Air Quality Protection Strategy  [pdf]
Montgomery County’s Air Quality Protection Strategy establishes eight priorities for improving the County’s air quality and recommends specific actions that can be taken on the local level.

Countywide Stream Protection Strategy (CSPS) - 1998 Edition
Through this website, information can be accessed about the condition of local streams, and the land use characteristics of the watersheds that drain to these streams.   

CSPS 2003 Update [pdf]
In 2001, DEP began its second five year biological monitoring cycle to assess water quality conditions in all county watersheds. Previous monitoring sites are being revisited to measure and compare water quality conditions and changes over time. Our "yardstick" is the index of biological integrity or IBI. DEP has an IBI for fish and one for aquatic insects. The 2003 Update to the Countywide Stream Protection Strategy (CSPS) examines trends by comparing stations that were monitored for fish and/or aquatic insects in 1994-1998 with those monitored in 1999-2001.

Environmental Protection 1996-2006:
The Path to Sustainability
Ten years ago the Department of Environmental Protection underwent a dramatic metamorphosis, evolving from a large organization with a host of varied missions, to a considerably smaller department focused solely on protecting and restoring the natural resources of Montgomery County. Today, we are well along the path to achieving our goal of developing a sustainable approach to environmental protection which will ensure that future generations have access to clean air and water, a healthy stream system, and a growing tree canopy. This report is designed to provide a summary of the efforts undertaken by DEP over the last ten years in support of our vision and to meet our responsibility to move toward a sustainable future.

County Energy Policy (Amended 2003) [pdf]
It is the policy of the County to:  1. Continually improve the efficient use of all energy resources in order to ensure a future with a secure and sustainable energy supply.   Fuels availability and the need to improve air quality may limit energy use of fossil fuels. 2. Seek creative ways that the public sector can take advantage of cost-saving opportunities presented by utility restructuring, including undertaking an aggregated cooperative competitive procurement of electricity supply at the earliest opportunity practicable; look to increase the amount of clean and renewable energy purchased in a competitive marketplace; and serve as an education and information resource about restructuring for the County's residents and businesses. More...

Forest Preservation Strategy - 2000 [pdf]
The multi-agency Forest Preservation Task Force produced this dynamic document in October 2000. It is a strategy that works to improve stewardship of the forest and tree resources across the county. The strategy’s goals are to increase the quantity of forest canopy, improve the quality of forests and trees, and protect and restore forest ecosystems throughout the county.

Forest Preservation Strategy Update - 2004 [pdf]
The Interagency Forest Conservation Team (IFC Team) spent the past two years implementing the original Strategy of 2000. They have created a bold new fact-filled document. It follows the original Strategy’s overall outline, but updates the reader on progress made in many areas, and includes areas to focus on in the future, such as urban street trees, the overabundance of white tailed deer and non-native invasive plants, and the loss of trees on small lots.

Groundwater Protection Strategy  [pdf]
A strategy to protect public health, and the integrity of surface water and groundwater.