The Elm Student Newspaper
Former politicians discuss Bay
Dawn Taute
The talk on protection of the Bay was led
by President Toll.
Christina Vouros, Elm photographer
Saturday, April 17, former Governor of Maryland Harry Hughes accompanied former U.S. Senators and other visitors to Norman James Theatre to present the lecture "Dialogue: Examining the Origins of Bay Restoration."
"I think we're very privileged to have such an inspiring group come talk to us at such a critical time," said WC President John Toll. "There are so many people here today to see such an eminent group of leaders take part in the Chesapeake restoration."
Speakers included former Virginia Senator Joseph Gartlan Jr., Maryland Senator Bernie Fowler, Virginia Delegate Taylor Murphy Jr., and public affairs consultant George Wolff. The high-profile group talked about their involvement in Chesapeake Bay preservation, the role of science in the preservation and restoration program, progress made, and their suggestions for increasing the success of preservation.
Senator Gartlan started by explaining how he became interested in the Bay preservation. "A huge Texas firm bought a huge tract of agricultural land to be the platform for a drilling operation and when word got around that they would be drilling around the shoreline, I wanted to do a study to see what their influences would be," said Gartlan. "This led to questions of shoreline erosion, pollution, and other major concerns that sparked my interest."
Senator Fowler also commented on the origins of his involvement: "As a boy from the age of three on, I lived on the Patuxant River and it became a part of me," said Fowler. "I began to see the transparency of water disappear and became very concerned. I later showed Governor Hughes that oysters were dying and that there was a loss of transparency and convinced him that there was something seriously wrong."
The well-respected visiting speakers also remarked on the role of science and how it has affected the continuing efforts to preserve and restore the Chesapeake Bay.
"Scientists know how to lay the brick-work, but they lack the carpentry," said Wolff.
Former Governor Hughes added, "There is more of a reliance on science, but it cannot be based on that alone. We also need political involvement if we want to succeed in preserving the Chesapeake."
The speakers later commented on their own thoughts of whether or not progress was being made in the efforts to preserve the Chesapeake.
"Yes, we are making progress, but there needs to be a lot more," said Hughes, adding, "things need to be done and can be done. Marylanders love the Chesapeake Bay, but we need to keep public interest up. That is a top priority."
"There is not enough adequate progress," said Fowler. "It isn't getting any worse, but it sure isn't getting any better. I remember there used to be places where there were hundreds of acres of grass, but now you can't find any. Time isn't on our side. We have to be more drastic in our actions."
Murphy Jr. also commented, "There needs to be more comprehensive political leadership. Virginia lacks a progressive cooperation between the legislative and executive branches. They must be in harmony in working together in this issue."
Towards the end of the questioning, the speakers made some final comments offering suggestions of their own to better the restoration of the bay.
"Political leaders have to put the bay at the top of the priority list and keep it there," said Hughes. "We also need to generate public interest and support."
Wolff, agreeing with Hughes, said, "Political people have arrived at a point where they need to lead the public. They need to make it a cause to live and take the steps forward in leading the public."
President Toll summed up the importance of the Chesapeake and its preservation: "The bay is important to all of us. It's the single best estuary in the U.S. in terms of food, commerce and recreation. We want to be sure it is fully usable. We've seen in other parts of the world what pollution can do. The restoration of water is an issue that is important to the whole world."
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