Water Quality Advice to the County Executive
The Montgomery County Water Quality Advisory Group, a group of diverse citizens representing business, education, environmental, and other communities charged with advising the County on water quality issues, has released its 2009 annual report to the County Executive.
Some of the recommendations include:
- Water Quality Protection Charge- provide incentives for homeowners and business owners to participate directly in water quality improvements; restructuring exemptions from the charge; and, re-examining whether the charge might be considered a fee so that Federal and State properties pay for their water quality impacts. (The Group had previously written a separate letter to the Executive about the Charge).
- The average citizen of the County is being asked to pay more for resources he or she often does not appreciate or fully understand. The County should take the lead in developing an interpretative signage plan for its water quality environment.
- Restore the $247,000 cut being made to the County Department of Transportation street tree planting budget. The Anacostia Watershed Forest Management and Protection Strategy has noted the importance of trees not only for water and air quality, but also their connection with property values, shade, temperature, crime reduction, noise reduction, carbon sequestration, aesthetic and recreational values, and other benefits. Cutting the street tree budget is short sighted.
