1Friends of Sligo Creek

Stormwater Committee Meeting

April 10, 2007

Attendees:

Ann Hoffnar

Ed Murtagh

Kathy Michels

Robert Goo (by phone)

Sally Benjamin

David Belluck

Diane and Joseph Cameron

Jenny Reed

Proposed and Ongoing Projects:

• We discussed the probable Spring Park raingarden project in cooperation with the City of Takoma Park. Jenny has been working with city officials and all are anxious to do the project. Friends of Sligo Creek has been helping promote the Wildlife Community project in the city and this raingarden, if built, would be an enhancement to the Wildlife Community effort.

• We discussed the Mini Green Streets project, also in Takoma Park. Jenny has been working with the City’s Department of Public Works to develop a plan to control stormwater at the dead end of Cleveland Avenue. The street has to remain useful to residents who park there, so a swale is not a solution. The City could install infill trenches on both sides of the road. Jenny will continue to work with the City and keep us informed.

• We continue to work with Northwood High School. A landscaping project in front of the school is in the works. DEP is interested and will help pay for a raingarden and pervious pavement where pavement is needed. Jenny will supply a plant list. Tremendous Maryland is to provide 30 trees and shrubs at no cost to Northwood.

• We briefly discussed possible projects at Blair High School, specifically raingardens around yard inlets. These inlets are installed in grassy areas to drain the area, but unfortunately they just pipe the water to storm drains.

• We discussed a potential raingarden in Sally and David’s yard. Jenny will do a site visit.

• The Rachel Carson House would be a good place for a raingarden demonstration. Spring Park could have a link to the 100^th anniversary of Rachel Carson’s birth.

We again discussed the need to broaden our focus and begin working to promote green roofs, permeable pavements, trees and other LID measures.

Stormwater Partners Network

• We are making great progress:

--The listserv is up and running

--The first newsletter—a prototype—is out.

--We need to pull other groups in

• We discussed the newsletter briefly. Sally says the goal is not clear. Depending on the goal, the newsletter may need to be shorter and snappier. Ann pointed out that, in any case, it needs an editor.

• The Western Clarksburg development is an issue the coalition could address. Diane is going to a meeting and will talk up helping Seneca start a watershed group (part of Clarksburg.)

• If we need further information to help us make points about green roofs, we can refer to a paper Casey Trees wrote on Green Roofs in DC. Also we can point out that EPA is now publicly endorsing green roofs.

• Diane recently met with Ike Leggett, asking him to support our 12-point program for the new Stormwater Permit. He said he supports it in concept, but the numbers need to be specific and it has to be doable and enforceable.

• Ed and Diane attended the April 3 NNWB inter-watershed meeting called by Pam Rowe. They found it interesting. Watershed groups have the potential to run their areas, including giving out grant money for projects.

Our LID Tour

• In Alison’s absence, we postponed further discussion to our next meeting.

Minutes prepared by Ann Hoffnar and Ed Murtagh