AAC GDP Comments: CHAPTER FIVE – ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP

Watershed Protection
The BCC recommends that:
• The GDP environmental management plan define actions that, when implemented, will actually restore water and ground cover quality. These strategies should be included in the “Actions” on p.56.
We are beyond the loading capacity of the remaining forestland to impede runoff. There are insufficient environmental safeguards to support the required improvements of the water quality in the Bay. Preventive and remedial actions must be taken immediately. The current GDP proposes only to take measurements for the next ten years. This will not SOLVE the problems.

Septic System Strategy
The BCC recommends that:
• The following stronger language be included as a modification to the Policy 2 statement on p.61: “Extension of public sewer in such cases will not be considered as a justification for changing the Land Use Plan or zoning in these areas…”
The installation of sewer in these septic only areas should be excluded specifically and completely in any request for up-zoning not in conformance with the GDP or the SAPs.

• The County should perform a cost benefit analysis on replacing septic with sewers where the GDP supports this action.

Buffers
The BCC recommends that:
• The GDP require buffers around farm fields must be required to minimize catastrophic erosion from field plowing such as has been experienced in the Broadneck area. (p.62)

Subwatersheds
The BCC recommends that:
• Aggressive outreach programs, such as partnering with non-profits, must be planned and implemented to plant many more trees in all subwatersheds where past forest clearing has decimated the protective landscapes. This effort should extend beyond the Greenway Network. (p.74)

Priority must be given to reforestation within 1000 feet of riparian features, both tidal and non-tidal. These plans must be incorporated into the land use and pollution loading modeling (Ch. 5, pg. 62).

Steep Slopes
The BCC recommends that:
• All slopes over 15% within 300 ft. of riparian features, tidal and non-tidal, should be considered steep slopes. (p.66)

Wetlands
The BCC recommends that:
• The GDP state that development in wetland areas, especially the sensitive areas of the Broadneck Peninsula, should be totally prohibited. (p.67)

Wetlands are irreplaceable natural resources critical to the survival of the ecosystem of the Chesapeake Bay.

Forest Conservation
The BCC recommends that:
• The County Forester be included in those permitting decisions that involve removing trees within the Critical Area. (p.74)

The County must take immediate steps to protect and safeguard Critical Area forestlands from overzealous developers and supportive County planners. The majority of the trees on residential forested lots are cleared for home building when these trees should be retained to further protect the Bay watershed from storm water runoff. It is impractical to think that the two county foresters can effectively oversee the removal of every tree and limb within the Critical Area. Currently the foresters and planners have separate reporting structures. The foresters, who are experts in their field, are not consulted on forest removal decisions that are part of a developer’s request for variances in sensitive locations near tidal zones.

• Mitigation for tree removal within the Critical Area must occur only within the same subwatershed of Critical Area. Adding trees to north County boulevards will not improve the condition of the Chesapeake Bay. Penalties must be significantly increased for those who break this law as a viable deterrent.

Current fines make it easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission.