Clyde Bernard Fowler (March 30, 1924 – December 12, 2021) was an American politician from Maryland.[1][2] He was a Calvert County Commissioner from 1970 to 1982, and served in the Maryland Senate between 1983 and 1994. Fowler is best known for his advocacy for the cleanup of the Patuxent River, the largest river to be found entirely within the State of Maryland.
Prior to being elected to public office, Fowler was an avid fisherman who would wade into the Patuxent River and make note of the clarity of the water. After noticing the clarity of the water slowly diminishing, Fowler chose to run for Calvert County Commissioner in 1970 and make the health of the Patuxent River a key issue. After serving over a decade as county commissioner, Fowler was elected to the Maryland Senate, where he remained until his retirement from public office in the mid 1990s.
Fowler, as an early-1970s Calvert County Commissioner, led the way in a lawsuit filed by downriver Charles, Calvert and St. Mary's counties against upriver counties. The lawsuit forced the state, the upriver counties, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to enact pollution control measures. The 1985 total of 200,000 tons of sediment reaching the Chesapeake Bay annually was reduced to 130,000 by 2004. The Patuxent River is a rarity among Chesapeake watersheds in that most of its harmful phosphorus and nitrogen nutrient overloads come from its ever-increasing areas of urban runoff, and less from its other two largest contributors, point sources (industrial, sewage, etc.) and the declining agricultural areas.
Each June at Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum, Fowler held a "wade-in" into the Patuxent River at Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum, where he and others would walk into the waters of the Patuxent River until their feet were no longer visible. The event was previously held at Broomes Island, but was institutionalized at JPPM in 2010. Fowler did the annual tradition in order to bring awareness to the water clarity levels of the Patuxent River. In recent years, the "wade-in" has become a noteworthy public event, with numerous public officials joining Fowler in the walk, including Maryland GovernorsMartin O'Malley and Robert Ehrlich, Democratic Party congressional majority leader Steny Hoyer and U.S Senator Barbara Mikulski. The "wade-in" has been an annual tradition since 1988.
In 1994, Fowler was named as the candidate for Maryland lieutenant governor under State Senator American Joe Miedusiewski during the 1994 Democratic primary gubernatorial election. (However, the party's nomination and eventually the governor's seat would go to Parris Glendening that year.)
In 1997, U.S. EPA Administrator Carol Browner declared "Bernie Fowler Day" in recognition of Fowler's lifelong efforts to clean up the Patuxent River.
^"Maryland State Senator C. Bernard Fowler". msa.maryland.gov. from the original on March 17, 2021. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
^Bernie Fowler: The Oral Histories - Biography, interview with Richard Dodds - Calvert Marine Museum, from the original on December 13, 2021, retrieved December 13, 2021
^"Former Calvert Commissioner, Maryland Senator Bernie Fowler Sr. Passes Away At 97". TheBayNet.com. December 12, 2021. from the original on December 12, 2021. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
Sourcesedit
Martin, Sandra (June 11–17, 1998), , New Bay Times, vol. VI Number 23, New Bay Enterprises, archived from the original on September 28, 2007, retrieved December 14, 2007
April 12, 2024
bernie, fowler, clyde, bernard, fowler, march, 1924, december, 2021, american, politician, from, maryland, calvert, county, commissioner, from, 1970, 1982, served, maryland, senate, between, 1983, 1994, fowler, best, known, advocacy, cleanup, patuxent, river, . Clyde Bernard Fowler March 30 1924 December 12 2021 was an American politician from Maryland 1 2 He was a Calvert County Commissioner from 1970 to 1982 and served in the Maryland Senate between 1983 and 1994 Fowler is best known for his advocacy for the cleanup of the Patuxent River the largest river to be found entirely within the State of Maryland Bernie FowlerMember of the Maryland Senate from the 29th districtIn office 1983 1994Personal detailsBorn 1924 03 30 March 30 1924Baltimore Maryland U S DiedDecember 12 2021 2021 12 12 aged 97 Dares Beach Maryland U S Political partyDemocraticResidenceDares Beach MarylandPrior to being elected to public office Fowler was an avid fisherman who would wade into the Patuxent River and make note of the clarity of the water After noticing the clarity of the water slowly diminishing Fowler chose to run for Calvert County Commissioner in 1970 and make the health of the Patuxent River a key issue After serving over a decade as county commissioner Fowler was elected to the Maryland Senate where he remained until his retirement from public office in the mid 1990s Fowler as an early 1970s Calvert County Commissioner led the way in a lawsuit filed by downriver Charles Calvert and St Mary s counties against upriver counties The lawsuit forced the state the upriver counties and the U S Environmental Protection Agency to enact pollution control measures The 1985 total of 200 000 tons of sediment reaching the Chesapeake Bay annually was reduced to 130 000 by 2004 The Patuxent River is a rarity among Chesapeake watersheds in that most of its harmful phosphorus and nitrogen nutrient overloads come from its ever increasing areas of urban runoff and less from its other two largest contributors point sources industrial sewage etc and the declining agricultural areas Each June at Jefferson Patterson Park amp Museum Fowler held a wade in into the Patuxent River at Jefferson Patterson Park amp Museum where he and others would walk into the waters of the Patuxent River until their feet were no longer visible The event was previously held at Broomes Island but was institutionalized at JPPM in 2010 Fowler did the annual tradition in order to bring awareness to the water clarity levels of the Patuxent River In recent years the wade in has become a noteworthy public event with numerous public officials joining Fowler in the walk including Maryland Governors Martin O Malley and Robert Ehrlich Democratic Party congressional majority leader Steny Hoyer and U S Senator Barbara Mikulski The wade in has been an annual tradition since 1988 In 1994 Fowler was named as the candidate for Maryland lieutenant governor under State Senator American Joe Miedusiewski during the 1994 Democratic primary gubernatorial election However the party s nomination and eventually the governor s seat would go to Parris Glendening that year In 1997 U S EPA Administrator Carol Browner declared Bernie Fowler Day in recognition of Fowler s lifelong efforts to clean up the Patuxent River In 1998 a laboratory building at Chesapeake Biological Laboratory in Solomons Maryland was dedicated in Bernie Fowler s honor Fowler lived in the community of Dares Beach Maryland near Prince Frederick Maryland He died on December 12 2021 at the age of 97 3 References edit Maryland State Senator C Bernard Fowler msa maryland gov Archived from the original on March 17 2021 Retrieved December 13 2021 Bernie Fowler The Oral Histories Biography interview with Richard Dodds Calvert Marine Museum archived from the original on December 13 2021 retrieved December 13 2021 Former Calvert Commissioner Maryland Senator Bernie Fowler Sr Passes Away At 97 TheBayNet com December 12 2021 Archived from the original on December 12 2021 Retrieved December 12 2021 Sources editMartin Sandra June 11 17 1998 Bernie s Big Day New Bay Times vol VI Number 23 New Bay Enterprises archived from the original on September 28 2007 retrieved December 14 2007 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bernie Fowler amp oldid 1125946459, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
