Starting this summer, Baltimore City and the nine largest counties in the state – including Baltimore County – must begin assessing fees on property owners based on the amount of stormwater pollution each property produces. Because stormwater from urban & suburban areas is the fastest growing source of pollution entering local streams, the Harbor, and…
From the desk of Halle Van der Gaag, Executive Director The 2013 Maryland General Assembly is here! This is a preview of the legislative issues on which Blue Water Baltimore will be focused this year. Check out our blog and our website often–more specific details, actions steps and bill numbers will be updated on our…
[Note: Tina Meyers is the Baltimore Harbor Waterkeeper.] One of the reasons I love the Clean Water Act, passed by Congress in 1972 to prevent pollution to our nation’s waterways, is that it allows citizens the right to participate meaningfully in the regulatory process. Under the Act, citizens are empowered to help protect their local…
When Blue Water Baltimore formed in 2010, it was through the merger of five watershed groups protecting all four of Baltimore’s watersheds. Jones Falls Watershed Association, Herring Run Watershed Association, Gywnns Falls Watershed Association, Baltimore Harbor Watershed Association, and Baltimore Harbor Waterkeeper came together to create the powerful and effective organization we have become. By…
It has been a rough year for trees in Baltimore, with several storms that resulted in significant damage to our urban forest. Although severe storms will always result in some uprooted and broken trees, thankfully some preventative steps can lessen the impact. Knowing why trees succumb to storms, we can ensure that we take four…
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are behind us, but we know that our supporters are always looking for a way to make a lasting difference in our communities. Today, a national effort is underway to put the focus back on giving. #GivingTuesday started with a simple premise: We have a day for giving thanks. We…
[Note: Amy Dewan is the Americorps Storm Drain Arts Coordinator for Blue Water Baltimore. She is an environmental justice organizer, educator, and artist from Baltimore, MD.] With a mere week left in my AmeriCorps term here at Blue Water Baltimore, I feel as if my three-month term has flown by. We just launched the Storm…
Your rain barrel is designed to keep mosquitoes out, but there is no guarantee that these pesky creatures won’t find a crack in the system. The fail-safe way is to drain all of the water within five days of the rain barrel filling up. This solution not only eliminates standing water, but it ensures that…
Stormwater is the single greatest source of water pollution in modern cities like Baltimore, and in this year’s Baltimore City election you can do something to remedy it. Voting “Yes” on Referendum Question J to create a new stormwater utility in Baltimore will make it much easier for us work together and clean up our…
This past Sunday was a beautiful day: great for playing (or watching) football, taking a nice fall walk or exploring Herring Run Park. Better yet, it was a great day for creating rain barrels. The Hall Springs section of Herring Run park is where we hold most of our rain barrel workshops. This Sunday we…