OK, folks, time to start worrying about something besides Lyme Disease. 
Maureen Harvey (MOS Conservation chair) forwarded this notice about a 
potential threat to bird habitat near the shore.

Janet Millenson
Potomac, MD (Montgomery County)



-----Original Message-----

From: J Brown [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Thursday, July 13, 2006 10:21 AM
To: 
Subject: Route 50 Crossing - Impact on Bird Sanctuary & Wetlands

The Maryland Department of Transportation and State Highway
Administration are seriously considering an alternative to the US 50
bridge crossing as it enters West Ocean City and crosses into Ocean
City, Maryland. This alternative, known as Alternative 6, would be an
unmitigated disaster for hundreds of acres of wetlands and the 200 acre
Elliott's pond, a natural habitat to myriad bird species and other
wildlife.

Alternative 6 will have a damaging effect on the environment.
Alternative 6 will pave over by far the largest area of any of the
alternatives. The state acknowledges that 3.2 acres of wetlands will be
directly affected by shading from the new bridge, but they omit any
mention of the area that would need to be filled for pylons and bridge
support structures. The proposed route of Alternative 6 is next to
Elliott's Pond, an important estuary for migrating wildfowl and other
wildlife, and through one of the few remaining areas of open wetlands on
the bay in West Ocean City.

The State Highway Administration has focused almost exclusively on
preserving the water bird colony on Skimmer Island, but they seem
unaware of the existence of a smaller island that is identical to
Skimmer Island in composition and habitat, with identical water bird
colonies, that lies just north of Skimmer Island, next to the path of
the bridge for Alternative 6.
The environmental impact to the rest of the bay (minus Skimmer Island)
has received scant attention from the State Highway study group.

Please review the web site at www.westoceancity.org to see for yourself
the devastating effect this alternative would have on our the wildlife,
birds and wetlands of our community. Elliott's Pond is home to thousands
of species of birds and other wildlife. Cranes are often seen
enjoying this habitat. It attracts dozens of bird watchers. Alternative
6 would destroy this natural habitat by paving over it. The noise and
pollution would kill whatever remaining animals existed.

This photo: http://www.westoceancity.org/westoc/DSCN1337.JPG shows how
this alternative direclty destroy the undeveloped acreage surrounding
Elliott's Pond and wetlands. Elliott's Pond is the blue to the north of
the proposed span. The wetlands are outlined in blue at the edge of the
bay.

Thank you for your consideration in this matter. We appreciate any
support we can get! It seems some rather influential individuals in our
community are supporting this Alternative. This alternative is projected
to cost OVER $250 MILLION in MD taxpayer money. This is more than
TWICE as expensive as the other alternatives.

Sincerely,
Julia Brown
12916 Charles Street
Ocean City, MD  21842
www.westoceancity.org