ELLICOTT CITY, MD (October 14, 2014) -- Today, as part of his commitment to restoring the Chesapeake Bay, Governor Martin O’Malley visited an active stream restoration project along the Upper Little Patuxent in Ellicott City to continue the ‘Governing for Results’ tour by focusing on Maryland’s commitment to restoring the health of the Chesapeake Bay.
The tour is a series of events focused on the State’s performance management efforts, doing what works to address emerging challenges and the O’Malley-Brown Administration’s 16 strategic goals to move Maryland forward.
“In Maryland, we’re investing in restoring our Chesapeake Bay for all of those who depend on her for recreation or for a livelihood, and projects such as restoring streams have a direct and immediate positive impact on the bay’s health,” said Governor O’Malley. “We stand on the threshold of a tipping point in which the bay can once again flourish and all of us are partners in reclaiming the Bay.”
(SHA Photo/Governor O'Malley Helps Local Students with Stream Restoration Project in Howard County.)
Joining Governor O’Malley along the Upper Little Patuxent River stream restoration project to observe techniques used to restore a degraded stream were: students from Hollifield Station Elementary Schools; Chesapeake Bay Foundation Maryland Executive Director Alison Prost; State Highway Administrator Melinda Peters; Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Assistant Secretary of Aquatic Resources David Goshorn; and Maryland Department of Environment Deputy Secretary David Costello.
“The Chesapeake Bay is an integral part of who we are as Marylanders – our heritage, our economy and our culture,” said U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski, Chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “These investments in the health and future of the Bay are investments in the communities that depend on the Bay, supporting jobs today and jobs tomorrow. I will continue to fight to protect the Bay, Maryland’s greatest natural resource, and the lives and livelihoods that depend on it.”
“The Chesapeake Bay is an iconic part of Maryland's culture and an integral part of our economy,” said U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Water & Wildlife Subcommittee. “We're all in this together. No one source or single sector bears all the blame for degraded water quality in the Bay. But with the support of robust state and federal investments, if we all continue work together, we will see even more progress and leave our children a Chesapeake Bay that is healthier than it is today. A healthy Bay means a healthy Maryland.”
“We must all do our part to keep the Chesapeake and its tributaries clean,” said Howard County Executive Ken Ulman. “Governor O’Malley and Lt. Governor Brown have shown strong leadership in moving forward with important projects that protect streams, prevent erosion and keep pollution out of our waterways. Howard County is partner in that effort, with more than 50 active treatment projects to limit pollution in the works. I am excited when we can see the results of our commitment, like we are experiencing today.”
(SHA Photo/Governor O'Malley Plants Trees with Students
from Hollifield Station Elementary School.)
Governor O’Malley explained that this $1.7 million stream restoration is one of thousands of environmental projects getting underway in the next six years (FY 2015 to FY 2020) as part of a $600 million funding package announced today. Through the Transportation Infrastructure Investment Act of 2013, the Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA) will restore 62,513 linear feet of streams; plant more than 679,000 trees on 2,717 acres; remove 76 acres of pavement; upgrade 13 stormwater outfalls; and construct and upgrade 1,780 stormwater treatment facilities to improve the quality of water running off pavements and surfaces.
This $600 million investment, combined with a previous $72 million investment in similar projects in FY 2013 and FY 2014, will help SHA achieve significant strides in reaching its 2025 goals to reduce pollutants reaching the Bay. By 2020, SHA will reduce the amount of pollutants annually entering the waterways by: 6.5 million pounds of sediment, 113,000 pounds of nitrogen and 13,000 pounds of phosphorus.
“Today, Maryland is continuing to lead by example through this stream restoration and the hundreds of projects announced today that will greatly enhance our collective efforts to restore the Bay,” said Chesapeake Bay Foundation Maryland Executive Director Alison Prost. “From working together in the legislature as part of the Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint to encouraging the next generation to protect the Chesapeake Bay, Maryland is a great partner for the environment. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s recent report demonstrates that these investments will provide us a healthier environment and a stronger economy.”
Sonal Sanghavi, SHA’s Director of Environmental Design, led the group on a tour of the stream providing a great view of the before, in progress and completed stream restoration project. The tour included observing crews re-grading the embankments and using trees removed from the degraded banks to stabilize the stream bed. This restoration creates natural pool areas to reduce the velocity of storm water racing through the tributary. Following the tour, the students from Hollifield’s 5th grade “Earth Force Team,” participants in DNR’s Explore and Restore Your School Shed, joined Governor O’Malley and others to install erosion control material along the new stream bed. The governor and students helped to roll out burlap matting that will stabilize the soil and protect newly planted vegetation.
The $600 million investment includes: $13.7 million in Federal funding, $190.1 million from the Transportation Trust Fund, and $395 million in General Obligation Bonds as outlined in the Transportation Act. These investments are part of Maryland’s overall efforts to meet the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load requirements by 2025.
Maryland is leading the way in meeting its goal of reaching the Healthier Bay Tipping Point by 2025. The tipping point is the stage at which progress within the Bay and its tributaries can begin to promote self-healing. Maryland has made great progress to reach a Healthier Bay Tipping Point, by: expanding Cover Crop plantings by 229% from 124,000 acres to 410,000 acres; increasing stormwater retrofits driving up the amount of nitrogen pollution removed from our waterways by 196.6% from 74,700 pounds in 2006 to 221,500 in 2013; and expanding the use of natural filters on Private Lands by nearly 40% from 2006 to 2013.
Today’s event touched on the Administration’s strategic vision for bay restoration and the investments available to move projects forward in addressing a cleaner, more productive Chesapeake Bay. The O’Malley-Brown Team is committed to a healthy environment and is the first state to require environmental literacy for all K-12 students. Maryland has taken critical measures in reducing the effects of climate change. Maryland has now implemented one of the most proactive greenhouse gas emissions goals in the nation.
‘Governing for Results’ is a statewide effort to promote the O’Malley-Brown Administration’s 16 strategic goals and highlight Maryland’s progress in the areas of opportunity (jobs and schools), sustainability, public safety, and health. Kicked off in early June, these events highlight some of the different strategies the Administration is using to make Maryland a safer, healthier place with more jobs and opportunity for all Marylanders.
###