Connectivity is the First Step in The Harris Creek Project

July 29,2009 Blog

From Theory and Strategy to Action Steps. The First Step is for the BHWA to identify the current Assets and Inventory of Projects as well as the Resources within Watershed 246. It is amazing how many of these are taking place here but in many cases they are not connected. We have seen community gardens,an artistic chess , the miracle garden,BMPs,vacant lot projects,the Tree Baltimore project,civic works projects,etc Connecting these areas will begin the Effort to create a green necklace throughout the neighborhood. Stormwater Management brings with it "greening activities",but developing strong Stakeholders in the Neighborhoods will be needed to sustain the Efforts made. In addition,the same people can network with other groups working in the 246 Watershed. Creating Clean and Green Gathering Spaces throughout the neighborhoods makes them more Safe for the citizens traveling through them.

Connectivity..... or Connecting the green spaces throughout will be the Focus of the next Meeting of the Harris Creek Watershed Project to be held September 1,2009 at Lighthouse Point 2700 Boston St.6-8 PM. There is no question that the Stormwater Project will be difficult to carry out in the areas that are economically challenged,but working with Community Leaders and Stakeholders will be the next step in the Process. Planned next is a Bus Tour for Leaders in the 20 Communities....to be followed by several Workshops aimed at coming together in understanding and thought before developing the 246 Watershed Plan that will put into play Best Management Practices for dealing with the Rain runoff in the Watershed.

more to come....follow us on www.Baltimorewaters.org Ray Bahr MD BHWA

Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. and Landscape Archirect at the turn of the century (1900). What does this have to do with the Harris Creek Watershed Stormwater Project? Today,"green space" is viewed as grass somewhat outside our house,but years ago at the turn of the Centurt (1900) there was a lot of excitement about Parks in the City. There were many reasons for this,but what intrigued me the most was the Public Health Issue. The "germ" theory had just been discovered as related to infections and... that the way to deal with the Problem was for citizens to get out of the house (close quarters),get walking and strolling,and get more frequent "baths". Parks were places where all three of these activities could take place. Public Bath Houses were popular in those days. Today,we take a bath at least once a day,but back then it was uncommon to do so. Why? Houses did not have baths,showers,tubs etc and toilet facilities were outdoors and it was OK to wash yourself once a month or less. I know your thinking,but that was the way back then....accept it and let's get on with my points. It started out as Public Health (to prevent infections from germs) and then it turned to Personal Hygiene. Remember Johns Hopkins had a School of Public Health and Hygiene. Parks and Green Space were very popular and Frederick Law Olmsted convinced citizens that the City lived within a Park....that there was a green necklace(green emerald) connecting all the green space and that within this lived a City with People..........the "connectivity" allowed people to get out,converse at gathering spots and became neighborly,allowed cleaning up and green activities .....and brought about safe neighborhoods' It was Sustainable because of this connectivity. This connectivity extended to the Baltimore Harbor and "green to blue' added to the Quality of Human Experiences. Over the years ,a lot of this became disconnected. We can lament over why this took place,but it is what it is. Sprawl resulted to our dismay,but it does not prevent us from doing the best with what we have.....and that is the message of the Initiative Humane Metropolis Baltimore.....bringing back the connectivity that was lost ...with greening....cleaning....getting people out to community gardens ....communicating with our neighbors.....making communities safer and more friendly.....bringing back Baltimore. That brings me to the point of talking abot the Harris Creek Watershed Project that will work to reduce Trash in the Baltimore Harbor but also put into effect Best Management Practices for Stormwater Management that will have greening aspects to this Strategy. The Project includes 20 Neighborhoods and presents a real Challenge,but if carried out well could well put us on a path to bring back the connectivity needed to place the green necklace around the City and connect it to a Cleaner and Safer Baltimore Harbor.
Interested in Helping to futher this along? Volunteer www.Baltimorewaters.org
The Baltimore Harbor Watershed Association Ray D.Bahr MD

How does a Stormwater Project promote a Healthy Neighborhood?
Stormwater or Rainwater causes problems when it arrives on concrete pavement or asphlalt parking lots and washes down the drain whatever is on the streets. To reduce Stormwater runoff,the Baltimore Harbor Watershed Association will be working with the Center for Watershed Protection to develop a Stormwater Plan to prevent problems of Runoff. Basically,this Consists of what is called "Best Management Practices(BMPS)"....diverting the water into areas that may absorb it prior to getting to the Stormdrain at the end of the street. Many of these BMPs are "greening" in that they consists of rain gardens,community gardens,tress etc. Thus the idea of a "Humane Metropolis Baltimore" fits very nicely into Stormwater Management and begins the Cycle needed to bring back a Healthy Neighborhood. If we start with Green (protect and restore urban biodiversity)......we go to Healthy (promote outdood exercise and fitness)....go to Safe (reduce crime rates).......to Efficient (employ a better use of water,energy etc)....to Equitable (embrace environmental and social justice).....and end up Neighborly (foster pride of place and sense of Community).
The Link between the Stormwater Management Plan and a cleaner,greener development strategy was recently presented in a Workshop sponsored by Parks and People and the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy.To become a Humane Metropolis,you have to bring about these key points. In addition,Lenneal J.Henderson (University of Baltimore) proposed that three other chacteristics be added,these being "creative,communicative and artistic". It is quite obvious that these three will add greatly to a robust and viable Neighborhood Community. Last,but not least is what Scot Spencer (Annie Casey Foundation) added......that we consider Diversity because of the Disparities that have accumulated over time widening the Gap and contributing to the Decline in Baltimore Neighborhoods.
With this in mind,the Baltimore Harbor Watershed Association will be managing the Harris Creek Watershed Project by reducing Trash and Stormwater Runoff as a way to Clean Baltimore Harbor,but it will also be working just as hard to develop strong Leadership from the Community in bringing about the "greening beneficial effects" as seen in the Humane Metropolis Baltimore Plan. In this way,a key needed element,namely "sustainability" will be a necessary part of this Developimng Healthy New Baltimore and its Healthy Neighborhoods.
Respectfully,Raymond D.Bahr MD BHWA Harris Creek Watershed Project Coordinator

The Harris Creek Watershed Project is now underway. It covers an area about 1270 acres and 21 Neighborhoods. It drains from its high point in Clifton Park and empties into the Baltimore Harbor on Boston St at the Anchorage Tower. The Goal will be to reduce Trash (now about 5 tons per month) by implementing a Stormwater Plan that incorporates BMPs (Best Management Practices) preventing rain water from flushing Trash down the drains.

That is the good news. We have a Plan that will work. However,it is not as easy as that. It requires "working together" and engaging Stakeholders in the different Neighborhoods to help bring this about. To do so,it will be important to find out about other problems in the Neighborhoods that may throw Stormwater off their radar. Other Pollution Problems such as crime,violence,illegal drugs etc need to be part of the equation. The Harris Creek Watershed Project will only become successful if the Neighborhoods come together in a united way in implementing these BMPs.

Recently,Parks and People Foundation sponsored a Workshop on Humane Metropolis Baltimore and encougaed Neighborhoods to strive and become Green,Healthy,Safe,Efficient,Equitable and Neighborly to help in bringing about this degree of cooperation. To this was added Creativity,Artistic and Communicative to make this Effort more Sustainable. Thus oue Efforts need to consider these features and empower Stakeholders to utilize them in implementing the Best Management Practices. RDB BHWA