Stormwater Management Grants

 

2015 Public Outreach and Stewardship Grant

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In 2015, FoCJC received a two-year grant for $42,000 for a program to help reduce stormwater runoff in four Cabin John Creek watershed communities (Cabin John, Cabin John Gardens Cooperative, West Bradley, and the Riverhill) and the Potomac District of the Boy Scouts of America, has.  Reducing stormwater runoff improves water quality in Cabin John Creek and contribute to county and state efforts to clean up the Chesapeake Bay.  It also reduces flooding of yards and homes in the watershed.  This competitive grant program is part of a public-private partnership between the Chesapeake Bay Trust (CBT) and the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (MCDEP), and funding is provided through the Montgomery County Water Quality Protection Fund.

 

The Public Outreach and Stewardship program's overall goal is to improve community awareness about the negative impacts of stormwater run-off into the Cabin John Creek watershed and to publicize and implement mitigation strategies. It has four primary components: a Public Awareness Survey, a Rain Barrel Program with the Boy Scouts of America, a RainScape program, and the formation of a Creek Keeper Stewardship group for the Booze Creek tributary of Cabin John Creek.

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2017 Public Outreach and Stewardship Grant

 

FoCJC is building on the 2015 program to broaden engagement with watershed communities.  With a new grant from grant the Chesapeake Bay Trust (CBT) and the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (MCDEP), we have identified new partnership opportunities with communities in the northern section of the watershed (Luxmanor, Inverness), as well as with faith-based institutions, other non-profit organizations, the private sector, and the general watershed population.  We will also continue to support the partner communities from our initial grant, through individual homeowner support, involvement of established partner communities in on-going FoCJC watershed events, and exploration of future partnership opportunities. 

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In October 2017, FoCJC plans to offer a Stormwater Fair, a community event to educate the watershed residents about stormwater issues and solutions.  Technical and policy experts, as well as private sector vendors such as rain barrel providers, garden centers and green landscaping companies, will be invited to participate as booth hosts.  Visitors will have the opportunity to move through the booths, learn about the creek, its flora and fauna, and various green and stormwater technologies and programs; get questions answered; and sign up for follow-on contacts.  To make it family-friendly, a hands-on station will be included (such as native plant gardening). 

 

In 2018, FoCJC will be offering a workshop to help congregations explore the concept of a green ministry, start a program, or expand on-going efforts. There are over 30 places of worship in the Cabin John Creek watershed, many of located along the busy Seven Locks Road corridor.  These institutions have high visibility and provide strong leadership to a wide range of congregants.  Many of these faith communities already have a commitment to environmental stewardship, and many others may be interested in developing one.  This workshop will give people of all faiths the opportunity to learn about the different ways their faith tradition encourages them to be good environmental stewards.  We will encourage worship institutions to install stormwater management practices on their property, as well as leading their community members to reduce polluted stormwater runoff at their homes.  The workshop will be offered in partnership with Beth Sholom Congregation, Geneva Presbyterian Church, and Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake.

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If you are interested in finding out more about any of these projects, please contact the Program Manager, Tina Rouse, tina@cabinjohncreek.org.