Mayor Announces Unveiling Of Wicomico River Project At Salisbury Festival

Mayor James Ireton, Jr. is pleased to unveil his Wicomico River Project at this weekend’s Salisbury Festival. The project stems from Ireton’s promise in 2009 to make the clean-up of the Wicomico River a focus of his administration. The Wicomico River Project Board began meeting earlier this year and will be on hand at the Salisbury Festival to sign up interested citizens to be a part of the effort. The Wicomico River Project table will be located outside City Hall alongside tables for the Salisbury Marina, Salisbury Dog Park Committee, Community Development, Neighborhood Services and Code Compliance, Building Permits and Inspections, the Mayor’s Office, Internal Services and Planning and Zoning.

“I am proud of the efforts of our citizens who have brought this project to fruition. The clean-up of the Wicomico River for future generations must be at the heart of our efforts to revitalize our downtown, and ultimately the city as a whole. With the removal of abandoned barges in the works, partnering with the Department of Natural Resources underway, and efforts to address pollution in the river on-going, I am pleased that we have reached a point where we engage our citizens with tangible ways to be involved. I hope to see residents who share my concern for the river at our Wicomico River Project table at the Salisbury Festival this weekend,” said Mayor Ireton.

Wicomico River Project Goals
4/22/10

1. Engage school-aged populations (through schools and neighborhood associations) while integrating the Maryland Science Curriculum into field trips and ecological experiences on the Wicomico River

2. Highlight and inform the public of best practices in fertilizing of lawns and disposal of animal waste through public awareness campaigns

3. Beautify the Wicomico River

4. Integration of long-term reporting by Creekwatchers recommendations as they apply to the Upper and Lower Wicomico River, North and East Prongs of the Wicomico River, and Johnson’s Lake, Brewington Branch, Leonards Mill Pond, Parker, and Schumaker Pond

5. Advocate for the City of Salisbury Environmental Task Force Report that includes recommendations regarding the Wicomico River, stormwater utility, sustainability, etc.

6. Advocate for Living Shoreline additions and natural filters on the Wicomico River and area lakes and ponds to reduce runoff into the Wicomico River

7. Initiate eco-tourism activities and expand recreational uses on the Wicomico River

8. Engage civic and community organizations in awareness of river health

9. Integrate the Wicomico River into the revitalization of Downtown Salisbury

10. Initiate an “Adopt the Wicomico River” cleanup and preservation program

11. Advocate for Salisbury Environmental Task Force recommendations to organize, manage, and finance solutions to urban storm and surface water runoff

12. Promote and use best practices to control local goose population

13. Support existing area conservation groups and create partnerships with them whenever possible

Citizens interested in volunteering can do so through ShoreCAN located at the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore: 410-742-9911 or Salisbury Mayor Jim Ireton’s office: 410-548-3100