Friends - can you help me with this? I have been procrastinating FOREVER on writing this article and I think I need to send it off to Fred soon. How is this? THANKS!
Riverkeeper Projects Underway with New Funding
Our local waterways will be receiving some much needed care from the Severn Riverkeeper Program in the next several years, thanks to several recent grants. The Program, whose watchdog methods help preserve and improve Maryland’s Capital River, use donations and grants to counteract the research backed negative effects of development and increased stormwater runoff.
Severn Riverkeeper Program received $450,000 from the President's Stimulus Plan to improve water quality in Clements Creek, and another $1 million will go towards the Creek's Restoration Project, to be further reviewed for later funding. Saltworks Creek will also benefit from several grants, including a $600,000 plan pending EPA’s approval to move forward with the builders. Chesapeake Bay Trust donated $21,000 for a restoration study to use to acquire larger grants for further projects.
These projects include researching where the greatest amount of heavy stormwater flow is coming in to the creek, bringing along with it large amounts of sediment and chemicals. These areas pose great threats to creeks as the more nutrients and chemicals that are introduced, the less oxygen is available for fish and underwater grasses that keep the water clear and healthy.
Methods that help restore creeks, and our Chesapeake Bay's tributary rivers, include engineering coastal plain outfalls and other innovative systems. Howard's Branch was affected greatly after the Riverkeeper and its partners installed a Regenerative Stormwater Conveyance System in 2002 that re-directed heavy stormwater flows. A similar system will be put in place in Clements Creek, where the greater filtration will allow for grasses to grow back and fish to thrive.
The Riverkeeper is planning on using equally innovative and resourceful methods to clean up and restore the mouth of Saltworks, where the greatest amount of stormwater and sediment floods the creek from runoff from the Annapolis Mall.
Our small decisions make a large impact as well - maintaining rain barrels, not using chemical fertilizers, and preserving natural vegetation within a critical area of shorelines ensures steadier sediment and less chemicals so you can better enjoy the fishing and swimming in your creeks and rivers.
2 comments:
Our local waterways will be receiving some much needed care from the Severn Riverkeeper Program in the next several years, thanks to recent grants. The Program, whose watchdog methods help preserve and improve Maryland’s Capital River, uses donations and grants to counteract the damage of of development and increased stormwater runoff.
[The? I forget]Severn Riverkeeper Program received $450,000 from the President's Stimulus Plan to improve water quality in Clements Creek. Another $1 million will go towards the Creek's Restoration Project, with the [option? possibility?] of continued funding in the future. Saltworks Creek will also benefit from several grants, including a $600,000 plan (pending EPA approval) to move forward with the builders (wait, builders of what?). Chesapeake Bay Trust donated $21,000 for a restoration study, which will advance efforts for larger grants and projects.
These projects include researching the entry points for the greatest volume of stormwater. Stormwater brings carries large amounts of sediment and chemicals, which pose great threats to creeks. As more nutrients (waste solids? organic material? or is nutrient the science word? i am bad at science) and chemicals are introduced, the less oxygen is available for fish and underwater grasses that keep the water clear and healthy.
The engineering of coastal plains outfalls (among other innovations) restores Chesapeake Bay's tributary rivers. In 2002, Howard's Branch improved greatly after the Riverkeeper and its partners installed a Regenerative Stormwater Conveyance System that re-directed heavy stormwater flows. A similar system will be put in place at Clements Creek, where greater filtration will allow for native grasses and fishes to thrive.
The Riverkeeper is planning on using equally innovative and resourceful methods to clean up and restore the mouth of Saltworks, which suffers from runoff from the Annapolis Mall.
Although Severn Riverkeeper will continue to orchestrate large projects for the benefit of our natural resources, individuals can make a large impact on our environment with small changes. Maintaining rain barrels, spurning chemical fertilizers, and preserving native vegetation along shorelines will alleviate the contamination of our rivers. Our actions today can ensure that we enjoy Maryland's creeks and rivers for years to come.
First, I accidentally put two "of" in the first paragraph. Also, sorry I made it cheesy. I do that.
Post a Comment