Runoff Rundown
Winter 2007
Feature Article

Center focuses on Baltimore Watersheds

In an effort to make a real impact on local watersheds, the Center has decided to focus its efforts intensively in one geographic area at a time with the desired outcome being increased implementation of recommendations made as part of the watershed planning efforts. We decided to begin this new concept in Baltimore, MD, continuing our long-standing relationship with both the local governments and watershed groups in the area. In April 2006, we introduced a unique partnership among the Center and several Baltimore watershed stakeholders to conduct an assessment of restoration opportunities in the Redhouse Run watershed, a nearly five square mile area with its headwaters in Baltimore City. Flowing through Baltimore County, it enters the Back River and then empties into the Chesapeake Bay. With funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, U.S. EPA’s Targeted Watersheds Grant, the Keith Campbell Foundation, and the Abell Foundation, the Center began our “Baltimore Watersheds” work.

The Center worked with staff from Baltimore County, Baltimore City, and the Herring Run (HRWA), Jones Falls (JFWA), and Baltimore Harbor (BHWA) Watershed Associations to conduct an initial assessment of restoration opportunities. Field assessments used were the USA, USSR, Outfall Reconnaissance Inventory and a stormwater retrofit inventory. This provided an opportunity to both identify existing impairments and potential restoration projects, and to train local watershed groups in these techniques so that they can do this work in other Baltimore subwatersheds. Together, the group identified a number of restoration opportunities: stormwater retrofits for individual sites and larger storage retrofits, improved grease management at fast food restaurants, elimination of illicit discharges from car repair shops, and improved washwater management at local schools, particularly mop water being dumped on impervious surfaces and into storm drains. The County is also working with many local businesses to improve their daily practices. We applaud the Facilities Management Division of Baltimore County Public Schools for taking a very active role in resolving washwater issues at County schools.

With the success of the first part of this project in Redhouse Run, additional planning funds have been pledged by Baltimore City and EPA Region III, and we plan to work together with JFWA, HRWA, and Baltimore County to help complete the retrofit assessment efforts in Jones Falls, Herring Run and the Back River as well. Together with other EPA Region III funds, we hope to finish stream, upland, and retrofit assessments in Jones Falls, Herring Run and the Back River. The results of this effort will be written up in a planning document that will summarize an overall implementation strategy to help the City and County, in tandem with the JFWA, HRWA and BHWA, to pursue their TMDL and tributary strategy goals. This should conclude the planning portion of the effort and allow an even greater focus on implementation in the future.

Speaking of implementation (the most critical part), we are looking for additional funding to help the HRWA, JFWA and BHWA implement some of the additional restoration opportunities identified during our work, including downspout disconnection, bioretention projects to treat parking lot runoff, urban tree canopy efforts, watershed education programs for pet waste and lawn care, and capital funds for retrofits to treat large drainage areas within urban streamside parks, particularly in Herring Run. The considerable benefits of these practices in improving water quality have been estimated using the Center’s Watershed Treatment Model, and the results are encouraging! Several corporations including Environmental Resources Management Group and Constellation Energy have contributed funds to jumpstart implementation of bioretention and tree canopy efforts in the watersheds. In addition to these opportunities, we have also begun a pilot downspout disconnection program. The disconnection program will be piloted in a residential area of Herring Run, as well as on institutional sites in Jones Falls.

As soon as we finish up our work in Baltimore, we will evaluate the success of this unique strategy of watershed planning and will hopefully move on and continue this same process in other communities in the Chesapeake Bay.

- Paul Sturm