The view from Braddock Heights is a popular touchstone for life-long Frederick Country residents when they consider the changes the area has undergone since the first Earth Day.
“All you could see was barge traffic and church steeples,” recalled County Commissioner Lennie Thompson. “I often picture myself as a seven- or eight-year-old child looking over there, and then as a 50-year-old elected official looking down at all that development now.”
Since Frederick celebrated the first Earth Day 40 years ago, sprawl may be the most visible change, but it’s not the only one. Here’s what local environmental leaders peg as top environmental issues for the region today:
Land preservation
Forest and well-managed agricultural land don’t just make for scenic landscape. They also store global warming-causing carbon dioxide, provide vital habitat for plants and animals, and serve as a filter for the water supply.
“Preserving forests is one of the most protective things we can do with our land in the Chesapeake Bay region,” said Steve Bunker, who directs preservation for The Nature Conservancy in Maryland. “It contributes the least amount of chemicals and run-off to the bay, and it’s also very protective of both ground water and reservoir supplies.”
Invasive species
As people have become much more mobile, we haven’t traveled alone – we’ve brought an array of plants and animals with us. Seeds and insects can hitch a ride on hiking boots, sail boats, or tire treads, traveling hundreds or even thousands of miles to habitats that are totally unprotected from the strange, new invaders.
“We’re literally getting overrun,” said Mel Poole, who oversees Catoctin Mountain Park.
One of the species Poole’s got an especially close eye on is hemlock woolly adelgid, an insect native to Asia and western North America that is decimating eastern trees that lack natural resistance. Hemlocks are particularly important because they provide shade along streams. Without their shade, the stream will heat up over time, likely driving out temperature-sensitive species such as the brook trout, one of the few native fish left in the region.
Local economy
Building a strong local economy doesn’t just preserve local jobs, it also reduces the amount of fuel spent shipping goods around the world.
“In the next 40 years, I’d like to see a vibrant local economy based on local production,” said Janice Wiles, director of the Friends of Frederick County. “It would minimize transport costs and would mean connecting with your local food system by eating what’s locally available.”
Wiles is also a member of Frederick County’s Sustainability Commission, which presented a plan to the Board of Commissioners on Tuesday that includes goals of expanding the local food system in schools and homes and supporting the next generation of farmers.
Green building
Improving energy efficiency is one of the simplest ways of reducing global warming pollution, and it saves money at the same time. Building homes and offices with energy-efficient appliances can lock in savings for years to come.
“It really matters when you’re talking about construction of homes and businesses,” said Office of Sustainability Director Hilari Varnadore. “Our county buildings are built with dual flush toilets and lights that go off when you leave the room. It’s not very sexy, but these things can make a huge difference.”
The Nature Experience
Environmental awareness has grown by orders of magnitude since 1970, and the younger generation leads the way in many respects. For instance, kids are often the most adamant recyclers. But Catoctin Mountain Park Superintendent Poole still worries about the next generation’s environmental ethos.
“Look at the rates of childhood obesity,” he said. “We think, plain and simple, it’s that our kids don’t get outdoors and have regular non-structured play.”
In the 13 years Poole has presided over the park, he’s seen school visits shrink from a week to just one or two afternoons a year.
“I don’t think we’re doing justice to our kids,” Poole said. “And over time I think what you’ll see is the awareness that we’ve built over the years will begin to disappear because they haven’t had the same exposures.”