Water advisory issued for parts of Baltimore County after low levels of microscopic parasite detected

UPDATE: The latest round of testing on October 3 showed no sign of the parasite mentioned below. Original story below… BALTIMORE, MD—On Thursday, the Baltimore Department of Public Works announced that, during a routine test of the Druid Lake Reservoir, low levels of the microscopic parasite Cryptosporidium were discovered. Cryptosporidium is a microorganism commonly found in lakes and rivers, which […]

NOW YOU KNOW: A big task ahead for new water task force

The following is an op-ed piece from Delegates Kathy Szeliga and Ryan Nawrocki. Last week, a press release was issued from Baltimore County regarding membership in the Baltimore Regional Water Governance Task Force, created by the General Assembly earlier this year. We have been asked to share the information regarding upcoming meeting dates with our constituents so that this process […]

Governor Moore announces new Chesapeake, Atlantic Coastal Bays improvement strategy

ANNAPOLIS, MD—During an Eastern Shore “Bay Day” tour, Governor Wes Moore last week announced a major policy shift in how Maryland will deploy state resources to improve water quality in the Chesapeake Bay and other waterways to restore the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays. At points throughout the day, the governor was joined by Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller, U.S. Environmental […]

Gunpowder Riverkeeper reaches proposed settlement with EPA on PCBs in the Gunpowder River, Bush River

NOTTINGHAM, MD—In accordance with the Environmental Protection Agency Administrator’s March 18, 2022, memorandum regarding “Consent Decrees and Settlement Agreements to resolve Environmental Claims Against the Agency,” a proposed settlement has been reached that would resolve Gunpowder Riverkeeper v. Regan, et al., No. 1:20–cv–02063 (D.D.C.). On July 29, 2020, Gunpowder Riverkeeper filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the […]

2023 Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab Winter Dredge Survey shows increase in adult crab population

BALTIMORE, MD—The Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab Winter Dredge Survey, a cooperative effort between the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS), estimates 323 million blue crabs in the Chesapeake Bay in 2023, an increase from last year’s low of 227 million crabs. The number of spawning age female crabs increased from 97 million crabs […]

NOW YOU KNOW: Delegates stand up to protect Chesapeake Bay

The following is an op-ed piece from Delegates Kathy Szeliga and Ryan Nawrocki. On Friday, March 24th, Baltimore City and County announced in a press conference that they were considering accepting at least 675,000 gallons of toxic water from the East Palestine, Ohio, railroad chemical disaster last month. The toxic waste was to ultimately be sent to the beleaguered Back […]

Ohio waste water not coming to Baltimore after Mayor Scott denies permit

BALTIMORE, MD—The contaminated waste water from East Palestine, Ohio that was set to be processed at the Back River Waste Water Treatment Plant will no longer be coming to Baltimore. On Friday, March 24, 2023, the Baltimore City Department of Public Works was notified by Clean Harbors Environmental Services that it was selected by the Environmental Protection Agency to accept, […]