“From Rooftop to River:  Saving the Watershed One Drop at a Time”

Arlington Echo Storm Water Tour

           In spite of many efforts to clean up the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, our waters continue to be polluted.    There are many contributing factors to water quality, however, in Anne Arundel County; the vehicle carrying pollutants to our waterways is storm water. 

Did you ever think about what happens to a raindrop that falls in the Chesapeake Bay watershed? Any rainwater in an urban or suburban area that does not evaporate or infiltrate into the ground is considered storm water.  On its way to the storm drain, rain first gathers nutrients and other chemical contaminants from our air.  This polluted water travels via storm drains to the nearest stream and ultimately to the Bay. 

          So, what can you do to save the Bay?  Infiltrate!  Infiltrate!  Infiltrate!  In order to have infiltration, storm water must be slowed down so that it may soak into the ground.    Infiltration allows storm water to be filtered by plant roots and micro-organisms living in the soil before it is discharged into streams as cool, clean ground water.

          Natural areas such as riparian forests and wetlands are nature’s own infiltrators.    Here at Arlington Echo, we recognize that our impervious surfaces are impacting our waterways.  We have attempted to preserve our native forest and wetlands. In addition, you will notice many infiltration practices.  Let’s follow a drop of water from the rooftop to the Severn River.   

1. Rain Barrels
2. Bio-retention Areas – Simulated Costal Plain Bogs
3. Swales and Curb Removal
4. Green Roof
5. Pervious Pavement 
6. Vernal Pool
7. Rain Garden
8. Living Shoreline  

  Other contributing natural areas:   

• Freshwater tidal marsh        
• Atlantic White Cedar Bog
• Riparian Forest