How can I help protect my watershed?

The job of protecting, maintaining, and restoring the quality of life around us can only be successful with the full support of the community. Montgomery County is well endowed with aquatic resources, and many county streams support a remarkable variety of fish and aquatic life, including amphibians, reptiles, and birds. Some streams that have been seriously degraded need to be restored. Everyone benefits by becoming more aware of the uniqueness of their own subwatershed, as well as by making the connection between their individual actions and the health of these special waterways.

There are many ways to protect your local stream. After you find out in what particular subwatershed you live, go for a walk along the stream banks to get to know it better. See what condition it is in. Become aware of the wildlife living there. Here are just a few ways you can help your stream - and improve the quality of life in Montgomery County for all of us:

• If you "love your lawn a little less" you can help to reduce nutrients from harming our waterways by applying less yard and garden fertilizers, and applying them according to the manufacturer's directions - using only the proper amount. More is not better; and avoid applying these products before a heavy rain.
• Help limit stormwater flows and reduce soil erosion by directing the flows from rooftops and paved surfaces over lawns and other vegetated areas. Direct your downspouts onto lawn and other vegetated areas to let the house runoff soak down through the soil and into the groudwater.
• Help prevent toxics from poisoning aquatic life by disposing of household and other hazardous wastes in safe and environmentally sound ways; call 240.777.6410 for the County's Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Program.
• Help reduce sediment in runoff by eliminating bare areas in your yard and by using proper sediment controls, such as mulching or silt fences, whenever soil is disturbed and left bare.
• Do not litter anywhere in the county because surface debris (on streets) is picked up by stormwater and carried through storm drains untreated into the nearest stream.
• Contact the Department of Environmental Protection at 240.777.7770 to ask for a speaker to present information about conditions in your watershed at a community, neighborhood, church, scout, or civic function.
• Contact the Department of Environmental Protection to borrow a copy of the video entitled "Living Waters: Exploring Watersheds and Stream Ecology of Montgomery County and the Chesapeake Bay Region" (30 minutes) to show to civic and homeowner associations, school groups, business and conservation groups, church or garden clubs.Contact the Department of Environmental Protection at 240.777.7770, or M-NCPPC 301.495.2504 about how to perform a stream cleanup with your school or community.