Earlier this month, the Montgomery County Council tentatively agreed to new limits on construction in Clarksburg’s Ten Mile Creek watershed. The straw vote of 9 to 0 came in the midst of contentious debate over the future of economic development in the county’s northern edge.
Matthew Baker, an associate professor of geography and environmental systems, was mentioned in the article for previous information he had provided to the council:
“[Baker] told the council on Feb. 11 that streams in excellent health, such as Ten Mile, are especially sensitive to even tiny environmental changes. By the same token, portions of the watershed already somewhat degraded by construction can more easily absorb more development,” the article stated.
“Lowering imperviousness on the Pulte Homes site to six percent would enhance the protection of some of the watershed’s cleanest stream segments, Baker said. A higher cap of 15 percent on the Peterson site was permissible because it was near water already significantly polluted by construction.”
You can read the full article in The Washington Post here.
