“Outdoors Maryland” To Air New Episode Featuring Anne Arundel County

Maryland Public Television’s (MPT) original series “Outdoors Maryland,” now in its 36th season, is delivering two new episodes in December. One of those episodes follows the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) biologists as they collect seeds from healthy populations and process them at Anne Arundel Community College in Arnold.

During the December 3 episode, viewers will enjoy a trio of segments centered around water quality in the Chesapeake Bay.

Ribbons in the Tide
Featuring Anne Arundel, Garrett and Harford counties

Underwater grasses are key to the health of the Chesapeake Bay and other marine ecosystems, but they have declined drastically over the past century. Follow along as DNR biologists collect seeds from healthy populations, process them at Anne Arundel Community College, and scatter them in areas in need of restoration. Plus, visit Deep Creek Lake, where a team of DNR snorkelers are planting freshwater grasses.

Ghost Rivers
Featuring Baltimore City

Tour “Ghost Rivers,” a public art project by artist Bruce Willen. A wavy blue line winding its way along and across Baltimore streets, Willen’s art project seeks to connect area residents with both the historical and environmental legacy of the waterways that were encased in brick and concrete as the city expanded around them. Today, these one-time creeks and streams still exist – but underground, where they make up the city’s aging stormwater sewer system. Join Willen as he installs his artwork and takes members of the public on a walking tour. Then, tag along as a team from the Baltimore Department of Public Works samples an underground stream, searching for signs of pollution.

Horizon Lines
Featuring Dorchester and Talbot counties

Discover the draw of distant horizons with a group of open-water swimmers in Eastern Bay and learn about some of the safety challenges they face. Then, join volunteers with the environmental nonprofit ShoreRivers as they sample the waters of Chesapeake beaches to assess their safety for recreation as part of a program called Swimmable ShoreRivers. Finally, head to Cambridge, where hundreds of athletes make the two-mile swim across the Choptank River during the annual Maryland Freedom Swim.

“Outdoors Maryland” airs Tuesdays at 7:30pm on MPT-HD and online at mpt.org/livestream, with encore broadcasts on Saturdays at 4:30pm. Episodes will be available to watch live and on demand via MPT’s online video player and the free PBS app at the time of their premiere.

Encore presentations of Season 36 episodes will start on January 7, leading up to a fifth and final new episode on February 4.

Since debuting in 1988, MPT has produced more than 700 “Outdoors Maryland” stories on topics ranging from science-oriented environmental issues to segments about unusual people, animals and places around the state. The series has earned more than 50 awards over nearly 36 years of production, including 24 Emmy Awards from the National Capital Chesapeake Bay Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.