About TRPA
About Us
Dr. Callum Bain a physician, who has practiced in Easton, Maryland for over 30 years, founded the Talbot River Protection Association, Inc. (TRPA) in 1996. The original organization began as a study group. They noted that environmental laws that received wide publicity in the media were not effectively enforced by local government. They realized that no one was looking after the environment and set about to make a change.
The members of TRPA learned the law, with its multi-layered regulations and agencies, and scientifically documented the condition of our waterways. The law defines permissible water quality, storm water run-off into wetlands and prohibits the filling of wetlands. Septic and sewer discharges are also controlled by law. What TRPA discovers they use to educate others.
In mid 1999 via a joint venture between TRPA, they Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, a program involving 60 volunteers, called Creekwatchers, was initiated.
Volunteers were recruited and trained in sampling water at 60 sites on Talbot waterways for pollutants and overall condition. Their success resulted in the volunteers becoming a self-governing group.
The mission of the Talbot River Protection Association is to protect and improve the quality of Talbot County's rivers through public discussion, education, persuasion, and reviewing proposed land developments to determine the impact, if any, on the waters. The Talbot River Protection Association (TRPA) is a tax exempt, 501(c)(3) non-profit educational and scientific organization whose purpose is to provide infomation to the governments and people of Talbot County about the conditon of their rivers and creeks. TRPA promotes measures to lessen water pollution, which benefit commercial watermen, fishermen, and recreational boat owners. Waterside restaurant owners and homeowners also appreciate our work. Talbot County has 600 miles of waterfront, and many of our rivers and streams are already on Maryland's list of impaired waterways.
Members
Talbot County has a very rich resource in the people who live here. Today TRPA has over 260 members who represent local business, all manner of professional activities, government service and corporate activity.
Activities
What TRPA has documented, many residents have already guessed, the water is becoming more foul and the marshland of the Bay is dying. Presently 60 sites are monitored, taking water and bottom core samples which are analyzed by the University of Maryland. This field sampling has produced significant results, showing excessive pollutants in our impaired waters.
The University of Maryland has set standards for the nitrogen and phosphorus content of the water appropriate for tidewater areas.
TRPA has documented evidence that the upper Miles and upper Tred Avon are impaired. Certain regions have high levels of fecal coliform making oysters unsafe for consumption.
TRPA has scientifically documented that many of these same waters are imparied with high levels of both nitrogen and phosphorus and other contaminants causing harmful oxygen-consuming blooms of algae and other organisms.
TRPA has scientifically documented that there are dangrously low levels of dissolved oxygen in these same waters presenting a genuine threat to marine life.
TRPA has documented evidence that most of the submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) in these same waters has disappeared in the last 30 years because of reduced water quality with destruction of essential fish habitat. TRPA has scientifically documented the presence of toxic organic chemicals and heavy metals in the upper Tred Avon River resulting from Easton's urban storm water run-off. The river water data provided by TRPA has accelerated the planning of the new Easton Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP). Also under review is the upgrading of the St. Michaels WWTP. These two new facilities will do much to improve the water quality of the Miles and Choptank rivers. Similar pressure is being applied to upgrade the WWTP in Oxford and in Trappe. The state of Maryland is currently drafting new, more restrictive specifications for both sewage treatment and storm water run-off. TRPA has established a base line for the condition of our waterways and draws attention to the problem of bacterial infection. Also, newspapers report the presence of pfiesteria and cryptosporidiosis. Even if new specifications are not published in a timely fashion, TRPA's base line will tell if conditions are improving or deteriorating further. In general information gathered so far shows no improvement. TRPA's members frequently testify before the commisions and council of Talbot County and also testify at public hearings. TRPA supports growth that confirms to the county's and town's Comprehensive Plan environmental restrictions and does not harm our waters with pollution or sediment. If the conditions we monitor continue to decline below today's base line, citizens must take their concerns to responsible elected officials and demand corrective action. TRPA presents public forums, such as River Roundtable III which was held at the Avalon Theatre last fall, to make the citizens of Talbot County aware of pollution. TRPA has created Youth Activity Program whereby children from Talbot County's public and private schools are made aware of and become involved in enviornmental issues.Financial Aid
TRPA is qualified as a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation. Active members volunteer their time for their programs. We are funded by tax-deductible donations from:
- Members annual dues
- A few larger individual contributions, and
- Grants from public and private foundations and government agencies including:
- Talbot County
- Concordia Foundation
- Chesapeake Bay Trust
- President
- Christine Sweeney
- Executive Advisor
- Callum R. W. Bain MD
- Treasurer
- Pat Betlejewski
- Secretary
- Dennis Grote, MBA
- Board Member
- Milton C. Irvin, MA
- Board Member
- Dorothy R. Mowry, Ph.D.,LLD
- Board Member
- Robert Stanley
- Board Member
- Cleo Braver
Knowledge obtained by volunteers assists in sensible planning and has been welcomed by government agencies. There is much to be done to protect our waters. We need additional members who can contribute financially, be active members serving on committees, speak at public meetings or simply attend public meetings. We need your help to alert the people and caution elected officials that our waters must be protected. There is strength in numbers of active people. All of the activities TRPA performs require funds and your support is essential. Please encourage your friends and neighbors to become members of TRPA and to become actively involved.
Thank you for you interest and help.