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Anne Arundel
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Anne Arundel
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The AAWRA meeting, held at Edgewater Police Station on 040305, was attended by community representatives both new and familiar with the Alliance. The scheduled guest speakers, Ron Bowen, Director of AA County DPW, and Kieth Tate, President of Bayland Consultants, under DPW contract, provided the Dredging Program summary, County Material Placement options, Dredged material Characteristics, Matching Dredging, Material and Placement, Impact of Funding and Permitting. Mr. Bowen provided a summary of county's successful dredging program development over the past 10 years. He emphasized that the purpose of dredging was access to boaters. He outlined rationale for shallow water habitats and submerged aquatic vegetation, and that a large number of the 106 creeks in Anne Arundel County are in that category. He reported efforts to separate mayonnaise from sand, and maximizing compaction as elements of spoil site activity. About 70% of the material is recycled. Some six dredging projects annually are dependant on spoil site evacuation and replenishment planning and processes. Retrofits for stormwater management often take up the energies and funds allocated to DPW, and offered complimentary support to the dredging effort. Kieth Tate, under a long term contract with DPW, began with past successes on a large scale projects in Baltimore Harbors, waterway improvements, and what we do with the spoil, properly thought of as dirt. Sediment is dirt: folks will continue to need access to waterways. He said that Oct 15 - Feb 15 has been the only dredge window for 10 years in Maryland, addressing some access problems of the 163 (???) navigable waterways. He pointed out that the sulfer smell goes away with introduction of oxygen; mentioned reviewing Dobbins Island as a spoil site; offered that area had 6 PPK sand and salt) while Boyd's Cove in north part of South River is 2 PPK. He described a spoil site as having an inflow point, sand fills out; the mayonnaise flows away; that 4-5 miles is typical for pump lines and that they manage 16 schedules of transportation with respect to trucking spoil to and from various spoil sites. He stated that the sites would be inadequate in five years. President Bob Whitcomb emphasized the effort by AAWRA to be involved in the County Budget Process, outlined a schedule of upcoming events, and provided the status of State Budget and Proposed legislation. Upcoming events are with Ron Dillon on April 11 at 4:30, in the County Council Office, and with County Executive Janet Owens on 4th floor, 44 Calvert Street, Annapolis on April 13, at 11:15 am. The proposed topic is to very strongly emphasize the funding of the budget for waterway improvement. Letter of acknowledgement and support of AAWRA was received on April 1, 2005, from CE Janet Owens. Letter of information was sent on March 25, 2005 to Ron Dillon, Jr, Chairman, County Council, Anne Arundel County. Treasurer Jay Phillips provided an application form to AAWRA, accepted dues of $40, and reported that four supporting communities officially joined AAWRA:
The next outreach community meeting planned is April 28 with Broadneck Federation. Bill Edmonston noted that the AAWRA Inc, has 501.C.4 status. Secretary Burke asked for volunteers to research and draft tax district papers that would be effective throughout the county.
Charlie Burke, Secretary |