WEBVTT Kind: captions Language: en-US 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.000 [Music] 00:00:04.000 --> 00:00:08.080 - [Narrator] The first national marine sanctuary in  the Chesapeake Bay region and the first   00:00:08.080 --> 00:00:14.000 new designation in the United States in more than 20 years was the result of more than four years   00:00:14.000 --> 00:00:18.688 of collaboration among federal, state, local, and  community partners. 00:00:18.688 --> 00:00:24.893 Designated in September 2019, the Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine  Sanctuary 00:00:24.893 --> 00:00:30.116 is a largely undeveloped landscape and waterscape in Charles County known as one of 00:00:30.116 --> 00:00:36.141 the most ecologically valuable areas in Maryland. The site has nearly 200 known historic 00:00:36.141 --> 00:00:43.776 shipwrecks dating back to the Civil War, as well as archaeological artifacts dating back  12,000 years. 00:00:43.776 --> 00:00:51.000 The area is known best for the remains of more than 100 wooden steamships known  as the "Ghost Fleet." 00:00:51.000 --> 00:00:55.205 These ships, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, 00:00:55.205 --> 00:00:59.002 were built  as part of America's engagement in World War I. 00:00:59.002 --> 00:01:03.920 The shipwrecks and associated underwater  structures serve as habitat to populations   00:01:03.920 --> 00:01:09.360 of recreational and commercial fisheries,  osprey, and several marine species in the bay.   00:01:10.000 --> 00:01:15.120 The Ghost Fleet lies in an embayment  best accessed by Mallows Bay Park,   00:01:15.120 --> 00:01:20.640 which is managed by Charles County and owned by  the State of Maryland. Historically, the park   00:01:20.640 --> 00:01:26.320 has provided the public with motor boat and soft  launch water access, but minimal programming or  00:01:26.320 --> 00:01:31.280 interpretation of the shipwrecks or the history of the site. The National  00:01:31.280 --> 00:01:34.880 Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration worked with state, 00:01:34.880 --> 00:01:39.200 local, and community partners to develop a detailed plan to conserve  00:01:39.200 --> 00:01:43.360 and promote the natural, historic, cultural, archaeological,  00:01:43.360 --> 00:01:47.920 recreational, educational, and scientific resources of Mallows Bay 00:01:47.920 --> 00:01:50.800 through NOAA's sanctuary nomination process. 00:01:51.760 --> 00:01:56.160 As a national marine sanctuary, efforts will focus on the protection,  00:01:56.160 --> 00:02:00.560 access, and interpretation of the area's maritime cultural features, 00:02:00.560 --> 00:02:03.680 including the Ghost Fleet, as well as other vessels  00:02:03.680 --> 00:02:08.000 and related maritime infrastructure. The nomination was supported by  00:02:08.000 --> 00:02:11.280 organizations and individuals at local, state,  00:02:11.280 --> 00:02:14.560 regional, and national levels. Supporters included  00:02:14.560 --> 00:02:18.240 elected officials, the Piscataway Conoy Confederacy,  00:02:18.240 --> 00:02:22.480 historical societies, businesses, museums, and environmental  00:02:22.480 --> 00:02:26.480 recreational, conservation, tourism, and educational groups.  00:02:27.120 --> 00:02:30.160 This partnership will create recreational and educational  00:02:30.160 --> 00:02:34.000 opportunities, support local tourism, study the ecology  00:02:34.000 --> 00:02:37.200 of the area, share the history of the native peoples,  00:02:37.200 --> 00:02:39.760 and highlight Maryland's rich maritime history . 00:02:40.560 --> 00:02:44.480 Community partners established a steering committee to organize trash  00:02:44.480 --> 00:02:48.240 cleanups, school field trips and outreach events  00:02:48.240 --> 00:02:52.960 install a water quality monitoring buoy, and develop interpretation materials  00:02:52.960 --> 00:02:57.440 such as water and land trail maps, in addition to supporting research and  00:02:57.440 --> 00:03:02.080 data collection. Upon its designation, Mallows Bay-Potomac  00:03:02.080 --> 00:03:05.760 River National Marine Sanctuary joined a network of 14  00:03:05.760 --> 00:03:09.200 sites throughout the United States and its territories.  00:03:09.200 --> 00:03:13.360 The Sustainable Growth Commission extends its congratulations to Mallows  00:03:13.360 --> 00:03:16.320 Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary  00:03:16.320 --> 00:03:19.600 for winning a 2020 Sustainable Growth Award  00:03:19.600 --> 00:03:26.680 in the Preservation and Conservation category. [Music]  00:03:26.680 --> 00:03:37.017 [Music] 00:03:37.017 --> 00:03:40.480 - On behalf of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,  00:03:40.480 --> 00:03:43.840 NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, and the Charles County  00:03:43.840 --> 00:03:47.200 Department of Recreation, Parks, and Tourism, we offer our  00:03:47.200 --> 00:03:50.000 collective thanks to the Maryland Sustainable Growth Commission  00:03:50.000 --> 00:03:54.800 for the Preservation/Conservation Award. In addition, we extend our appreciation  00:03:54.800 --> 00:03:58.330 to the Maryland Secretary of Natural Resources, Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio, 00:03:58.330 --> 00:04:01.520 Maryland Secretary of Planning, Robert McCord,  00:04:01.520 --> 00:04:05.600 the Maryland Historical Trust, and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.  00:04:06.400 --> 00:04:09.760 Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary  00:04:09.760 --> 00:04:14.160 is the newest addition to a system of 14 marine sanctuaries  00:04:14.160 --> 00:04:17.358 and two marine national monuments administered by NOAA. 00:04:17.358 --> 00:04:22.240 - Together as a united team, we are extremely proud to be part of preserving  00:04:22.240 --> 00:04:27.200 the beauty of Mallows Bay and support the protection of this amazing sanctuary for  00:04:27.200 --> 00:04:29.084 future generations to enjoy. 00:04:29.948 --> 00:04:33.263 - We are grateful to the vast community of visionaries and partners who 00:04:33.263 --> 00:04:38.482 championed the original sanctuary nomination in 2014, and who continue to enable exceptional  00:04:38.482 --> 00:04:42.292 programs that benefit its people and protect its precious resources. 00:04:42.292 --> 00:04:45.280 While Eileen Minnick and I proudly accept this award,  00:04:45.280 --> 00:04:49.280 we are humbled by the dedication and leadership of these community partners.  00:04:49.840 --> 00:04:52.960 NOAA is pleased to be working alongside the State of Maryland,  00:04:52.960 --> 00:04:56.320 Charles County, Maryland, as co-managers of the sanctuary  00:04:56.320 --> 00:04:59.600 to further public appreciation and stewardship aligned with the  00:04:59.600 --> 00:05:03.101 Preservation/Conservation Award. Thank you.  00:05:04.704 --> 00:05:06.060 - Thank you.