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or over application of nutrients to farmland, can affect the water quality of the bay since we are a part of the bay watershed. We learned that marshland is essential for filtering pollutants and sediment from the water. We learned about the history of oystering on the bay and how advances in equipment and techniques have, in part, led to the decline of the oyster population because the dredges damage the beds more than tongs. We learned that oysters are incredible water filters also, removing sediment from the water and improving clarity. This in turn allows more light to penetrate which helps the shallow grasses grow which provides tremendous habitat for crabs and other bay creatures. The oyster bars also provide habitat for many small esturine organisms.
We learned that recycling, composting and conserving water were ways we could personally help the bay. We learned that the waterman want to preserve the very species that their living depends on, but that it is very difficult to make a living and not over harvest. We learned that the laws pertaining to the harvesting of oysters and crabs are often very different in Virginia and Maryland. And we learned that the life of a waterman is a physically demanding one, but one that has endured for generations. Like I said, we learned a lot.
We would sincerely like to thank RLEP and the Curriculum Enrichment Program for making this experience financially possible. If it were not for their generous donations, this trip would have been unaffordable. This was a great opportunity to experience real life environmental science and real life!
The trip was made possible through funding from RLEP and the Curriculum Enrichment Program.
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