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

Information on the Harris Creek Watershed Plan

For Blog Information on the Harris Creek Watershed and the Stormwater Plan being developed

can be found on http://RBahr.Blogspot.com/

Web Site for viewing the Harris Creek Watershed Blog

This Blog on the Harris Creek Watershed and the Stormwater Plan being developed can be found on
http://RBahr.Blogspot.com/

Canton Hollow-The Gateway to Baltimore Harbor

June 14,2009 Flag Day

Canton Park In Historic Canton surrounds the body of water known as Canton Hollow or Canton Cove, as it is known today. If you were to look for photographs taken about 150 years ago,you woulf find schooners ansd sailships moored in this area awaiting their call to sail into the Baltimore Inner Harbor. This was a holding area. The Poet Folger McKinsey captured this in his Poem.

LOOK AWAY TO CANTON HOLLOW

Look away to Canton Hollow where the old-time freighters lie.
Federal Hill to Middle River as the hungry sea gulls fly;
Look away by Lazaretto and beyond Patapsco's tide
To the glowing fires of Steelton and the bay so blue and wide.

Look away to Canton Hollow where the barques and schooners rest
Where the sailormen are happy as they trut with swollen chest;
To the chandler ships and cantines and the rusty Old World spell
I that port of ships of dreaming that have so much to tell.

Look away to Canton Hollow,to the old things once so true
When the freighters from far oceans brought the skies of tropic blue
When the sailors and the masters and the plum duff and the pone
Came to Baltimore and became our Canton's own.


Folger McKinsey was also the Author of the Baltimore anthem that Mayor Donald Schaefer and crowd sang in 1980 to welcome the Pride of Baltimore from her first winter cruise.

Brochure for the Harris Creek Watershed (246)

Brochure for the Harris Creek Watershed (246) with the addition of The Self Walking Tour around Historic Harris Creek.....the Creek that built the Constellation....the Creek that built the Park.......that built the Community of Canton. Let' Clean up the Trash from the Harris Creek Watershed. Ray Bahr MD BHWA

Historic Harris Creek in Canton Baltimore,Maryland 21224

Harris Creek no longer is visible,but it still lies under the area in Canton between the Safeway and the American Can Building and presents Tidal Flow from the Baltimore Harbor to Patterson Park. It has tremendous Historical Value in that the Boat Yards here were instrumental in building "wooden sailing boats" that became protective of our Young Nation.The Constellation,many Clipper Ships and the Monitor came out of these Yards. Even though Harris Creek is no longer visible,we should be quite Proud of this Historic Sight.

It is with this Thought in mind that we are undertaking the Harris Creek Watershed Project which is designed as a Stormwater Management Strategy to Clean up the Trash and Pollution coming from the 20 Neighborhoods in this Watershed. The Plan is to engage the Stakeholders in these Neighborhoods to put into place Best Management Practices to reduce Stormwater runoff as well as to Educate citizens to reduce Trash and Pollution on the streets. It is a long term Process that we will begin to carry out. The Baltimore Harbor Watershed Association will be joined in this Effort by the Department of Public Works,the Parks and People Foundation and the Center for Watershed Protection. Training sessions,Workshops,Touring the Watershed etc will soon be taking place. The End Product will be a Stormwater Watershed Plan for the Harris Creek Watershed.

In order to promote this Effort in Canton, the Base of this Watershed,a Brochure has been prepared that explains the History of this Area and the past location of this Creek with a Walking Tour highlightening the Historic Points of Interest. These Brochures have now been distributed to the majority of Businesses in the Canton Area in an attempt to create Awareness of the Historic Harris Creek in the past and to show the Need to prevent Trash from the Watershed going into the Baltimore Harbor.

The Brochures were packed 50 at a time into an attractive plastic holder and offered to all the Businesses in the Canton Area (O'Donnell Square, American Can Complex,Lighthouse Point,Captain James,Sip and Bite,Brewer's Hill,Dockside,Della Rose,Bay Cafe,Bo Brooks etc Surprisingly,every one of the Businesses welcomed the Brochure on the History of Harris Creek,the Self Walking Tour and the Information on the Harris Creek Watershed (246) Project. It is hope that this Free Exchange will provide future volunteers and needed contributions to carry this Watershed Project to a Successful Conclusion. Ray Bahr MD BHWA

The Project has been presented to the Board and the Public Meeting of the Canton Community Association and will be presented next month to the O'Donnell Street Businesses.