28th Annual Potomac River Watershed Cleanup, April 16

The Alice Ferguson Foundation is sponsored its Annual Potomac River Cleanup on April 16, from 9 a.m. to noon. Last year, more than 20,000 volunteers in four states and the District of Columbia participated in this event, removing 1.2 million pounds of trash from watersheds. Volunteers can participate in numerous other cleanups throughout Earth Month, as well.  Find an event here or visit potomaccleanup.org for more details.

Participants can enter their photos or videos in an annual Cleanup Photo Contest. Send images or files to PotomacCleanup@fergusonfoundation.org and put "Photo Contest" in the subject line. View last year's winners.

Montgomery County Celebrates the 10-Year Anniversary of the Watershed Trash Treaty at the Transforming Communities Summit

In March, County Executive Ike Leggett participated as a keynote lunch speaker at the Transforming Communities:Trash-Free Solutions for Healthy Lives, Clean Land, Safe Water Summit sponsored by the Alice Ferguson Foundation. This summit marked the 10th anniversary of the signing of the Potomac River Watershed Trash Treaty, an agreement between regional leaders, businesses and governments who are committed to working towards a cleaner community. 

Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III, Montgomery County Executive, Ike Leggett, Tommy Wells on behalf of District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser and Lori Arguelles, Executive Director of the Alice Ferguson Foundation. 

Joining Leggett was Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III, Tommy Wells on behalf of District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser and other community leaders who shared policy and community outreach successes over the past decade as well as actions for the future. A closing panel discussion included Lisa Feldt, Director of the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection; Tommy Wells, Director of the District Department of Energy & Environment; and Adam Ortiz, Director of the Department of the Environment for Prince George's County. The event opened with a photographic journey along the Anacostia River from the lens of award-winning photographer and author Krista Schlyer.

“I am very proud of the innovative work Montgomery County does to keep our community trash-free and our streams and waterways clean including banning Styrofoam and promoting the importance of reusable bags,” said Leggett. “Trash hurts our neighborhoods and streams, blocks our storm drains causing our streets and basements to flood, carries impurities into our drinking water supplies and destroys our water habitat.”

“We are working on a number of initiatives, including reducing trash in the Anacostia watershed and collaborating with our neighboring jurisdictions to implement innovative and sustainable approaches to improve our streams and address our environmental challenges,” said Feldt. “DEP has embraced our leadership role to work to protect our natural resources and reduce as much waste as possible.”

The Potomac River Watershed Trash Treaty identified the impact of trash on the quality of life in communities around the region, including the Anacostia River, which is a shared waterway. It is estimated that the storm water management practices implemented in the Montgomery County portion of the Anacostia River capture over 11,000 pounds of trash each year.

Montgomery County is recognized, regionally and nationally, as a leader of environmental stewardship. Recent legislation has included the 2012 carryout bag law requiring retailers to charge five cents per bag to deter the use of disposable bags and the passing of Bill 41-14, commonly known as the “Styrofoam ban” to ban the use ofnon-recyclable Styrofoam in the County.

Green Streets Drive Runoff in the Right Direction

Through a partnership between the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT), MCDOT has helped DEP create green streets to minimize rain and snow runoff—and the pollution that can result. Runoff, especially on roads and parking lots, pick up pollutants on their way to storm drains that eventually end up reaching our waterways. Read more

This is a beautiful green street project in Silver Spring - green Streets use a variety of techniques to treat and filter stormwater close to the source. 

GO MONTGOMERY NEWS

MWCOG Releases 2015 State of the Region Infrastructure Report that Identifies a Transportation Funding Gap of $24.5 Billion The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) has released its 2015 State of the Region Infrastructure Report that details funding gaps for transportation and other regional needs. According to the report, funding is available for about $79 billion in system preservation projects and operations. However, the region will need $7.5 billion over the next 15 years for road resurfacing and rehabilitation, $1 billion over the next 10 years to rehabilitate and reconstruct bridges, $1 billion annually for WMATA to maintain and replace assets on a regular life cycle basis, and $6 billion through 2025 for the Metro 2025 initiative.  Read more. Public Workshop on Bradley Boulevard Bikeways Project Planned for March 2 The Montgomery County Department of Transportation Division of Transportation Engineering will hold a public workshop to update the community on the status of a project to build bikeways along Bradley Boulevard between Wilson Lane and Glenbrook Road in Bethesda. The meeting is planned for Monday, March 2 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Thomas W. Pyle Middle School cafeteria, 6311 Wilson Lane. Read More. TPB Approves Projects to Enhance Transportation for Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments announced that the Transportation Planning Board (TPB) approved $2.7 million in funding for a number of projects that will enhance transportation for seniors and individuals with disabilities, including several projects in Montgomery County. Read More. Road Rehabilitation Project in Sligo Park Hills Upgrades and Preserves County's Transportation Infrastructure and Improves Sligo Creek Watershed The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) Division of Highway Services has completed the rehabilitation of roads, sidewalks, curbs and gutters in the Sligo Park Hills neighborhood in Silver Spring. Through a partnership with MCDOT’s Transportation Engineering Division and the County’s Department of Environmental Protection, state-of-the-art stormwater improvements were concurrently installed to minimize disruptions to the neighborhood. Read More. MCDOT and MCDEP Collaborate on Another Green Streets Project to Improve the Sligo Creek Watershed The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) and the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (MCDEP) have collaborated on another Green Streets project to install state-of-the-art stormwater treatments in the Dennis Avenue area of Silver Spring. MCDOT’s Division of Transportation Engineering managed the construction and MCDEP funded the project using grants from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Funds.  Read more Become a Yeti: "Professional Neighbor" has Organized on Online Volunteer Matching Program to Link Neighbors During Snowstorms A man who bills himself as a “Professional Neighbor” has created a website at SnowCrew.org to link neighbors with neighbors during snowstorms. Volunteers sign up to assist others in their community with shoveling and those who need help request it on the site or through Facebook or Twitter. Read More. MCDOT Salt Brine Used on Roads to Melt Snow Does Not Contain Magnesium Chloride Recent reports that some communities add magnesium chloride to their salt brine solutions to melt snow on roads has caused concern about this corrosive agent’s effect on vehicles. But, if you live or drive in Montgomery County, there is no need for worry. The Division of Highway Services uses only regular salt, made of sodium chloride, diluted with water for its salt brine solution and adds nothing else to it. FEBRUARY 24, 2015 Stay Informed During Snow Maybe the groundhog was right after all as we seem to be in the midst of six more weeks of winter. As of February 18, the Highway Services Storm Operations Center activated 12 times and depots activated six additional times to handle 22.5 inches of snow, sleet and ice so far this season. Free Bus Service Available to County Senior Centers for those 55 and Older Who Live Nearby Free curb-to-curb bus service is available weekdays to County seniors 55 and older who live within three to five miles of one of the County's five senior centers. Read More.

Go Montgomery is distributed by Montgomery County Government Department of Transportation.