Baltimore, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Restoring Water Quality

By Christopher Busta-Peck, March 18, 2008

1. Restoring Water Quality Marker

Inscription. After centuries of abuse, the Gwynns Falls is being restored as a healthy stream. Government, civic groups, and scientists monitor water quality here and work together to implement restoration projects. Volunteers pick up trash, plant trees and grasses to stabilize stream banks, promote pollution reduction initiatives, and conduct environmental programs at schools and along this trail. Major storms have devastating effects on the waterway. Since the colonial era, 70 percent of the watershed's forest has disappeared and been replaced by hard, impervious surfaces such as roads and parking lots. The Gwynns Falls' tributaries have been buried in storm drains. As a result, the land cannot absorb the rainfall, and runoff scours the streambeds of the Gwynns Falls.

[illustration]
Unhealthy Stream
Rain runs off roofs, roads, and parking lots in such volume and velocity that it scours and erodes streambeds and banks.

Healthy Stream
Rain falls on trees and other vegetation and evaporates, reducing water temperatures and slowing seeping into the ground and eventually into the stream, filtered and cleaned of pollutants.

Erected by Gwynns Falls Trail Council.

Marker series. This marker is included in the

Marker location image. Click for full size.

By Christopher Busta-Peck, March 18, 2008

2. Marker location

Maryland, Gwynns Falls Trail marker series.

Location. 39° 16.31′ N, 76° 38.933′ W. Marker is in Baltimore, Maryland. Marker can be reached from Washington Boulevard. Touch for map. Marker is a short distance from the trailhead parking lot, in the Carroll Park Golf Course. Marker is in this post office area: Baltimore MD 21230, United States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Carroll Park at the Golf Course ( within shouting distance of this marker); Of Fords, Felles, and Falls ( approx. 0.2 miles away); Carrollton Viaduct ( approx. 0.4 miles away); Carroll Park ( approx. half a mile away); Mt. Clare ( approx. 0.6 miles away); Camp Carroll ( approx. 0.6 miles away); Mount Clare ( approx. 0.6 miles away); a different marker also named Mt. Clare ( approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Baltimore.

Categories. • Natural Features •

Nearby water quality image. Click for full size.

By Christopher Busta-Peck, March 18, 2008

3. Nearby water quality

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. This page originally submitted on March 19, 2008, by Christopher Busta-Peck of Shaker Heights, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,422 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 19, 2008, by Christopher Busta-Peck of Shaker Heights, Ohio.