Improving water quality through stormwater management and watershed restoration techniques [1]

Watershed Restoration Specialists work with local and state governments, watershed organizations, and community groups in Maryland to build partnerships, identify funding sources, and advise/assist in the planning, implementation and monitoring of restoration projects. Specialists facilitate measurable reductions in water pollution in the following ways:

• Classes and workshops teach homeowners how to improve water quality in their own backyard with practices like rain barrels [2], rain gardens, and tree planting
• Technical Assistance Programs help communities address Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) and Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) regulations and requirements
• Watershed Restoration Projects emerge from collaborative partnerships and effective funding techniques to reduce nutrient and sediment loads
• Watershed Restoration Specialists also connect watershed science to policy makers and community leaders to make the most effective water quality decisions.