From Friends of Harford:
– Greater Baltimore Citizen Survey Finds Poor Construction Site Mud Pollution Control (September 11, 2014) Three members of Friends of Harford participated in the survey of Harford County sites as part of this project. As summarized in the survey report:
“In June and July, 2014, 105 construction sites in the Greater Baltimore region were surveyed for erosion control quality by 33 staff and volunteers from 22 local, statewide or national organizations. We found that up to 89% of disturbed, construction soils could be fully stabilized (protected) from erosion through the use of straw mulch, grass or stone. However, only 23% of these soils actually were protected. We are deeply concerned that the same may be true throughout much of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Harford County is achieving the highest stabilization rate (37%), followed by Baltimore City and Howard County (27% each). Anne Arundel, Baltimore and Carroll counties had the lowest stabilization rate (12% – 19%) with an average of 16%.” (Read the complete report here…)
– A Unified Water and Sewer Authority of Harford County: An Investigation into the Problem and Effectiveness of the Proposed Authority, prepared by John Swab for The Friends of Harford, August 2014. A young college student with local roots and a sharp mind approached Friends of Harford for a summer internship. After meeting with him, we proposed several potential projects of interest to us. He selected the Water and Sewer Authority, which we have brought to your attention before. We proudly present Jack’s paper to you to help you understand what is going on and some potential consequences. We will have more on this topic in the future.
Phase 2 of the W&S Authority implementation planning by Harford county and its three municipalities is underway as of July, again as a contract effort. As before, minutes of the contract monitoring meetings (not open to the public) can be seen on the Department of Public Works home page. We have been told they will be far enough along by some time in November to let the citizens be involved (read: after elections). We urge that you do; there is little more precious than access to water.
Great read. Now when will the roads get fixed around here?
Construction sites are only that for a short period of time. Want to study mud run off that happens day in and out for decades?
Inspect farms, specifically dairy farms. Nothing like a couple hundred cows wallowing in a stream. Want to really have a meltdown? Inspect the fields where manure is spread and the proximity to approaching rain storms. It’s a great way to dump 1000’s of gallons of toxic waste into the bay.
What about the salt that is spread by the thousands of ton during winter inclement weather? Oh my.
You may want to reread the article it is about erosion control. It’s no wonder you work for the county, no one in their right mind would hire you in the private sector.
Depends on the farmer. Some are great environmentalists, a few hate the whole idea. Farm runoff can be very destructive and must be stopped, and so must “urban” runoff from fertilized yards. We must control runoff from the roads we all use too.
Let’s stop pointing fingers and start solving problems. Need the storm water fee to pay for it.
You can’t name 1 farmer in Harford county that is a great environmentalists. they don’t exist.
You heard it here first. David will be the new Director of the Water Authority. Havre de Grace will dump $17 million debt on Harford County Taxpayers.
A Water Authority gives elected officials everything they want. Elected officials get to appoint people to the Authority who will do what officials tell them to do. Then those same officials get to blame the Authority for raising our water rates to pay for it.
An Authority doesn’t care what citizens want and we can’t touch them.
Rain tax needed.
Agreed. We need to fix what’s not working before more private and public property is damaged. We broke it, so now we have to buy it.