2007 (December 1)
Establishment of a Chesapeake Finance Commission
In 2004, the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Blue Ribbon Finance Panel issued a comprehensive analysis of the sources of impairments to the Bay's water quality and living resources, the costs to remove those impairments, and a series of recommendations to finance those costs. This report proposes institutional changes for the regional Bay Program to help all participating states with ongoing information about funding needs and opportunities.Attachments
2023 - Present
Equitable Landscaping - Green Infrastructure Training for Latino Landscape Professionals
The Equitable Landscaping project focuses on providing culturally appropriate, Spanish-language training on stormwater runoff and green infrastructure skills to first-generation, Spanish-speaking Latino landscapers in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. This project aims to address the lack of specialized training certificates available for Latino landscapers in the region, empowering these underrepresented and under-resourced professionals to gain knowledge and skills crucial to sustainable landscaping.
2015 (September)
Enhancing Boating in Maryland: Task Force
Recreational boating represents $2.2 billion in economic impact and over 20,000 jobs to the State of Maryland. As the word “recreational” suggests, boating is a discretionary expense and as such, boating is inextricably linked to the state of the economy both nationally and here in Maryland. During the economic downturn from 2009 through 2013, there were two disturbing trends in boating in the State: a reduction of 14,000 boats registered in Maryland and a 50% reduction in revenue to the Waterway Improvement Fund (WIF).
2013 (January)
Encouraging Efficient Green Infrastructure Investment
There are currently dozens of policies, funding, and technical assistance programs at the federal level designed to support the implementation of green infrastructure or its components. While this level of interest and support for using natural systems to address environmental, social, and economic goals is important, the multitude of opportunities can make it difficult, if not overwhelming, for communities to piece together effective green infrastructure implementation and financing strategies.
2014
A Green Infrastructure Approach to Leveraging Local Priorities in Warrington Township, Pennsylvania
In this final report, the EFC provided a set of recommendations to the Township, including identifying and prioritizing funding sources for the Township, developing partnerships with existing local organizations, and integrating green infrastructure into land conservation planning and project site design. Attachments
2022
Economic Impact: Turkey Hill Clean Water Partnership
Since 2018, the Turkey Hill Clean Water Partnership has made waves in the agricultural industry; incentivizing farmers to get involved in conservation and elevating Turkey Hill’s supply chain. This groundbreaking partnership has a monumental impact on the Lancaster community, the Chesapeake Bay watershed, and beyond.
2009 (March)
Eastern Delaware County Council of Governments MS4 Stormwater Coordination
Properly managing stormwater is one of the most costly and complicated tasks we face today. The effort to meet the Federal and State Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) program requirements presents challenges to state and local governments alike.
2023 - 2024
Developing a Stormwater Master Plan for Timberbrook Condominium
Building on EFC’s 2022 Sustainability Action Plan with Timberbrook Condominiums in Gaithersburg, Maryland, EFC partnered with Green Mechanics, BLLC to help the community develop a Stormwater Plan. The plan identified stormwater problem areas and produced a prioritized list of stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs), along with a concept design for the top-ranked project.
2021
Connecting Capital with Pennsylvania Farmers Using Regenerative Farming Practices to Drawdown Carbon
The University of Maryland Environmental Finance Center (EFC) partnered with TeamAg to promote business plans for regenerative farming practices targeting Pennsylvania farms that are interested in expanding soil health practices. These farm business plans combine current U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) protocol with carbon tracking protocols such as COMET-Farm to help document carbon sequestering practices that can be converted to new revenue.
2015 (December)
Community-Supported Flooding and Stormwater Management in St. Michaels, MD
The Town of St. Michaels was developed in the 1770s as a working waterfront community. St. Michaels is bound by water to the east and west making it an ideal area for shipbuilding, fishing and other maritime commerce in the 1800s. Today, St. Michaels pays homage to its’ waterfront heritage while recognizing the need to adapt to flooding and stormwater challenges, driven in large-part by climate change.