Octoraro Watershed Association

Octoraro Watershed Association
Cecil County Update
22nd June 2007

Tributary Strategy/Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)/Legislation:
1. In Maryland, basin level Tributary Strategy Planning & Implementation sessions are in progress at the county level. Cecil County has completed their Implementation Plan, and I, and members of the Upper Western Shore Tributary Team, are in the process of reviewing it, at the request of Commissioners’ President Bill Manlove. There is a companion data request that requires reporting at the watershed level for such information as current and projected septic connections, developed acres with/without stormwater management, forested buffers, nutrient management plans, etc. (Please click on the article title to continue)


2. Three pieces of MD Statewide legislation are worthy of note. HB1141 (2006) requires a water resources element in the County Comprehensive Plan by 1st October 2009; HB 2 (2006) adds a Priority Preservation element for Agricultural lands and the 2007 Stormwater Management Act (HB786) will tighten up Stormwater Management regulations, requiring Environmental Site Design and potentially requiring watershed-wide planning. If you would like more information on these pieces of legislation, please let me know.

Stream Monitoring/Outreach:
3. I made a presentation on watersheds to the Port Deposit Planning and Zoning Commission on 12 April 2007, and made a similar presentation to the Colora Civic Association on Monday 18th June. The presentation is a combination of “Watersheds 101”, Benefits of Low Impact Development and some GIS maps tailored to local area.

4. Triggered by a recent article, I have just submitted a letter to the editor of the Cecil Whig regarding Planning by and for the Watershed. See below.

5. We participated in the DNR-sponsored Stream Waders program again this year. Nicole Tripp and members of the MD Conservation Corps conducted macro-invertebrate sampling on the Octoraro watershed, and we sampled the North East watershed. Both are priority watersheds for MDE this year.

6. Sally Skelley and I continue to conduct stream sampling for the Octoraro Nitrate Task Force (NTF) by sampling surface water at 5 locations in Cecil County every two weeks. Nitrates are relatively high at the PA border, with a small dilution effect apparent from the three Cecil County tributaries (Stone Run, Green’s Run & Basin Run). Phosphates, on the other hand, are high on Stone Run, below the outfall of Rising Sun’s “out of compliance” Wastewater Treatment Plant, and there are some recent high levels on the Octoraro itself which will bear watching.



7. I am participating in a Cecil County edition of “From My Backyard to Our Bay”, a booklet that has been published by Baltimore County MD. John Vail, of the Sassafras River Association has taken the lead, and plans to prepare booklets for both Cecil & Kent Counties.

8. I continue to work with the Lower Susquehanna River Keeper on Conowingo Sediment issues. Here is his latest update, from 18 June 2007.

“Last Wednesday I spoke at SRBC's quarterly meeting. I gave a brief explanation of the sediment issues, mostly for the benefit of Maryland's new representative, Dr. Summers. A great deal of discussion followed the meeting, including an explanation of where the sediment study process stalled back in 2001. Basically, the required state partners decided not to support the US ACE feasibilty study at a cost of up to $2 million. To get this back on track we will have to gain political support. This can be accomplished through letters and visits to our local, state, and federal representatives. I will be sending out some sample letters soon. One of the biggest problems is finding a transportation mechanism and disposal destination for the materials. Please continue to work on suggestions for these issues. I'll be trying to set up another meeting for August.

From the Mighty Susquehanna, Michael R Helfrich
Lower Susquehanna RIVERKEEPER®
717.779.7915 (cell)
lowsusriver@hotmail.com


To the Editor- submitted 4 June 2007 - Planning for the Watershed
I applaud the push by the county and state to better manage the flooding problems on Peddler’s Run by using a holistic approach across the watershed (Whig, 24th May 2007). I urge them not to stop at managing stormwater through engineering practices but to investigate the other parts of the equation, including aquifer recharge and natural attenuation of stormwater through preservation and restoration of wetlands and forested stream buffers.

I’m concerned to note that an application to remove wetlands in this watershed is currently under consideration by the MD Department of the Environment (Permit number 06-NT-0178 / 200663545), and even more concerned to learn that the proposed mitigation site (where the wetlands will be replaced) is located in Churchville, Harford County!

Much of the Peddlers Run watershed is also designated as a “Green Infrastructure Hub” (a large block of wooded land connected to other “hubs” by narrow wooded corridors) and as such, is a valuable element of natural protection for the Chesapeake Bay (Whig, 19th March 2007). As the area is developed, much of this woodland will be converted to roofs, roadways and parking lots. The trick for the planners and architects will be to design the developments in a watershed context with thoughtful layouts and in such a way that the buildings mimic nature, using low impact development techniques that preserve as much on-site infiltration of the rain as possible. Planning for the watershed? I’m all for it!

Rupert Rossetti - Member of the Octoraro Watershed Association and the Upper Western Shore Tributary Strategy Team