Anne Arundel County’s Countywide Biological Monitoring Program:

Every year, Anne Arundel County’s Bureau of Watershed Protection and Restoration samples the fish and aquatic insects in randomly selected stream reaches around the County, as a part of the Countywide Biological Monitoring Program (Program). Initiated in 2004, the Program’s purpose is to measure biological conditions as a cost-effective way to understand the overall health of County streams and rivers that drain to the Chesapeake Bay.

If you receive a letter this January, please make sure to respond to this wonderful project in order to help us get an overview of the water quality and stream health throughout Anne Arundel County! For more information or any questions on the Program, please visit https://www.aacounty.org/departments/public-works/wprp/ecological-assessment-and-evaluation/biological-monitoring/ or contact the Bureau of Watershed Protection and Restoration (410-222-0545) or the AASCD office (410-571-6757 ext.2336).

For additional information and a timeline go to: http://www.aascd.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Biological-Monitoring-Program.pdf

The next AASCD Board meeting is scheduled for December 16th from 12:30 to 2:30. The meeting will be virtual through Google Meet. There will be a closed meeting following the open meeting. When it is announced that the closed meeting is about to begin, guest will be asked to leave the meeting physically if attending in person and virtually if attending through Google Meet.

Due to wet conditions, the Maryland Cover Crop Program will be extending the planting date deadline to December 01, 2020. The only species accepted for this extension will be wheat, spelt, rye and triticale. The only planting methods allowed are No-till, Broadcast with Light, Minimum or Vertical Tillage and Conventional. These acres may not be terminated before May 1, 2021 and will only be eligible for the base payment of $40.00/ac. You will need to report these acres by December 8 and these fields will need to be spot checked using the current guidelines.

For Information on the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program – CFAP

Go to: http://www.farmers.gov/cfap

In accordance with County Executive Pittman orders, our offices will be closed to the public.

If you are an Engineering Firm, we have provided a pick-up/ drop-off box which is available from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm every weekday and is located outside the main entrance to building 2662.

Agricultural staff are available by appointment.

Our staff will continue to service the community, we ask that you allow up to 48 hours for response to voicemails

Thank you for your patience

OUR MISSION

In agriculture, the District emphasizes the importance of soil conservation and water quality, striving to have voluntary soil and water conservation plans for all working farms.  These plans help farmers optimize productivity while safeguarding their surroundings against the potential impact of poor land management.  Farmers are advised in areas that include preventing fertilizers and pesticides from draining into nearby tributaries through the use of innovative methods like cover crops and shoreline buffers.  The plans also aid farmers with issues related to conservation crop rotation and residue management.

In the area of urban development, the AASCD reviews all sediment and erosion control plans for pending construction projects in Anne Arundel County to ensure that developers take the necessary steps to manage runoff during construction to control soil erosion.