While a prompt enforcement response cannot guarantee a successful cleanup, it is more likely to increase its likelihood. Develop an education program directed toward homeowners on the topics of pollution and nutrient reduction to be consistent with state and federally mandated requirements. Develop a fertilizer, pesticide, and herbicide reduction program for City-owned and maintained properties. Develop a memorandum of understanding with Montgomery County to have the County's Department of Environmental Protection enforce water quality standards. By definition, a wetland is an area that is inundated or saturated by surface or groundwater at a frequency and duration sufficient to support a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions, commonly known as hydrophytic vegetation.
Wetlands have many beneficial effects on water quality.
As pollutants and nutrients contained in stormwater travel through wetlands, they are gradually absorbed by vegetation and filtered by the soil before they are washed into streams and ultimately the the Chesapeake Bay. Wetlands also help to reduce the velocity of flowing water that lessens its ability to loosen and carry away soil particles further downstream. In addition, wetlands provide food and habitat for a wide variety of animal life. Generally, floodplains are low areas located next to streams and rivers and are subject to cyclical flooding. Maintaining floodplains in a natural state is important because they absorb the flood waters and gradually release floodwaters to adjoining rivers and streams.