11. Community Based Solutions 2. Reducing polluted stormwater run-off: planting trees, installing rain gardens and rain barrels
12. Community Based Solutions 3. Raising Awareness and Educating: Encouraging recycling, Green Schools, Stream Clean-ups and Monitoring
13. Community Based Solutions 4. Engaging Community in Leadership and Stewardship: Neighborhood-based initiatives, Community gardens, ‘Friends of Parks’
17. Discussion What are other ways to reach these goals? If financial investment is required, who pays? Are you willing to make personal changes for long-term environmental benefits?
18. Contact Marisa Olszewski Volunteer Maryland Coordinator, Greening of Dundalk Dundalk Renaissance Corporation marisa@dundalkusa.org 410-282-0261 (office) www.dundalkusa.org Join the Greening of Dundalk group on Facebook!
Notas do Editor
In ‘60’s and ‘70’s was largest unincorporated community in MD
“Grey” = traditional infrastructure – everything from buildings like schools or hospitals, to roads, power lines, and water systems. Although Dundalk’s historic district was planned as a “walk-able” community, much of the rest of Dundalk was planned with the automobile in mind before anything else. Additionally, streams became a source for road and parking lot runoff, not pieces of natural beauty to be preserved.
The largest "crop" in the Bay watershed is no longer corn or soybeans, according to new research, but turf grass. More than 3.8 million acres of grass - or 9.5 percent of the 64,000-square-mile watershed - is made up of lawns or other grass-covered areas such as parks and golf courses, according to a soon-to-be-released paper. What happens when water runs-off a parking lot? What are the changes in water quality between current land-use of impervious surfaces and little tree cover, and the former natural systems of the mid-atlantic coastal plain?Riparian forest buffers – trees along waterways that, through their natural system, soak up water, filtering nutrients and trap sediments, slowing the pace of runoff to a more natural cycle.
Alternative Definition for Sustainability: Improves and enhances natural, social and economic resources in ways that allow current and future members of the community to lead healthy, productive and satisfying lives.
Tree canopy – tree leaves collect first 30% of precipitation.Asphalt and concrete streets and parking lots increase urban temperatures (heat islands) by 3 – 7% -- affecting energy costs.Recent report – turf grass has exceeded crop-land as majority “green” cover in the Bay Watershed
(Picture from organic community garden in Ontario.)
You’ll see the difference! (Stories: Dollar Store corner and St. Helena Park)Business areas with more trees – draw more business, people feel like they are receiving a higher quality product. In other words – business Increases = local investment increases. Businesses on tree-lined streets show 20% higher income streams.Stream monitoring and monitoring of local waterways, very important indicators. Receive changes immediately – recover more quickly as well.
