On March 3, Director of Intergovernmental Relations Dominic Butchko testified before the Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee in opposition to SB 688 – Environment – Stream and Floodplain Restoration Projects – Requirements and Limitations.
This legislation would sharply restrict the use of stream restoration as a compliance and watershed management tool by effectively prohibiting the core techniques counties rely on for watershed implementation planning, specifically those using heavy equipment to reshape or stabilize stream channels.
While counties strongly support upstream stormwater controls and sound environmental design, in many older and fully developed communities, in-stream restoration is the only practical way to stabilize eroding channels, reduce sediment and nutrient pollution, protect infrastructure, and meet federal and state clean water mandates tied to Chesapeake Bay restoration.
Counties remain committed to partnering with the State on
effective, science-driven restoration and resilience. But SB 688 would remove a primary, field-tested tool that counties rely on to restore degraded streams, address urgent flooding and erosion hazards, and meet Chesapeake Bay nutrient and sediment reduction goals.
SB 688’s cross-file, HB 1465, was heard on March 11 in the Environment and Transportation Committee. Dominic Butchko testified in opposition to this bill.
