September 21, 2009 Stormwater Committee Meeting

Attendees

Ed Murtagh

Kit Gage

Wendy Bell

Elaine Lamirande

Jim Fary

Eliza Reed

Briefing on findings of mid-progress report on rainscapes effort to DEP:

The committee is in the process of tabulating the results of evaluation questionnaires that were sent out to raingarden recipients, neighborhood associations and Casa de Maryland. The responses thus far have been positive. The only significant complaint was about the delay in plant delivery which meant that there was, in some cases, a significant gap between raindgarden digs and preparation and the actual planting. The committee feels that in future they should be more stringent about who gets raingardens and suggesting other options (many homeowners very much want a raingarden though that might not be the best option.). A formal briefing of the mid-progress report to DEP should occur later this month.

Raingarden Projects Coming this Fall

There are 3 raingarden projects coming up on the October 3/4 weekend, and Kit Gage feels we could easily do 9 more. The grant funding for Casa workers has been used up. In the future homeowners will have to pay for digging or recruit volunteers. We have a great resource now in trained and motivated workers from Casa de Maryland. From the responses from the survey, nearly everyone is willing to contribute enough funding to pay for Casa workers. The use of volunteers is also a good option since it can also serve as a good outreach opportunity.

The homeowner rainscapes efforts this year have been very successful. We decided, however, that we most likely would not pursue a CBT grant for 2010. Instead we will look for very limited funding that would only cover FOSC experts to continue consulting/surveying and supervising projects. We will first need to find out if DEP is willing and able to continue with the current arrangements in providing soils and plants for our raingarden projects.

Outreach at FoSC Sweep the Creek Celebration and future FoSC Program Meeting

At the October 4 celebration Ed Murtagh will talk about raingardens and rain barrels. He suggested that the Stormwater Committee host an upcoming FoSC Program Meeting. A topic for an upcoming FoSC program meeting could be raingardens and other stormwater related practices, a sort of soup to nuts on how it’s done.

Other Outreach Ideas

In an effort to educate the public about stormwater issues, it would be a good idea for the committee to put together a few articles that could be published in neighborhood association newletters.

Kit Gage proposed getting 30 or so above- ground cisterns, which hold a lot more water than a rain barrel, and aren’t very expensive, and selling them as part of a promotion.