Roofers Step-Up for Maryland Wildlife Refuge
By PJ DelHomme
On Maryland’s Eastern Shore, the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge is within a three-hour drive (depending on traffic) from the concrete jungles and sea of humanity that make up Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and Baltimore. The refuge is a sanctuary for migratory waterfowl, bald eagles, and tidal wetlands. But it’s the human inhabitants who can’t seem to catch a break from the weather.
When the roof on the refuge’s seasonal bunkhouse began to fail, managers there faced a looming logistical hurdle. The structure, which houses seasonal biological technicians, researchers, and interns tasked with helping to manage the refuge’s 33,000 acres, was in dire need of a complete tear-off and replacement. Yet funds are tight in the conservation world.
Refuge managers called Sam Phipps, the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance’s (USA) director of conservation, who reached out to USA’s vast network of union contacts to help bridge the gap between a federal backlog and a completed project.
“We’re a unique group of volunteers,” said Phipps. “Because many of our members work in the skilled trades, we’re able to take on projects that require specialized experience and craftsmanship. That’s what makes a partnership with the USA so rewarding to refuges and parks.”
Representatives from Roofers Local 30 answered the USA’s call, traveling to the refuge to assess the roof’s structural integrity and draft a comprehensive materials list.
However, the refuge’s location posed a challenge. Sending a full crew back and forth each day wasn’t practical. Determined, Local 30 utilized its industry connections to find a creative solution.
They reached out to Euro Stogas LLC, a respected union signatory contractor, which stepped in to provide the work at a deeply discounted rate. To cover the remaining labor costs, the USA used funds raised by union members during its annual Roofers Ann Arbor Conservation Dinner, hosted by Roofers Local 70. Those dollars, raised specifically to support community and wildlife conservation projects, made the project possible. With funding in place, the USFWS supplied all necessary materials for the job.
With materials on-site and funding secured, the experienced crew from Euro Stogas removed the degraded roofing and installed a resilient, weather-tight system designed to withstand the harsh coastal elements of the Chesapeake Bay region.
“The bunkhouse roof had seen its useful days, complete with old leaks and moss growing, and we needed to weatherproof it,” said Brian Boutin, deputy refuge manager. “The crew from Local 30 came down, told us from soup to nuts exactly what materials we needed, and then the roofers knocked it out over a single weekend. It was amazing how fast and efficient they were. It was great to see a group of guys showing a genuine interest in what we do down here.”
