N e w s l e t t er

April 2023

WELCOME NEW EFC STAFFER KELSEY BROOKS

Join us in welcoming Kelsey Brooks, EFC's newest Program Manager!

Kelsey has worked across the Mid-Atlantic helping communities meet their water quality, climate resilience, conservation, and environmental justice goals. This has included serving as an MS4 Stormwater Specialist with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, where she led the development of the commonwealth's Chesapeake Bay TMDL guidance for MS4 permittees; working as a Regional Watershed Restoration Specialist with the University of Maryland/Maryland Sea Grant Extension, where she supported programs across the Baltimore region that addressed water quality, water quantity, and urban greening needs; and most recently as a Senior Program Manager with the National Wildlife Federation where she led an equitable outdoor access initiative and supported the development of a Conservation Blueprint for the Delaware River Watershed. She holds a B.A. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Princeton University, a Master’s in City and Regional Planning from Rutgers University, and a graduate certificate in GIS from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. In her free time, Kelsey enjoys walking, fiber crafts, and spending time with her two cats, Quark and Tau.

RECENT EFC REPORTS SUPPORT INVESTMENT IN NATURAL RESOURCES IMPORTANT TO LOCAL ECONOMIES

The Mispillion River and Cedar Creeks drain to the Delaware Bay in Kent and Sussex County Delaware. The vast marshes connecting them are part of an international flyway for migrating birds and a horseshoe crab sanctuary, which brings tourist dollars to the area and secures land value for residents. In addition, the marshes act as a “coastal stronghold” for managing the effects of sea level rise, including reducing property damage from flooding. Together, these resources produce multiple benefits to the state of Delaware, and the towns of Milford and Slaughter Beach. “The Mispillion River runs right through our city," Milford Mayor Archie Campbell said. “It was always an important part of our downtown and maritime heritage, but now we have a better understanding of its value and how it contributes to our quality of life.”

EFC prepared two recent studies for the Mispillion River Watershed. The first, titled “Community-Centered Natural Resource Benefits: Mispillion Watershed, Delaware,” documents how the watershed’s natural resources generate millions of dollars in value related to recreational and leisure activities alone. The second builds on the economic value of the resources and is titled “Ecotourism and Resilience Investment Strategy for the Mispillion and Cedar Creek Watersheds''. This strategy details how ecotourism and other nature-based investments can sustain and enhance benefits to this region for generations to come.

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EFC HELPS LAUNCH NEW MID-ATLANTIC

CLIMATE ACTION HUB AT UMD

A $2.2 million grant will help launch a University of Maryland-led initiative to address the effects of environmental racism and climate change across the Mid-Atlantic region, providing financial and training support and advocating for policy changes.

The Mid-Atlantic Climate Action Hub (MATCH) will build connections across Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, Delaware and Pennsylvania, targeting communities that are disproportionately experiencing the negative effects of climate change because of historic disenfranchisement, coupled with proximity to environmental hazards and underlying social, economic and geographic vulnerabilities.

Funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, MATCH is led by the Center for Community Engagement, Environmental Justice and Health (CEEJH), directed by Professor Sacoby Wilson in the School of Public Health.

“Communities of color and low-wealth populations in the mid-Atlantic are exposed to more traffic-related air pollution, emissions from incinerators and power plants, agricultural contaminants, landfills, brownfields and other toxic environments that harm health,” Wilson said. “But through MATCH, we are going to leverage resources that will help frontline and fenceline communities take action to address these injustices.”

Among MATCH’s organizing partners: the University of Maryland Environmental Finance Center (EFC); Namati, an environmental organization “dedicated to putting the power of law in the hands of people;” and the Mid-Atlantic Justice Coalition, which includes partners from Maryland, D.C., Delaware and Virginia working at the intersection of economic and environmental justice.

“This is the first award in 30 years where we have been able to bring financial resources to a community, and that is exciting for us,” EFC Director Jen Cotting said. “It can be really hard for the community members to invest time in a project if they don’t have the compensation, but this provides money to support the hub partners.”

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CHESAPEAKE BAY TREE CANOPY ROUNDTABLE TO FORGE POLICY AND FUNDING SOLUTIONS

The Chesapeake Bay Watershed Tree Canopy Funding and Policy Roundtable convened 125 local and state leaders from across the Chesapeake Bay Watershed to address challenges and opportunities in advancing tree canopy goals. Hosted virtually by UMD EFC on March 13-14, the event centered around the themes of equity, climate resilience, and tree loss. Through presentations and interactive discussions, speakers and participants shared data, tools, and approaches to strengthen tree canopy outcomes in each Bay state and across the region. The event laid the groundwork for states to develop action plans that pinpoint funding, policy, and programmatic strategies to prioritize over the coming two years. The Roundtable coincided with the release of Chesapeake Bay Watershed County Tree Cover Status & Change Factsheets, now available for all counties in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, presenting tree cover status, benefits, and change from 2013/14 to 2017/18.

Roundtable event materials, including presentation slides and session recordings are available here. 

WE'RE HIRING: SUSTAINABLE MARYLAND PROGRAM ASSISTANT

EFC is hiring a Program Assistant for the Sustainable Maryland (SM) program. This position contributes to SM’s overall mission by leading the municipal certification process, supporting direct technical assistance projects, and coordinating outreach efforts. The ideal candidate will have knowledge of climate change and sustainability practices, successful customer service experience, and a passion for working collaboratively with interdisciplinary teams. They will play a critical role in partnering with the SM team in strategic decision-making as the SM program undergoes a growth and innovation period.

The application deadline is May 15.

Click here for more information.

EFC DIRECTOR HONORED AT 2023 MARYLAND RESEARCH EXCELLENCE CELEBRATION

EFC Director Jennifer Cotting was among select University of Maryland faculty scholars and researchers who were honored on March 28 at the 2023 Maryland Research Excellence Celebration. The event, held at the Hotel at the University of Maryland and co-hosted by Senior Vice President and Provost Jennifer King Rice and Vice President for Research Gregory F. Ball, honors the distinct and notable accomplishments of University of Maryland researchers and offers the opportunity to recognize the high-impact outcomes of the university’s research and scholarship community.

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EFC AMONG TEAM TO LEAD NEW THRIVING COMMUNITIES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER

The EFC is among several organizations led by the National Wildlife Federation that will serve as Region 3's new technical assistance center to help communities across the Mid-Atlantic region access historical investments to advance environmental justice. As one of EPA's new Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers (EJ TCTACs), the team will receive at least $10 million to help communities across the region access funds from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda.

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VISIT US AT MARYLAND DAY, APRIL 29

Stop by the EFC/Sustainable Maryland table at the University's annual Maryland Day on Saturday, April 29. Our table with be part of the School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation's exhibit, which will be located at the top of McKeldin Mall (in front of McKeldin Library). We'll be handing out free Black-eyed Susan seed packets and information about how homeowners and local communities can become more sustainable.

Consider.

 "It is well within our grasp. Make no mistake about it."

-Michael Regan, EPA Administrator, announcing new rules that will slash pollution from cars, trucks and buses in the United States