Monday, July 16, 2012
Just providing people with information is often not enough to help change their behavior to improve the environment.
When I signed up for the Master Watershed Stewards program two years ago, I did so because I wanted to learn how to help improve the water quality in the Severn and Magothy river watersheds. The training I received through weekly classes and practical “hands on” projects greatly increased my knowledge and awareness of ways through which I could help reverse the effects of pollution in our waterways. During the last two years, I enthusiastically shared that knowledge with my neighbors and the people who attended the various events where I helped staff an outreach and information display. I really believed that once people were provided with good information about how to reduce pollution they would begin to change their behavior in order to …
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
The Watershed Stewards Academy conducted a tour to increase awareness of local stormwater management efforts.
Last Monday evening, the Watershed Stewards Academy sponsored a tour in Severna Park to provide information about the efforts of three local stewards to reduce stormwater runoff pollution in the Severn and Magothy river watersheds. Attendees included Anne Arundel County Councilman Dick Ladd, members of the Watershed Stewards Academy board of directors, and several area watershed stewards. The tour stops featured a degraded stormwater outlet near Barrensdale Road, the rain gardens in my front yard on Lower Magothy Beach Road in Stewart’s Landing, Ann Jackson’s rain garden project on Park Drive in Olde Severna Park, and Rusty Gowland’s work in his neighborhood of Linstead. The site on Barrensdale Drive, off of Old County Road, is a severely …
Monday, June 18, 2012
Working through the process of a watershed improvement project can require patience and persistence.
More than a year ago, I received an email from a Severna Park neighbor asking if my experience as a member of the Watershed Stewards Academy would help him solve an erosion problem at his community beach. I quickly responded that I would be glad to help in any way possible. Within a week of our initial contact, I visited the beach during a steady rainfall and took several pictures showing the soil erosion being caused by stormwater runoff. After we reviewed the photos and visited the site, we determined that the majority of the runoff was coming from an old storm drain outlet pipe that emptied on the property about 50 feet from the water’s edge and from stormwater that flowed across the site. My neighbor notified the county Department of …
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Despite a dry winter, my two rain gardens planted last fall are thriving.
In October, I wrote about my experience installing two rain gardens in my front yard to help reduce pollution from stormwater runoff. I'm glad to report that thanks to a mild winter, all the plants survived and are growing well. My biggest challenge during the construction process was removing the red clay that was used to rough grade the yard when my house was built. The layer of poor-draining clay varied between 16 to 28 inches deep, which meant the collection area for stormwater in my rain gardens would be much deeper than the usual depth of a foot or so found in most rain gardens. After I replaced the clay with the recommended soil mix of 80 percent sand and 20 percent Leafgro, I was concerned the captured stormwater would percolate …
Monday, December 12, 2011
Watershed Stewards Academy trains volunteers to work within communities to protect area watersheds.
This past Thursday evening the Anne Arundel County Master Watershed Stewards Academy held its annual graduation ceremony for the new class of Watershed Stewards at Arlington Echo Outdoor Education Center. Twenty-three stewards, including myself, representing six of the county’s watersheds, as well as Howard County and the Anacostia region, received their certificates for completing the year long program. The purpose of the Watershed Stewards Academy is to train local residents to work as volunteers within their communities to help reduce the negative effects of stormwater runoff pollution, which is degrading all of the watersheds in the county. Participants in the program receive classroom and field training on a variety of topics related …
Monday, July 25, 2011
The Watershed Stewards Academy is seeking volunteers to begin in the fall.
For as long as I can remember I have enjoyed spending time outdoors. Whether I was gardening, fishing, biking, or just taking a walk I have always looked forward to being outside. I can thank my mom for helping me to develop an interest and an awareness of nature. While my dad was a “city boy”, mom grew up in the county when it was still mostly farmland. From the time I was a child she passed along her knowledge and taught me how to identify different species of birds, grow vegetables in our garden, and care for the plants and trees in our yard. During the winters she encouraged me to feed the birds that frequented our yard which meant buying bird seed in 20 pound bags at Dawson’s or the A & P. Due to my mom’s influence my love for nature…
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Watershed Stewards create hope for the Bay and provide education and leadership for local residents.
Community leaders gathered at the Arlington Echo Outdoor Education Center in Millersville recently to celebrate the newest class of the county's Watershed Stewards. These volunteer stewards are representatives from local communities who educate residents about the importance about reducing the polluted runoff that finds its way into the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. The watershed stewards don’t stop at mere education; they are passionate, tenacious role-models who motivate their neighbors and work hard on environmental projects that directly affect the Bay. The Watershed Stewards Academy (WSA) is the brainchild of Ron Bowen, director of Public Works, and Stephen Barry, coordinator of Environmental/Outdoor Education at Arlington Echo. Its aim …
louisvuitton
8:21 pm on Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Louis Vuitton Handbags outlet||http://www.louisvuittonhandbags-outlets.org/ Coach Factory outlet||http://www.get-coachfactoryoutlet.net/ Louis Vuitton Handbags||http://www.louisvuittonhandbags-outlets.org/ Coach Factory||http://www.get-coachfactoryoutlet.net/ Prada Outlet||http://www.pradabag-outlets.net/ Coach Outlet Online||http://www.atcoachoutletsonlines.net/ Prada bags||http://www.pradabag-… more ›