Integrated Watershed Management and Land Use Planning
Over time, our understanding of the relationship between land use and downstream impacts to water quality and natural resources continues to improve. The number and sophistication of urban best management practices (BMPs) to minimize the impact of development has grown accordingly. As a result, BMPs in wastewater treatment, stormwater management, and better site design are widely used.
While these site-specific controls are critical, they can only mitigate the impacts of planned land uses. Land use planners today deal with far more than the classic trilogy of land use, transportation and public facilities. Localities are increasingly required to consider issues such as long-range sustainability, brownfields, assurance of clean air and water, the protection of sensitive areas, provisions for waste disposal and recycling, and affordable housing. An understanding of the watershed impact of land use choices, locations and density is often missing, especially in planning areas that address parts of watersheds. This information is often prepared in the form of a watershed plan, separate from the land use planning and zoning process.
The Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee in partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Program's Land Gorwth and Stewardship Subcommitee organized two workshops in the region to discuss integrating watershed management and land use planning and to address specific issues in Maryland and Pennsylvania.
Integrating Watershed and Land Use Planning
March 7, 2005 - Annapolis, Maryland
Better Stormwater Management Through Site Design
October 19, 2005 - Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Return to the STAC Workshop Webpage
Integrating Watershed and Land Use Planning
March 7, 2005 - Annapolis, Maryland
On March 7, 2005, the Chesapeake Bay Program co-sponsored a workshop to bring together planning, natural resource, and regulatory professionals in Maryland to collaborate on how to incorporate water quality planning and regulatory requirements into comprehensive planning. The objectives of this workshop were to:
- Discuss the role of watershed planning and how it can be coordinated with other land use planning activities;
- Identify existing watershed based regulations or requirements facing local jurisdictions and the implications for county planning;
- Provide examples of how and to what extent land use and watershed planning have been integrated in Montgomery and Baltimore counties; and
- Provide time for practitioners from different communities to share opportunities, challenges, and needs, so you can take away specific ideas for your county.
Local practitioners interacted with State representatives from MDE, MDP, and MDNR to address State expectations or current regulations affecting natural resources and their implications for land use planning. Selected counties with advanced programs presented case studies demonstrating successful strategies, potential opportunities and challenges/impediments to incorporating watershed management into daily land use planning decisions.
Agenda
Presentations
Workshop Report
|
