Poplar Island (Chesapeake Bay) facts for kids
Poplar Island in June 2019, facing east
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Chesapeake Bay |
| Coordinates | 38°46′01″N 76°22′54″W / 38.76694°N 76.38167°W |
| Length | 4.82 km (2.995 mi) |
| Width | 0.85 km (0.528 mi) |
| Administration | |
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United States
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| State | Maryland |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 (2020) |
Poplar Island is an island about 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) long. It is located in the Chesapeake Bay in Talbot County, Maryland.
In the late 1800s, about 100 people lived on the island in a town called Valliant. But by the 1920s, everyone had left. This happened because the island was shrinking due to erosion. Erosion is when land slowly wears away, often by water or wind. By the 1990s, Poplar Island was only a few acres big.
Today, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is rebuilding the island. They are using material dug up from the bottom of the Chesapeake Bay's shipping channels. These channels lead to Baltimore, which is about 30 miles north of the island.
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Island History
Europeans first found Poplar Island in 1573. This was done by a Spanish explorer named Juan Menendez de Marques. Later, English colonists started settling on the island in the 1630s. During the War of 1812, British warships used Poplar Island as a campsite.
By the late 1800s, Poplar Island had split into three parts. The biggest part was home to Valliant, a small town of about 100 people. It had its own post office, school, a general store, and a sawmill. The sawmill might have made the island's erosion worse. This is because cutting down trees removes their roots, which help hold the soil together.
In 1847, Poplar Island was measured at 1,140 acres (about 4.6 square kilometers). It was shaped like a 4-mile (6.4-kilometer) long crescent.
Between 1880 and 1920, about 15 families lived on the island. They had farms, tobacco barns, a sawmill, a school, a post office, and a general store. However, by 1929, the island became a place where people secretly made and sold alcohol. Authorities eventually stopped these activities. After that, the last permanent resident left. The island then became a place for hunting.
A clubhouse was built on Poplar Island in the 1930s. Two U.S. presidents, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman, stayed there for vacations. The clubhouse burned down in 1946. By 1990, erosion had shrunk the island to only 5 acres (about 20,000 square meters). Most of this was the southern part, called Coaches Island. There were also four tiny pieces to the north.
Rebuilding Poplar Island
In the 1990s, government officials chose Poplar Island as a place to put material dug from shipping channels. This material is called "dredged material." This project helps keep the Chesapeake Bay's deep shipping channels open. It also helps Baltimore stay a major port. Before this project, people used to dump this material directly into the water.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers started rebuilding the island in 1998. They built dikes to hold the dredged material. The project is expected to be finished in 2029.
Why Rebuild?
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service started the Poplar Island restoration project. They were worried about losing "remote island habitat" in the Chesapeake Bay. This loss was harming birds, waterfowl, and other wildlife. Poplar Island was a good solution for everyone. Baltimore and the Corps of Engineers needed a place for dredged material. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service needed new land for wildlife.
The agencies worked together with the idea of "economy and environment." This means the project helps the local economy. About 120,000 jobs in Maryland depend on the Port of Baltimore. At the same time, it helps restore important habitats for the Chesapeake's wildlife.
Other Island Restorations
Hart Miller Island is another island in the Chesapeake Bay that had eroded a lot. It also received dredged material for 25 years. By 2009, this island was restored to 1,140 acres (about 4.6 square kilometers). It is now a place for wildlife and recreation.
Dredged material might also be used to restore James Island. This is part of the Mid-Bay Island Restoration Project. James Island had eroded into three tiny pieces. The plan is to add 2,000 acres (about 8 square kilometers) to James Island. This would bring it back to its original size.
A Home for Wildlife
Since its rebuilding began in 1998, Poplar Island has grown. By 2005, it was 1,140 acres. Plans call for adding another 575 acres. Half of the island will become wetlands, and half will be uplands (higher, drier land). The project will use a lot of dredged material. It will be protected by long walls called containment dikes. Only "clean" material from shipping channels is used on Poplar Island. Material from close to Baltimore is not used. This is because it might have harmful metals.
The island is now home to about 175 different kinds of birds. These include terns and osprey. More than 1,000 diamondback terrapins have hatched on the island each year recently.
Terrapin Success Story
Biologists who study the Chesapeake Bay think Poplar Island's restoration is a big success for diamondback terrapins. These are turtles that live in brackish water (a mix of fresh and salt water). They are also Maryland's official state reptile.
Terrapins started laying eggs on the island almost as soon as construction began. The island now has the largest terrapin research project in the country. Terrapins here have a very high survival rate, almost 99 percent. This is much higher than other places, where only 10 percent or less survive. This is because there are no foxes or raccoons on the island. These animals are the terrapins' main predators.
Because of this success, the Fish and Wildlife Service started an education program. They also have a volunteer program on the island, including the popular "Terrapin Bay."
Both the Poplar Island and Hart-Miller Island restoration projects are managed by Maryland Environmental Service. This is a state agency that finds ways to solve environmental problems. They also work to protect Maryland's natural resources for the future.
