Poplar Island (Chesapeake Bay)
Encyclopedia
Poplar Island, located on the Chesapeake Bay
, was first seen by Spanish explorer Juan Menendez de Marques in 1573. It is part of Talbot County, Maryland
and is currently being rebuilt by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers using dredged mud from the Baltimore
Harbor, located approximately 30 miles north/north-west of the island. The project's current estimate of cost is $667 million and is, according to schedule, going to be completed in year 2027.
.
The island had split into three pieces by the late 1800s. At that time, the larger piece was home to the town of Valiant, a community of 100 residents, with its own post office, school, general store, and a sawmill. Its sawmill may have contributed to the island's erosion by cutting down all of the trees, whose roots held the sandy soil together.
By 1920, the last permanent resident had left and the island became a hunting retreat. A clubhouse built on Poplar Island during the 1930s had two presidents among its vacationing guests: Franklin D. Roosevelt
and Harry S. Truman
. The clubhouse burned down in 1946.
Poplar Island's landmass covered more than 1,000 acres in 1847, shaped in a four-mile long crescent, bending around Jefferson Island (east). Erosion eventually reduced its landmass to less than 10 acres by 1990, most of which comprised its southern piece, Coaches Island. Three tiny fragments to the north of Coaches Island were known as North Point, Middle Poplar and South Poplar.
Hart Miller Island
, another another badly eroded island in the Chesapeake Bay, received dredged material over a 25 year period. By 2009, this island had been restored to 1,100 acres of wildlife habitat and recreation land.
Dredged material from shipping channels in the Chesapeake Bay may also be used to restore James Island, as part of the Mid-Bay Island Restoration Project. James Island, located at the mouth of the Little Choptank River, had eroded to three tiny fragments. The projects plans call for adding 2,000 acres to James Island with dredged material to restore the island to its historic footprint. However, work on James Island depends upon the project's inclusion in federal grants for the Water Resources Development Act
; funding had not yet been approved as of March 2011.
The island is the home of approximately 170 different species of birds, including terns and bald eagles. More than 1,000 diamondback terrapins have been reported hatching annually on the island in recent years.
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
, was first seen by Spanish explorer Juan Menendez de Marques in 1573. It is part of Talbot County, Maryland
Talbot County, Maryland
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*81.4% White*12.8% Black*0.2% Native American*1.2% Asian*0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*1.6% Two or more races*2.7% Other races*5.5% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
and is currently being rebuilt by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers using dredged mud from the Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
Harbor, located approximately 30 miles north/north-west of the island. The project's current estimate of cost is $667 million and is, according to schedule, going to be completed in year 2027.
History
English colonists began settling Poplar Island in the 1630s. It served as a campsite for British warships during the War of 1812War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
.
The island had split into three pieces by the late 1800s. At that time, the larger piece was home to the town of Valiant, a community of 100 residents, with its own post office, school, general store, and a sawmill. Its sawmill may have contributed to the island's erosion by cutting down all of the trees, whose roots held the sandy soil together.
By 1920, the last permanent resident had left and the island became a hunting retreat. A clubhouse built on Poplar Island during the 1930s had two presidents among its vacationing guests: Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
and Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
. The clubhouse burned down in 1946.
Poplar Island's landmass covered more than 1,000 acres in 1847, shaped in a four-mile long crescent, bending around Jefferson Island (east). Erosion eventually reduced its landmass to less than 10 acres by 1990, most of which comprised its southern piece, Coaches Island. Three tiny fragments to the north of Coaches Island were known as North Point, Middle Poplar and South Poplar.
Restoration with dredged material
Federal and state officials selected Poplar Island as dumping site for material dredged from Baltimore's shipping channels in the 1990s. This would allow restoration of the island while halting the earlier practice of open water dumping. Reconstruction of the island began in 1998 with the erection of dikes to contain the dredged material.Hart Miller Island
Hart Miller Island
Hart Miller Island is located at the mouths of Back River and Middle River, where they empty into the Chesapeake Bay east of the City of Baltimore in Maryland. It was formerly two separate islands, Hart Island and Miller Island, but it is now almost entirely artificial, and is being filled with...
, another another badly eroded island in the Chesapeake Bay, received dredged material over a 25 year period. By 2009, this island had been restored to 1,100 acres of wildlife habitat and recreation land.
Dredged material from shipping channels in the Chesapeake Bay may also be used to restore James Island, as part of the Mid-Bay Island Restoration Project. James Island, located at the mouth of the Little Choptank River, had eroded to three tiny fragments. The projects plans call for adding 2,000 acres to James Island with dredged material to restore the island to its historic footprint. However, work on James Island depends upon the project's inclusion in federal grants for the Water Resources Development Act
Water Resources Development Act
Water Resources Development Act , is a reference to public laws enacted by Congress to deal with various aspects of water resources: environmental, structural, navigational, flood protection, hydrology, etc....
; funding had not yet been approved as of March 2011.
Wildlife sanctuary
Since its reconstruction with dredged material began in 1998, Poplar Island had grown to 1,140 acres by 2005. Plans call for the addition of another 575 acres. Half of the island's acreage will be turned into wetlands and half into uplands. The project will use 40 million cubic yards of dredged material protected by 35,000 feet of containment dikes, built with 75% federal funding and 25% state funding. Only "clean" material, dredged from approach channels, is being used on Poplar Island. The Poplar Island restoration project will not use material dredged from close to Baltimore, which may be contaminated with toxic waste.The island is the home of approximately 170 different species of birds, including terns and bald eagles. More than 1,000 diamondback terrapins have been reported hatching annually on the island in recent years.