Master Watershed Steward candidate Teresa Weathington Guzman is leading implementation of the “Sloping GreenScapes of Clocktower” project in the Clocktower Crossing community, a hilly street loop near the Little Patuxent River with 141 townhomes, in Columbia, Maryland.
Clocktower Crossing entered into a mentorship agreement with the Howard County Watershed Stewards Academy (WSA) in September 2022. Resident Teresa Weathington Guzman completed the Master Watershed Steward certification course in the Fall of 2022. The project has been funded by the Howard County Community Stormwater Partnership and serves as Teresa’s Capstone project, which is required to complete the certification program.
Current area versus Planned Shade Garden
This project involves two primary activities that will decrease pollutants in the stormwater that flows from the community directly into the Little Patuxent River.
- A contractor has been engaged to design and install a new conservation landscape, a rain garden, and up to 20 trees – all using plants that are native to our region.
- The project will increase resident awareness on storm drains, rain harvesting, and the importance of conservation landscapes and native plants to slow the flow of water in the community. This will be achieved through a resident survey and several events:
- At the project launch BBQ, residents will learn about planned spring/summer activities, discuss best management practice (BMP) installations under design by the contractor, and consult with Master Watershed Stewards and Master Gardeners on how to slow the flow of stormwater.
- In the spring, there will be a series of Pull and Plant events to remove non-native invasive plants at two sites and replace them with native gardens.
- In the summer, the project will host a stormdrain stenciling event.
Stay tuned, Clocktower residents! Watch for Save the Date door hangers and mark project events on your calendars. These activities will be great opportunities to help improve stormwater and erosion issues in the community and to connect with neighbors.