Stormwater Partners Network

What is Conservation Montgomery? Conservation Montgomery is a new umbrella non-profit non-governmental coalition in Montgomery County, Maryland set up to represent a broad spectrum of resident interests on environmental and civic challenges facing the county. It is being established as a 501(c) 3 coalition funded by donations from member organizations and individuals within and adjacent to Montgomery County. Conservation Montgomery is a forum for residents of the county to analyze positions and records of elected officials on environmental and quality of life issues and a tool for informing stakeholders of their role in preserving a higher quality of life and cleaner environment in Montgomery County.

What is the organization’s mission and vision? Our mission is to sustain Montgomery County’s quality of life and natural resources for current and future generations. Conservation Montgomery’s vision is an environmentally literate citizenry and elected officials who consider environmental impacts in decision -making.

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Audubon Naturalist Society - Woodend
6:30 pm - 7:00 pm social time
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm meeting

Main topic:

* Stormwater Partners’ Comments on DEP’s Watershed Implementation Plans for Montgomery’s Stormwater Permit

Some of the other topics:
* Forest Conservation Law reform update

* Outreach planning and the March meeting.

Dear Stormwater Partners,

This is a reminder/ confirmation that we will meet next Tuesday evening, January 19, from 7:30 to 9 pm, at ANS-Woodend (8940 Jones Mill Road, Chevy Chase, 20815). We will also have our traditional 6:30 to 7:30 pm social hour; please bring a potluck beverage or snack.

Please RSVP to Diane Cameron at dcameron@audubonnaturalist.org

On the agenda:

1) Review of 2009 - changes, accomplishments, and recognition of contributions

2) Priorities for the Stormwater Partners for 2010
Issues and opportunities this year:
* Stormwater Permit implementation
(Accountability of each County agency for their role in the permit)
* Environmental Site Design code changes - not done yet!
* General Assembly stormwater bills - the good, the bad, and the ugly plastic bags
* Artificial Turf
* Forest Conservation Law Reform
* Ten Mile Creek in Clarksburg- one of our dwindling number of high quality streams
* Water Resource Element in the General Plan - public comment still timely
* Anacostia Watershed Restoration Plan

Recap:
At our meeting on November 16, we approved a resolution calling on the Parks Department to halt the installation of additional Artificial Turf fields and to pilot-test well-maintained organic, natural turf fields.

We also discussed the November 18 DEP Watershed Implementation Plan meeting, which several of you attended, and we made some plans to begin scheduling meetings with Council members to discuss Environmental Site Design code changes, the stormwater permit implementation, and the Forest Conservation Law reforms.

Our next meeting will be:

 Monday, November 16th, 2009
 ANS-Woodend
 6:30 to 7:30 pm - Social hour
 7:30 to 9:00 pm - meeting

 On the agenda:

 * Stormwater Permit updates - countywide and Parks permits
 * Anacostia Restoration Plan
 * Forest Conservation Law reform — status?
 * Artificial Turf vs. organically maintained natural turf — updates
 * Ten Mile Creek/ protecting our remaining high quality creeks
 * Environmental Site Design code changes
 * Planning Stormwater Partners’ outreach actions for 2010
 * other items?

 I hope to see you there!

Film & Discussion Night at the Rockville High School Auditorium on Oct. 22 7:00 - 9:00. The film RiverSmart directed by David Eckert will be shown.

Following the film, there will be a discussion about what is being done to improve water quality in both the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers and our local streams.  Discussions will also focus on what citizen can do to help.  Much of Montgomery County is in the Anacostia watershed and much of the pollution that is poisoning the river originates in Montgomery County. Students and the general public are encouraged to attend this event.

This event is being sponsored by the Montgomery County Water Quality Advisory Group, the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection and the MCPS Environmental and Outdoor Education.  Mark your calendars now for this important event.  Details will follow later.