UMBC
AN HONORS UNIVERSITY IN MARYLAND
CUERE
Center for Urban Environmental Research and Education
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
1000 Hilltop Circle 21250
Phone: 410-455-1761
Fax: 410-455-1769
E-mail: jra@umbc.ecu
http://www.umbc.edu/cuere
April 22, 2003
Dear Neighbor,
Last summer, the Center for Urban Environmental Research and Education at
University of Maryland, Baltimore County (CUERE-UMBC) and the United States
Forest Service initiated the Neighborhood Ecosystem Project around Cub Hill.
The project is studying soil, vegetation, air and streams. The information
that we collect will be used for public policy decisions, education and improvement
of the urban environment. We would like to discover how our urban environment
changes over time, how humans affect soil, vegetation, air and stream conditions
and how the quality of our lives is affected by the surrounding environment.
Last summer we visited your neighborhood to assess plant populations, map
soils, monitor air quality and sample stream and ground water quality. Unfortunately
we were not able to complete the soil survey for the entire neighborhood –
we did not have time to visit everyone – by the end of the summer. We
would like to visit you in the next few weeks in order describe the sampling
procedures and to ask permission to collect soil samples. Soil measurements
will include organic matter, acidity, texture and density. The soil information
that we are collecting helps us determine plant survival, soil fertility,
water drainage and other important soil characteristics.
We are excited about the Baltimore urban forest project and invite and appreciate
your participation. We will share the results of the vegetation, soil, air
and water investigation with you. If you have any questions about the urban
forest study or the results of the soil investigation please call Jonathan
Russell-Anelli at (410) 455-1761. The information that we are collecting will
help us to better understand and improve Baltimore’s urban environment.
We look forward to talking and working with you.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Russell-Anelli
Field Supervisor