County Executive Steve Schuh Tours Watershed Stewards Restoration Projects

FY 2016 Budget Includes $70 Million to Clean Up Waterways
 

Annapolis, MD (July 29, 2015) – County Executive Steve Schuh today toured a cleanwater community home, bioswale and living shoreline created by the Master Watershed Stewards program, an initiative that trains volunteers to assess watersheds and educate the public on environmental protection.
 

“Citizen engagement is crucial to helping preserve our waterways,” said Schuh. “The Watershed Stewards program is helping clean up our environment on a community level. I am excited to see our citizens working to ensure a bright future for our system of waterways.”
 

The Watershed Stewards Academy (WSA) is a training program to empower residents to improve the water quality of local streams.  The program works with a Consortium of Support Professionals, Master Watershed Stewards and their communities to reduce pollutants, infiltrate stormwater and restore natural systems. 
 

Currently, the Watershed Steward Academy has locations in Anne Arundel County, Howard County, the National Capital region, and Cecil County. The Academy provides Stewards with training in using watershed assessment tools for analyzing stormwater runoff, as well as hands-on experience with stormwater management and behavior change projects.  
 

The enacted FY 2016 budget makes critical investments to clean up our waterways and the Bay through $70 million to support critical waterway improvement projects, including 1.5 miles of stormwater pipe repairs, over 300 outfall projects, 74 stormwater pond retrofits, and 9 miles of stream restorations.