Current Issue: May 2021
Spring is when exciting things happen, and whether you follow the meteorological or astronomical start of spring, the bottom line is, plants are coming alive and filling the outdoors with brilliant colors and smells! Spring is also a time in which yardwork begins to take up more time on weekends, along with repeated visits to the local nursery to see what’s in bloom. In this issue, we offer up some ideas for use both in and around the house during spring. So once you’ve pruned your shrubs, raked up any leftover leaves, and replaced the mulch in the landscaped beds, take a few minutes to relax and enjoy this issue of Headwaters.
Past Headwaters Issues
Dec 2020
In this issue you will find information about the growing concern over pharmaceuticals and personal care products that end up in our waterways, how regular reading enriches both the mind and attitude, and a real life ‘who done it’ for fall allergies. You can also learn about how one community is moving forward with projects to improve their local environment, find out about the newest Watershed Stewards Academy in Maryland, and the cool ways that online conferences are enhancing the virtual experience for attendees.
Sept 2020
COVID-19 has changed our daily lives - how we go to the store, how we work, even how we interact with other people. With additions to our lexicon including phrases like social distancing, positivity rate, and flatten the curve, it’s no wonder we are looking for familiar things and seeking a sense of normalcy. We hope this issue of Headwaters is a little of that normalcy that you’re looking for. Inside you’ll find out how to deal with stormwater runoff from a neighbor, information about the ABC’s of CECs, ideas for stormwater art, suggestions on how to help the environment if you’re a renter, and how plants help deal with stormwater.
Jan 2020
We are excited to start our seventh year of Headwaters with another spectacular issue, chock full of great stories intended to educate and inform. For instance, were you aware that there have been incidents in Maryland where dogs have eaten certain mussels and it was lethal? Are you looking for a great opportunity to network and learn with fellow Extension educators about all things natural resources? We know to use salt in moderation in our diets, but did you know that too much on our roads can be a problem too? We have the latest on these and so many more topics, so don’t wait any longer. Get comfortable and jump right in to this great issue that starts off season seven!
Oct 2019
Fall, a time of school buses, sweaters, shorter days, and everything pumpkin-spiced. It’s a wonderful time of year when the leaves begin to change and our thoughts turn to upcoming holidays with family and friends. Unfortunately this issue of Headwaters has nothing to do with any of those things so I’ll get right to the point: water quality is important to us all, whether you're sailing on or in it, so read on and you’ll find a new way to see what the water is like in your area or learn a new way or two that you can protect our precious groundwater. Did you know that rain gardens are helping to decrease climate-related impacts or have you always wanted to know how to winterize your rain garden? We may not have pumpkin-spice but we do have the latest on rain gardens in this issue. And other than sea monsters, have you ever wondered what Lake Champlain and the Chesapeake Bay have in common or what our favorite trees are? Well wonder no further, because we answer all that and more in this issue of Headwaters.
June 2019
In this issue you will find out how Extension is utilizing neighborhood gardens as a place to engage communities; what equity, inclusion, and bison have in common; and how Calvert County is working with Extension to improve water quality. Read on to find out about our Watershed Stewards Academy retreat; if you’re eligible for a rebate or incentive for that rain barrel; and if you’re looking for a day-trip suggestion, we’ve got just the place. So as you get a cool glass of water and sit in the shade for a moment, be sure to look at the article on the significance of groundwater in Maryland.
Mar 2019
Spring is a confusing time for plants, animals, and people. Freezing cold temperatures one minute, you’re breaking into a sweat the next minute. Daffodils popping up all over the place and that pale, red glow in the distance show that the Maples have had enough winter and it’s time to bask in the sun and enjoy springtime! As you think about getting out in the yard and doing a little maintenance, don’t forget that your septic system might need some TLC too. In this issue of Headwaters, Dr. Andy Lazur closes out his series on septic systems with some suggestions on their maintenance. We also share some insight on one of our key partners, the Watershed Assistance Collaborative. And to wrap it all up, we pitch 5 questions to Dr. Bill Hubbard, our new Assistant Director and Program Leader.
May 2018
With winter in our rearview mirrors we look forward to all the opportunities to get outdoors that spring and summer throw our way. With months of long dark nights and cold weather behind us, now is the time to tackle projects around the house and put those plans for that new plant bed, landscape project, or rain garden that you’ve been thinking about into action. This issue of Headwaters has useful information on why Watershed Specialists are better than dating apps, how and where to find native plants, what you can and can’t do with water from a rain barrel, a unique partnership working in the Jones Falls watershed, and what one county is doing to reduce stormwater runoff from its roadways.
Mar 2018
This issue of Headwaters shares a variety of information on lakes, pre-cipitation, and stormwater, and the many ways we have chosen to man-age them. We also share with you a delicious way to help clean up the Bay and how the word sustainable may be losing its sustainability. We know it’s difficult to put your faith in a rodent for long term weather predictions, but with spring not far around the corner, why not just sit back and relax and take in all this issue has to offer. So here’s lookin’ at you Phil and thanks for the prognostication of only six more weeks of winter.
May 2017
This issue of Headwaters emphasizes its feeling of renewal, regeneration, and revitalization. In this issue you will meet our two newest Watershed Specialists, learn that small things really can witness the success of grants that help with planning, find out what the Stewards at St. Mary’s County Watershed Stewards Academy have been up to, and learn about how the Maryland Coastal Bays Program is taking steps to assess its vulnerability to climate change.