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Program Description

  Watershed Restoration

The Watershed Restoration Division leads the County's efforts to improve stream health and water quality through the targeted planning, design, construction, inspection, and maintenance of best management practices (BMP) built to manage stormwater runoff. The Watershed Restoration Division supports watershed-based monitoring and reporting to achieve County stream protection goals (Montgomery County Code Chapter 19, Article IV) and comply with the Federal Clean Water Act NPDES Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit. Staff conduct baseline stream monitoring, storm drain discharge monitoring, and public outreach activities that increase awareness and promote citizen involvement in stream stewardship. The program also assesses land development impacts on water resources and the effectiveness of BMPs that mitigate those impacts within the County's designated "Special Protection Areas." The Division implements programs to extend stewardship and BMPs beyond streams and facilities by targeting private property owners. These programs include Tree Montgomery (Chapter 55, Article 3), RainScapes, and pet waste. The Division oversees the carry out bag tax program, which helps address issues with litter in streams.

The Watershed Restoration Division successfully implements these programs through extensive partnerships with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources; Maryland Department of the Environment; Maryland Department of Agriculture; Montgomery County Public Schools; Montgomery County Departments of Transportation and General Services; Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission; the Towns of Chevy Chase, Kensington, Somerset and Poolesville; the Villages of Chevy Chase and Friendship Heights; watershed organizations; homeowner associations; businesses; and private property owners. The long-term goal is to protect and improve water resources for Montgomery County residents and the Chesapeake Bay.

Revenue for this program is generated by the Water Quality Protection Charge, applied to all residential and non-residential properties except for those owned by the State and County government and those in the cities of Gaithersburg, Rockville, and Takoma Park. Revenue from the carry out bag tax is also provided to support these programs.

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Program Contacts

Contact Vicky Wan of the Department of Environmental Protection at 240.777.7722 or Richard H. Harris of the Office of Management and Budget at 240.777.2795 for more information regarding this department's operating budget.

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Program Performance Measures

Program Performance MeasuresActual FY22Actual FY23Estimated FY24Target FY25Target FY26
Percent of stormwater management triennial inspections completed 194%99.6%99%100%100%
Percent of stormwater management facility maintenance work orders completed82%85%85%90%100%
1  Does not include triennial inspections of BMPs on Single Family Residential (SFR) properties, which are covered under a separate inspection program.
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Program Budget Changes

FY25 Recommended ChangesExpendituresFTEs
FY24 Approved35499881102.78
Increase Cost: Maintenance and Inspections for Growing Best Management Practice Inventory8583570.00
Increase Cost: Support for M-NCPPC Water Quality Efforts1825680.00
Enhance: Clean Water Montgomery Grant1500000.00
Enhance: Bag Tax Outreach1000000.00
Enhance: New Position for Above Ground Maintenance Split with Capital Budget (Construction Representative III)694040.50
Increase Cost: Office of Agriculture Chargeback677770.00
Increase Cost: Follow-up Inspections for the Tree Montgomery Program670000.00
Shift: Adjust Position from General Fund to Water Quality Protection Fund369480.25
Increase Cost: Information Technology Support Contract313000.00
Enhance: New Vehicle for Reclassed Position Within the Environmental Site Design Program300000.00
Increase Cost: Three Percent Inflationary Adjustment to Non-Profit Service Provider Contracts286220.00
Enhance: New Position for Tree Montgomery and MS4 Inspections (Construction Representative II)170921.00
Increase Cost: Department of Transportation Chargeback70460.00
Increase Cost: Adjustment to Wheaton Office Building Expenses66590.00
Increase Cost: Agreements with Metropolitan Council of Governments25570.00
Decrease Cost: Dept. of Finance Chargeback-150570.00
Multi-program adjustments, including negotiated compensation changes, employee benefit changes, changes due to staff turnover, reorganizations, and other budget changes affecting multiple programs.349480-0.90
FY25 Recommended37489634103.63