AAC GDP Comments: CHAPTER TEN – WATER RESOURCES PLAN

Septic Systems
The BCC recommends that:

• The GDP contain stringent steps to fund testing, reporting and effective mitigation of failing septic systems. (p. 185)
The County must require that all who live in the Broadneck Critical Areas, and other similar locations, must maintain a clean and healthy environment. Nitrogen, phosphorus and sediments are beyond what the ecosystem can handle. The proposals as laid out in Chapters 5, 7, 8, and 10 do not contain sufficient plans for County required actions for storm water management.

Storm Water Management/Nonpoint Source Loads
The BCC recommends that:
• The GDP needs more defined and aggressive action plans, such as installing pond and marsh filtration systems near riparian systems to capture and cleanse non-point source storm water from pre-existing development (p.202).
Nitrogen, phosphorus and sediments are beyond what the ecosystem can handle. Your proposals as laid out in Chapters 5, 7, 8, and 10 do not contain adequate plans for County required actions for storm water management and non-point source runoff. These plans should restore habitat, reduce pollutants to safe levels, and eliminate channeling and erosion beyond natural carrying capacity. The Chapter 10 Mitigation Plan (p. 194) suggests there is little that can be done to reach truly ecologically friendly levels. This is not an acceptable answer.

Further reduction of phosphorus and nitrogen in storm water and non-point source run-off to safe environmental levels (Fig 10-13, 10-14) should also be addressed with legislative proposals to protect and increase forest cover, with emphasis on areas near tidal and non-tidal riparian features. These plans should be implemented not only through legislation but through the Priority Preservation Areas program (Ch. 8, pg.129), and enforced in the Broadneck area, not just limited to South County.