Watershed Restoration Action Strategy Kick-Off

St. Mary's River Watershed Association
PO Box 94, St. Mary's City, MD 20686

May 6, 2008

Dear Stakeholders:

The St. Mary’s River needs your help.  The St. Mary’s River drainage area, which includes most of the Lexington Park Development District, is under significant development pressure which appears to be causing pollution of watershed streams and the main river, fragmenting natural habitats, and overwhelming the ability of the river, stream networks, and surrounding lands to provide important ecological and economic benefits.

To identify, quantify, and address the problems of St. Mary’s River watershed, the St. Mary’s River Watershed Association will be leading an effort, in partnership with St. Mary’s County government and other agencies, institutions, and businesses, to develop a Watershed Restoration Action Strategy (WRAS).  If the strategy is to be meaningful and its implementation successful, the strategy must be comprehensive and must be developed using a public stakeholder process.

With a projected budget of more than one-quarter million dollars, the breadth and depth of this study will be extensive. Fundraising for the study is ongoing.  If you are willing to donate, underwrite the cost of refreshments and handouts for public meetings or able help with fundraising efforts, that assistance will be greatly appreciated.

Although additional funding is needed, we have acquired enough funding to begin the first phases of the study to characterize the conditions of the watershed, streams and shoreline.  Armed with this information and broad stakeholder participation, we intend to develop and implement a strategy to protect, restore and enhance the environmental resources of the area as we accommodate the anticipated and inevitable expansion of development in the watershed.  As the results of the characterization study become available, the findings will be documented and presented at public meetings for stakeholder and citizen comments so that we can begin to develop a plan to address the identified problems and take advantage of the identified opportunities. We invite all stakeholders who care about the St. Mary’s River, particularly those who live, work, and play within the watershed, to participate.

A critical first step for the St. Mary’s River Watershed Restoration Action Strategy is establishing a steering committee that will meet monthly to oversee and direct development of the study and plan.  We invite you to attend the important kick-off meeting and find out more about this worthy study and how you can participate in the effort.  If you cannot attend but would like to serve on the steering committee, or be included on our e-mailing list, please call Bob Lewis at 301-862-3517 or e-mail taylew@erols.com

Thank you for consideration of this request.  If you have any questions regarding the project or to learn more about he St. Mary’s River Watershed Association please go to http//:www.smrwa.org or call (301) 862-3517.  See you at the kick off meeting at the Lexington Park Library on May 12th at 10 a.m.

Sincerely,

Joe Anderson, SMRWA President                                    
301-737-8125; jandersoniii@csc.com

Bob Paul,
SMRWA Vice-President
301-863-5895 x 5226; bob_paul@emainc.com