This mud is headed to creeks, rivers and the Bay. This is easily preventable.
MCA has joined with Civic Organizations from all over Maryland to ask that Maryland Department of the Environment Secretary Benjamin Grumbles meet to discuss how the MDE's efforts can be strengthened to increase the use of the highly-effective construction site pollution control practices required by State law.
The letter sent to Secretary Grumbles outlines the plain fact that exposed soil leads directly to water pollution when dirt from construction sites runs off into local streams and onward toward larger rivers and ultimately the Bay. This cascade of mud brings not just water-clouding particles into streams that can choke out plant life but also high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus - the two leading culprits behind failing ecosystems in our waterways. Construction is in fact one of the highest contributors of these types of pollution.
The letter sent to Secretary Grumbles outlines the plain fact that exposed soil leads directly to water pollution when dirt from construction sites runs off into local streams and onward toward larger rivers and ultimately the Bay. This cascade of mud brings not just water-clouding particles into streams that can choke out plant life but also high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus - the two leading culprits behind failing ecosystems in our waterways. Construction is in fact one of the highest contributors of these types of pollution.
The ask is simple - covered soil is soil that stays put. The letter outlines a number of common sense and cost effective ways to control sediment on a construction site that avoid many times the price tag of mitigating sediment once it hits creeks and rivers.
