Cape Conservation Corps 2021 Re-Cap

By: Stacey Wildberger

Looking back over the last year I am pleasantly surprised by all we were able to accomplish this year despite still being in the middle of a pandemic.  Although many restrictions have been eased and many people have been vaccinated we have still had to show care in how we handled events.  All of our events were outdoors which a positive was.  We had to cancel our largest fundraiser, the Harvest Bash again this year, as well as our Speaker series as they were indoor events but many other programs went on as planned.  We would like to thank all the volunteers that came out and supported our projects and activities throughout the year and the generous monetary support that makes our efforts possible.  

Wednesday Weed Warriors – began the first week of April. The Weed Warriors meet almost every week through October to remove invasive plants at the Serene Ravine and Little Magothy Rain Garden. We had over 170 people come out (average 8/week), logged over 300 hours and removed hundreds of invasive plants.  

Clean Stream Cleanup – We partnered with Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay to clean up three areas of the community to prevent trash and debris from ending up in our waterways. 

Plant Swap – We gave three free native shrubs to the first 25 Cape homeowners willing to remove at least one invasive Nandina from their yards.  Participation was 100% and people on average removed five! We made many lasting connections through this program.  Look for another swap in 2022!! 

Native Plant Fest and Sale – This year was another successful plant sale with almost another sellout.  Over 3000 native plants went off to new homes in the community and surrounding area.  Many experts were on hand. As with previous years, we kept the prices very low.  

Strawberry Festival Float – We designed a conservation-themed float and participated in the parade leading the Strawberry Festival.  We used items to decorate with items members had on hand as a way to be more ecologically friendly.  

WSA Capstone projects (2) – Jeanne Martin and volunteers removed over 1,000 sq.ft. of invasive plants on the left side of the lower parking area at Deep Creek Pier.  We mulched the area, then we planted 15 Witch Hazel shrubs and over 800 Carex pennsylvanica plugs.  My project was a conservation planting at the Serene Ravine.  Over 50 volunteers planted over 800 native plants to help control storm water runoff.

Habitat Hero program – Weawarded four more residents Habitat Hero status for 2021 and toured the yards of the 2019 and 2020 winners.  We saw many diverse landscapes that included native plants in many ways, from a natural, wilder look to a more intentioned traditional garden but all designed with nature in mind.  Welcoming habitats for pollinators, birds, butterflies and small creatures. 

Conservation planting – The Eco Action Team at BHS won a contest and was awarded $800 for a conservation planting at the Serene Ravine.  Hundreds more natives planted!

Serene Ravine – A sign was designed and is on order to be installed by year end.  The sign will tell the story of the Serene Ravine, its importance and the varieties of native plants, both planted and naturally volunteering. 

Reef building – Volunteers helped build oyster reef balls in Noah Anderson’s memory that will be placed in the Magothy to help restore the oyster population of the Magothy.  

Oyster restoration – Volunteers grow baby oysters off their piers until they are big enough to be planted on reef balls in the Magothy (in partnership with MD Oyster Growers, Oyster Restoration Program, Magothy River Association and CSCIA.) Oysters provide many benefits to our waterways and the reefs are home to many more species of the Bay.

Tree Troopers – In partnership with Watershed Academy we were able to offer native trees to Cape residents for the low price of $20.  4-7’ feet in height!! Eighty six (86) native trees were order by community members. Construction site monitoring – Volunteers of the Magothy River Association (including two CCC Officers) identify new grading and building permits in the Magothy watershed.  They monitor each site to assure that silt prevention procedures are being followed.  They report possible violations to County Inspectors who make the final determination.