BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND ANNUAL MEETING

July 15, 2025

Annual Report of Cove Point Natural Heritage Trust 2024-2025

CORPORATE ACTIVITIES - For the year 2024-2025, the Cove Point Natural Heritage Trust consisted of nine Trustees and one employee. Maryland Conservation Council (MCC), one of the three Member Organizations representing the 2005 Cove Point Agreement was dissolved in 2024 and the American Chestnut Land Trust (ACLT) was chosen to replace MCC. ACLT were represented by Trustees Gary Ressing and Amanda Knobloch. Cove Point BHE GT&S and Sierra Club, Maryland Chapter were the two other Member Organizations represented in the 2005 Agreement.  Cove Point BHE GT&S were represented by Trustees Mike Gardner and Matt Ballantine. Sierra Club, Maryland Chapter were represented by Trustees Lila West and Ron Klauda. Mike Rudy, Chris Chenoweth and Carys Mitchelmore were the three Trustees elected to represent the community. The one employee is Bruce Fall, Director of Operations. The three member organizations formally approved the Trust’s budget and appointed their trustees. A conflict of Interest Policy was signed and implemented by the Trustees.  The Trust has begun the process of pursuing accreditation with the Land Trust Alliance (LTA).

FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES - The Treasurer manages CPNHT investment strategies with Bernstein Wealth Management. An audit of 2022 & 2023 was performed by Askey, Askey and Associates, CPA, LLC. Financial documents are available for review upon request.

The accountant is Fernandes DeGennaro and Associates, and the bank account was with Shore United Bank (formerly Community Bank of the Chesapeake).  A concerted new approach for budget planning was implemented.

FILING SYSTEM - A new paper based filing system has been created for corporate documents and records covering the period 1994-2017.  A new online secure data repository with cloud backup has been created for corporate documents and records from 2017- present.  All Trustees have been provided online access.

CPNHT PROPERTIES STEWARDSHIP - CPNHT oversees stewardship of approximately 170 acres of conservation land located in the upper tidal portion of Hellen Creek.  An effort is underway to protect and restore an endangered stand of Hemlock Trees that have been affected by the Wooly Adelgid pest and browsing by white tailed deer.  An effort is underway to identify and mitigate invasive plants and trees on the property such as wineberry, phragmites, Tree of Heaven and English Ivy.

COVE POINT BHE GT&S PROPERTIES STEWARDSHIP - Cove Point BHE GT&S Trustees kept CPNHT Board of Trustees advised of relevant matters pertaining to the LNG Plant and the natural conserved areas that they own surrounding the fenced facility including its large track of forests, fresh water marsh and coastline.  Cove Point BHE GT&S Environmental Group is seeking state & regulatory approval to restore the Grays Creek stream bed on the eastern side of the LNG facility in 2026. The CBL organization monitors and reports on conditions within the fresh water marsh and coastal dunes at Cove Point on a monthly basis. Shoreline and dune erosion continues to be a concern to the long term health of the fresh water marsh. Cape Cod Beach Grass was planted along the beach area behind the breakwaters to protect and strengthen the dunes. Organized hikes involving several Trustees included a hike along the northern wooded perimeter above the facility as well as several hikes along the fresh water pond /coastline.

TREE FUND is maintained in a separate interest-bearing account for the preservation and planting of trees. Approximately 70 trees were removed from the Clifton Property and 75 Native Trees were planted on the Turner Barn meadow using the fund. 

RUTH MATHES SCHOLARSHIP FUND is held as a separate account at Bernstein. Patuxent Environmental & Aquatic Research Lab (PEARL) of Morgan State University, St. Mary’s College of Maryland, the Chesapeake Biological Lab (CBL) of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science and Patuxent High School are the benefactors. $10,000 has a been budgeted for Scholarship Awards for the 2025 fiscal year. A Scholarship committee was created to improve the program.

SMALL RESEARCH AND GRANT PROGRAM was created in an effort to expand the reach of grant funding to more local organizations.  The new program received Trustee approval for 13 grants supported by $30,000 of funding that will be allocated in 2025.  Previously granted funds that reached conclusion in 2024 / 2025 include a RTE plant survey at Cove Point, a Zircon Study, a Greenhouse grant at Annmarie Gardens and Oyster research and monitoring within the St Mary’s River. A grant committee was created to improve the program.

ANNMARIE GARDENS outreach program was created for 2025/2026 to encourage off-campus nature hikes and volunteer activities on CPNHT properties.  The activities will be lead by Master Naturalist Volunteers. 

TURNER BARN PROPERTY - A septic system and well were dug and installed at the Turner Property - awaiting testing.  Encompass Enterprises continues to pursue permit approval and develop plans for remodeling the Turner Road barn.

CLIFTON PROPERTY - Karl Bowen Tree Services, removed approximately 70 trees from the Clifton entrance and driveway. Most of the trees removed were identified as problematic - either dead, diseased, learning or overly mature. The cleared area will improve parking as well as maneuverability - for vehicles such as trucks and kayak trailers.  Encompass Enterprises continues to work toward developing plans for removing the existing structure and for the rebuild.  The Clifton road has been repaired of holes.

WATER MONITORING - we entered our second year of water monitoring of four non-tidal creeks that flow into Hellen Creek.  The monitoring team uses a Hanna Meter device to take quarterly measurements of Nitrogen, pH, Conductivity, Total Dissolved Solids, Dissolved Oxygen and Water Temperature. Turbidity is also measured off-site using a Turbidity Meter supplied by ACLT. One particular site, H4, is of particular interest because of its proximity to the Sweetwater Waste Treatment facility. The monitoring team also participates in the Annual Blitz in April which mainly focuses on Nitrogen and includes over 150 streams in southern Maryland. A water monitoring committee was created to improve program performance.

DEER MANAGEMENT - after disappointing 2023-2024 results where only 4 deer were removed from the approx. 170 acres CPNHT owns, the program was revamped, 2 new hunters were added and an incentive program was implemented to increase the number of deer removals.  A new Policy statement and Contract / Lease agreement was created.

KAYAK LAUNCH AREA - The main trail leading to the creek has been trimmed for easier vehicle passage.  A kayak rack was built to hold 6 kayaks.  The Calvert Marine Museum donated two kayaks to the Trust.  Estimates are underway to repair the steps leading to the creek as well as discussions are underway on how to best create a launch for kayak use.  We have had visits to the launch area by Team River Runners Wounded Warriors Kayak Program and the Calvert Marine Museum Kayak Club.

ACQUISITIONS - Several properties have been identified for acquisition.  A meeting took place with Frank Brayton of CPNHT BHE GT&S to explore the purchase of their 102 acre property north of Millbridge Road as well as to discuss a 23 acre property owned by BHE GT&S along the southern edge of the Sweetwater waste treatment plant. Another property of interest is a 25 acre property (BT Johnson) bordering our Clifton properties. An acquisition committee has been created to aid in this effort.

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS (DIRECTOR) - Southern Maryland Conservation Alliance (SMCA), Southern Calvert Land Trust (SCLT). American Chestnut Land Trust (ACLT) and Master Naturalist Certification - (18 week class).  Attended Water Monitoring Conference

OUTREACH - The Corporate website has been updated and includes a new landing page for the Grant and Scholarship Programs.  A quarterly news article page also has been included.  The Corporate Facebook page has increased from 36 Friends to 96 Friends in the course of a year.  Sponsored the Ospreyfest with MONF.  Participation in Bernie Fowler Wade-In & PRAD. Bob Boxwell, the former employee for the firm remains involved with several of the committees and continues the Bluebird monitoring program as well as participates in the Camp Maria Camp as well as after school nature programs at Hollywood Elementary.

Bruce Fall, Director