A Riparian Renaissance: Leveraging Stream Restoration for Recreation & Environmental Stewardship

Hear from experts and implementers on how counties are looking at stream restoration for the modern era. 

Few county tools generate more intense feelings, both positive and negative, than stream restoration. Long heralded as a tool to help improve the health of the Chesapeake Bay, stream restoration has increasingly become a sensitive subject. Projects implemented with best practices are a major environmental win and offer counties a big bang for their environmental buck. However, projects implemented incorrectly can have a serious impact on the local environment and leave many understandably upset. MACo’s A Riparian Renaissance: Leveraging Stream Restoration for Recreation & Environmental Stewardship panel hears from experts and implementers about the latest in this field.

Description: Stream Restoration has become a hot topic in Annapolis as residents sometimes question the benefit and necessity of restoration projects. The 2024 legislative session saw the passage of the Whole Watershed Act, which − among other things − sets new notification and community engagement standards for project developers. Some counties are experimenting with stream restoration by combining environmental stewardship with outdoor recreation. Hear from experts about the basics of stream restoration broadly, what the Whole Watershed Act means for counties, and how some jurisdictions are finding new mixed uses for these projects.

Speakers:

  • Erin McArdle, Environmental Engineer, Montgomery Parks
  • Erik Michelson, Senior Environmental Policy Officer & Deputy Director, Bureau of Watershed Protection and Restoration, Arundel County
  • Lisa Ochsenhirt, Vice President, Aqua Law

Participating Moderator: The Honorable Sarah Elfreth, Maryland State Senate

Date/Time: Friday, August 16, 2024; 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Learn more about MACo’s Summer Conference: