City of Bowie

Bowie Stream Team Program

Stream Team Brochure

The Bowie Stream Team Program is the first of twelve (12) environmental action plans proposed in the City’s recently approved Environmental Infrastructure Action Strategy (EI) Plan. These action plans can be found on pages 23-37 of the EI Plan.

Background
In 2003, Watershed Restoration Action Strategy (WRAS) Plans were completed for both the Western Branch and the Middle Patuxent Watersheds. These WRAS plans were a follow-up to the 1998 Clean Water Action Plan (CWAP), in which both the Western Branch and Middle Patuxent watersheds were designated as being in need of restoration and protection. The following eight (8) Environmental Challenges were documented in the WRAS:

· Inadequate Buffers
· Pipe Outfalls
· Erosion
· Channel Alteration
· Exposed Pipes
· Trash Dumping
· Fish Barriers
· Unusual Condition or Comment

There are twelve (12) sub-watersheds in the Bowie city limits. Four (4) of them (the Upper, Middle, and Lower Collington Branch and the Black Branch) are in the Western Branch watershed and eight (8) of them (Horsepen Branch, Saddlebrook Branch, Overbrook Branch, Millstream Branch, White Marsh Branch, MSTC Branch, Green Branch, and Mill Branch) are in the Upper Patuxent watershed. Information on the challenges in individual sub-watersheds or streams, in Bowie can be found in Appendix C of the EI Plan along with possible projects.

In 2006, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) and NOAA gave the City of Bowie grant money to do an assessment of the data found in the WRAS. The assessment was compiled into the EI Plan, which was approved by the Bowie City Council in September 2007.

Timeline
The Bowie Stream Team Kick-off meeting was held on November 28, 2007. This was the first planned program event that began the process of implementing the EI Plan. Future meetings will be posted on the Green Calendar.

The first major Stream Team Event will be scheduled around Earth Day, which is on April 22, 2008. In preparation for Earth Day, each Stream Team will designate a Group Leader who will contact the City Public Works Department for the necessary supplies. Supplies include: water quality testing kits and trash bags. The Department of Planning and Economic Development (DPED) will keep track of where the clean-ups are occurring and the number of people participating. DPED will issue a report on the progress of cleaned streams in the annual State of the Environment Report that will be written every June beginning in 2008. To join a Stream Team, contact the DPED (301-809-3047) or the Public Works Department (301-809-2344) for more information.

View press release about Stream Team Kickoff...

The first Stream Team Cleanup Day was held in April. Another Cleanup Day will be scheduled in the fall. To learn more about what happens, please view the following documents:

• City Procedures 2008
• Day of Clean-up Checklist 2008
• Stream Team Adult Volunteer and Minor Release Form 2008
• Volunteer and Trash Results Form 2008
• Stream Cleanup Do's and Don'ts

Links to other information:

Wildlife Habitat Management Guidelines
Forest Mitigation Policies
Development Review Guidelines
Watershed Restoration Action Strategy (WRAS)