Watershed Protection

Non-native Phragmites australis can negatively impact wetlands by altering hydrology, displacing plants and animals, and increasing fire potential. Researchers are trying to understand if eradicating Phragmites without replanting the marsh with native plants can result in negative impacts to the marsh. Authors: Eric Buehl, Andrew Baldwin, Sylvia Jacobson, Karin Kettenring, Melissa McCormick, Dennis Whigham; Title: What Happens after Phragmites is Killed? (EBR-59)

This report summarizes the findings of a household survey conducted by the University of Maryland (UMD) regarding the adoption of stormwater best management practices (BMPs), including rain gardens, rain barrels, low fertilizer lawn care, and conservation landscaping.

Cleaning Maryland’s waterways one rain garden at a time. This new and improved “how-to” manual discusses the benefits of incorporating multiple small-scale practices into a rain garden design.

In 2012, the State of Maryland passed the Watershed Protection and Restoration Program (HB-987), which applies to the nine largest counties in Maryland (Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Charles, Frederick, Harford, Howard, Montgomery, and Prince George’s) and Baltimore City that are federally required to treat stormwater runoff. The purpose of the fee is to manage pollution carried by stormwater into local waterways. The collected fees are placed in a dedicated fund and used to finance projects that treat polluted stormwater. The fee structure is established independently by each county/city and differs across the State.