Do rain gardens really work to protect aquatic wildlife? Researchers at Washington State University decided to find out for sure, and set up a pretty simple but clever test: salmon. They collected storm water from around the Seattle region and filtered some of it through soil similar to that in a typical rain garden. They…
Fall is a great time for tree planting: the soil is still warm enough to help roots grow, but lower air temperatures are less stressful on newly transplanted trees. And there are lots of reasons to plant a tree: Trees help reduce polluted storm water runoff Trees provide cooling shade and lower electric bills Trees are…
If you could significantly reduce the amount of stormwater pollution entering Baltimore’s streams and Harbor by making one easy and attractive change to your yard, wouldn’t you do it? Well, you can and we want to help you do it! This winter, Blue Water Baltimore is offering a series of rain garden workshops to make…
Rain barrels can be extremely effective at reducing stormwater pollution and our clients love them! But they are not always trouble-free. Have you been having any issues with your rain barrel in the recent storms? After we experienced a storm that produced over one inch of rain in one hour or less we heard about…
We are excited to announce that the newly released Healthy Harbor Report Card 2012 contains our annual assessment for the Baltimore Harbor. This year the Harbor received an overall grade of C-. The Harbor’s grade, which is based upon 2012 monitoring data collected by the Baltimore Harbor Waterkeeper, was higher than we expected. Still, the Harbor…
If you are as excited about getting outdoors as I am, I encourage you to check out the many ways you can volunteer with us this March. Everything we do at Blue Water Baltimore is designed to result in better streams and healthier communities. We are offering volunteer trainings in FOUR different programs this month!…
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…
[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…
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…
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…