Example of a stream restoration project in Columbia, MD. This was a mature forest.

Dear Howard County neighbors,

We need your help. We know that you care about trees, songbirds and limiting construction noise and pollution as much as we do. We have a new opportunity to protect even more of them, but we need your help. Have you heard about the new legislation that was introduced by Council member Liz Walsh, Howard County bill CB40-2023?

Most residents are shocked to learn that the reason so many trees are allowed to be removed for “stream restoration” projects is because the contractors request and receive letters of exemption from the Forest Conservation Act.

If passed, this legislation would end exemptions for "stream restorations", which we know can destroy acres of trees, from the Forest Conservation Act. For the first time, contractors would be required to provide a Forest Conservation Plan. These plans must focus on tree retention and protection. Our trees provide innumerable climate, community and ecosystem benefits.

Our voices have an impact!! The Centennial Park Headwaters Forest project  (well over 1300 signatures online!!) has been redesigned to limit the disturbance. The public comment period has been extended on the Plum Tree Branch project until November 1, 2023.

Please help us protect Howard County's wooded stream and wildlife corridors.

Please sign the petition and leave a comment. Tell our elected officials and your neighbors why you are signing this petition.

If you can, call and or email your Howard County Council member before November 6th and ask them to please vote in favor of CB 40 and please share this petition with your Howard County family, neighbors and friends.

Finally, written testimony is being accepted through November 6th.

Your voice truly matters, every voice counts. Please support CB 40 and our trees.

Thank you!

Contact the Howard County Council members at -

(Call 410-313-2001)

Or email -

councilmail@howardcountymd.gov

District 1  Liz Walsh             ewalsh@howardcountymd.gov

District 2  Opel Jones           ojones@howardcountymd.gov

District 3  Christiana Rigby   crigby@howardcountymd.gov

District 4  Deb Jung              djung@howardcountymd.gov

District 5  David Yungmann  dyungmann@howardcountymd.gov

 

and County Executive Calvin Ball

cball@howardcountymd.gov

Here is a link to the bill -

https://apps.howardcountymd.gov/olis/api/Documents/LegislationDocument?documentId=34989

On behalf of Protect Our Streams