Montgomery County, MD Department of Environmental Protection Stream stewards volunteer program orientation. Information about how our local waters are affected by runoff and what we can do to help. Information about the County's Water Quality Protection Charge and the Department of Environmental Protection.

1. Stream Stewards Volunteer Program
g
Orientation
Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection
Watershed Management Division

2. T d ’ A d
Today’s Agenda
 Stream Stewards Orientation
 What are watersheds?
 How do we affect them?
 How are we affected by them?
 What is the County doing to protect them?
 As a volunteer, what do you need to know?
 Stream Stewards Volunteer program
2

3. Sources of Water
 About 97% is salt water
 About 2% is frozen
 Only 1% is available for drinking water
 95% from groundwater across the Country
 32% from groundwater 68% from surface water in Maryland
32% from groundwater, 68% from surface water in Maryland
 Potential for greater impacts from runoff in Maryland
3

4. Montgomery County, MD
 500 sq. miles
 1,004,709 people
 184 languages spoken
 About 12% impervious surface overall
 About the size of Washington DC
 Over 1,500 miles of streams
 Two major river basins:
 Potomac
 Patuxent
 Eight local watersheds
District of Columbia
Impervious: Not allowing water to
I
i
N t ll i
t t
soak through the ground.
4

5. What is a Watershed?
 A watershed is an area
from which the water
above and below ground
drains to the same place.
 Different scales of
watersheds:
 Chesapeake Bay
 Eight local watersheds
 Neighborhood (to a storm
da )
drain)
5

6. Development and watersheds
 Evaporation
 Infiltration into ground water
 Less issues with runoff
i
i h
ff
 Less evaporation
L
ti
 Less infiltration into
g
ground water
 MORE runoff!
6

7. What is Runoff?
h
ff?
Water that does not soak into the ground becomes
surface runoff. This runoff flows over hard surfaces like
rooftops, driveways and parking lots collecting potential
contaminants and flows:
• Directly into streams
• Into storm drain pipes, eventually leading to
streams
• Into stormwater management facilities, then
streams
Two Major Issues:
Volume/Timing R noff
Vol me/Timing of Runoff
Water Quality

8. Your Neighborhood
Your Neighborhood
In typical urban residential areas, rooftops account for 30‐40% of the total impervious area!
I t i l b
id ti l
ft
t f 30 40% f th t t l i
i
!
8

9. What’s the big deal?
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10. 10

11. 11

12. 12

13. 13

14. 85%
85% of trash found in the Anacostia River
is plastic bags and soda bottles
All of us can help prevent this!
14

15. Damascus
Germantown
Olney
Poolesville
Gaithersburg
Rockville
Wheaton -Glenmont
Potomac
Silver Spring
Bethesda
To learn more about local stream conditions visit:
http://www6.montgomerycountymd.gov/dectmpl.asp?url=/Content/dep/maps/introwqm.asp
15

16. What is the County doing to
protect our Streams?
 Must meet regulatory requirements
 Federal Clean Water Act permit program
 MS4 = Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System
M
S
S
S
S
 Applies to all large and medium Maryland jurisdictions
 County programs
 Restore our streams and watersheds
Add runoff management
 Meet water quality protection goals
 Reduce pollutants getting into our streams
 Educate and engage all stakeholders
 Individual actions make a difference
 Focus on watersheds showing greatest impacts

16

17. MS4 permit what is it?
MS4 permit, what is it?
 Montgomery County is responsible for:
• What goes into our storm drain pipes
Wh t
i t t
d i i
• What comes out of them
• What flows into the streams
 Requires additional stormwater management for 20 percent of
impervious surfaces (4,300 acres = 6.7 square miles). That’s about
three times the size of Takoma Park.
That’s equivalent to 3,307 football fields!
17

19. What is the WQPC?
at s t e Q C?
 It is a part of property tax bills.
 It has been around since 2002.
It has been around since 2002
 The WQPC raises funds to
counteract the negative effects of
g
pollution (stormwater) and improve
the quality of our local waters.
• The WQPC is calculated based on the potential for
a property to contribute to stormwater pollution.
e o e e e oped t e ope ty, the gge the
The More Developed the Property, t e Bigger t e
Charge

20. The WQPC Credit Program
 Up to 50% reduction in credit (easiest thing to say)
% d i i di ( i hi )

Multi‐family and non‐residential can get up to 60% if their entire
site is treated by environmental site design.
 The applications are very different for residential and
non‐residential
 Must be owned and maintained to DEP’s standards
 Next deadline is 9/30 for the reduction to the 2013‐14 tax
year. 10/31 for the 2014‐15 tax year.
/ f th
t
 Apply online: www.montgomerycountymd.gov/wqpc

21. The WQPC Credit Program
Rain Garden
w/ Conservation
Landscaping
Rain Barrels
Permeable Pavement
Green Roof
Stormwater Ponds

22. How Has the WQPC Improved the
County?
 Restored streams (Booze Creek in Bethesda) and
protected sanitary sewer pipes
 Maintained >6,000 stormwater facilities
• Cleaned storm drains
• Installed >500 RainScapes
• Planted >35,000 plants
• Expanded stream monitoring,
litter control and educational
programs

23. Fact Sheet – Info on the Charge,
Credits, Phase-In, Stormwater, etc
For handing out to the public.
Credits
Brochure –
Info on the
Credit Program,
types of Credits
and how to
apply.
For handing out
to the public.
How Was My
Charge
Calculated? –
Info on how the
charge was
calculated for
each type of
property. Will
be laminated for
reference.
f
Not a takeaway.

24. Common Questions
 I think my charge is wrong. How do I contest it?
 File an appeal. Information about appeals can be found at montgomerycountymd.gov/wqpcappeals

The appeal must be submitted no later than September 30 of the year that payment of the charge is due.
 How was my charge calculated?
 The charge depends on the type of property and the amount of impervious space on the property.

Ask them what type of property they own and show them the laminated reference for that property type.
 How was my impervious area determined?
 Impervious area was determined by satellite imagery through geographic information systems (GIS)
available from Montgomery County and the Maryland‐National Capital Park and Planning
Commission.

Ask them what type of property they own and show them the laminated reference for that property type.
 I work for a church. Do we have to pay?
 Every property has to pay the WQPC. 501(c)3 organizations have a special charge structure.
 I heard about the Rain Tax but what is the Water Quality Protection Charge?
I heard about the Rain Tax, but what is the Water Quality Protection Charge?
 The only charge in Montgomery County related to pollution is the Water Quality Protection Charge
and it has been found on residential property tax bills since 2002.
 I have financial issues and don’t think I can afford to pay.
 Property owners whose household income does not exceed 170% of the Federal poverty level or is
approved under the Maryland Energy Assistance Program for the current billing year are eligible for
a Hardship Exemption. Apply online at montgomerycountymd.gov/wqpcexemption

25. Watershed Management
Watershed Management
Division
 Stormwater Permit Coordination
 Reporting, Monitoring, and Watershed Outreach
 Stormwater Management Facilities
l
 Inspections and Maintenance
 W t h d R t ti
Watershed Restoration
 Stormwater Retrofits and
Stream Restoration
 RainScapes
 Construction Management
g
 Oversees project construction
 Administers contracts and procurement
25

26. Monitoring
• Evaluates biological
resource/stream
habitat conditions
 Rate streams as
excellent, good, fair,
poor
 Help set priority
watersheds for
Capital Improvement
Program to address
stream degradation
 Project effectiveness
in Special Protection
Areas
26

27. S
F ili
Stormwater Facility
Maintenance
 Over 7,000 structures currently
 Inspect all stormwater structures
once every three years
 Perform maintenance on County
Owned facilities through contractors
 Provide for stormwater facility
transfer to the County’s Maintenance
program
27

28. S
R
i
Stream Restoration
Before – sediment and poorly
defined stream channel
28
Turkey Branch
After Completion
28

29. /
ESD/LID Retrofits
Dennis Ave Health Center Bioretention Cell
White oak Library Tree Boxes
29
29

30. ESD/LID: Roadside swales
Upper
Paint
Branch
30
30

31. ESD/LID: Green Streets
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32. ESD/LID: RainScapes
ESD/LID: RainScapes
 RainScapes Rewards Rebates







Rain Gardens
Conservation Landscaping
Urban Tree Canopy
Permeable Pavers
Pavement Removal
Green Roofs
Water Harvesting
o
o

Cisterns
Rain Barrels
Dry Wells
 RainScapes Neighborhoods
Community based
 Percent =Contractor‐installed projects
 Measurable goal and monitoring

 RainScapes for Schools (MCPS)
 RainScapes for Landscape Professionals
 RainScapes Partnerships with Watershed Groups
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33. ESD/LID: RainScapes Rewards
 Receive up to $1,200 per Household!
 Business and churches, etc are included
with rebates up to $5,000!
t ebates up to $5,000!
 Anyone interested in the RainScapes
program can visit our website:
www.montgomerycounty.gov/rainscapes
g
y
yg /
p
• e‐mail:
rainscapes@montgomerycountymd.gov
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34. Pre app o a not
e approval ot
required. Save receipts
and contact RainScapes
team for rebate.
Minimum of 200 gallons
of water must be
captured.
34

35. B C ti !
Be Creative!
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36. Private home ‐ Before and After RainScapes Rewards
Stormwater runoff is captured and filtered in small landscaped areas that allow
water to soak into the ground while plants and soils filter pollutants.
Please Note: Projects needs to be pre-approved by the RainScapes
program in order to qualify for rebate.
36

37. Homeowners Association (HOA) – Before and after
RainScapes Rewards
Please Note: Project needs to be pre-approved by the RainScapes
program in order to qualify for rebate.
37

38. What are some things you can
do to prevent these issues?
38

39. What You Can Do to protect our
What You Can Do to protect our
streams?
Start today!
 Dispose of pet waste properly
 Eliminate unnecessary lawn fertilizers
 Reduce trash
 Recycle
 Be kind, don’t litter
 Pl t T
Plant a Tree
 Report issues to DEP via 3‐1‐1
39

40. Reporting Issues to DEP
 Illegal dumping
 Illicit discharge‐something mysterious coming out of a
pipe
i
 Construction discharge
 Oil &
Oil & grease in water
i
 Stream erosion
 Fi h kill
Fish kills
 Montgomery County Customer Service Center at 3‐1‐1
40

41. Step it Up!
 Compost and grasscycle
 Disconnect your downspout
 Encourage your property manager or Home Owners Association to
use green practices
 Learn about the RainsScapes Rebate program

Participate in a RainScapes workshop
RainScapes Rain Barrel Workshop
 Friday, April 12, 2013 or
 Saturday April 13, 2013
 Conservation Landscape Workshop
 Friday, May 31, 2013 or
 Saturday, June 1, 2013
Both workshops are held at Brookside gardens in Wheaton, MD from 10am to
B h
k h h ld B k id d i Wh
MD f
1pm

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42. Step it Up! (continued)
 At home, plant native trees and native plants
 Consider installing a RainScapes practice and
submit an application to the RainScapes Rebate
program
 Install a RainScapes practice
p p
 Encourage people to use RainScapes techniques
42

43. V l t
&B
L d
Volunteer & Become a Leader
 Local watershed groups
 Groups that protect the environment
 Plant native trees and stream buffers
 Install storm drain markers
 Participate in clean‐ups
 Local governments






Montgomery Parks
DEP
DOT
City of Rockville
City of Gaithersburg
WSSC
 Create your own group if one
Create your own group, if one
doesn’t exist in your community
43

44. Watershed Groups
 Eyes of Paint Branch
www.eopb.org
 Friends of Cabin John Creek
Watershed
www.cabinjohn.org/focjcw
bi j h
/f j
 Friends of Sligo Creek
www.fosc.org
 Muddy Branch Alliance
www.muddybranch.org
 Neighbors of Northwest Branch
www.neighborsnwb.org
 Rock Creek Conservancy
www.rockcreekconservancy.org
y g
 Little Falls Watershed Alliance, Inc.
www.lfwa.org
44

45. St
D i M k !
Storm Drain Markers!
45

46. Share with others!
 Share information with your family, friends, and coworkers.
 Next family, friend, work gathering
 Via Facebook post a tidbit or talk about your volunteer efforts
Via Facebook, post a tidbit or talk about your volunteer efforts
 Via Twitter
 Via Instagram
 Bl b
Blog about your experience (personal blog or at
i
(
l bl
www.mygreenmontgomery.org or other community blog site)
 Show off your RainScapes practice!
 Brown bag lunch at work/club/congregation
46

47. Make it Fun, Set Goals.
 Challenge yourself/friends/family
 Volunteer “x” hours with DEP or a local group, double it next year!
 Plant “x” number of native trees and native plants at home or with a
Plant x number of native trees and native plants at home or with a
group, next year increase your number.
 Pick up “x” pounds of trash in your community per year!
 Pl bl k/ i hb h d t
Plan a block/neighborhood party
Did you know:
k
 Organize an event in your community
 Make it a competition or a game
p
g
 … what else can you think of?
Studies have shown that
people who volunteer have
lower mortality rates, greater
functional ability, and l
f
ti
l bilit
d lower
rates of depression later in life
than those who do not
volunteer.
- Corporation for National
Community Service
47

48. Stream Stewards Volunteer
Program
 Volunteers will help with
 Educating the community
 Outreach events
 Fi di
Finding outreach opportunities
h
ii
48

49. Volunteer Opportunities
 Watershed Ambassadors
 Watershed Speakers
 Watershed Keepers
 Stream Monitoring Volunteer Internships
49

50. Volunteer Benefits
 Meet people with similar interests
 Recognition
 Professional growth
 Personal satisfaction
 Earn Student Service Learning Hours (SSL)
 As a volunteer, you are eligible to use Montgomery
County Employee Federal Credit Union
C
t E l
F d l C dit U i
 Most important: Have Fun!
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51. Volunteer Responsibilities
 Be punctual
 Dress appropriately, keep an eye out for:
 Ripped clothing
 Clothing with offensive language or displays of
alcohol/tobacco
 Exposed midriff/tops
 Sweat or stretch pants
S eat o st etc pa ts
 Excessively short, tight or revealing clothing
 Let us know if you are no longer interested in being a
y
g
g
volunteer and return supplies provided by DEP.
51

52. Age Requirements
 We accept volunteers of all ages!
 Anyone younger than 13 years old needs to be
accompanied by a parent or guardian.
i d b
di
 Parent or guardian can be a volunteer or stand by and
watch.
watch
52

53. Student Service Learning Hours
 The Stream Stewards Program is an SSL approved
program.
S d
Students have to sign‐in and sign‐out.
h i i d i
 We will have copies of SSL forms at events.
S d
Students will have to complete 2 forms and leave one
ill h
l f
d l
behind for our records.
 If not we will mail a copy of the form to student’s
If not, we will mail a copy of the form to student s
home.
53

54. Volunteer timesheets
 Everyone signs‐in and
signs‐out
 Th i
The timesheets are used
h
d
to track volunteer hours
 Recognition
54

55. Resources
o
o at o suc as:
For information such as:
 Local watershed groups
www6.montgomerycountymd.gov/dectmpl.asp?url=/Con
g
y
y
g
p p
tent/dep/water/localgroups.asp
 Regional and national groups
 General information
www.montgomerycountymd.gov/DEP
 Living a Green Life: My Green Montgomery
http://montgomerycountymd.mygreenmontgomery.org/
55

56. Questions?
Save our
Streams!
Ana Arriaza
Watershed Volunteer Coordinator
ana.arriaza@montgomerycountymd.gov
240-777-7778