June 2019 GVC Newsletter
Our 2019 Project Clean Stream Results Are In...
Got Recycling?
Last month, the Jennifer Branch Conservation Association (JBCA) of the Gunpowder Valley Conservancy (GVC) sponsored Richard Keller from Baltimore County Solid Waste Disposal to speak at Seven Oaks Senior Center to discuss the do’s and don’ts of recycling. We learned a lot!

Baltimore and Harford counties’ single stream recycling gets sorted at the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) in Cockeysville. From start to finish, the process for a load of recyclables only takes three minutes. Did you know that those “recycle” numbers on products have nothing to do with whether they are recyclable? Those numbers simply indicate the TYPE of plastic used.

The types of materials MRF processes are: paper , steel , aluminum , glass , #1 and #2 plastics , and mixed rigid plastic . We are fortunate some reclaimed plastics are bought locally for reuse and paper goes to an international market. The MRF paper is considered highly desirable for its quality; it’s an industry standard.

If you don’t recycle and want to start, or promote recycling to others, focus on

  • Aluminum cans – a profitable market
  • #1 plastic (e.g. water bottles)
  • #2 plastic (e.g. milk jugs, detergent and shampoo bottles)
  • Wide mouth plastic containers
  • Paper, especially corrugated cardboard.

Speak Up For Our Streams
We’ve all heard the phrase “If you see something, say something” in the context of public safety, but did you know that this also extends to potential hazards in our Baltimore County waterways?

Register for our Adopt-A-Stream training and become a Stream Captain with GVC. You will learn to identify hazards, monitor waterway health, and keep a section of stream clean of trash. Our next training is Saturday, July 6th , 10 am to 1 pm, at Cromwell Valley Park in Parkville.

Even if you're not a Stream Captain, you can still speak up for our streams! If you notice a debris jam blocking a stream flow, erosion from a construction site, a dam caused by a downed tree, or similar concerns, you can report them:

  • To the Baltimore County Department of Environmental Protection and Sustainability (DEPS) by calling 410-887-3733 (voicemail available during non-office hours)
  • On the BaltCoGo website
  •  Using the BaltCoGo app (available for Android and iOS). The app allows you to submit the location of the hazard using your smartphone’s GPS capability.
Upcoming Calendar of Events
Just in time for hot summer days! Rain Barrels are an easy way to capture water to irrigate your lawn and garden beds. Our next rain barrel workshop will be Saturday, June 29th (10 am - 12 pm) at Cromwell Valley Park. We currently have blue barrels for sale. Each barrel costs $60. We offer a reduction for current GVC donors ($50/barrel) and residents of our Clear Creeks Project area ($30/barrel). Click here for more information.

Saturday, June 22: Forest Steward workshop
Saturday, June 22: Rain Garden workshop
Saturday, June 22: Tree Maintenance
Saturday, June 29: Tree Maintenance
Saturday, June 29 : Rain Barrel workshop
Saturday, June 29: Forest Steward workshop
Sunday, June 30: Forest Steward workshop
Saturday, July 6 : Adopt-a-Stream Training
Saturday, July 6 : Tree Maintenance
Saturday, July 13: Rain Garden workshop
Saturday, July 13 : Tree Maintenance
Make a Difference
The GVC works hard to clean our waterways so that we all can enjoy time on the water! Join us on Saturday, September 14, for our 30th anniversary celebration at Conrad's Ruth Villa in Middle River. Relax on the waterfront while supporting your local watershed organization. It's a win-win!
Microplastics are an emerging threat to the health of the Chesapeake Bay and its inhabitants. Any plastic in our waterways is capable of breaking down into increasingly smaller pieces. Just think of a disintegrating Styrofoam cup. Preliminary studies have found microplastics in tidal and non-tidal sections of the Bay. While scientists have just begun to research the impact of microplastics in our watershed, we can certainly take action today!
  • Reduce your use of single-use plastic cups, utensils, and other convenience items.
  • Participate in stream clean-up events
  • Write letters to your representatives stating your concern about plastic pollution

Did you know that the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) hosts a monthly "Trash Talk" at its headquarters in Annapolis?
Get inspiration to make your landscape beautiful and beneficial for the Chesapeake Bay. The Jennifer Branch Conservation Association of the GVC is hosting a FREE Bay-Wise Garden Tour on Sunday, July 28, from 2 - 3:30. Visit the grounds of Baltimore County Game and Fish Protective Association in Carney to learn about rain barrels, Bayscape, and rain gardens. Light refreshments will be provided.