{"id":27901,"date":"2019-07-08T12:42:50","date_gmt":"2019-07-08T16:42:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/?p=27901"},"modified":"2019-07-08T12:42:50","modified_gmt":"2019-07-08T16:42:50","slug":"noaa-designates-new-national-marine-sanctuary-in-maryland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/2019\/07\/08\/noaa-designates-new-national-marine-sanctuary-in-maryland\/","title":{"rendered":"NOAA Designates New National Marine Sanctuary in Maryland"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary to Protect World War I-era Shipwrecks<\/em><\/p>\n

\"PhotoNOAA, the state of Maryland and Charles County today announced the designation of a new national marine sanctuary to protect the remains of more than 100 abandoned steamships and vessels built as part of America\u2019s engagement in World War I.<\/p>\n

Mallows<\/span> Bay<\/span>-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary<\/a>, about 40 miles south of Washington, D.C., will be the first national marine sanctuary designated since 2000.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe designation of Mallows<\/span> Bay<\/span> as a national marine sanctuary is an exciting milestone for NOAA and an opportunity for the public to celebrate and help protect this piece of our nation\u2019s rich maritime history,\u201d said Neil Jacobs, Ph.D., acting NOAA administrator. \u201cWe look forward to working with the state of Maryland, Charles County and other local partners to foster education and research partnerships as well as support and enhance local recreation and tourism along this historic stretch of the Potomac River.\u201d<\/p>\n

The state of Maryland nominated<\/a> the area for sanctuary designation in 2014 to protect and conserve the shipwrecks and cultural heritage resources, to foster education and research partnerships, and to increase opportunities for public access, tourism and economic development. The nomination enjoyed broad community support as well as strong support from the Maryland congressional delegation.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are thrilled by NOAA\u2019s announcement of the Mallows<\/span> Bay<\/span>-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary<\/a> designation,\u201d said Maryland Governor Larry Hogan. \u201dPreserving our history, heritage, and natural resources have always been a priority for our administration and designating this national treasure as a marine sanctuary is yet another example of our stewardship; and will ensure that people from both Maryland and beyond will have the opportunity to experience this amazing site for years to come.\u201d \u00a0<\/p>\n

Located along an 18-square mile stretch of Potomac River coast in Charles County, Maryland, the new sanctuary boasts a collection of historic shipwrecks dating back to the Civil War, as well as archaeological artifacts nearly 12,000 years old. Its culturally rich landscape also includes sites that represent the history of Native American communities in the area, the once-booming Potomac River fishing industry and the Civil War.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are pleased to work with our state and federal partners to highlight one of the county\u2019s national treasures that tells an important historical story,\u201d said Charles County Commissioner President Reuben B. Collins II, Esq. \u201cI am proud we are taking these next steps to preserve the beauty of Mallows<\/span> Bay<\/span> and highlight this attraction for our residents and visitors worldwide.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mallows Bay is most renowned for its \u201cGhost Fleet,\u201d the partially submerged remains of more than 100 wooden steamships that were built in response to threats from World War I-era German U-boats that were sinking ships in the Atlantic. Although the ships never saw action during the war, their construction at more than 40 shipyards in 17 states reflected the massive national wartime effort that drove the expansion and economic development of waterfront communities and maritime service industries. The fleet was brought to the Potomac River to be salvaged for scrap metal by a company in Alexandria, Virginia, not far from the sanctuary site.<\/p>\n

Today, nature has reclaimed the ships, with some appearing to look like long skinny islands of vegetation. The wrecks provide shelter for flora and fauna, including fish, beaver and osprey.<\/p>\n

NOAA, the State of Maryland, and Charles County will manage the national marine sanctuary jointly. NOAA\u2019s sanctuary management actions primarily will be focused on protecting the Ghost Fleet and related maritime heritage resources. Authorities related to natural resources and their management will remain with Maryland Department of Natural Resources<\/a> and the Potomac River Fisheries Commission, a multi-state agency.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s good reason that the Mallows<\/span> Bay<\/span>-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary will be the first national marine sanctuary created in the last two decades \u2013 it\u2019s a unique blend of historical, recreational and habitat resources with strong public support for its protection,\u201d said Senator Ben Cardin of Maryland. \u201cI strongly applaud the dedication of all those who have worked to help get us to this point and will continue to work with them in support of the sanctuary\u2019s final designation in the days ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFor years, we have been working with federal, state, and local partners to establish a National Marine Sanctuary in Mallows<\/span> Bay<\/span>. Today, that hard work becomes a reality,\u201d said Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland. \u201cThis is a win-win for Maryland, ensuring that this unique area \u2013 which boasts unbelievable history and important wildlife \u2013 is preserved for future generations. It will also help spur increased tourism and boost the local economy. Thanks to everyone in the community who helped make this possible. \u201cI\u2019m pleased that Mallows<\/span> Bay<\/span> has finally received the long overdue designation of National Marine Sanctuary,\u201d said Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland, whose district includes the sanctuary site. \u201cThis important distinction, which I have advocated for since 2014, will ensure Mallows<\/span> Bay<\/span> is protected for years to come, support job creation and spur local tourism. I join in thanking the community leaders, volunteers, and business owners who have long championed this designation.\u201d \u00a0<\/p>\n

The sanctuary designation will take effect following 45 days of Congressional session after publication of this action in the Federal Register.<\/p>\n

For more information, visit: https:\/\/sanctuaries.noaa.gov\/mallows<\/span>-potomac\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary to Protect World War I-era Shipwrecks NOAA, the state of Maryland and Charles County today announced the designation of a new national marine sanctuary to protect the remains of more than 100 abandoned steamships and vessels built as part of America\u2019s engagement in World War I. Mallows Bay-Potomac River  Read the Rest…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":146,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[957,33],"tags":[2924,4985,2952,2927,2925,2928,2926],"class_list":["post-27901","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-appnews","category-the-bay","tag-charles-county","tag-ghost-fleet","tag-larry-hogan","tag-mallows-bay","tag-mallows-bay-potomac-river-national-marine-sanctuary","tag-national-oceanic-and-atmospheric-administration","tag-potomac-river"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27901","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/146"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27901"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27901\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27909,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27901\/revisions\/27909"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27901"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27901"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27901"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}