As we kick off 2023, we reflect on all of our positive and impactful accomplishments in 2022. 2022 was a productive year, not just for implementing high impact projects, but also for inspiring the next generation of environmental scientists and sharing knowledge with our peers in the environmental industry.
Last year, our nature-based solutions were “approved” by local fauna, as a family of beavers moved in and built on top of one of the beaver dam analogue (log jam) structures at our Bacon Ridge Branch Stream Restoration Project in Crownsville, MD. We continue to evaluate the large-scale wetland re-establishment co-benefit this project yielded and we’re impressed by the recolonization of floral and faunal diversity. During the year three maintenance of our Jamesburg Park Restoration site in Middlesex County NJ, we observed the continued evolution of the plant community, including a vibrant stand of Atlantic White Cedar and the return of active local wildlife use.
We were proud to be showcased as the implementing partner of the Middle Branch Resiliency Initiative (MBRI), as South Baltimore Gateway Partnership announced in a press conference that $47.7 million has been secured to commence Stage 1 of the MBRI.
Various members of Team GV have continued our tradition of engaging the next generation of scientists to teach school age children and college students over the past year. Project Manager Bobby Miller taught a third-grade class about stream ecology including our innovative approach and methodology to restoration. Project Manager Laura Kelm led an educational program at Camp Barrett, in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, showing the importance of our Bacon Ridge Branch Project. Environmental Scientist Owen McEnroe conducted a tour of the Mullica Mitigation Site for students in New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s 2022 Youth Inclusion Initiative. Vice President, Brian Cramer, conducted a tour and presented during the Stillwater Elementary School’s 5th Grade fieldtrip to the Paulins Kill Watershed, a tributary to the Delaware River in New Jersey. Additionally, Carmen Tucker and Jack Turner were both invited to present at Bowie State University. Carmen, our Special Projects Coordinator, was featured on a panel at the Green Careers Round Table talking about her career in environmental science. Jack, one of our Ecosystem Restoration Specialists, led a seminar about nature photography.
Team GV has also been invited to participate in various industry presentations throughout the year. We provided valuable information to prospective 2022 Federal Emergency Management Agency Hazard Mitigation Assistance applicants at Prince George’s County Office of Emergency Management’s workshop. Our Managing Member, Doug Lashley, spoke on a panel at the Spring Meeting of the Environmental Council of States. Laura Kelm presented at BeaverCon 2022 about how those industrious beavers approved of our nature-based approach at the Bacon Ridge Branch Stream Restoration Project. Finally, Brett Berkley and Andrew Forbes presented about the Middle Branch Resiliency Initiative at the Restore America’s Estuaries Conference.
It was quite a year as GreenVest celebrated our 30th birthday and all the ways we successfully use nature-based and innovative solutions to restore, conserve, and protect our environment and communities. We look forward to delivering high environmental, community resilience, and educational impacts with our partners far and wide in 2023.
