route 40, after the Home Depot and just prior to Otter Point Road (near Smith Park), please look for a sign saying “SAV Drop-off”. This is where you will drop off your grass trays. There will be a pick-up truck on the side of the road. Please use the pull-off area and be careful!
  • Tank equipment will be dropped off at the visitor’s center parking lot, please look for sign that says “SAV Equipment"

Carpooling and Reserving NOAA Vehicles

  • Please carpool, there is limited space for parking.
  • NOAA employees in Silver Spring should contact the NOAA Motor Pool (301)713-1955 or e-mail Dispatch.pool@noaa.gov directly if you would like to use one of the limited numbers of minivans or cars from the NOAA Motor Pool.
  • The motor pool is located in SSMC 3, 3rd Floor.
  • NOTE: Both contractors and FEDS can reserve vehicles with a valid driver's license.

Directions for Disassembling and Transporting Bay Grass Systems

It is best to keep the grasses submerged in the black tub until you are ready to transport them to Restoration Day, but they are fine overnight without power, light and/or the pump running if you choose to disassemble the system.

1.  Turn off the power to your system.
2.  Carefully remove the heater, pump, thermometer, and disassemble the lamps: 

    • sav trays in boatDry them off and place return back into their boxes.
    • It is best to wrap the thermometer in paper-towel and place in a Ziploc bag.
    • Please discard the sponge filter and the light bulbs.

3.  Remove the trays with grasses from the black tub.
4.  Place either wet newspaper or paper towel over the grasses in their trays. 
5.  Discard the water in the large black tub. 
6.  Wipe the tub out with a paper towel or dry towel.  Do NOT use soap.
7.  It is best to transport the grass trays in the black tub for stability in your vehicle:

    • Place trays in your car (in the black tub) and make sure the grasses stay covered in the moist paper for the drive. 
    • Please do not stack the trays, it will crush your grasses

Remember to return all of your equipment and boxes at Restoration Day.

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