Nature is constantly being shaped and molded by human activity to fit society’s needs. Our landscapes have been largely modified by urbanization, without much consideration for the natural world surrounding us. For an industrial city like Baltimore, urbanization has degraded the health of our streams. Most of this urbanization means more concrete and paved surfaces….
Two Baltimore churches were recently awarded grant funds to implement stormwater restoration practices to reduce polluted stormwater runoff from their sacred grounds. St. John Lutheran Church in Brooklyn and Christian Temple Church in Catonsville will receive $52,933 and $25,000, respectively. The churches will be removing impervious pavement, installing rainwater harvesting systems and rain gardens, and…
It’s winter and by golly it’s cold out there! Not to worry, spring is right around the corner. But don’t be without a plan! Now is a great time to get ready and avoid another planting season come and go without a rain garden for your yard. Your first step is to make sure your yard has…
Rain gardens are often the best solution for reducing the amount of polluted runoff your property generates. They capture the stormwater before it leaves your land, allowing it to soak gently back into the earth. This process helps the water cycle, reducing stream flooding during storms and recharging ground water, and also traps pollutants so…
Do rain gardens really work to protect aquatic wildlife? Researchers at Washington State University decided to find out for sure, and set up a pretty simple but clever test: salmon. They collected storm water from around the Seattle region and filtered some of it through soil similar to that in a typical rain garden. They…
Rain is great. I heartily encourage my kids to stick out their tongues and catch a few cold drops of precious spring moisture every April. Rain on impervious surfaces, however, is bad. In our developed environment, impervious surfaces such as streets, sidewalks, parking lots, and roofs are often more prevalent than green space. And lacking…
Now that winter is almost upon us, we have a chance to take a breather and look back on what we’ve done this year. And what a year it was! From Blue Water Baltimore’s official launch in January to Operation Nursery Blanket this coming Saturday, 2011 has been full of fun events and fresh faces,…