In order to help meet their stormwater permit requirements, Charles County, MD has implemented a homeowner Best Management Practice (BMP) program. Through this initiative, stormwater BMPs are installed on private property as part of the development process. To date, over 500 rain gardens, as well as other vegetated BMPs and porous pavement, have been installed through this program. These BMPs must be maintained by the homeowner and are inspected by the County every three years.
EFC has been working with Charles County government to help educate homeowners about proper care and maintenance of their residential rain gardens and porous pavement. The first phase of this work culminated with a Residential Rain Garden and Porous Pavement Summit. The purpose of the summit, which was held at the Charles County Government Complex in La Plata, was to educate homeowners about the causes and impacts of stormwater, how the County is managing stormwater and the County’s stormwater, the County’s BMP program and the inspection process, and the purpose and proper maintenance of rain gardens and porous pavement. Presentations on the topics were shared by a variety of content area specialists including EFC faculty, University of Maryland Extension Watershed Restoration Specialists, and Charles County staff. Additionally, a selection of service providers (design firms, landscaping companies, Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professionals, etc.) that can assist homeowners with their BMP maintenance needs were invited to have tables at the event.
The next step in this project was a Rain Garden Maintenance Training for Homeowners held earlier this month and led by the Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professionals. This session educated homeowners that want to care for their own rain gardens about basic maintenance, signs of problems, and proper plant selection. If you are a Charles County resident that is interested in learning about future training opportunities, you can put your name on an interest sheet by completing this short survey.
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