Watershed Management & Conservation

CA has made great strides in the preparation of projects that will help to improve the watershed areas in and around Columbia. The Watershed Advisory Committee selected 18 projects that they felt would make a difference in improving stormwater and other flows in streams and tributaries, as well as provide for reduction of sediment that eventually ends up in Columbia lakes and then the Chesapeake Bay.

Many of the projects are now ready for construction after spending what seems like an eternity (to those who want to see progress) in the permitting and design world. The past year saw CA make applications for and receive over $700,000 in grant money to initiate several new programs such as soil testing, and the construction of rain gardens on private property.

The video in this post offers information about how CA will improve Watershed areas in Columbia. CA also continues to work with regulatory agencies to make improvements to stormwater regulations and other legal means to improve water quality and reduce sediment flow.

The Capital Improvements Program includes appropriations of about one million to complete some of the planned watershed improvements, and to get other projects off the drawing board and to the construction phase.

Senior level administrators have received goals for the coming budget and evaluation period that include items such as:

1. We will reduce energy consumption at CA owned properties by 5% per year over the next 24 months (beginning in May, 2011)
2. We will increase the amount of recyclable materials generated by CA owned facilities by 10% per year over the next 24 months
3. We will reduce fossil fuel usage by 3% per year over the next 36 months
4. We will reduce the amount of open space lands that require maintenance by fossil fuel powered equipment by 10% over the next 5 years
5. We will reduce the amount of paper used at all CA owned properties and facilities by 25% per year over the next 24 months

Primary Focus Points:

• Bringing more planned watershed improvement projects to the construction phase
• Working with public and private agencies to ensure that stormwater guidelines are followed
• Reducing CA’s carbon footprint by reducing demands on natural resources
• Retrofitting CA facilities to be more energy efficient
• Developing and distributing information about soil testing and rain garden programs

Employ Energy Company Logic

In the overall scheme of things CA uses enough energy that it is imperative that CA have an overall energy strategy. As stated in a publication by Deloitte “Every company is an energy company. This might come as a surprise to many of them. But a decade from now, a company without an “energy and sustainability” department could be as unusual as one without a human resources department. Either that, or it might be out of business.”

While CA is not in the business of directly producing energy, it is in the business of conserving energy, reducing carbon dioxide and other particulate emissions. CA is working to improve processes that use energy so that less energy will be used in the future.

The video in this post provides a brief description of how CA will be thinking in terms of being an energy company.
CA will also address energy issues by asking all team members to find ways of being more energy efficient and to generate new and innovative ways that CA can do more with less in terms of energy.



Primary Focus Points:

• Reducing the use of fossil based fuels
• Experimenting and researching the use of renewable energy sources for multi-purpose uses
• Develop efficiencies through supply chain processes using vendors that are environmentally conscious
• Utilize appropriate open space areas for the generation of renewable energy supplies
• Retrofit CA owned buildings with energy efficient equipment and strive for LEED certification whenever feasible and affordable