Homestead Gardens Strikes Deal to Reduce Runoff Pollution

The South River Federation (SRF) is taking a big step toward improving local waterways and their access points thanks to a new wetland restoration project behind the Homestead Gardens nursery.

As part of a $100,000 initiative to slow down stormwater runoff, the SRF installed a system of wetlands and bioretention cell. The strategy addresses multiple touch points leading to Beards Creek that cumulatively benefit the South River, said SRF Project Manager Kirk Mantay.

“This type of landscape is dying a death of a thousand small cuts. With this type of project, we’re trying to address these cuts … One at a time,” Mantay said. “It’ll help fishing, water quality, waterfront properties.”

In the last two weeks, the Homestead Gardens project site received about three inches of rain—usually a big problem due to hot water rushing off the parking lot into Beards Creek, Mantay said. However, the new project has prevented all the stormwater from making its way to local waterways, he said.

The SRF received $25,000 from the Chesapeake Bay Trust to help complete the necessary work. It was designed and built by the SRF along with Homestead Gardens, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Underwood & Associates, according to a release.

Mantay said the partnering with local groups is the only way to truly address local environmental problems. By using stormwater wetlands and bioretention cells, Mantay hopes the project allows natural processes to solve many concerns surrounding the targeted site. 

“This is exactly the type of non point source pollution we’re trying to address. In the summer, it’s heated water—super hot—it immediately shoots into the woods at a very high speed … This type of flashy storm water actually accelerates pollution as it goes,” Mantay said. “Stormwater wetlands hold that volume so the natural process can get rid of it.”

The SRF is set to officially dedicate the restoration project at Homestead Gardens on Tuesday at 10 a.m. The garden center is located at 743 West Central Ave. in Davidsonville.