Water Resources Element

What is the Water Resources Element?
During the 2006 legislative session, the Maryland General Assembly enacted House Bill 1141 Land Use – Local Government Planning. HB 1141 requires that local jurisdictions adopt a water resources element in their comprehensive plans.

The Howard County Water Resources Element (WRE) will be an amendment to General Plan 2000 that will add Policies and Actions intended to ensure that the County has adequate water resource capacities to meet future growth needs through 2030. In particular, the WRE is to ensure a safe and adequate supply of drinking water, and adequate land and water capacity for the treatment of wastewater and stormwater. The WRE must reflect the opportunities and limitations presented by local and regional water resources. It is intended to improve protection of land and water resources and to address water resource goals within the context of local and State smart growth policies.

The Howard County Water Resources Element is now available for review.

How can the public participate?
The County Council is expected to hold a public hearing on the WRE in March 2010.

Public input is a critical component of the Water Resources Element amendment. Comments about the Water Resources Element amendment may be sent to Susan Overstreet at the Department of Planning and Zoning, 3430 Court House Drive, Ellicott City, MD 21043 or emailed.

The Howard County Environmental Sustainability Board, which is comprised of environmental experts, advises the County Executive on environmental matters and is serving as a citizen’s advisory committee for the Water Resources Element amendment.

The Department of Planning and Zoning and the Environmental Sustainability Board co-sponsored public meetings to present the draft WRE amendment on September 29th, 2009 at the Ellicott City Senior Center and October 1st, 2009 at the Glenwood Senior Center.

The Planning Board reviewed the Proposed WRE at a public hearing on December 10, 2009 and voted to recommend approval of the document. The Proposed WRE was revised to address State agency comments in January. These revisions added text and two appendices, primarily to provide additional information about the growth projections used for the WRE and current and future nutrient loads.

Information about upcoming meetings and hearings related to the Water Resources Element amendment is available through this website or by contacting the Department at 410-313-2350.

What can I do to help protect our water resources?

The WRE is, in part, intended to improve water quality and habitat in our local streams, ponds, lakes and reservoirs. This will in turn help improve water quality and habitat in the Chesapeake Bay. The majority of land in Howard County is privately owned, so management practices at individual homes and businesses are critical to these efforts. The following links provide more information about local and regional water resources and ways for individuals and businesses to help improve and protect our water resources.

•Learn more about your local and regional water resources:

o Howard County Environmental Planning

o Columbia Association Watershed Management

o Maryland Tributary Strategies

o Maryland Streams, Rivers, Watersheds, Coastal Bays, and Chesapeake Bay

o Maryland BayStat

o NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office

o Chesapeake Bay Report Card

o EPA Mid-Atlantic Water Quick Finder

• Discover more ways to save water:

o EPA Water Sense

o Water Use It Wisely

•Find ways to volunteer your time helping our waterways:

o Howard County Conservancy

o The Friends of Patapsco Valley Heritage Green Way

o Chesapeake Bay Research Reserves

o Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay Citizen Monitoring Program

•Apply for a grant to help your community protect water resources:

o Chesapeake Bay Trust

What have we done to prepare for the WRE?
Three research papers were used in development of the Water Resources Element – Growth Projections, Water & Wastewater, and Stormwater Management & Nonpoint Source Pollution. The research papers briefly describe current conditions, anticipated future conditions, and the issues before us. Determination of the most appropriate courses of action must be based on a comprehensive analysis and public comments on the issues. The research papers are intended to provide background and to help focus that public discussion.

Growth Projections

Water & Wastewater

Stormwater Management & Nonpoint Source Pollution

What is the deadline for completing the WRE?
HB 1141 requires the water resources element be adopted by October 1, 2009. The Maryland Department of Planning may grant up to two 6-month extensions from this deadline. Howard County has approval for one 6-month extension to provide adequate time for public review and approval of the WRE.

Where can I find out more info about the state-wide WRE?
The Maryland Department of Planning produced a Models and Guidelines document for development of the WRE. (Please note this document is 15 MB and may take a few minutes to load.)