Stoney Beach Community Works to Restore Environment

On June 28, members of the Stoney Beach community, in cooperation with Anne Arundel County Watershed Stewards Association and local watershed stewards, joined together to plant hundreds of native sea grasses in the nearly completed shoreline restoration area.

The Stoney Beach community’s shoreline restoration project, a project funded by grants and community match, will bring back approximately 850 linear feet of shoreline, which has eroded significantly in the past few decades. Shoreline erosion causes loss of native vegetation and wildlife, creating a critical challenge in keeping the area healthy. The project, which is similar to one completed in Fort Smallwood Park, installed rock breakwaters and approximately 1000 cubic yards of sand, most of which came from beneficial reuse of previously dredged material from Stoney Creek, in order to create native marshland area. The marsh will become home to native plants and wildlife, contributing to the health of Stoney Creek, Rock Creek, and a number of other Chesapeake Bay tributaries.

Children and adults alike joined to support the cause, getting their feet wet in order to plant the native grasses during low tide. Community Association President Darrel Abed noted that the project, “was many years in the making, and we are grateful for everyone involved, including the community volunteers, Watershed Stewards Academy, out contractors, and Green Trust Alliance.” He expressed his excitement at seeing the community come together to work to better the environment.

The project will be completed with native shrub planting in the fall, and is phase one of several phases of shoreline restoration planned within the community. The community’s dedication to ensuring Anne Arundel County’s waterways and shorelines remain healthy will continue with a future runoff garden project, continued oyster growth plans, and additional shoreline restoration.