Cleaner Waters through Smarter GrowthJennifer Bevan-Dangel1000 Friends of Maryland

Growth Matters

Source: Chesapeake Bay Program, 2009 Bay Barometer (April 2010)

Growth Matters

74%37%

26%63%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Future Household Growth Future Pollution Load

2010-2035 Household Growth vs. Nitrogen Pollution Load

sewer septic

Growth Matters

Growth Matters

Chapter 3: Accounting for Growth

• EPA Guidance: Accounting for future pollution loads from growth can be done in two ways. • 1) Future loads can be estimated and included in quantitative

load reduction analyses.• 2) Policies and programs can be adopted to ensure all future load

increases are off set by commensurate load reductions on an as-needed basis.

• Integrating smart growth into the process:• Establish differentiated loads for types of growth that accurately

reflect the entire loading from a development.• Require all new development since 2009 to offset its true load.• Devil is in the details!

Growth and Offsets in Action• Calculate post-development nitrogen load from the

development parcel• Require no offset for redevelopment• Require no offset for wastewater discharged to a WWTP

operating below its nutrient cap(1)• For all other development, require developer to offset 100% of

the post-development load • Implement under MDE’s existing authority to regulate

discharges and water quality• Allow trading to offset post-development load

Growth and Offsets in Action

Policy Reform: Sustainable Growth

• Creates four tiers of growth• Limits sprawling subdivisions on septic tanks in rural areas• Requires economic and environmental analysis of sprawl

subdivisions in rural growth areas.• Positioned as a water quality bill – part of a package of

legislation to implement WIPs and clean local waters.

How NOT to Plan

County Approach: Connecting the Dots

County Approach: Connecting the Dots

County Approach: Connecting the Dots

Other Ideas• Focus on reducing widgets of pollution is making it hard to

shift attention to preventing future loads.• Offset credits for preserving land?• Fund smart growth and growth infrastructure• Utilize opportunities presented by redevelopment.

Location, Location, Location• We cannot restore and protect our

watersheds without restoring existing communities and protecting our land from sprawl.

• Even a ‘perfect’ development – mixed use, mixed income, transit oriented, walkable, full ESD implementation, etc – is not smart growth unless it is in a smart location.

• The WIP process provides a golden opportunity to promote smart growth, and we must not squander it.

For More Information• Jennifer Bevan-Dangel

jennifer@friendsofmd.org410-385-2910

• www.cleanmarylandwaters.wordpress.com