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Environment Commission

Watersheds Committee

Ensuring clean drinking water, preserving and restoring streams and their aquatic life and decreasing harmful contaminants entering Rockville waterways are critical to a safe and healthy environment for Rockville citizens and the mission of the Watersheds Committee (WC).

It is the purpose of the Watersheds Committee to inform policy relevant to watershed issues in the City of Rockville. Rockville is fortunate to have more than 30 miles of streams within city limits. Collectively, these streams form three primary watersheds (Cabin John Stream, Watts Branch Stream, and Rock Creek), each of which is comprised of many sources of water, ranging from rainwater to underground aquifers. These streams feed into the larger watersheds of the Potomac River and the Chesapeake Bay.

Watersheds are affected by modification and development on land, and the runoff of sediments, fertilizers, pet waste and road salts from roads, parking lots and yards, in addition to what we discharge into our waterways. To balance management and development activities with the needs of healthy watersheds, the Environment Commission formed the Watersheds Committee to develop programs and policy recommendations for the Mayor and Council to ensure the management of Rockville's watersheds is balanced with competing land use issues. Issues addressed by the Watersheds Committee include stormwater management, stream restoration, streamside management, water quality monitoring and water quality impacts.

About the Watersheds Committee
The Watersheds Committee was formed by the Environment Commission and includes members from the commission and other Rockville volunteers, and professional staff from the City's Environment Management Division.

Anyone who lives or works in Rockville and is interested in protection of the local watersheds and water resources is welcome to participate in the working group.

To learn more about the Watersheds Committee, or if you are interested in attending an upcoming meeting, please contact the staff liaison to the working group: Lise Soukup at 240-314-8874 or lsoukup@rockvillemd.gov.

Watershed Committee Meetings
Meetings are generally held on the 3rd Wednesday of the month starting at 7:15 p.m., and usually are held at Rockville City Hall, 111 Maryland Ave. Meeting locations are posted upon entry to City Hall. Please confirm the meeting agenda, date and location prior to attending.  

For more information about Rockville's watersheds and what you can do to help keep Rockville's water clean, please visit the main watersheds page.