Students at Radcliffe Creek School in Chestertown, Maryland
created a one-acre wetland out of a poorly functioning stormwater pond as part of the Chesapeake Bay Field Office’s Schoolyard Habitat Program.
Students helped prepare the design and planting plans. About 70 students along with 25 parents and teachers planted over 3,000 plants in about 4 hours to complete the creation of an emergent vegetation wetland and the surrounding upland.

Radcliffe Creek School - Philosophy and Mission

Radcliffe Creek Schoolyard Habitat
Wetland Restoration
Project Details

Project coordination: Carolyn Kolstad, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Chesapeake Bay Field Office.

Project Funding: $5,000 Chesapeake Bay Trust for plants, $9, 703 Maryland Department of the Environment for excavation and materials and invasive species control, and $2550 from the Chester River Association.

Technical Assistance:

Project Funding: $5,000 Chesapeake Bay Trust for plants, $9,703 Maryland Department of the Environment for excavation and materials and invasive species control, and $2550 from the Chester River Association.  The Kent County Soil Conservation District engineered the Service’s conceptual design and were there overseeing construction of the wetland.  The weed county control specialist was contracted by the school for the next 4 years under recommendations by the Service to control invasive species in and around the wetland area. 

For more information on this project and the Chesapeake Bay Field Office’s Schoolyard Habitat Program, please contact:

Carolyn Kolstad
US Fish and Wildlife Service
177 Admiral Cochrane Drive
Annapolis, MD 21401
410-573-4545
carolyn_kolstad@fws.gov