ANNAPOLIS, MD (June 8, 2017)–University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science President Don Boesch received a Maryland governor’s citation for his role advancing science for the Chesapeake Bay. Maryland Gov. Larry J. Hogan Jr. presented the retiring president with the honor alongside Virginia Gov. Terence R. McAuliffe during an annual meeting of the Chesapeake Bay Program’s Executive Council at the State House on, June 8.
Dr. Boesch, a member of the Governor’s Chesapeake Bay Cabinet, has been involved in conducting or facilitating research on the Chesapeake Bay for 35 years. He began his career as a Ph.D.. in oceanography at the College of William and Mary, and spent eight years at the
Virginia Institute of Marine Science before coming to Maryland to lead UMCES in 1990. He has been an official advisor to federal agencies, the Chesapeake Bay Program, and five Maryland governors. This fall, he announced that he will be stepping down as UMCES president this summer.
“I have been most fortunate to work in Maryland at UMCES to restore Chesapeake Bay,” said Boesch.
Governor Hogan pointed to UMCES’ annual Bay Report Card noting that the Chesapeake Bay is now earning its best grades and it would be critical to continue to get federal funding for the Bay.
Two other UMCES scientists were also invited to speak at the executive council meeting.
Walter Boynton, an ecologist who has been studying the Bay since the late 1960s, gave opening remarks about the history and progress of the Bay restoration effort, while Lisa Wainger spoke as chairwoman of the Bay Program's Science & Technical Advisory Committee (STAC).
During his presentation, Boynton took the audience back in time to when the Bay first started its decline. After studying the decline of seagrasses in Chesapeake Bay in the 1970s, scientists, including Boynton, called for a need to cut nitrogen and phosphorous from major rivers.
“For rockfish and blue crab recoveries, Bay science said nutrients need to be cut in half," Boynton said.
He reported evident improvements in the Bay’s health in recent years as nutrients are in decline ahead of schedule and water clarity improves. He called seagrass “the canary in coal mine,” having disappeared from the Bay for years. Now, he said at the meeting, seagrasses have improved by three times.
"Progress has been very substantial, and credit goes to this collaborative program," Boynton said of the Chesapeake Bay Program.
He concluded saying there’s more work needed, and that knowledge and communication help will help save money. "Saving the bay is incredibly worth it," he said.
Lisa Wainger also spoke at the meeting as chairwoman of the Science & Technical Advisory Committee (STAC), which provides scientific and technical guidance to the Chesapeake Bay Program on measures to restore and protect the Bay. She spoke about a need for scientists and managers to work to understand ditches to better manage them.
“We must continue in partnership so we can continue our effort in understanding how best to restore the Chesapeake," she said.
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science leads the way toward better management of Maryland’s natural resources and the protection and restoration of the Chesapeake Bay. From a network of laboratories located across the state, UMCES scientists provide sound evidence and advice to help state and national leaders manage the environment, and prepare future scientists to meet the global challenges of the 21st century. www.umces.edu
###