ANNAPOLIS, MD (February 16, 2005) – Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. announced Board of Public Works approval today of a $105,000 grant for Howard County to help restore streams in the Patuxent River basin.

“The small creeks, rivulets, and streams that often run through our backyards and communities are part of the Chesapeake Bay and part of the tributary strategies approach to restoring the bay,” Governor Ehrlich said. “Although lesser in size, they are no less vital to our effort as they are often the very place where some of the bay’s most endangered and fragile ecology
start.”

The proposed project entails the design and construction of stabilization devices and restoration of several stream reaches in the Wilde Lake watershed of the Little Patuxent River basin. Many of the streams have become moderately unstable with channel degradation and bank erosion. Stabilization will be achieved through use of bio-engineered and structural techniques.

“This project will further the goal of improving water quality and aquatic habitat in Howard County’s streams and reduce contributions of sediment and nutrients to the Chesapeake Bay,” said Howard County Executive James Robey.

Total cost of the stream restorations will be roughly $354,179. The state contributed $50,000 to the effort previously through the Maryland Department of the Environment’s Water Quality Infrastructure Program. The county’s participation and funding from other sources will round out the remainder. The work began last fall and is expected to be complete by July 2005.

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