DOT Holding Their Annual Bicycle Donation Drive
October 1, 2023 1:01 pm Leave your thoughtsGive Your Old Bicycle a New Life! How? Donate it at the Montgomery County Department of Transportation’s annual Bicycle Donation
Author Archives for Ana Arriaza
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month – Celebrando el Mes de la Herencia Hispana
October 1, 2023 9:00 am 5 CommentsJoin the Celebration! – ¡Acompáñenos en la Celebración! In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, join us every Friday
Invasive Aquatic Alert!–Two Horned Trapa
July 22, 2023 5:00 pm 1 CommentTwo Horned Trapa reporting–Please help us! If you are around any ponds in Montgomery County, or anywhere else in Maryland,
We Need Your Input
June 5, 2023 10:49 am Leave your thoughtsWe seek your input on new services being considered by the County government. Your opinion matters to us, and we
Wheaton High School’s Society of Women Engineers
April 25, 2023 10:54 am Leave your thoughtsWinners of the the Future Mobility Challenge The electric car team from Wheaton HS, sponsored by Wheaton High School’s Society of
A carbon footprint calculator for MCPS schools
March 20, 2023 8:47 am 1 CommentMontgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is the largest school district in Maryland and among the largest in the US. To
Civic engagement opportunity: join the County’s Water Quality Advisory Group!
March 8, 2023 3:51 pm 2 CommentsMontgomery County is seeking applicants for the Water Quality Advisory Group. The Montgomery County Water Quality Advisory Group (WQAG) provides
ArtemisWalk: Walk Into the Future of Sustainable Energy
February 14, 2023 12:39 pm 9 CommentsThis blog was written by Teju Vijay, volunteer coach with a FIRST LEGO league robotics team. Teju is a High
For Radon Action Month, Test Your Home for Radon
January 3, 2023 10:00 am 12 CommentsUpdated: January 2023 During the month of January, Montgomery County joins a nationwide effort to educate homeowners and renters on
Greening the Holidays!
October 31, 2022 5:26 pm Leave your thoughtsDid you know? The amount of household waste in the U.S. increases an average of 25% between Thanksgiving and New
Meet the 2022 Summer Climate Interns!
July 12, 2022 6:38 pm Leave your thoughtsThe County’s Climate Team is happy to welcome Najila, Lulu, Kristina, Feh, Daniel, Rachel, and Lumina as interns and fellows
Community Voices
April 21, 2022 5:50 pm 1 CommentSince August of 2017 Vivian, Adrienna, Brienna, and Isaac have been Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) volunteers. As
Community Voices: Youth Volunteers Club in Montgomery County
April 20, 2022 1:00 pm 10 CommentsOfficial Winner of The Nextdoor 100! On Monday, May 23, 2022 Nextdoor announced the Nextdoor 100 Winners! The Wootton High
New Public Space Recycling Stations Arrive in Wheaton!
February 2, 2022 8:00 am 3 CommentsIf you have visited Montgomery County’s Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) office or downtown Wheaton lately, you likely have seen
Department of Environmental Protection 2021 Year in Review
January 22, 2022 10:00 am 2 CommentsThe Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has released its 2021 Year in Review video with department highlights! The
Stream Critters – Yellow Lance Mussel
August 30, 2021 8:00 am Leave your thoughtsIntroduction Can animals that look like rocks and are capable of trickery and bloodsucking have a positive effect on water
Stream Critters – Marbled Salamander
August 23, 2021 8:00 am Leave your thoughtsIntroduction Marbled salamanders are marvelous critters. These thin-skinned, cold-blooded salamanders – and frogs and toads – survive winters without coats.
Stream Critters – Giant Stonefly
August 16, 2021 8:00 am 2 CommentsIntroduction Picture this: an ancient adult stonefly lands on a stegosaurus. The stegosaurus doesn’t notice. The stonefly is looking for
Stream Critters – Acuminate Crayfish
August 9, 2021 8:00 am 3 CommentsIntroduction “Look! Right there! Under that rock in the middle of the stream! Is that a lobster?” Nope. It’s a
Stream Critters
July 31, 2021 8:00 am Leave your thoughtsIntroduction Eels have mystified people from Aristotle who thought they developed from earthworms to young Sigmund Freud who couldn’t find
Kemp Mill Shallow Marsh Wetland
April 30, 2021 8:48 am 2 CommentsWetlands Provide Ecosystem Services Wetlands are often described as the “kidneys of the landscape.” They help remove pollutants from runoff
Cicada Countdown
April 28, 2021 4:57 pm 12 CommentsThe Cicadas are Coming! You’ve no doubt heard by now that the periodical cicada Brood X will soon make its
Myths about Dog Poop!
March 24, 2021 1:19 pm 6 CommentsWhat’s the big deal about scooping dog poop? It’s natural. It makes great fertilizer. Rain will wash it away. And
Doing a 1980’s Retro!
March 23, 2021 3:32 pm Leave your thoughtsQuail Valley 1 Stormwater Pond Retrofit Do you miss leg warmers and 80’s rock band hair? Well, this is not
Booze Creek Gets a Face Lift
March 23, 2021 3:24 pm 1 CommentNearly 1400 young trees find a new home along Booze Creek As of April 2021, the Montgomery County Department of
Fern Fronds Unfurl for Spring
March 21, 2021 4:34 pm 2 CommentsAs spring continues its procession, native ferns awaken to the sun and warming earth by unfurling their leaves, called fronds,
2020 didn’t slow down the Watershed Restoration team
March 5, 2021 11:00 am 4 CommentsIts that time of year that our office has come to love. Time to submit our annual report to the Maryland
Winter starts the new garden year
March 1, 2021 10:30 am Leave your thoughtsGardeners know: when the days start to lengthen, it’s time to get back to the garden. One of the typical
Signs of Spring: Fish!
February 24, 2021 1:28 pm Leave your thoughtsSigns of spring are beginning to appear but, what makes it springtime? Who you ask will determine the answer you
How to Safely Apply Salt in the Winter
February 10, 2021 8:00 am Leave your thoughtsWe are all familiar with the crunch of salt underfoot after a snowstorm in Montgomery County. But where does this
Road Salt is a Problem
January 2, 2021 3:44 pm 5 CommentsSalt is useful because it is inexpensive and somewhat effective in breaking down ice and snow on our roads. Following
Reducing Stormwater Runoff and the Use of Deicing Chemicals
January 2, 2021 3:27 pm Leave your thoughtsPervious Pavement: What is it? Pervious pavement is a system for reducing stormwater runoff, ensuring less pollutants enter our waterways,
Stormwater Ponds In Montgomery County
January 1, 2021 1:00 pm 1 CommentWhat are They and Why are They There? You may have wondered what all these ponds are throughout Montgomery County.
Arbor Day
December 24, 2020 5:18 pm 1 CommentArbor Day in Maryland! April 7, 2021 Did you know that every state in the nation observes Arbor Day? The
Climate Change at the Local Level: Protecting Our Watershed
October 22, 2020 9:00 am Leave your thoughtsWhen we think of climate change we often think of melting ice caps, rising sea-levels, extreme weather, and warmer global
Steps to a deeper shade of green
September 25, 2020 8:00 am 5 CommentsSeveral years ago, one of my friends told me I was the “greenest person she knew!” Although surprised, my “normal”
The Power of Scooping Poop
September 23, 2020 8:00 am 6 CommentsHave you ever heard of the Poop Fairy? No? Probably because there is no such thing. Pet owners across Montgomery
Becoming a Beekeeper
September 22, 2020 8:00 am Leave your thoughtsHow did I get started? I got interested in beekeeping out of a desire to make a small benefit to
No One Wants Trashy Water: Pollution Prevention
September 21, 2020 8:00 am 6 CommentsWhat is the Problem? Litter in our communities is detrimental local wildlife as it pollutes streams. Litter can be any
Monitoring Montgomery County’s Streams
September 18, 2020 8:00 am Leave your thoughtsDid you know that September 18th is World Water Monitoring Day? Since 1995 Montgomery County has maintained a stream monitoring
Maintenance and Inspection of Stormwater Best Management Practices
August 31, 2020 8:00 am Leave your thoughtsDid you know there are more than 17,000 Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs) in Montgomery County? These stormwater BMPs protect
Artistic Messages of Consciousness, Community, and Clean Water
August 24, 2020 8:30 am Leave your thoughtsIf you look closely, you will find many beautifully painted storm drains across Montgomery County with messages highlighting the importance
Stormwater Best Management Practices
August 17, 2020 8:00 am Leave your thoughtsAugust is water quality awareness month. At the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) the Watershed Restoration Division’ entire
Explore County’s water quality restoration work through interactive map and learn ways to save money!
August 10, 2020 8:00 am Leave your thoughtsThis past June, the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) developed an interactive web map with dynamic infographics. The
Streams of Consciousness: Knowing Where Our Stormwater Goes
August 1, 2020 8:22 am 3 CommentsMany storm drains in Montgomery County lead straight to streams, which then feed into larger streams and rivers and eventually
Clean Water Art Contest Winners!
June 6, 2020 8:00 am Leave your thoughtsEvery year we host an art contest to help us with educating Montgomery County residents on the importance of protecting
Plan Now for Garden Success
February 27, 2020 12:52 pm 4 CommentsWith the holidays behind and the slower pace of winter taken hold, this is a great time to reflect on
Watershed Restoration Division – 2019 Highlights!
December 31, 2019 10:00 am 3 CommentsThe mission of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is to enhance the quality of life in our community by
#GiftGreener: Gift RainScapes
December 6, 2019 3:27 pm Leave your thoughtsIt’s that gifting time of year! Wonder what to get for your loved ones? Does anyone on your gift list
What flows down the street, goes to the creek!
July 11, 2019 8:00 am Leave your thoughts…And we have proof! Bill Wydro, a board members of the Regency Estates Citizens Association conducts periodic litter patrols of
