Monocacy and Catoctin Watershed Alliance Part I

The watershed Organization that I chose to highlight is the Monocacy and Catoctin Watershed Alliance. I have primarily sourced the bulk of the information for their website www.watershed-alliance.com, and am working with the organization to set up an interview this week  to get more information on the status for the alliance and an update on the status of the Maryland  nutrient trading  market.

The Monocacy  and Catoctin Watershed Alliance is a Frederick County sponsored group founded to promote  whole watershed planning  and protection within the two river basins with its neighboring municipalities and community groups.

The group was started by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources with an EPA grant to improve water quality and habitat for the lower Monacacy River and was expanded to include the upper river in 2004.  The county and steering committee that were involved with the effort expressed an  interest in a long term investment in the watershed and created the Alliance as a watershed management tool. The coordinator position is funded by Frederick County as part of their department of public works through a grant.

Past projects have included:

·      Stream corridor improvement

·      Forest stewardship Plans

·      Green storm water management

·      TMDL Management

Future projected projects

·      Wetlands assessment

·      Stream surveys

·      Develop fact sheets for health of  stream reaches within the watershed

Community  groups may apply for grans or ask for assistance from the  alliance and they will help coordinate funding and supply regional expertise for the execution of the work. The alliance is currently part of the Maryland State nutrient trading task force.

More to come this week.

Current Prezi is located here.