In July, the Environmental Committee had several major activities related to our oyster and water quality monitoring initiatives as well as our clean regatta efforts:
Oyster Liberation Day: On July 5, Green Team volunteers and Junior Sailing ‘Bay Cruisers” raised our marina cages where we have been growing oysters on shell over the past year, loaded the shells onto volunteer boats for transport and then placed the baby oysters in their new home on the Severn River oyster reef.
This annual effort has resulted in the development of a healthy oyster reef in the river that is cleaning the water and providing valuable habitat for fish and other bay creatures. It is a valuable educational experience for students and adults alike.
The effort is part of the Severn River Association, Marylanders Grow Oysters Program. If interested in helping with our oyster efforts, contact Sharon Murray or John Butler, our Oyster Coordinators.

Water Quality Monitoring: Three training session were held in July to teach interested EYC members and participants in the Junior Sailing “Bay Week” how to use our water quality monitoring instruments (secchi disk, YSI & pH meter). EYC members met July 6 and 13 and the Bay Week class was held on July 10.
These informal hands-on lessons and discussions about bay water quality were fun and informative. Members receiving the training can help with our voluntary water quality monitoring efforts at EYC and also sign out the instruments for use in other areas of the bay. Contact Jason Simpson, Water Quality Coordinator, for more information.

Boomerang Clean Regatta: This unique boomerang race began late afternoon Saturday, July 8, with boats returning on Sunday, July 9, to a welcoming breakfast and awards luncheon at EYC. Committee volunteers ensured that the race met the “Sailors for the Sea” Clean Regatta Program requirements that include best practices in four categories: Elimination of Single Use items, Community Involvement, Responsible Waste Management, and Environmental Stewardship.

For more information on our clean regatta program or to volunteer for upcoming events contact Jan O’Connor, Clean Regatta Coordinator.
During the month of August, the Environmental Committee will continue our weekly water quality monitoring efforts in the marina and our clean regatta efforts with CRAB Cup on August 19 followed by the Labor Day Regatta. We will also take this time to organize our fall lecture series, plan our September/October annual oyster efforts and finalize our proposed “green club” management actions.

We encourage members to join us in our efforts:
• Volunteer to be a “Green Ambassador” at a clean regatta or become a “Water Quality Monitor.”
• Help us with our annual fall oyster efforts from restocking our cages with spat covered oyster shells to putting new spat covered concrete triangles on the EYC oyster reef wave wall.
• Learn about bay issues by attending our fall lecture series or joining us for monthly meetings.
For more info on our activities check out the EYC Environmental Stewardship section of the website.