Media Advisory

MARYLAND, DELAWARE & PARTNERS TO MAKE ANNOUNCEMENTS ON LAND CONSERVATION, TOURISM& HERITAGE IN NANTICOKE RIVER WATERSHED

Contact:
Olivia Campbell, MD DNR
410-260-8016
ocampbell@dnr.state.md.us

WHAT: Federal and local government partners and conservation organizations will join Delaware Governor Ruth Ann Minner and Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary John Griffin to make several announcements regarding land preservation, stewardship and heritage tourism opportunities on the Nanticoke River.

WHEN:  Monday, June 2 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

11 a.m.—Introductions & Announcement of Vienna greenbelt acquisition at Layton Farm Peninsula in Vienna.

Noon—Travel to Phillips Landing, DE aboard the Karen N *
RSVP Required by 5 p.m. Friday to ensure adequate lunches & room on the boat.

1:30 p.m.—Signing of Nanticoke River Partnership Agreement & Unvieling of Nanticoke River Trail at Phillips Landing in Delaware.

*The boat will return to Vienna with passengers after the Delaware event.

WHO:

Delaware Governor Ruth Ann Minner* (Delaware event location only)
John R. Griffin—Secretary, Maryland Department of Natural Resources
John A. Hughes—Secretary, Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
Mayor Russ Brinsfield—Vienna, MD
John Maounis—National Park Service, Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network Superintendent
Chief Sewell Fitzhugh—Nause-Waiwash Tribe
Charlie Steck—Chairman, Friends of the John Smith Chesapeake Trail
Patrick Noonan—Chairman Emeritus, The Conservation Fund

WHERE:  Layton Farm in Vienna (Dorchester County)
Directions from Annapolis:

• Take Rt. 50 East through Easton and Cambridge (Ca 17 Miles From Cambridge).
• Bear Right at Second Vienna Exit -- Rt. 331 Vienna.
• At the Bottom of the ramp turn right onto Rt. 331 South.
• Go Approximately 0.4 Miles to stop sign (Shell Station on left).
• Turn left onto Old Ocean Gateway.
• Go 0.1 Miles and turn right onto Market Street.
• Follow Market Street for approximately 0.4 Miles and turn left on dirt lane.
• Town Hall and Water Tower Will be on Left; Signs will be posted.

BACKGROUND:

The Nanticoke River is rich in historic and cultural assets and flows through a region that hosts some of the most biologically diverse natural habitats including maritime forests, expansive Atlantic white cedar and bald cypress wetlands, and globally rare plant and wildlife species. The town of Vienna’s visioning plan aims to surround the town by a greenbelt of preserved farms, forest and other natural areas. Partners in this initiative include State of Maryland, Dorchester, Wicomico and Caroline Counties, The US Fish and Wildlife Service, The Conservation Fund, The Nature Conservancy, the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy and the Nanticoke Watershed Alliance.