“The sphagnums are the keystone species in peatland ecosystems, which hold one third of the earth’s organic carbon.”
Annie Proulx, Fen, Bog & Swamp
On July 25, 2025, CER partnered with Anne Arundel County and Underwood & Associates to celebrate International Bog Day! The event took place at Arden Park, located in the Severn River Watershed. An interpretive sign for the Arden/Gumbottom Bog was unveiled at the event. The County preserves its unique bog habitats from disturbance with a model protective overlay zone that protects the bogs’ entire drainage area.
Bogs are home to sphagnum moss, a keystone species, which prefers the wet soils and acidic, nutrient-poor waters found in bog habitats.
Camille Calure, a scientist with Underwood & Associates, points to the Arden/Gumbottom bog, part of a freshwater wetland complex discovered in 1988 by MD Dept. of Natural Resource biologists.
County Councilwoman Allison Pickard spoke about the importance of protecting the county's bog habitats.
Following the bog interpretive trail.
Interns, Kami Lentzsch and Vivian Maneval, giving an interview to WMAR-2 News.
CER Program Manager, Nita Settina, members of the Arden Community, including Kim Franklin, Anne Arundel County, Sally Albright, and Underwood & Associates, Keith Binsted and Amanda Poskaitis celebrate the new interpretive sign.
New interpretive sign for the bog.