Smart, Green & Growing Award for Sustainable Infrastructure and Innovation in Stormwater Management
Congratulations to the Maryland Port Administration (MPA), Maryland Environmental Service (MES) and Baltimore City Public Schools winner of the 2012 Smart, Green & Growing Award for Sustainable Infrastructure and Innovation in Stormwater Management. The entities were honored by MDE at the 2nd annual Clean Water Innovations Trade Show for a stormwater retrofit project at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute in Baltimore City. The environmental enhancement project converted two unused portions of existing parking lot into bioretention facilities at the high school.
About the Award:
The SGG Award for Sustainable Infrastructure and Innovation in Stormwater Management recognizes groups, organizations, county and municipal governments and projects that have fostered the creation of new approaches to address the impact of stormwater runoff pollution in Maryland.
Stormwater runoff is surface water that flows off roofs and pavement after a storm. When the ground fails to soak in the runoff, it channels pollutants such as pesticides, sediment, bacteria, pet waste and trash into our waterways. Stormwater management practices help control pollution through the use of nonstructural and/or structural techniques that intercept runoff from developed areas, filter and treat the runoff and discharge it a controlled rate.
MDE will consider activities or projects that:
- Demonstrate the effectiveness of new and innovative technologies.
- Increase public awareness of stormwater impacts.
- Encourage the use of approaches such as Environmental Site Design or Low Impact Development.
- Highlight efforts to restore Maryland’s streams, watershed and water quality.
Previous Winners:
2011 - City of Rockville, College Gardens Park
2011 - Town of Edmonston, Green Streets Project
2010 - Back Creek Nature Park, Stormwater Educational Experience
2010 - Montpelier Mansion Low Impact Development
2010 - Severn River Keepers, Clements Creek Stormwater Restoration
2010 - Livable Communities Initiative
Contact Information:
For information on the Smart, Green & Growing Award for Innovation and Infrastructure in Stormwater Management contact Adrienne Diaczok by email at adiaczok@mde.state.md.us.