One Montgomery Green

Audubon Naturalist Society – Who are You Really? Masters of Mimicry and Deception in the Insect World
2020-10-06 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York)
Who are You Really?
Masters of Mimicry and Deception in the Insect World
October 6 at 7:00 pm
Clare Walker, PhD
Irvine Nature Center
Environmental Educator
Dr. Walker gets us up close and personal with Nature’s masters of deceit. From appearance to behavior, insects have developed elaborate ruses to deceive potential predators. Discover who is faking it, who is not and why some caterpillars squeak!
Register Online

Solar United Neighbors 2020 National Solar Congress
2020-10-05 - 2020-10-31
Maryland’s Solar Congress is a time each year for SUN supporters from all over the state to come together, meet like-minded people, and attend a full day of solar education sessions. These sessions include everything from panel discussions to skills trainings to help build our capacity to work together to move toward a more equitable clean energy economy.
This year, due to COVID-19, we will have the same opportunity — online! Instead of one day, we will be holding an entire month of events as a part of the National Solar Congress to connect people across Maryland and the country! Sessions will cover topics from “solar 101 basics” to “what to do now that you have solar” and “how to advocate for solar policies.”

RSVP for the National Solar Congress!

We are excited to be holding a Maryland focused session:

Community Solar 101
Tuesday, October 20th | 7:00 – 8:00 PM ET
Community solar offers the benefit of solar to those who can’t — or prefer not to — install solar panels on their homes. In this session, you’ll learn the basics of community solar and how subscribing to a community solar project enables individuals and businesses to receive a credit on their electric bill each month for the solar energy produced by their share.
Be sure to check out the full calendar of Solar Congress sessions! RSVP to the National Solar Congress to gain access to this session and the whole month of programming.

Celebration of Teen Changemakers: 6th Annual Virtual Global Celebration
2020-10-03 11:00 - 13:30
Leaders in Energy to partner with Global Co Lab Network for Celebration of Teen Changemakers

Watch winning videos, hear from Global Co Lab’s teen winners and mentors, Smithsonian partners, and be inspired by their ten SDG Hubs led by teens on climate change, fighting plastics, hunger, preserving wildlife, gender equality, mental health, quality education, racial justice, and bringing in artists and Spanish speakers to work on the SDGs!
Register today

Defensores de la Cuenca – Celebramos San Francisco de Asis y el fin de Tiempo de Creacion
2020-10-03 11:00 - 13:00 | Broadacres Local Park, 710 Beacon Road, Silver Spring, MD, 20903, United States
Celebramos San Francisco de Asis y el fin de Tiempo de Creacion
Saturday, October 3 • 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Broadacres Local Park
710 Beacon Rd, Silver Spring, MD
Join Defensores de la Cuenca in their first “two-for-one” event – a joint celebration of Saint Francis of Assis and a park clean up.
Event is free but due to covid-19 restrictions, group size is limited and registration is required.
Register Here
Or contact Carlos Lam at 301-237-0527
or carlos@defensoresdelacuenca.org with questions.

Audubon Naturalist Society – Bioluminescent Fungi: Neon Signs of the Forest Floor
2020-10-01 19:00 - 20:00
Bioluminescent Fungi: Neon Signs of the Forest Floor
October 1 at 7:00 pm
Serenella Linares
Audubon Naturalist Society
Manager of Virtual Learning
Join ANS Mycologist and Virtual Programs Manager, Serenella Linares, for a talk about the fantastic world of bioluminescent fungi and meet the exciting species behind this phenomenon called “fox fire.” Have you ever taken a night walk through the woods and seen a greenish glow on the forest floor? It might have been our friends the fungi calling out to insects!
Register Online

Sierra Club MD Webinar on the "Break Free from Plastic Pollution Act"
2020-09-29 18:00 - 20:30
Webinar on the “Break Free from Plastic Pollution Act”
Tuesday September 29th • 6 pm

Join Sen Tom Udall (D-CA), Jonathan Black (senior policy advisor to Sen. Udall), and Shane Trimmer (Rep. Lowenthal’s senior legislative assistant), for an informative and interactive webinar on the Act (SB 3263/ HR 5845), moderated by Judith Enck, President of Beyond Plastics.

RSVP for Break Free from Plastic

Leaders in Energy Green Career Workshops Info Session
2020-09-29 18:00 - 19:00
Green Career Workshops Registration Open!
Join us for our Tuesday Sept 29th, 6-7 pm, for a free Green Career Workshops Information Session via Zoom!

LE and Waterford Inc. will be offering our Green Career Workshops on October 10th and 24th that will help you develop a green career plan and find the right career path that works for you! Cleantech and sustainability jobs are fast-growing segments of the economy. Have you been inspired by others working in these fields? Are you looking to land, create, pivot into, or move up into your dream green job? Is this your year to land the job you’ve been dreaming about?
These workshops provide key insights on career strengths and preferences and how to tailor them to the growing green economy, e.g., clean energy, sustainability, circular economy, resiliency, and more. They are appropriate for people with diverse skills such as technical, managerial, communications, and policy.
Register today

Transportation in the New Age / Electric Vehicle Webinar
2020-09-29 17:30 - 18:30
TO REGISTER: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_iY7g6O2kR2yEuZWCEpomAw

Bethesda Green – A One on One Chat with Paul Tukey: Organic Lawn Care
2020-09-29 15:00 - 16:30
A One on One Chat with Paul Tukey: Organic Lawn Care
Get your lawn green by going green!
Tuesday, September 29 • 3:00 – 4:30 PM

Ditch the harsh chemicals and fertilizers and join us for an exciting session on how to care for your lawn organically! This is part 2 of the Sustainability Series on organic lawn care. We’ll have a one on one chat with Paul Tukey, Director of Sustainability at Glenstone Museum.
Join us to learn how to green your lawn by going green!
Please consider making a $5 donation when booking your ticket to keep our programming going during these unprecedented times. We appreciate it!
TO REGISTER

Solar United Neighbors: National Solar Tour
2020-09-28 - 2020-10-04
National Solar Tour
September 28 – October 4
The National Solar Tour is the largest grassroots renewable energy event in the nation and this year we’re going virtual!
The National Solar Tour brings together hundreds of solar home and business owners, schools, community organizations, farms, and more. They’ll share with you their solar stories and you will get to connect, ask and answer questions, and participate in a nationwide virtual solar tour experience.

RSVP for the National Solar Tour

For more information: https://www.nationalsolartour.org/rsvp2020/

Audubon Naturalist Society – Washington's 2011 Earthquake: How Could It Happen Here?
2020-09-27 08:00 - 10:30
Fall Birding at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, DC
Sunday, September 27
8:00 – 10:30 am
Leader: Paul Pisano
Our fall birding series visits natural areas under an hour’s drive from D.C. where a variety of habitats — including field, forest, and wetland—provide good opportunities for the observation and ID of birds in autumn. On the earliest walks, we’ll hope to catch some southbound migrants. As the season progresses, we’ll watch for sparrows, raptors, waterfowl, and other birds, both resident and overwintering in the region. These teaching walks are aimed at beginning to mid-level birders, but all are welcome. Our explorations will be on mostly level, natural surface trails that may be uneven, muddy, and/or somewhat slippery.
Register Online

Audubon Naturalist Society – Washington's 2011 Earthquake: How Could It Happen Here?
2020-09-24 19:00 - 20:00
Washington’s 2011 Earthquake:
How Could It Happen Here?
September 24 at 7:00 pm
Joe Marx
Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC)
Adjunct Instructor in Geology
Many people (including the presenter) were surprised at the duration and strength of the earthquake that struck central Virginia on August 23, 2011, damaging structures in the DC area. Learn about the results of the extensive geologic investigations into the causes of the event and their implications.
Register Online

NCSL Webinar – Green Means Go? What’s Next for a New Federal Transportation Infrastructure Package
2020-09-24 15:00 - 16:30
Fall 2020 Energy, Environment and Transportation Webinar Series
NCSL is pleased to present you with the Fall 2020 Energy, Environment and Transportation Webinar Series in lieu of the 2020 Legislative Summit in Indianapolis. NCSL will be hosting five webinars beginning Aug. 27 and concluding Oct. 22. All webinars will begin at 3 p.m. ET/ 2 p.m. CT/ 1 p.m. MT/ Noon PT.
Thursday, Sept. 24 | Green Means Go? What’s Next for a New Federal Transportation Infrastructure Package—Register now
A common area of agreement amongst many policy makers is the need to increase investment in transportation infrastructure, but the devil is always in the details. With authorization of federal transportation programs set to expire Sept 30, there are a host of questions concerning what federal transportation policy will look like in 2021. Join us for an overview of congressional plans as well as a discussion on the major issues under consideration.
UPCOMING WEBINARS
Thursday, Oct. 8 | Exploring Climate Action Options for Sustainable and Resilient Agriculture—Register now
Thursday, Oct. 22 | Is the Clock Running Out for Standard Time? —Register now

Learn more

Audubon Naturalist Society – Save Tropical Forests and Drink Your Coffee, Too
2020-09-23 19:00 - 20:00
Save Tropical Forests and Drink Your Coffee, Too
September 23 at 7:00 pm
Priscila Chaverri, PhD
University of Costa Rica
and University of Maryland Mycology Professor
The livelihoods of thousands of families depend on coffee production in Latin America. Climate change has had a negative impact on this crop by making coffee plants susceptible to diseases and drought. But researchers are exploring “probiotics” found in old-growth tropical forest trees that could protect the coffee plants, the communities that depend on them, and your morning cup of Joe.
Register here

Audubon Naturalist Society – The More You Anole: A Rainbow of Reptile Diversity
2020-09-22 19:00 - 20:00
The More You Anole: A Rainbow of Reptile Diversity
September 22 at 7:00 pm
Chelsea Connor
Midwestern State University
Herpetology Student, Science Communicator
Anoles are known for their diversity and adaptability. These highly variable lizards are capable of adapting to a variety of habitats, even in a single tree. We will explore those adaptations and anole habitat types while highlighting several of the 436 recognized anole species.
Register here

Audubon Naturalist Society – Talking Trees Tours
2020-09-22 10:00 - 11:30
Talking Trees Tours
Tuesday, September 22
10:00 -11:30 am
Leader: Bradley Simpson
Actually, it will be our leader who will do the talking for the trees on these leisurely strolls at our Woodend Sanctuary. A staffer on our restoration team, Bradley will introduce you to some of the notable trees on our grounds, while sharing ID tips, as well as wildlife (think butterflies and birds) and tree associations. Expect some uneven and/or muddy ground on this walking (and talking) tree tour, which will generally cover the same terrain and tree species each time.
Register here

National Clean Energy Week Events
2020-09-21 - 2020-09-25
National Clean Energy Week Events
September 21 – 25, 2020

Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions’ National Clean Energy Week (NCEW) will take place from September 21-25. This year, NCEW boasts more than 150 participating organizations, including Leaders in Energy! (View partners here) The #NCEW20 Policy Makers Symposium will virtually bring together industry leaders to influence the discussion in Washington, DC and around the country about common sense clean energy solutions. Be a part of the conversation and visit https://nationalcleanenergyweek.org/

Register today

Sierra Club MD Natural Places Monthly Meeting with Invasive Plants Expert Panel
2020-09-19 14:00 - 16:00
Natural Places Monthly Meeting with Invasive Plants Expert Panel
Date and Time:
Sat, Sep 19, 2020 • 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM (Local Time)
Organized By: Maryland Chapter Natural Places Committee
Event Organizers:
Lily Fountain
lily.fountain@mdsierra.org
(301) 442-5854
Marc Imlay
ialm@erols.com

Invasive plants enveloping trees and shrubs and ground-cover.
Our vision/ long term aspirations are to explore, enjoy, and protect natural areas in Maryland. We value native biological diversity and diverse native habitats. Please join us for an online meeting to discuss these issues, and we welcome your insights about new issues impacting natural places where you live in Maryland.
This month we will have an expert panel from Sierra Club, Maryland Native Plant Society, and others, discussing why invasive plants are decreasing biodiversity, what invasive plants are of most concern, and how of invasive plants can be controlled. This discussion will be followed by breakout rooms for discussion of issues and solutions for our teams working on land, water, and animal, as well as plant issues, as part of updating the Natural Places Preservation Toolkit.

Cost: Free

RSVP for Invasive Weeds discussion

Signup Instructions: After you register, the zoom URL will be sent to you.

MoCo DEP Climate Planning Virtual Office Hours September
2020-09-17 16:00 - 17:00
MoCo DEP Climate Planning Virtual Office Hours
Thursday, September 17 • 4 pm – 5 pm
Scheduled for the 3rd Thursday each month from June through December, the virtual office hours are an opportunity for residents to engage with County staff who are working on climate issues. There is no set agenda for these meetings, instead they are an opportunity to answer residents’ questions, receive residents’ feedback, and share updates on climate planning and climate actions taking place in the County.
The monthly virtual office hours are open to all members of the community. Please consider RSVP’ing 24 hours in advance to climate@montgomerycountymd.gov. RSVP’ing will enable us to send you a direct link to visually join the Teams meeting. Otherwise, you can participate by audio only by using the dial-in option.
Join Microsoft Teams Meeting teams.microsoft.com…
+1 443-692-5768 United States, Baltimore (Toll)
Conference ID: 997 791 054#
https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/green/climate/climate-action-planning.html

Silver Spring Time Bank Virtual Lunchtime Chat
2020-09-16 12:00 - 13:30
Join us for casual conversation and to get your timebank questions answered at our Virtual Lunchtime Chat. Stop by anytime during your lunch hour to say hello.
Wednesday, September 16 • 12:00 – 1:30 pm
RSVP to get details to join

DC EcoWomen EcoHour Speaker Series: Darcey Rakestraw
2020-09-15 18:30 - 20:00
Join us on Tuesday, September 15th, at 6:30pm for DC EcoWomen’s signature EcoHour for a conversation with Darcey Rakestraw, a communications and media relations strategist for advocates advancing social, economic and environmental justice. Come learn about Darcey’s broad communications and media expertise and leadership in supporting organizing and advocacy efforts at the intersection of environmental justice, public health and human rights.
*Please note: DC EcoWomen EcoHours are open to women and those who identify as women, including members of the LGBTQ community and gender fluid individuals.
Register here

Silver Spring Timebank Virtual Game Party
2020-09-12 15:00 - 17:00
Enjoy an exciting game of Wits and Wagers at our third Virtual Game Party. No worries if you’ve never played before – it’s easy to learn.
Saturday, September 12 • 3:00 – 5:00 pm
RSVP to get details to join.

Faithful Green Leaders Training (Upper County)
2020-09-12 10:00 - 16:30 | Epworth United Methodist Church, 9008 Rosemont Dr, Gaithersburg, MD, 20877, United States
Faithful Green Leaders Training (Upper County)
Saturday, September 12 • 10 am – 4:30 pm
Epworth United Methodist Church, 9008 Rosemont Dr, Gaithersburg, MD 20877
Join us for our Faithful Green Leaders Training, a free one-day session, followed by a series of monthly Green Team Learning Lab webinars.

The training is offered two times: July 12th (Lower County) and September 12th (Upper County). To register please go to the link. I am hopeful that your “Green Team” will have at least 2-3 persons!
I think any congregation will really flourish after they work on an action plan.

In training your Green Team will identify “their environmental story” as it relates to them and the congregation.

Action plan projects range from something small like a recycling effort or rain barrel installation to something larger like getting help with installing permeable sidewalks/driveways, a rain garden and/or landscaping to control run-off.

The Green Team can even save on energy by investigating solar panel usage with our partner organization Interfaith Power & Light.
It all starts with your Green Teams one-day training which will provide them with a Faithful Green Leaders Handbook to help guide them through the process as their action plan develops.

Click here to download the flyer to share with others in your congregation.

Click here to learn more about the training if you or any congregation members are interested.

Thanks and continue to bless and protect the earth! Please feel free to pass along this information to anyone else that might be interested!

**All attendees must come with at least 2 other people from their congregation, because there is no such thing as “a team of 1.”
If you need help building your green team, go here to find some helpful resources.
See flyer here for more information. Questions? Email: GreenTeams@InterfaithChesapeake.org or call: 410-609-6852.

#6 (Plastics) Remix Tetrahedron Zoom Workshop for Wheaton Arts Parade
2020-09-10 17:30 - 18:30
Join us for #6 (Plastics) Remix Tetrahedron Zoom Workshop

Thursday, September 10 • 5:30 – 6:30 pm
This workshop will give you ideas of how you can transform your #6 plastics into native plants, flowers and leaves to decorate our tetrahedron. Please have any #6 items ready and with you for the class.
Register in advance for workshop: https://bit.ly/3gqFSDg
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Mark your calendars for future #6 Remix Thursday Workshops on September 3 and September 10.

MORE ON THE WHEATON ARTS PARADE AND HOW YOU CAN HELP
Wheaton Arts Parade (WAP) and One Montgomery Green (OMG) will work together on a “#6 Remix” Tetrahedron— a re-use/ up-cycle project to help the community become more aware of what is NOT recyclable in MoCo and ways we can re-use these items as art versus having them end up polluting our planet.
WAP plans to install 39 panels of artwork by local artists and students. 30 triangular panels with 4 ft. edges and 9 triangles with 8 ft. edges will be assembled into 13 large tetrahedrons and installed around the Wheaton Urban District, from the Westfield Wheaton Mall to the new town plaza to the Library and Recreation Center.
WAP/OMG will make one of these tetrahedrons that will be placed around Wheaton, MD this fall. Our theme will be NATIVE PLANTS & FLOWERS.
Save Your #6 Plastics to turn into art!
Please save your *CLEAN* #6 polystyrene materials that Montgomery County does not recycle (see examples on left) and many people tend to “wish-recycle” assuming or wishing that they can be recycled. A drive-up & drop-off location and dates to do so will be announced very soon.

NCSL Webinar – Building the 21st Century Energy Workforce
2020-09-10 15:00 - 16:30
Fall 2020 Energy, Environment and Transportation Webinar Series
NCSL is pleased to present you with the Fall 2020 Energy, Environment and Transportation Webinar Series in lieu of the 2020 Legislative Summit in Indianapolis. NCSL will be hosting five webinars beginning Aug. 27 and concluding Oct. 22. All webinars will begin at 3 p.m. ET/ 2 p.m. CT/ 1 p.m. MT/ Noon PT.
Thursday, Sept. 10 | Building the 21st Century Energy Workforce—Register now
Workforce development is one of the most important issues facing the U.S. energy industry that employs 6.7 million Americans. Clean energy jobs are growing as new technologies come online, while some traditional resources—such as coal-fired power plants—are shutting down, leaving a growing number of Americans out of work. Large-scale retirements among an aging workforce also present new challenges for hiring qualified workers across the energy sector. These issues—now compounded with economy-wide job losses driven by COVID-19—are presenting new obstacles as states look to bolster their energy workforce. This session will explore the workforce challenges and opportunities facing the energy sector, highlight how the coronavirus pandemic is shifting the energy jobs landscape and how policymakers can support and train skilled workers to fill these vital positions.
UPCOMING WEBINARS
Thursday, Sept. 24 | Green Means Go? What’s Next for a New Federal Transportation Infrastructure Package—Register now
Thursday, Oct. 8 | Exploring Climate Action Options for Sustainable and Resilient Agriculture—Register now
Thursday, Oct. 22 | Is the Clock Running Out for Standard Time? —Register now

Learn more

The Climate Mobilization of MoCo: Why Resilience Matters
2020-09-09 19:30 - 21:00
IT’S A CLIMATE EMERGENCY!!
Engaging our Montgomery County government
to act faster, bolder, and much more inclusively in developing
our county’s Emergency Climate Action and Resilience Plan
Why Resilience Matters, Wednesday Sept. 9th, 7.30-9pm
Register for:
Why Resilience Matters: Working with Social and Ecological Systems as a Key to Addressing the Climate Crisis in Montgomery County
Speakers Kristin Baja, Betsy Taylor, Cassandra Ceballos and Dorcas Robinson will share insights into what resilience looks like at home and in our communities, discuss why a focus on social and ecological resilience is critical for climate emergency plans, and propose practical ways the County can work with communities to strengthen resilience as the climate crisis deepens.

Solar United Neighbors: Myth of the "Cost Shift"
2020-09-09 14:00 - 15:30
Myth of the “Cost Shift”
Going solar allows you to save money and take control of where your electricity comes from. More than that, it benefits everyone, even those who don’t have solar.
Despite these truths, monopoly utilities and their allies are waging a smear campaign against solar. They’ve spent millions of dollars trying to convince the public that rooftop solar increases costs for non-solar users.
You may have heard this called the “cost-shift”.
This false argument from utilities colors how policy makers view solar and impacts your ability to benefit from solar energy.
Join us next Tuesday, September 9.
Learn from two national experts how you can fight back against the cost-shift myth.

Click here to RSVP

What: Webinar to discuss anti-solar myth of cost-shifting
Who: Nicole Sitaraman, Senior Manager of Public Policy, Sunrun; Karl Rábago, Former Texas Public Utilities Commission member
When: September 9, 2 p.m. ET
Nicole Sitaraman currently serves as a Senior Manager of Public Policy at Sunrun, Inc. In her role at Sunrun, Nicole spearheads Sunrun’s engagement in legislative and regulatory policy initiatives in the Mid-Atlantic region. This includes, advocating for policies that enable increased equitable access to distributed solar and battery storage to facilitate a more decentralized energy grid.
Karl Rábago has 30 years of experience working with the regulatory, technology, and business issues regarding solar energy and utility regulation. This includes service as a public utility commissioner in Texas; a Deputy Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Department of Energy; an advocate with Rocky Mountain Institute, Environmental Defense Fund, the Houston Advanced Research Center, the Pace Energy and Climate Center; a utility executive and regulatory affairs manager; and consulting and expert witness work in more than 100 cases and proceedings.
After brief presentations, you’ll have an opportunity to ask questions. I hope you’ll join us!

Click here to RSVP

#6 (Plastics) Remix Tetrahedron Zoom Workshop for Wheaton Arts Parade
2020-09-03 17:30 - 18:30
Join us for #6 (Plastics) Remix Tetrahedron Zoom Workshop

Thursday, September 3 • 5:30 – 6:30 pm
This workshop will give you ideas of how you can transform your #6 plastics into native plants, flowers and leaves to decorate our tetrahedron. Please have any #6 items ready and with you for the class.
Register in advance for workshop: https://bit.ly/3gqFSDg
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Mark your calendars for future #6 Remix Thursday Workshops on September 3 and September 10.

MORE ON THE WHEATON ARTS PARADE AND HOW YOU CAN HELP
Wheaton Arts Parade (WAP) and One Montgomery Green (OMG) will work together on a “#6 Remix” Tetrahedron— a re-use/ up-cycle project to help the community become more aware of what is NOT recyclable in MoCo and ways we can re-use these items as art versus having them end up polluting our planet.
WAP plans to install 39 panels of artwork by local artists and students. 30 triangular panels with 4 ft. edges and 9 triangles with 8 ft. edges will be assembled into 13 large tetrahedrons and installed around the Wheaton Urban District, from the Westfield Wheaton Mall to the new town plaza to the Library and Recreation Center.
WAP/OMG will make one of these tetrahedrons that will be placed around Wheaton, MD this fall. Our theme will be NATIVE PLANTS & FLOWERS.
Save Your #6 Plastics to turn into art!
Please save your *CLEAN* #6 polystyrene materials that Montgomery County does not recycle (see examples on left) and many people tend to “wish-recycle” assuming or wishing that they can be recycled. A drive-up & drop-off location and dates to do so will be announced very soon.

Sierra Club MD Natural Places Committee Stream and Water Issues Work Meeting
2020-09-02 17:00 - 18:30
Natural Places Committee Stream and Water Issues Work Meeting
Date and Time:
Wed, Sep 2, 2020 • 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM (Local Time)
Add to Calendar
Organized By: Maryland Chapter Natural Places Committee
Event Organizers:
Lily Fountain
lily.fountain@mdsierra.org
(301) 474-2762
Kenneth Bawer
kbawer@msn.com
(240) 744-6366
Marc Imlay
ialm@erols.com
TO REGISTER

Whetstone Run, before stream restoration
Natural Places Committee is sponsoring this Stream and Water Issues Work Meeting for members interested in changing the regulations about how our stream issues are managed, focusing on managing stormwater by more sustainable, effective means such as tree preservation and planting, replacing concrete and asphalt with water-absorbing alternatives, and using tree trunks and other alternatives for less disturbance to natural places. At the meeting, participants will discuss developing a template letter to educate local officials when areas are threatened by inappropriate management and trying to address issues before the bulldozers are stream side.

Bulldozer engineering stream bed with negative impact on habitat.
At the August Natural Places Committee meeting environmental scientist and ecological restoration specialist Rod Simmons gave a powerpoint presentation and described problems with some of the standard techniques used for dealing with stormwater and pollution issues in Maryland. Heavy equipment is often brought into delicate habitats, and mature canopy trees and forest stands are destroyed. For example, instead of clear-cutting an area, proven best practices such as the selective armoring or stream banks with boulders and wood and creating log jams and wood snags that mimic natural processes are recommended. However, frequently concrete culverts or non-native boulder rock types replace riparian meadows, native plants are destroyed, and soil erosion and invasive species that don’t host wildlife take over.

Remaining Green with Healthy Yards and Gardens
2020-09-01 17:30 - 18:30
Register today: https://bit.ly/2XyesDX
