Howard County Continues Watershed Protection Program with Towering Oak Path Outfall Improvement Project
ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Ken Ulman announced today that the County’s Watershed Protection and Restoration Program is continuing with a project to improve an existing storm water management outfall on Towering Oak Path in Columbia. The outfall area will be cleared of sediment and modified for better water quality management. Additionally, the eroding downstream channel will be stabilized by a step-pool system, with water cascading through a series of small pools. The project is expected to begin on or about this coming Monday, September 29.
“Projects like this continue our effort to protect the Chesapeake Bay, by minimizing the impact stormwater pollution has on this important estuary,” said County Executive Ken Ulman. “With many more projects to come in the near future, we want our residents see the value of their investments.”
Howard County is a leader in responsible stormwater management. Last year, the Howard County Council approved a Watershed Protection and Restoration Plan that is expected to collect $9.5 million yearly for improvement projects. Previously, County Executive Ulman had committed $22 million over the past two years for such projects.
The money will be used for stream restorations, pond retrofits, bioretention areas, asphalt reduction and other projects, in order to meet a federally required target of making sure that 20 percent of Howard County’s untreated impervious surface is being treated by 2019.
The Towering Oak Path outfall improvement project is expected to cost $212,000.
Pollutants and chemicals washed by rainwater from impervious surfaces into streams and rivers is a major source of local stream and Chesapeake Bay degradation.
Weather permitting, the project is expected to be completed by mid-November. The project is not expected to impact traffic flow or parking.
For questions or concerns about Capital Project D-1159, contact Lisa Brightwell, Public Works Customer Service, at 410-313-3440, or by e-mail to publicworks@howardcountymd.gov.
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