Lower Gunpowder River Selected As one of Four Rivers Considered for Restoration
Selected Targeted Watershed to be Announced in December

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ANNAPOLIS — Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. today named the Lower Gunpowder River in Baltimore County as one of four candidate watersheds being considered for the State’s second coordinated effort to remove a Chesapeake Bay tributary from the EPA’s List of Impaired Waters. Earlier this year an EPA report named Maryland’s first Targeted Watershed effort -- The Corsica River Pilot Project -- the best watershed-based plan in the nation.

“In the next targeted watershed, which will be chosen from these four finalists, we will expand both our knowledge and our impact on the ground,” said Governor Ehrlich. “As we continue to move this important work across Maryland, we also move closer to our ultimate goal of improved water quality and a restored Chesapeake Bay.”

To determine the most appropriate sites for the State’s next effort, the Maryland Departments of Natural Resources, Environment, Agriculture and Planning conducted a critical review of watersheds throughout the State. Using stringent eligibility criteria, which was developed by a non-governmental Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee, the agencies selected the four finalists. Joining Lower Gunpowder on the list is the Magothy River in Anne Arundel County, Port Tobacco River in Charles County, and Bynum Run in Harford County. The final selection will be announced before the end of the year.

“Baltimore County is encouraged to learn that the Lower Gunpowder River Watershed has been selected as one of the finalists for the State of Maryland Targeted Watershed Program,” said David Carroll, Director of the Baltimore County Department of Environmental Protection and Resource Management. “The County has invested in excess of $4.5 million in the restoration of the Lower Gunpowder Watershed and has already pledged an additional $3 million for restoration work in future years. The selection of Baltimore County as a targeted watershed would greatly enhance our efforts to restore the watershed and protect the Chesapeake Bay.”
On September 27, 2005, Governor Ehrlich announced a new focus in the State’s efforts to restore the water quality of the Chesapeake Bay: Restoration of entire watersheds. The first watershed targeted was the Corsica River Pilot Project in Queen Anne’s County. This project is already providing invaluable lessons on how to address large scale implementation challenges and find cost effective solutions in restoring an entire river system. During the past year, the State has allocated $2.7 million to the Project, and worked with partners to plant 10 acres of oysters; restore 4 acres of wetlands and 12 acres of forested buffers; and plant 458 acres of traditional cover crops. Nearly 1,200 acres were also planted in commodity crops with no fall fertilization.

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November 1, 1006

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 446,000 acres of public lands and 18,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic and cultural resources attract 11 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov