Read the three-part article that ran in The Capital - Sunday, July 31, 2005 through Tuesday, August 2, 2005. These oustanding, informative articles review and emphasize the serious issue of stormwater run-off; how it's affecting our waterways; and a possible way to help solve the problem.
Read Part 1
Read Part 2
Read Part 3
We need to let our representatives know how important this issue is and that current efforts fall short of reducing the amount of sediment and pollution that flows into our creeks and rivers.
WE HAVE A RIGHT TO EAT HEALTHY FISH FROM OUR RIVER
WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO LEAVE CLEAN WATER TO THE NEXT GENERATION
WE MUST SUPPORT BETTER LANDSCAPE AND DEVELOPMENT PRACTICES.
AND
WE NEED TO SUPPORT EFFORTS TO INCREASE FUNDS TO HELP SOLVE THIS PROBLEM
What is the problem?
With each substantial rainfall, millions of gallons of polluted stormwater runs off from parking lots, streets, residences, and commercial buildings into Anne Arundel County creeks, rivers and the Chesapeake Bay; flooding roads and communities on the way. These floods of water deliver up to 70 potential carcinogens from roads, thousands of pounds of sediment, nitrogen, and phosphorus to the water causing algal blooms and dead zones that threaten crabs and fish. Urban runoff, acre for acre, carries more pollutants than farmland. Anne Arundel waterways are 40% degraded.
An Aggressive Solution, a Watershed Restoration Fund
There is a $400 million backlog of urgent stream restoration projects county-wide, which represent only the tip of the iceberg in terms of the need for ecosystem repair. The County can deal with only a fraction of the serious storm water problems through its capital budget. Faced with similar problems, over 2000 communities across the U.S. have adopted, or are considering, Ordinances which establish a fee for watershed restoration. These laws create a dedicated Enterprise Fund, similar to water and sewer fees, which can only be used for storm water management and are based on the amount of impervious surface of each homeowner and business. Tying the fee to impervious areas that shed the rain and block the natural infiltration, means that costs are distributed equitably.
Plus a stormwater utility connects use with action. Stormwater utilities calculate the fee according to impervious surface area. Homes will have a standard fee based on roof and driveway, but businesses with large lots would pay a multiple of that unit, connecting cause with effect.
This fee would be paid into a Dedicated Enterprise Fund. If one pays a fee for telephone service or drinking water, it's not a tax. The connection between the service and the fee is direct. We pay to restore the waterways we damage!
How will a Watershed Restoration Fund work?
An annual fee (average is $5 per month) based on an “impervious surface runoff unit” of 2400 square feet (average home’s roof and driveway) will be multiplied by the number of runoff units in large parking lots and buildings. Up to a 50% credit will be given where property owners reduce runoff by installing rain gardens, rain barrels, porous pavers, swales, living roofs, cisterns to infiltrate the rain. The fee will bring in $20 million a year for essential storm water restoration in all Councilmanic Districts.
Please contact your County Council representative and share your feelings regarding this issue and the proposed fund to help correct the problem!
CLICK HERE TO CONTACT YOUR COUNTY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE
Here are some links to get more information about storm water management:
Alliance for Sustainable Communities
General Storm Water Management
Development and the Bay
http://www.seattle.gov/util/About_SPU/Drainage_&_Sewer_System/Plans/StormwaterManagementProgram/index.htm
http://www.cityofhialeahgardens.org/public_waterutility.html
http://www.ci.snohomish.wa.us/EngineeringStormwaterUtility.htm
http://www.lakelandgov.net/publicworks/lakes/Stormwaterutility.html
http://www.parkeronline.org/public_works/stormwater_utility/stormwater_utility.aspx
http://www.codepublishing.com/UT/Midvale/midvale13/midvale1316.html
http://www.raleighnc.gov/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_
http://www.sanantonio.gov/publicworks/stormwater/index.asp
http://www.kentuckypride.com/campaigns/stormwater/stormwater.htm
