Blue Water Baltimore, Inc.
Blue Water Baltimore advances clean water and watershed protection and elevates citizen concerns through multiple fronts: water and outfall sampling, data collection and scientific analysis, outreach and education, green infrastructure installation and tree plantings, cultivation and sale of native plants, targeted policy work, legislative advocacy, as well as litigation to hold polluters accountable under the Clean Water Act. This grant provides staff support to address top pollutants plaguing Baltimore City and its waterways: stormwater runoff and sewage overflows.
Maryland Department of Transportation Port Administration
The Maryland Port Administration of the Maryland Department of Transportation will install an innovative Algal Flow-way Technology (AFT) system to improve water quality in the Harbor. Sediment-laden Harbor water will be pumped across an inclined screen raceway to colonize algae and capture the nutrients, removing pollution and discharging cleaner water. The best management practice technology will be used to meet Port water quality requirements.
Smart Surfaces Coalition
Baltimore will have the opportunity to be the very first city in the country to customize and utilize an analytical tool to document and weight the costs versus the health and fiscal benefits of investment in smart surfaces (cool and green roofing, porous paving, tree canopy and green infrastructure) to address a city that is about 70 percent paved or roofed. As low income residents suffer disproportionate impacts of air pollution and higher summer temperatures in areas characterized by little greenery and prevalence of dark impervious surfaces, the tool will be used to help Baltimore adopt cost-effective solutions to cut excess heat radiation from buildings and hard surfaces, reduce flood risk and manage surface water runoff, an improve livability, health and equity while saving money and creating jobs.
Waterkeepers Chesapeake
Waterkeepers Chesapeake is a coalition of nineteen independent programs working to make the waters of the Chesapeake and Coastal Bays swimmable and fishable. As an affiliate partner with the Indiana-based Clear Choices Clean Water organization, Waterkeepers Chesapeake will launch a community education and behavioral change campaign to highlight the effects densely populated areas have on water quality. This grant provides programmatic support for the launch of Clear Choices Clean Water Baltimore.
Chesapeake Climate Action Network
Chesapeake Climate Action Network will expand its Maryland Healthy Communities Campaign to advocate for waste disposale alternatives and solutions in Baltimore City, reduction in emissions from landfills, and eliminate subsidies for incineration in Maryland. The goals are to improve recycling and composting, reduce litter and trash pollution in streets and waterways, and reduce pollution generated by incinerators and landfills.