Friends of Sligo Creek actively advocates for the Creek. The core requirement is that the topic or concern affect the Sligo watershed.
photo © 2019 JSKassovic
The Advocacy Committee advocates to reduce stormwater runoff and erosion, remove invasive plant species, improve water quality, preserve and expand natural habitats, and reduce plastic and trash that ends up in our waterways.
Our involvement in our watershed often includes supporting greater open public spaces in densely populated areas, effective stormwater management, more tree planting, and sometimes opposition to development of forested spaces. We have a fairly hard and fast rule that we only weigh in on issues that directly impact our stream, park and/or watershed. This means we can opine on climate change but didn’t, for example, oppose or seek modification of the Cross County Connector as it affected a separate set of watersheds.
WOOHOO!
Legislation Passed Banning Gas Leaf Blowers
Because of a law we promoted to the Montgomery County Council, which they passed unanimously, gasoline leaf-blowers may not be sold starting on July 1, 2024 and may not be used starting July 1, 2025. The new law creates a voucher program for buying electric leaf blowers for landscapers and individuals. Electric Leaf Blower Rebate Program of the Dept of Environmental Protection, Montgomery County, MD.
MS4 Credits for Conservation Landscapes
We have long advocated to get state and thus county stormwater credits for installing conservation landscapes in addition to rain gardens and other stormwater projects. Finally, the State of Maryland has recognized and gives essential MS4 credit to counties for installing conservation landscapes.
Rain gardens require digging deeper holes, and therefore takes a lot more effort, and produces a lot of excess soil that typically will be hauled to landfills. The gardens are also a harsher environment for plants because the deeper gardens flood when it rains but don’t retain moisture during drier periods because the soil is a sand/soil mixture. Conservation landscapes are the saucer to a rain garden’s bowl—they prevent some excess run-off while also allowing a broader range of plant species for more flexibility in purchasing and greater biodiversity.
Successful Appeal of the PG County Decision to Allow a Royal Farms Gas Station Next to Sligo Creek Park
A determined group of neighbors and FOSC prevented a proposed 16-pump gas station alongside Sligo Creek Park. Through the combined efforts of FOSC and the Carol Highlands Neighborhood Association (CHNA), the gas station developer Royal Farms withdrew its zoning application.
On January 12, 2023 Royal Farms formally withdrew its application to operate a gas station and convenience store at the southwest intersection of East-West Highway and Riggs Road. The site directly abuts Sligo Creek Park and would have placed the gas pumps within 100 feet of the creek itself, presenting a serious risk from carcinogenic benzene fumes to wildlife and people.
Thanks are due to everyone from CHNA and the site’s immediate neighbors for testifying before the Zoning Hearing Examiner (ZHE) last fall. Following a ruling in favor of Royal Farms by the ZHE, Paul Rowe of CHNA successfully recruited invaluable assistance from both the Environmental Law Clinic at the University of Maryland Law School, whose students and faculty crafted our appeal to the full County Council, as well as the legal team at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation who formally represented FOSC and CHNA.
Jeff Cronin and Jason Clayton with CHNA were very active in organizing opposition to the proposed gas station and coordinating testimony at the original hearing before the ZHE. Michael Wilpers represented FOSC in this effort. Well done, all.
The FOSC Advocacy listerv is open to watershed residents who are interested in contributing to FOSC's advocacy efforts. Join the listserv!
The Advocacy Committee tailors its advocacy approach depending on the nature of the issue. Often, we will sign on to a letter, joining several or dozens of other groups. In more selected instances, we’ll engage in a longer and more direct and intensive process that could involve multiple letters, meetings, and potentially years-long involvement. If there’s a question or a new major issue, we’ll make sure the FOSC board votes on whether to take it on.
The Advocacy Committee's involvement in two complex issues, the Purple Line and Beltway Expansion, illustrate how FOSC advocacy varies depending on the issue. Both projects would cut across our watershed. But the way we’ve engaged decision-makers on these issues has been different. Read more on the Advocacy Issues page.
Join the Advocacy Committee and advocate for responsible Creek and Community policies
Please join us in writing, calling and testifying on important issues for the health of the Creek and watershed residents. The Current Issues page has more information on the issues on which FOSC currently advocates. Larger issues are explored on pages devoted to those topics: Synthetic turf, Beltway expansion, and the Purple Line. The Letters and Testimony page has sample letters and testimony you may use to advocate individually on these issues.
If you are interested in advocating for Sligo Creek with FOSC, please contact Advocacy Committee chairperson Kit Gage at [email protected].
The Montgomery County Council recognized FOSC's accomplishments at a ceremony on Sept 26, 2019.