Baltimore Rivers and the Chesapeake Bay..

Transcription

1 Baltimore Rivers and the Chesapeake Bay.. Building a more effective future for clean water through public/private partnerships and organizational consolidation August 3oth, 2011

2 Highly Impervious older urban and suburban communities Stats Map

3 Water Quality Challenges Industrial pollution (past and present) Stormwater runoff Sewage spills Illicit Discharge Trash and debris Our streets are our streams.

4 Lowest Grade in the Bay watershed

5 The groups.. Five Baltimore water organizations Baltimore Harbor Watershed Association Baltimore Harbor WATERKEEPER Gwynns Falls Watershed Association Herring Run Watershed Association Jones Falls Watershed Association became one.

6 5 organizations in 5 different places Name (Year Founded) Baltimore Harbor WATERKEEPER (2006) Baltimore Harbor Watershed Association (2003) Gwynns Falls Watershed Association (1997) Herring Run Watershed Association (1985) Jones Falls Watershed Association (2002) Staff Board Budget Office Members Volunteers 1 6 $96,000 leased Out of clutter, find simplicity. From discord, find harmony. In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity. -- Albert Einstein 1/2 14 $62,000 donated /2 8 $41,000 donated $497,000 owned 307 1, /2 17 $284,000 leased 506 1,600

7 Restructuring could benefit: Our capability to accomplish our common mission. Our ability to attract and retain quality staff. Our collective program effectiveness. Our administrative efficiency. Our chance to be heard. Our capacity to lead. Our sustainability. Our true impact.

8 Everybody, everything, everywhere No one sector can effectively tackle the causes of water pollution Each must pressure and leverage each other Self-interest can be harnessed for good - Elected officials respond to voters - Business responds to customers and employees - Citizens respond to peer pressure and overall desire for quality of life and improved health outcomes

9 Citizens form groups around localized neighborhood concerns and opportunities- including parks and streams-or connect to larger issues Leadership and synergy usually emerges around problems and solutions Volunteers organize themselves to take action ie: clean ups, contacting local officials, often beginning to form a group that may (or may not ) develop beyond immediate issue Dynamics emerge as to priorities and action strategies 1) Complainers 2) Doers Government can be resistant so groups need to show they add value

10 Power to the People Organized Community action: - Umbrella or Community Development organizations - Neighborhood Associations - Police District Councils -School Parent/ Teacher Association(s) To Do: Letters, postcards, testimony, lobby activities, attendance at community forums Eyes and ears on the land and water Membership - # of people = credibility Power of shared vision and of collective action

11 Volunteers matter In 2011 Volunteers helped protect our waterways BWB partnered with 3,900 volunteers with 10,000 hours of service Helped remove 61,000 pounds of trash Planted and maintained over 1,000 trees and shrubs to protect our airways and reduce water pollution

12 Education Our Toolbox Restoration Advocacy

13 Engaging Diverse Communities Tree Plantings Stream Clean-Ups Storm drain painting

14 Healthy Watersheds equal healthy people and communities Efforts to improve water quality: help create greener, more livable places to live, work, worship, and play improve public health outcomes by reducing exposure to both air and water pollution Create community cohesiveness by bringing people together Connect resources together from the public and private sectors of our economies

15 Public/ Private Partnerships are a mix of non-governmental organizations or institutions and government and business groups. A variety or formal and informal arrangements BWB currently has a contractual relationship with both Baltimore County and City where we are compensated for work being done - often to meet regulatory requirements BWB is an interested party in the Baltimore Watershed Agreement a regional planning and implementation document that helps encourage collaboration across political boundaries BWB has recently begun partnering with the Waterfront Partnership on mutual objectives and Healthy Harbor Plan Business and corporate groups can help provide funding for project activities to help share costs and raise visibility Each entity has its own strengths and work best together

16 Baltimore Watershed Agreement TOPIC AREAS Stormwater Development/Redevelopment Community Greening Public Health Trash Crosscutting themes of Environmental Justice and Sustainable Communities and to be coordinated with City and County Sustainability programs

17 Increased Urgency Citizens must be part of solution to save our oceans, rivers and bays To make sensible choices on their land, what they eat, and how they deal with waste, and water consumption Politicians must hear from citizens so resources are allocated for pro-active restoration measures particularly when there are multi-level benefits Citizens will most likely be able to influence other citizens

18 Increased Urgency Government must lead with innovation and vision Utilize green infrastructure and decentralized systems and practices Ensure permitting and regulatory process strikes the right balance to provide oversight but also incentivizes practices Inspections, oversight and potential fines Be responsive to outside expertise and national and international models

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20 Insert Water Audit Slides

21 Out of clutter, find simplicity. From discord, find harmony. In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity. -- Albert Einstein It can be messy, frustrating and time consuming, but working together always yields better results. It s worth it. -Halle Van der Gaag Thank you for listening!