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Howard County DPW highlights stormwater priorities, tensions over stream restoration and credits
Summary
The Department of Public Works outlined storm drainage and stormwater priorities for FY26 including pond and outfall repairs, a new green-streets initiative and continued stream-stabilization work. Council members pressed staff on the scale of stream-restoration projects and how the county calculates credits under the MS4 permit.
Department of Public Works Director Yosef Gabeta and DPW bureau chiefs presented the storm drainage and stormwater elements of the FY26 capital program and answered extended council questions about stream restoration, credits and the county pproach to green-streets projects.
DPW described recurring pond-repair work performed under the storm-drainage program (D1177), noting the county inspects ponds and selects 7— projects per year for rehabilitation. Gabeta said the department is pursuing a "green streets" pilot and is working with a consultant to identify locations and tools (bio-retention, curb extensions, tree plantings) that can be used where site conditions allow. "We do not have any projects completed just yet," he told the council while showing example treatments used elsewhere.
Counc…
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