Island Destinations in the Chesapeake
Maryland's official website lists 278 islands within Maryland's territorial boundaries (1). Of these, some 70+ lie within the Chesapeake Bay and it's sounds. These islands have rich histories. Some, like Pooles Island, played important roles during the War of 1812. Another has hosted Presidents and served as political party retreats. Most of them can still be visited by kayak; yet others have disappeared beneath the Bays rising waters or eroded away due to natural processes. Among the latter are Spry's Island, which once lay south of Carrol Island between Middle River and the Gunpowder River, and Sharp's Island, which lay in the mouth of the Choptank. If you have read James A Michener's Chesapeake it may be noteworthy that "Devon Island" was Michener's fictionalized version of this real-life island (2). Today, Spry's Island is marked on most nautical maps as Spry's shoal. Sharps Island has become Sharps Island Obstruction and a larger area of shallow waters.
A few islands have been dramatically close to going the way of Spry's and Sharps Islands, but are now being restored. While I would like to think this is being done to preserve the islands for ecological and historical reasons, a more realistic explanation is to preserve Marylands economy. As the Islands erode; as sediment flows downstream from the Susquehanna river; the deep channels of the Bay fill and shipping channels are threatened. The Port of Baltimore supports Maryland's economy, thus dredging operations continually remove the sediment and deposit it on islands such as Hart-Miller and Poplar Islands. Over time these islands will be restored to their original size. The effect, while secondary, is beneficial to the Bay and I hope it continues. Hart-Miller Island hosts a State park with the only public campground accessible by kayak and boat in the Chesapeake. Plans are to forest a large part of the yet to-be restored Poplar Island. Today the marshes of this disappearing island are home to thousands of migratory birds during the winter months. The days of visiting Presidents and foreign dignitaries are only memories from the past.
The Bay islands make for interesting kayak day-trips. I have visited many and continue to add new island trip reports my log. As I do, I try to see them both as they are today and as they may have been in years past. I try to feel what they meant to the peoples that lived on them and learn more about how the islands factored into their daily lives. As you read through these pages, keep in mind that Maryland sprang from island colonies. We should neither neglect, nor forget these parts of our past.
Pooles Island
Eastern Neck Island
Spesutie Island
Cacaway Island
Tangier Island
References:
1. Maryland State Archives
2. The Disappearing Islands of the Chesapeake. William B. Cronin. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD.
A few islands have been dramatically close to going the way of Spry's and Sharps Islands, but are now being restored. While I would like to think this is being done to preserve the islands for ecological and historical reasons, a more realistic explanation is to preserve Marylands economy. As the Islands erode; as sediment flows downstream from the Susquehanna river; the deep channels of the Bay fill and shipping channels are threatened. The Port of Baltimore supports Maryland's economy, thus dredging operations continually remove the sediment and deposit it on islands such as Hart-Miller and Poplar Islands. Over time these islands will be restored to their original size. The effect, while secondary, is beneficial to the Bay and I hope it continues. Hart-Miller Island hosts a State park with the only public campground accessible by kayak and boat in the Chesapeake. Plans are to forest a large part of the yet to-be restored Poplar Island. Today the marshes of this disappearing island are home to thousands of migratory birds during the winter months. The days of visiting Presidents and foreign dignitaries are only memories from the past.
The Bay islands make for interesting kayak day-trips. I have visited many and continue to add new island trip reports my log. As I do, I try to see them both as they are today and as they may have been in years past. I try to feel what they meant to the peoples that lived on them and learn more about how the islands factored into their daily lives. As you read through these pages, keep in mind that Maryland sprang from island colonies. We should neither neglect, nor forget these parts of our past.
Pooles Island
Eastern Neck Island
Spesutie Island
Cacaway Island
Tangier Island
References:
1. Maryland State Archives
2. The Disappearing Islands of the Chesapeake. William B. Cronin. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD.
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