MEETING SUMMARY

1ST MEETING OF THE MARYLAND ARTIFICIAL REEF COMMITTEE

Tuesday, June 26, 2007, 6:00-9:00 P.M.

TAWES STATE OFFICE BUILDING, C-1 CONFERENCE ROOM

 

Prepared by Erik Zlokovitz

MDDNR-Fisheries Service

Revised-7/16/07

 

Contact:

ezlokovitz@dnr.state.md.us

410-260-8322

 

 

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS:

 

Meeting began at 6:00 pm. Welcome and Introductions of Maryland Artificial Reef Committee (ARC) Members were given by Marty Gary of MDDNR.

 

ARC Members in and others in attendance wereincluded:

 

-Capt. Greg Madjeski-Southern charter boats: currently assisting with deployments of reef material on Point no Point/Woodrow Wilson Project.

 

-Capt. Charlie Sissen: Proxy for Capt. Marty Simounet of Northern/Central charter boats.

 

-Erik Zlokovitz-MD DNR Liaison: Recently transferred over from MD DNR striped bass biological monitoring program, to work on Artificial Reef program, under Marty Gary.

 

-Martin Gary- MD DNR Liaison: Currently leading MDDNR’s new artificial reef program.

 

-Mr. Tom Humbles - Maryland Environmental Service.

 

-Mr. Bill Goldsborough – Chesapeake Bay Foundation: Interested in artificial reefs as oyster habitat.

 

-Mr. Chris Dollar – Outdoor Writers: Editor of mid-Atlantic edition of The Fisherman Magazine.  

 

- Mr. Rich Takacs - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA): Working on Federally-funded projects involving fish habitat restoration.

 

-Mr. David Dansberger – MD DNR Sport Fisheries Advisory Committee: Advisor to Sport Fish Committee on Artificial Reef Issues.

 

-Mr. Gary Setzer - Maryland Department of the Environment

 

-Mr. Doldon Moore - Maryland Board of Public Works 

 

-Mr. Kent Carlson – Citizen: Has extensive scientific background. Currently works for EPA as a toxicologist.

 

-Mr. Norman McCullough – The Maryland Hydronauts/Diving Community

 

-Capt. Bruno Vasta: Proxy for Captain Tom Hill of Chesapeake Bay Artificial Reef Coalition-Also representing Solomons area charter boats. 

 

-Captain Richard “Dickie” Webster – Tidal Fisheries Advisory Committee

 

-Mr. David Sutherland – United States Fish & Wildlife Service

 

-Mr. Ed Lichionne - Coastal Conservation Association Maryland

 

-Captain Mark Galasso – Chesapeake Guides Association: Representing light tackle guides.

 

-Mr. Bill Huppert  - Maryland Saltwater Sport Fishermen’s Association

 

-Captain Monty Hawkins – Coastal Fisheries Advisory Committee/OC Reef Foundation

 

-Captain Curtis Johns - Eastern charter boats-representing lower Eastern Shore Charter boats, including Tangier Sound.

 

Others in attendance included:

 

-Mr. Andy Loftus: Co-author of Maryland Artificial Reef Plan, along with Richard Stone.

-Mr. Mike Baker-Environmental Manager of Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project.

-Mr. Bill Curry-CCA Maryland/MARI

-Mr. Chris Judy-MD DNR Shellfish Program

-Mr. Keith McGuire-Citizen

-Mrs. Daphne McGuire-Citizen 

-Mrs. Dorothy Vasta-SMC/MSSA

-Capt. Ed O’Brien-Vice-President of Maryland Charter Boat Association

-Capt. Albert Hoffman-SOM CO Charter Boats

-Mr. Ken Hastings-CCA

 

 

 

 

 

 

MOVING FORWARD WITH ARTIFICIAL REEF DEVELOPMENT IN MD – THE TRIANGLE OF SUPPORT:

 

The Maryland Artificial Reef Plan – Andy Loftus:

 

Andy Loftus presented brand-new copies of the first-ever artificial reef management plan for Maryland. The full title of the document is:

 

“Artificial Reef Management Plan for Maryland,” prepared by Andrew J. Loftus and Richard B. Stone under Maryland Environmental Service Contract 06-07-58. It will be available on the DNR website for anyone who wants a copy.

 

This document includes 3 major sections:

1.)    Main text of artificial reef plan (41 pages).

2.)    Appendix A-Decision making document for artificial reef construction in Maryland (3 pages).

3.)    Appendix B: Guidelines for marine artificial reef materials (198 pages) .

 

Andy gave a brief historical overview of the artificial reef program in Maryland, including the first deployments in the Bay going back to the 1960’s up through the disbanding of the previous DNR artificial reef program in the mid-1990s. MES has been in charge of reef permits since the end of the DNR program in the mid-1990s.  He noted that the reef management plan which he co-authored with Richard Stone was modeled after the nationwide Artificial Reef Plan and other state’s artificial reef plans, and then customized for Maryland based on input from constituents, DNR, MES, and the Board of Public Works.  Loftus noted that one of the ways in which the Maryland plan differs from the “acceptable materials guidelines” (appendix B) is that tires will not be used for reef construction in Maryland.  This ban reflects a strong sentiment of Maryland constituents and agencies alike.

 

Andy also noted the importance of developing a reef monitoring program to gauge success of the reefs. Basic monitoring guidelines are included in the condition of the permits that MES currently holds from the Board of Public Works and U.S. Army Corp of Engineers. Monitoring could consist of simple volunteer fishing or diving studies, or more complex scientific evaluation of marine growth and invertebrates on reefs.  Money is the limiting factor to any monitoring program.   Loftus also noted that although the artificial reef plan’s focus is to enhance fishing, it is also designed to dovetail with the Oyster Reef Plan where possible to take advantage of mutually desirable results of reef construction.  Bill Goldsborough expressed appreciation and support for these plan provisions.

 

 

Andy stressed the importance of Appendix A: Decision making document for artificial reef construction in Maryland. This appendix was developed based on input from constituents, and should be considered by this Committee to be a “template” of an application process for requests for new reef sites, addition of materials to existing reef sites, and for requests for funding that come before the Committee. 

 

The MD DNR Artificial Reef Committee – Marty Gary:

 

Marty Gary of DNR noted the considerable size of the ARC (22 members plus 2 DNR liaisons). A variety of disciplines are represented, and it is hoped that these varied backgrounds will contribute to a successful reef program. Marty also re-emphasized the importance of a good monitoring program. He noted that Jeff Tinsman’s monitoring program in Delaware has been extremely successful and should be used as a model. Delaware’s program depends heavily on volunteer divers. In Maryland’s portion of Chesapeake Bay, members of the SCUBA dive organization Maryland Hydronauts, including Mr. Norm McCullough, have expressed interest in doing dive surveys on reefs. However, since visibility is so poor in the Bay during summer (typically 1 foot or less), any diving surveys would have to take place during fall months, after die-off of algal blooms.

 

Marty Gary and Chris Judy reinforced the point that money, and not reef material, will be a limiting factor. Obtaining money for monitoring and evaluation has been difficult. Chris Judy noted his experience with monitoring oyster reef sites. Several suggestions were made to set aside a percentage of incoming donations/funds for reef monitoring. This percentage may be anywhere from 5%-20%.    

 

The Maryland Artificial Reef Initiative (MARI) – Marty Gary and Bill Curry:

 

Marty Gary of MD DNR introduced the current mechanism for handling

incoming donations to the reef program, known as Maryland Artificial Reef Initiative

(or MARI). This system was worked out in an MOU between CCA and MDDNR. CCA

is handling incoming donations. They are able to process credit cards on the CCA

website. The MARI system includes the “buy a ton” program. For as little as $25.00,

donors can buy a ton of reef material for the program.

 

Bill Curry of CCA MD presented a general ledger, and gave a presentation on

incoming and available funds for the reef program. According to the general ledger,

$200,510.83 is available, however, this does not include recent and pending donations.

The actual amount of money available should be roughly $950,000 by the end of June or

early July, 2007. 

 

A public event with Governor Martin O’Malley in attendance is tentatively scheduled for the summer of 2007, in order to raise awareness for the artificial reef program and fish/oyster habitat restoration. Marty Gary and Bill Goldsborough of CBF agreed that the new CBF building near Thomas Pt. would be an excellent waterfront location for this event.

 

 

 

Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project –Mike Baker

 

Mike Baker, Environmental Manager for the WW Bridge Project, gave an

overview and status report of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project, and noted immediate funding needs, including payment of outstanding bills. He noted that 8 barges had been deployed to date. The first barge was paid for by DNR in a lump sum of $38,000. The outstanding balance for barges 2-8 is $197,550.  Current transport cost for reef material is $40.00 per ton (which is a good price compared to quotes of 70-90 dollars per ton in nearby states.)

 

 

The Point no Point reef site which is currently under construction is 110 nautical

miles from the WW Bridge Site on the Potomac River. Mike noted that tug and tow service is currently expensive and sometimes difficult to obtain. Many tugs and barges are currently tied up in the Gulf of Mexico with post-Hurricane Katrina projects.

 

Two contractors are involved with the WW Bridge Project: American Bridge

Kramer and Potomac Constructors. Total amount of reef material generated from the WW bridge project will be approximately 60,000 tons with a dollar value of approximately 1.5 million dollars. There should be material available to finish Pt. No Pt. Reef and also build other reefs at locations such as The Gooses, Tangier, Little Cove. Pt, Solomons, etc. 

 

Obligations, Priorities & Needs:

 

·        We are obligated to pay the outstanding balance of  $197,550 for barges 2-8 on the WW bridge project (Pt. No Pt. Reef).

·        630 subway cars from NYC have been requested for deployment off Ocean City, MD, at a cost of $240,000. This is also pending a city council vote at OC on 7/2/07.

·        We are obligated to put some reef material on the Gooses site in cooperation with Dominion LNG. Contingent upon issuance of a permit for that site.

·        Tangier Sound and Solomons/Little Cove Pt. are considered high priority sites for reef material.

 

MOTIONS/VOTES:

 

1.)    Marty Gary gives motion to appropriate funds to WW Bridge project to pay outstanding balance of $197,550. Motion seconded by Capt. Monty Hawkins. Motion carries with 0 opposed, majority in favor.

2.)    Marty Gary gives a revised motion to alternate sending of barge loads to Tangier Sound, Little Cove Pt., and Pt. No Pt. during month of July (or approximately next 10 barge loads). Smaller material will be used to finish off Pt. No Pt. site. Larger material will go to build reef bases at Tangier Sound and Little Cove. Pt. (Tangier has 1st priority for large material). Motion is seconded, motion carries with 0 opposed, majority in favor.

*Note: Ballots were handed out in folders to ARC members for Election of the ARC Chair, but election did not take place. We will hold election at next meeting.

 

WRAP-UP AND NEXT MEETING:

 

Up to ten barge loads of additional WW bridge material may be deployed by the end of July. We will assess the status of deployments in late July and move forward from there. Next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, July 24, 2007.

 

Adjourn: Meeting adjourned by Marty Gary of DNR at 9:00 PM.