Save the Man-O-War Shoals

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Just a couple of miles off the shores of historic Fort Howard, Maryland in the Baltimore County’s world famous Chesapeake Bay waters  lies the last intact surviving oyster shoal from prehistoric days: Man-O-War Oyster Shoals.

Tragically,  the  Maryland Department of Natural  Resources Secretary Mark Belton  and the United States Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) have decided the the Bay’s ecosystem has not been adequately destroyed by the over-harvesting of the once  billions of oysters that once filtered the entire Bay’s water volume in one week!  USACE and  MDNR are now dealing  the last death blow to the Bay by giving permission to DREDGE AWAY ONE THIRD of the Man-O-War Oyster Shoals. 

In February 2016, the Fort Howard Community Association, Miller Island Edgemere Business Association, the Waterman’s Association, the  Maryland Saltwater Sportsfishing Association,  Somerset County Oyster  Committee,  Anne Arundel Oyster Committee, Baltimore County 7th District Councilman Todd Crandell, Senator Johnny Ray Salling and J.B. Jennings, along with dozens of private citizens gave oral and written testimony most strongly opposing the dredge permit back ; but USACE still issued the permit to MDNR  memorializing  Secretary Mark Belton’s legacy in annuls of Maryland Chesapeake Bay Environmental history and natural heritage. 

On January 29, 2019 Delegate Robin Grammer’s 2019 House Bill 40 was re-introduced and Delegate Steve Lafferty’s  House Bill 1 was concurrently heard  to prohibit dredging at the Shoal. Scrolling to 1:26, the hearing testimony can be viewed HERE.

Fort Howard Community Association is testifying in Annapolis February 5, 2019 in support of SB145 titled Natural Resources – Prohibition on Dredging Buried Oyster Shells on  Man–O–War Shoals.

The 7th District Civic Council of Baltimore County has requested Baltimore County Executive Dr. John Olszewski for a Letter of Support to present with our testimony. But we need YOUR HELP. 

Please join  preserving our children’s natural heritage. Sign the SAVE MAN-O-WAR OYSTER SHOAL PETITION below. And let Belton, USACE, and the world  know the Bay in not going down without a fight from you!