Last updated: September 2026

Severn River Association (SRA) helps communities improve their local environment and restore the Severn River. Good communication is really important. This page provides updates on the stormwater management project at the community park in East Pendennis Mount. Please email Ben Fertig, Restoration Manager, at ben@severnriver.org with feedback, questions, or concerns. Right now, during the early stages of design, is the best opportunity to make sure we get it right – so please get in touch to let SRA know what you think.

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SRA is a 501c3 non-profit organization with experience and success with obtaining funding and exercising project management for pollution reduction and environmental restoration projects. Our vision is a thriving Severn River by 2050, and our mission is to connect the people who live, work, and play on the Severn River to restore and protect it for all of our communities.

Project Origin

East Pendennis Mount Community Association (EPMCA) Vice President Bill Bower is a Watershed Steward graduate. For his capstone he cleared invasives and planted a substantial number of native plants at the community park at the corner of Sands Dr. and Sharpe Rd. Now, he and EPMCA President (Joaquin Marquez) have reached out to SRA about expanding the extent of invasive species removal and to treat stormwater through a micro-bioretention cell to reduce pollution from nitrogen, phosphorus and sediments. Currently, the Severn River has been declared “impaired” under the federal Clean Water Act for these three pollutants (and others). SRA has conducted a site visit and feels this would be an excellent opportunity to improve water quality, increase the availability of native habitat, reinvigorate forested area, increase environmental awareness and provide signage to increase environmental literacy throughout the community. EPMCA has decided to work with SRA. SRA will seek funding, serve as project manager, supervise contractors, and oversee the design and permitting of the stormwater management project. 

The primary goal of the project is to treat stormwater. A second goal is to increase habitat and native species biodiversity. A third critically important goal is to continue protecting this communal gathering space. SRA will work with EPMCA to further define project goals and desired outcomes.

Project Environmental Benefits

• Tax Incentives
• Maintain protection of communal gathering space from erosion.
• Decrease harmful effects of flooding
• Decreased nutrient & sediment pollution in the Severn – smaller and fewer ‘dead zones’ (maybe we even get rid of them altogether!)
• This project will remove 23.3 lbs of nitrogen, 2.9 lbs of phosphorus, and 1,600 lbs of sediment annually.
• This project has 14.8 acres of drainage area and will treat 4.0 acres of impervious surfaces.
• Native plants will attract pollinators (birds, butterflies, bats and bees)
• Increased biodiversity
• Stronger, more resilient environment
• Provide wildlife habitat by enhancing the ecological conditions needed for foraging and nesting. 
• Indirectly benefits tidal habitats essential for sustaining resilient waterfowl populations

What’s the Big Deal About Stormwater, Anyway?

Great question! 

As you’re probably already well aware, storms can cause flooding and erosion. East Pendennis Mount is particularly susceptible to these because of steep slopes. Does this look familiar?

Stormwater runoff and erosion at East Pendennis Mount

When water runs downhill it carries sediments (to which phosphorus ‘sticks’), dissolves nitrogen and carries these nutrients with it, down to the Severn and the Chesapeake Bay. Nutrients sound good, right? We need nutrition after all. 

Yes – but to a point. 

When there are too many nutrients (either nitrogen or phosphorus), it spurs algae populations to grow out of control. Nitrogen and phosphorus are basically what’s in plant fertilizer, as many gardeners know. The algae population grows so much that it uses up all the nutrients, but then the algae ‘starve’ to death and sink to the bottom of the water. The algae then decompose and the bacteria decomposing the algae use up oxygen, creating dead zones where oxygen levels are too low for most organisms (e.g. rockfish, oysters, and crabs) to survive. Overgrowth of algae and dead zones decrease biodiversity which in turn impacts humans and other organisms that feed and rely on these aquatic organisms. 

SRA water quality monitoring in the Severn River records low oxygen levels frequently during summer that indicates the presence of dead zones throughout the river, including Mill Creek. This is a problem going on in your backyard. 

This project will decrease the stormwater runoff that contributes to these dead zones. Additionally, the projects will help curtail the flooding, erosion, and sedimentation in the community.

Project Summary

The overall goal of this project is to improve water quality in the Severn River by reducing nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution from stormwater runoff. To achieve this goal, the primary objective of this project is to design and permit a comprehensive nature-based solution that reduces water flow and treats the stormwater runoff pollution by slowing the water down and letting it seep into the ground. By collaborating with EPMCA and other non-profits we believe this project can serve as a model to other communities to increase benefits to the environment and the community. Ultimately, when implemented, this project will increase habitat and native species biodiversity and protect this communal gathering space.

SRA is seeking grant funding for this project. Funding could be awarded in full, in part, or not at all. If unsuccessful, SRA will try again. A ‘no’ is not final or forever.

There are four stages to the project:

1. Identifying community needs and interests
2. Engineering design and permitting
3. Construction
4. Maintenance

Project Design

SRA wants to make sure that the project is something that the community will enjoy (in addition to all the great environmental benefits). Keep in mind that, as with so many things in life, there are trade-offs to consider. We want to understand what you value so the project will reflect those values. So, right now we want your feedback, especially while the project is still in its early stages. Now is the best opportunity to make sure to get it right. Please let me know what you think. You can email me any time, ben@severnriver.org 

EPMCA will be consulted at each stage of design and will provide written approval at the 30%, 60%, 90% and 100% stages prior to moving forward. Community members will be apprised of progress through emails, community meetings, and this project webpage.

Below is a concept design for what the stormwater treatment best management practice could look like. Stormwater would enter the where it currently does, flow under the mini foot-bridge to a pre-treatment cell which would overflow into two “micro-bioretention cells” (rain gardens with an underdrain). All three of these cells would be about 1 foot deep and planted with gorgeous native plants.

The project has already benefited by having a topographic survey done by Bill Bower (who also happens to be a professional land surveyor).

Project Construction

SRA will seek construction funding once 60% design is achieved and permits are requested through a combination of grant proposals submitted to the Whole Watershed Fund, Anne Arundel County (via Chesapeake Bay Trust), MD Department of Natural Resources (the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund), and/or the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (Small Watershed Grant).

Maintenance

Once constructed, SRA will be responsible for maintaining the project for the first five years. SRA anticipates contracting with Maryland Reentry Resource Center (www.mdrrc.org), and its sister organization GreenLift, which provides wraparound services and job training for neighbors returning from incarceration so that they can successfully transition back home. After five years, responsibility for maintenance will be transferred to the East Pendennis Mount community. Optionally, the community can contract with SRA to continue maintenance services. 

Maintenance obligations are specified in the Memorandum of Understanding with the County and include: 

• Weeding, mulching (if/as needed), trash removal, and general aesthetic maintenance
• Vegetation: 85% survival, and it can’t be removed or modified without approval
• County can, during business hours and with advanced notice, verify & inspect the project to ensure maintenance, and this level of access runs with the land
• County receives the water quality improvement credits
• County provides structural maintenance (anything really big)
• Post-construction, can’t alter the project without approval

SRA estimates maintenance costs to be about $3,600 annually if contracted out, but many communities opt to hold volunteer days annually (often around Earth Day). SRA can help organize volunteer days if desired. 

Timeline

• May 2024 – SRA met with EPMCA for a site visit and discussed project potential and funding possibilities and process. EPMCA provided a letter of commitment and a topographic map of the area as well as temporary (annually renewed) access to SRA and its contractor for project design. 
• December 2024 – SRA submitted a proposal to Chesapeake Bay Trust Watershed Assistance Grant Program for design and permitting. SRA also included this project in its bid to the Whole Watershed Fund. 
• February2025 – WAGP proposal not funded.
• May 2025 – Proposal submitted to National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Small Watershed Grant.
• January 2026 – Received design funding through NFWF
• December 2025 to April 2026 – Contractor bid process, selected GFT
• March 2026 – Geotechnical report
• June 2026 – Utilities mapping, natural resource surveys
• August 2026 – 30% Design
• November 2026 – 60% Design, apply for Anne Arundel County grading permit
• December 2026 – Apply for construction funding
• July 2027 – hear if construction is funded, if so, construction begins
• September 2027 – construction completed, SRA responsible for maintenance for 5 years
• September 2032 – maintenance responsibility transfers to EPMCA

Community support is critical to a successful grant proposal. Specifically, there are several ways you can choose to support this project. Any and all are appreciated! 

1. You can pledge to help volunteer with planting and/or maintaining native plants as part of the project’s installation.
2. You can install a rain barrel or rain garden to capture and slow down stormwater coming off your roof.
3. You can contribute financial support to the project.
4. Other …. There are lots of ways to be involved. If you have an idea or want to discuss, please reach out!

If you are interested in participating in any of the ways above, please reach out to SRA’s Restoration Manager, Ben Fertig: ben@severnriver.org 

Community Questions & Concerns

​​Let SRA know your thoughts about the project. We will update this section with how these will be addressed.

Photos

Check out the Google photo album for photos of the sites. Photos will be added to track the progress. 

Presentations

Community Stormwater and Erosion Feb 2025 (1)