Gunpowder Riverkeeper

Gunpowder Riverkeeper staff worked on advocacy and outreach with community groups along the lower Gunpowder to discuss the sources of sediment in the tidal Gunpowder and its tributaries. Namely; both foster and taylor branch are experiencing sediment and bacteria pollution from improperly regulated upstream sources. Gunpowder Riverkeeper undertook significant legal research to advocate for solutions to noncompliant upstream construction activities. If pollution is diminished, recreational, economic and aesthetic value of this section of the lower Gunpowder river could be restored. 20% of total projects ongoing.

Abingdon woods project: Riverkeeper appealed a circuit court decision upholding the mde wetlands and waterways permit. The site currently contains many sensitive environmental features including significant forested wetlands, specimen trees and part of a stream catchment draining to otter point creek a high quality tier ii waterway that drains into the vibrant bush river largemouth bass fishery. This forested area provides vital stormwater and flood controls to adjacent and downstream residential areas. This work is ongoing. 15% of total projects.

Sparks nature center: the organization leased the historic sparks bank from mps/dnr and is renovating it to be used for outreach, education, and advocacy along the torrey brown trail which saw 1m visitors in 2022 and 2023. 20% of total projects

Industrial discharges: in the lower Gunpowder river and bush river are being impacted by industrial facilities that are noncompliant with stormwater discharge permits. In the Gunpowder and bush rivers there are 119 facilities under the storwater permit coverage that has a 25% compliance rate statewide. Riverkeeper appealed the issuance of the new stormwater permit and won a partial remand because the draft permit did not account for climate change rainfall data, and no exposure certification regulated by national pollution elimination discharge (npdes) industrial discharge permits identify the permit conditions and assess compliance of these conditions and their impacts to local and downstream water quality in underserved communities. This project is ongoing. 15% of total projects.

Top 5 invasive species: education and outreach on invasive species impacting the Gunpowder, little Gunpowder, bush, bird, and middle rivers including snakeheads, new zealand mudsnails, didymo, whirling disease, and zebra mussels. 5% of total projects

Bacteria monitoring in the Gunpowder river was conducted and posted through swim guide and social media outlets to provide guidance on epa safe swimming criteria. 5% of total projects.

Gunpowder Riverkeeper staff and volunteers worked on advocacy and outreach through the upper watershed with community, office, school groups, and scout and brownie troops on forest to faucet streamwalks and service projects along the river to discuss the sources of city drinking water and the importance of protected park and reservoir lands wild trout and coldwater habitat. 5% of total projects.

Gunpowder Riverkeeper volunteers maintained wader wash stations across 18 miles of the coldwater section of the river to contain didymo algae and coordinated outreach on a new invasive species - new zealand mudsnails in the upper river. This work is ongoing. 5% of total projects.

C.p. Crane coal fired powerplant: this significant discharger of pcbs in the Gunpowder watershed was closed by mde enforcement action. Riverkeeper tracked redevelopment plans of the property Riverkeeper and opposed industrial and residential redevelopment pland and instead supported a plan to turn the bulk of the property into a county park. 5% of total projects.

Gunpowder Riverkeeper is monitoring the settlement with epa and doj on the federal clean water act suit against the epa approved Maryland department of the environment polychlorinated biphenyl (pcb) pollution diet. The court approved settlement has provided for fish pcb monitoring at canal creek at aberdeen proving grounds and at the legacy c.p. Crane coal fired powerplant site. 5% of total projects