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Maryland Department of the Environment - MDE Subscribe to E-News Stream Commission on Environmental Quality |
Director: Jonas A. Jacobson |  |
Water Contact Alerts: None
Water Contact Advisories: None
Beach Closures: None
Soil Data
The Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) has published a new soil survey for Baltimore County. This data replaces and renders obsolete the 1976 printed Soil Survey. Per NRCS, the Web Soil Survey is now the official source for soil data.
Soil survey information is used to meet various design requirements of the County development regulations. Specifically in DEPRM, the Web Soil Survey will be used for stormwater management hydrology, forest and Critical Area buffers, priority forest determinations, prime and productive soils determinations and soil evaluation tests for septic design. Soil Survey information is also used for developing flood plain hydrology, which is reviewed by Permits and Development Management and the Department of Public Works. Please contact these agencies directly if there are questions concerning requirements.
In order to provide a smooth transition, the County is requiring that the Web Soil Survey be used for all projects submitted for initial review after July 30, 2010. Please be aware that the Web Soil Survey may be used for projects currently under design at the designer’s discretion.
Pleasure Island Dredging and Beneficial Use Shoreline Enhancement Project
The Pleasure Island Dredging and Beneficial Use Shoreline Enhancement Project is under construction. Benefits of this project include the restoration and stabilization of the shoreline on Pleasure Island by creating a hybrid Living Shoreline and a reduction in sediments and improved water quality for the Chesapeake Bay. The project also restores boating access to the Pleasure Island Channel “The Cut” and provides storm protection to the Millers Island and Swan Point communities. The project includes dredging the channel and placing the dredged material along the south side of Pleasure Island behind a series of breakwaters and sills and then planted with wetland vegetation. Pleasure Island is owned and managed by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Funding for this project is provided with grants from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 in the amount of $2.7 million, Maryland DNR Waterway Improvement Program in the amount of $1.9 million and a $100,000 grant from the Maryland Port Administration. For further details please see the informative Pleasure Island Presentation (PDF). If you have additional questions or comments please call Baltimore County DEPRM at 410-887-2904 or send an email to watersheds@baltimorecountymd.gov.
Fall for a Tree
The Growing Home Campaign is an innovative way homeowners can help beautify our neighborhoods and increase the tree canopy in our region by planting trees in their yards - and save $10 on each tree purchased with the Growing Home tree coupon from a participating nursery or garden center. As a public - private partnership between Baltimore and Harford Counties, Baltimore City, 50 local retail nurseries, and homeowners, the Growing Home Campaign promotes tree planting on residential property by providing comprehensive education about selecting and planting great trees for our region and a cash incentive, $10 savings on each qualifying tree with a retail value of $25 or more.
Jennifer Branch Stream Restoration
Baltimore County DEPRM has proposed stream restoration for a portion of Jennifer Branch between Northwind and Harford Roads. Jennifer Branch is experiencing common problems found in many of the County's suburban stream systems. Baltimore County responds to degraded streams with a naturally functioning self sustaining approach that will restore essential stream system processes. More information on this approach can be found in the EPA publication Baltimore County Stream Restoration Improves Quality of Life (2.1 MB PDF). Also you may download the presentation (12.7 MB PDF) from the April 22nd community meeting. If you have specific questions about this project please send an e-mail to watersheds@baltimorecountymd.gov. To get involved in citizen activities related to Jennifer Branch, contact the Gunpowder Valley Conservancy at www.gunpowderfalls.org and click on the Jennifer Branch tab.
Baltimore County Stream Restoration Improves Quality of Life
Did you know that DEPRM implements a regionally renowned stream restoration program? Read this informative publication (2.1 MB PDF), which highlights DEPRM's stream restoration accomplishments. DEPRM's program incorporates project planning and design, widespread communication and support, construction and post-restoration follow-up. The program integrates state-of-the art techniques with an environmentally sensitive approach to stabilizing streams and reducing sediment loads, in turn enhancing stream morphology ecological function, water quality, and aquatic habitat. The EPA Mid-Atlantic Integrated Assessment program (MAIA) produced this document to help share knowledge between state and local governments, regional offices, and non-governmental organizations.
Environmental Administrative Variance Postings
The Department of Environmental Protection and Resource Management periodically receives requests for environmental administrative variances. The Department publishes a list of the environmental administrative variance requests along with their status. The requests are listed by County Council District.
In Need of Environmental Assistance?
The DEPRM Function Brochure (PDF) provides phone numbers and brief descriptions of the services offered by the Department of Environmental Protection and Resource Management.
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Revised August 31, 2010
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