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Maryland Assateague Coastkeeper Baltimore Harbor Waterkeeper Chester Riverkeeper Choptank Riverkeeper Patuxent Riverkeeper Sassafras Riverkeeper Severn Riverkeeper South Riverkeeper West/Rhode Riverkeeper District of Columbia Anacostia Riverkeeper Potomac Riverkeeper
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Maryland Assateague Coastkeeper Baltimore Harbor Waterkeeper Chester Riverkeeper Choptank Riverkeeper Patuxent Riverkeeper Sassafras Riverkeeper Severn Riverkeeper South Riverkeeper West/Rhode Riverkeeper District of Columbia Anacostia Riverkeeper Potomac Riverkeeper Pennsylvania Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper Virginia Lower James Riverkeeper Shenandoah Riverkeeper Upper James Riverkeeper Virginia Eastern Shorekeeper
Stormwater Runoff Pollutes the Natural Environment Suspended solids – Turbid waters, toxic & excessive nutrients Excessive sediment – Long term ecosystem effects
X Drinking Water X Recreation X Wildlife Habitat X Fishing Impacts of Polluted Stormwater Runoff • Polluted stormwater runoff is a leading cause of impairment of the nearly 40% of surveyed U.S. water bodies. • Stormwater pollution causes flooding and the degradation of habitat for aquatic life. • In the Chesapeake Bay watershed, storm water runoff is responsible for impairments in over 1,570 river miles and 44 square miles of estuarine waters. • Over 10,000 stream miles have been degraded by past development, with major impacts to aquatic life in watersheds with as little as 10% land development.
Construction Sites Produce A High Volume of Sediment • Rate of erosion is greater per acre on urban construction projects
Inadequate Staffing • Maryland regulations require that each active site be inspected for compliance “on the average of once every two weeks.” • MDE is only able to visit 18% of the construction sites in areas under their jurisdiction due to inadequate staffing. (MDE 2007 Annual Inspection Compliance Report)
Sedimentation – the process by which the eroded particles are transported and deposited Erosion - the process by which land surface is worn away as sediment is detached by the action of wind, water, ice, or gravity
Splash Erosion • The Process by which sediment particles are detached from the surface by the impact of individual raindrops.
Sheet Erosion The removal of surface sediments by water moving across as sheet flow.
Rill Erosion A concentration of sheet flow which cuts out small rill channels
Gully Erosion An extension of rill erosion into larger and more established gully channels
Making It Happen IDENTIFY EVALUATE PICTURES REPORT FOLLOW UP
Maryland Law Environment Article Title 4, Water Management, §4-413 It is unlawful to add, introduce, leak, spill, or otherwise emit soil or sediment into waters of the State or to place soil or sediment in a position or location likely to be washed into waters of the State
Making It Happen IDENTIFY EVALUATE PICTURES REPORT FOLLOW UP
Making It Happen IDENTIFY EVALUATE PICTURES REPORT FOLLOW UP
Making It Happen IDENTIFY EVALUATE PICTURES REPORT FOLLOW UP
The Three Goals of This Project 1. Immediate Correction of the Problem
The Three Goals of This Project 1. Immediate Correction of the Problem 2. Taking Frequent Illegal Polluters to Court
The Three Goals of This Project 1. Immediate Correction of the Problem 2. Taking Frequent Illegal Polluters to Court 3. Fixing the System by Reforming the Law
CITIZEN ACTION WORKS! BEFORE AFTER