4 Tons Of Debris Removed From Waterways After Recent Storms In Howard County

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Nearly four tons of debris has been removed from streams and waterways following last week’s intense storm that dumped 2.5 inches of rain on Howard County in less than two hours.

Nearly 35 tons of debris have been removed from stream channels in and around Ellicott City since the beginning of the Safe and Sound plan. This is the second debris removal for weather this year and the 14th since the plan was implemented, according to Howard County officials.

"The increasingly severe summer storms we have seen in recent years can quickly cause a buildup of debris at multiple points in the watershed in and around Ellicott City,” Howard County Executive Calvin Ball said. “This process is so important to prevent downed limbs and other debris from blocking culverts and causing overflow. We’re so grateful to our department of public works team and Howard EcoWorks crews who inspected waterways and removed nearly four tons of debris this week.”

Under protocols established by Ball in December 2018, debris will be removed after any rain event of two inches or greater accumulation in a 24-hour period, or after an hour of sustained winds 30 mph or greater. Previously, waterways were only inspected on a quarterly or semi-annual basis.

Within three business days of a qualifying wind or rain event, 56 locations on public properties and on Columbia Association property along nine Howard County streams are inspected. These sites have been chosen because they are locations that are known to experience, or contribute to, localized flooding. Within 14 business days of the inspection, the material that was identified for removal during the inspection will be removed by crews from Howard EcoWorks and the county public works department.

To follow the progress of inspections and debris removal, visit www.ecsafeandsound.org.