What's Happening in Howard County? News from CLEER

[Phila]

This just in, from Elaine Pardoe of the Committee for Lake Elkhorn’s Environmental Restoration (CLEER) in Howard County...


Regarding our second watershed protection project, negotiating with BGE to advocate for a change in their transmission vegetation management plans after this winter's aggressive clear cutting, we are moving ahead. We have formed a task force to develop new vegetation management and community outreach guidelines. This group, which has already met at the Lake Elkhorn site, includes BGE's Director of Forestry and their Senior Government Relations Representative, our county council representative Jen Terrasa, a CA Open Space staff member, me representing CLEER, and perhaps a staff member from the Stormwater Management Division of the County Department of Public Works. We also have a member from the Board of the County Office of Environmental Sustainability and may possibly be able to meet under their auspices.

We all would like to see the bleak landscapes in our area restored, but even more important is that such devastation not happen again. That will be our first goal, but we will not lose sight of the fact that attention to fixing the current damage would be most welcome. We will let you know when our meetings will be; we hope to begin in May.

Finally, please see www.HoCoH2O.com for notice of an exciting event to be held Tuesday evening, April 29th ­ "Ravaging Runoff, A Call to Action."
Michael Tidwell of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network and Fred Tutman, the Patuxent Riverkeeper whom we heard at our community meeting last August, will be the speakers, and Delegate Liz Bobo, a strong watershed protection advocate, will introduce them. Ned Tillman, the Board Chair of the Howard Conservancy (and CLEER member!) will be the moderator. Come hear how we can do even more to help, but remember it is necessary to RSVP.

This is long, but a lot is happening, for which we can be thankful!
Elaine