WHEATON, Md. – Montgomery Parks exceeded a major milestone in its ongoing effort to reduce stormwater pollution and improve water quality across Montgomery County.
Under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Municipal Separate Storm Sewer (MS4) permit, Montgomery Parks is required to treat previously untreated stormwater runoff from 66.5 acres of impervious surfaces, such as roads, sidewalks, and parking lots, by 2025. The agency surpassed the goal, treating runoff from more than 71 acres. Montgomery Parks credited its success to a diverse mix of stormwater management projects.
This achievement supports regional progress towards the 2025 Chesapeake Bay water quality goals and demonstrates Montgomery Parks’ commitment to protecting streams, habitats, and communities from the impacts of stormwater pollution.
“Montgomery Parks’ success in surpassing our stormwater restoration goal reflects our commitment to environmental stewardship, and the expertise of the department’s scientists, engineers, maintenance teams, and other professional staff,” said Miti Figueredo, director of Montgomery Parks.
The Annual Progress Report submitted to the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) includes the following projects:
- Stormwater Retrofits – Installing new stormwater management facilities that capture and treat runoff from impervious surfaces. This year, a new micro-bioretention facility was installed at Colesville Local Park to help filter pollutants and manage rainfall on-site.
- Stream Restoration and Outfall Stabilization – Rebuilding degraded stream channels and stabilizing eroded storm drain outfalls. These improvements convert failing infrastructure into naturalized systems that slow water flow, reduce erosion, and enhance aquatic habitat.
- Impervious Surface Removal – Replacing hard surfaces like asphalt or concrete with vegetation or permeable materials. This allows rainwater to soak naturally into the ground instead of flowing into storm drains, helping reduce flooding and filter pollutants.
In addition to these projects, Montgomery Parks also fulfills important training and outreach requirements under the MS4 permit to educate the community about stormwater pollution and water quality.
Highlights from fiscal year 2025 include:
- Hosting hundreds of volunteer and environmental stewardship events, including stream cleanups, invasive plant removals, storm drain mural projects, and nature center programs focused on watershed health.
- Volunteers removed and properly disposed of more than 134,000 pounds of trash from local parks and streams.
- More than 400 Montgomery Parks employees completed Stormwater Pollution Prevention Training.
- Nature Centers offered nearly 200 water-related programs, reaching over 3,500 participants through popular initiatives such as Mornings at the Stream, Creek Week, and Maryland Day.
“We’re proud to have achieved this impervious area restoration milestone by the 2025 deadline outlined in the MS4 permit,” said Kyndal Gehlbach, NPDES program coordinator at Montgomery Parks. “It took a tremendous amount of collaboration and dedication across our entire staff to make it happen, and this accomplishment reflects Montgomery Parks’ ongoing commitment to protecting local waterways and improving water quality throughout our park system.”
About the NPDES Permit Program
The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program was established in 1972 by the Clean Water Act (CWA) and helps address water pollution across the country by regulating discharges of pollutants to waters of the United States. The NPDES permit program is administered by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which authorizes the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) to implement the program and retain oversight responsibilities.
About Montgomery Parks
Montgomery Parks manages more than 37,000 acres of parkland, consisting of 415 parks. Montgomery Parks is focused on promoting physical activity, social connectivity, and environmental stewardship, especially in diverse and urbanizing areas, with an emphasis on teens, working-age adults, and seniors. Montgomery Parks is a department of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), a bi-county agency established in 1927 to steward public land. M-NCPPC has been nationally recognized for its high-quality parks and recreation services and is regarded as a national model by other parks systems. MontgomeryParks.org
Accessibility
Montgomery Parks, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, encourages and supports the participation of individuals with disabilities. Please contact the Program Access Office at 301-495-2581 (Voice/TTY), MD Relay 7-1-1 or 800-552-7724 or ProgramAccess@MontgomeryParks.org to request a disability modification. Visit Montgomery Parks Accessibility for more information.
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