Today, the Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW) released a draft implementation plan for public comment, outlining the City’s proposed efforts to reduce sediment entering into the non-tidal portion of the Baltimore Harbor watershed.

This proposed plan presents the City’s approach to addressing the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for sediment in the non-tidal Baltimore Harbor watershed, established by the U.S.  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This implementation plan is a requirement of the City’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit.

Rain storms can wash sediments from lawns and paved surfaces into storm drain inlets and into the City’s waterways. Sediment can also come from eroded stream banks. This TMDL aims to ensure that sediment loads are at a level that supports the Use Class I (water contact recreation, and protection of non-tidal warm water aquatic life) designations for the non-tidal Baltimore Harbor watershed. 

More information on the TMDL can be found on the Maryland Department of the Environment’s (MDE) fact sheet: BaltHarbor_Sed_TMDL_actSheet.pdf (maryland.gov). 

The draft implementation plan is posted on DPW's website's “Regulatory Mandates, Plans, and Reports” page for a 30-day public comment. The deadline for comments is Sunday, July 16.  Comments and questions can be sent to  mark.cameron@baltimorecity.gov or 410-396-0732.