Volunteers, businesses team up to clean up

Volunteers with the Spa Creek Conservancy have launched a new effort to get businesses involved in cleaning up the creek.

Called the "Spa Creek Stewardship Program," the effort pairs up the conservancy's experts with business owners to come up with plans to help the environment.

Businesses who register for $50 will get an assessment of their property and operations, with suggestions on how to reduce pollution and stormwater runoff that sullies the Annapolis creek. The conservancy will help line up volunteers and secure grants if necessary to help businesses take on eco-friendly projects.

Businesses and environmentalists don't always get along or see eye-to-eye. This program is intended to change that dynamic.

"We want to be able to go in with a very positive message," said Mel Wilkins, a conservancy volunteer.

Businesses that complete projects identified by the conservancy will earn increasing levels of public recognition from the conservancy.

Businesses that complete 50 percent of identified projects will be dubbed "stewards" and those who complete 75 percent will be "champions."

The projects will focus on limiting stormwater runoff. The land area that drains into the creek, called the watershed, is heavily developed and covered in parking lots and rooftops. During storms, rain flows across all of those paved surfaces, picking up dirt, chemicals, nutrients and other pollution, and sending it flowing into Spa Creek.

Stormwater controls such as rain gardens, rain barrels and vegetated areas can slow and treat polluted stormwater.

Initial response to the program has been "phenomenal," Wilkins said.

Conservancy members already have signed up two local auto dealers to participate, Annapolis Hyundai and Rich Morton Lincoln Mercury, both on West Street.

Patrick Wergin, general manager of the Hyundai dealership, said he immediately thought the program was a great idea.

"With auto dealerships, everybody has the stereotype that we're polluters and we want to break that paradigm," he said last week at a kickoff event for the program.

Conservancy President Amy Clements said the neighboring car dealerships are a great starting point for the program.

"We think it will be a wonderfully visible spot," she said.