Patuxent River and Patapsco River Watershed Assessments Howard County, Maryland

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Patuxent River and Patapsco River Watershed Assessments Howard County, Maryland HOWARD COUNTY STORMWATER MANAGEMENT DIVISION Patuxent River and Patapsco River Watershed Assessments Howard County, Maryland Thorough watershed assessment helps Howard County, Maryland chart the course toward county-wide water quality improvement. conducted stream assessments For the second phase of of the County’s two water- each watershed assessment, sheds: the Southern Middle Biohabitats developed con- Patuxent, and the Patapsco cepts for the highest priority River South Branch. The goal proposed retrofit and res- of the assessments was to toration opportunities. The identify and prioritize oppor- concepts, which included tunities to improve water qual- approaches such as channel ity through stream restoration, stabilization, Regenerative outfall stabilization, new Stormwater Conveyance stormwater Best Management (RSC), bioretention facili- Practices (BMP), tree planting, ties, and tree plantings, were and BMP conversion projects. designed to provide eco- The assessments integrated ele- logical habitat and stormwater from top: Watershed assessment of Howard County’s ments of the Stream Corridor filtration while also helping natural resources; Severly eroded initial conditions Assessment (SCA), Rapid the County estimate imple- Bioassessment Protocol (RBP), mentation costs and meet oward County’s Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit Bank Assessment for Non- Total Maximum Daily Load H Water Management requirement. To tackle the point source Consequences (TMDL) targets established Division set an ambitious daunting task that encom- of Sediment (BANCS), and for phosphorus and sediment goal of performing compre- passed a 253-square-mile Retrofit Reconnaissance in the local watersheds. hensive assessments of the study area, Howard County Inventory (RRI) with other County’s watersheds over a turned to their team of on- qualitative site data on the SERVICES two-year period to satisfy their call consultants. Working feasibility of a project including Management National Pollutant Discharge closely with the County and land ownership, constraints, Public Outreach Elimination System (NPDES) their other on-call engineer- and ease of access. Policy Municipal Separate Storm ing consultants, Biohabitats conservation planning ecological restoration regenerative design Physiographic Province Piedmont Bioregion Chesapeake/Delaware Bays Watershed Middle & Little Patuxent River & Patapsco River 1.
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