Blue Water Baltimore and Ascension St. Agnes Hospital unveiled the construction of two watershed restoration practices July 30 that they hope will reduce the pollution and flooding from the hospital’s property.
The area affected includes nearly three-quarters of an acre of the property, and more than a half-acre of pavement from the Ascension St. Agnes Hospital into the Violetville neighborhood of Southwest Baltimore.
A collaborative grant by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources funded the project.
A bioretention and rain garden were designed to reduce the impact of higher-intensity storms by capturing approximately 1.8 inches of polluted runoff each time it rains. The projects were completed to improve the water quality of Gwynns Falls, a stream in Baltimore City and County that suffers from flooding due to impervious surfaces.
Ascension St. Agnes Hospital gave up three parking spaces to increase the size of the project and absorb more rain. The maintenance team of the hospital will maintain the project to ensure its function.
“It’s exciting to see this project completed and know that future hospital visitors will be able to enjoy these gardens and hopefully learn a little about the effects of stormwater runoff on our urban watersheds,” said Darin Crew, director of Restoration for Blue Water Baltimore.
“We are so happy to partner with Blue Water Baltimore in our continuing efforts to care for our communities and make these choices that promote a sustainable environment,” said Olivia Farrow, vice president for external affairs at Ascension St. Agnes.
Blue Water Baltimore, funded by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, managed the design and implementation grants working with a green team from the hospital. The project was designed by Cityscape Engineering, constructed by Environmental Quality Resources, and counts toward Baltimore’s goals to clean up the Chesapeake Bay.
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