The Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has submitted its final consent decree report showing it met a Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) consent decree deadline to reduce stormwater pollution nearly two years ahead of schedule.

The County met its goal by reducing pollution from 3,781 impervious acres. In Fiscal Year 2018 (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018), the County achieved 95 percent of its restoration goal of implementing a variety of stormwater control measures. By the end of 2018, the County completed eight more projects treating an additional 178.2 acres to surpass the restoration goal by more than three acres to meet the obligations of the consent decree ahead of schedule.

For most urban areas, what goes into storm drains (stormwater) makes its way into local streams. Those streams are part of larger watersheds that lead to major rivers, like the Potomac River, and eventually, the Chesapeake Bay.

Because waters are interconnected and not defined by county or state lines, the Federal government regulates water quality through a permit process called the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Permit Program (MS4 Permit Program).

The NPDES MS4 permits are issued by the State of Maryland to each jurisdiction subject to the law. Montgomery County was unable to meet the 20 percent restoration goal of implemented measures within the five-year requirement of the permit issued in 2010.  In April 2018, the County signed a consent decree with MDE that required the County to meet the remaining permit obligations with supplemental environmental projects by December 2020 or face fines.

“The only way to reduce pollution in our waterways is to have a unified effort, and strong requirements, for addressing stormwater everywhere,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “Every jurisdiction must take this program seriously. In a County as large as Montgomery, there are many requirements to meet. I am very proud of all who worked so hard to make sure we met our requirements. We will continue efforts to help clean up the waterways of the Chesapeake Region.”

Among the measures in place to meet the requirements of the permit were 11,220 tree plantings, 37 stormwater pond retrofits, 380 bioretention and rain garden practices, restoration of more than 30 miles of streams, treatment of 933 acres of previously untreated impervious surfaces through redevelopment of more than 2,700 properties and installation of nearly 1,500 RainScapes projects by private property owners. The education programs implemented by Montgomery County engaged more than 116,000 residents through 1,000 workshops and outreach events.

“Montgomery County was the first jurisdiction in Maryland to receive this stringent permit and the vigorous restoration requirements,” said DEP Director Adam Ortiz.  “Meeting the requirements were incredibly challenging to the County, our staff and our partners, but I am proud of our strides in restoring our water quality, and ultimately, the Chesapeake Bay.”    

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