Conserve Water: Voluntary Restrictions in Effect

Howard County and the wider Baltimore region are currently under a voluntary water restriction due to historically low levels at one of the region’s primary drinking water sources, Liberty Reservoir, which has dropped to its lowest point in nearly two decades. The voluntary restriction is limited to residents who receive public water service. The Live Green Howard website has information about public drinking water in Howard County and residents can find 100 tips to conserve water from the Water Use it Wisely campaign.

Leaks are one of the largest sources of water waste. Howard County residents can call 410-313-2200 or report leaks online with Tell HoCo. 

Thanks to the participants in this year’s 20 Minute Cleanup, almost 400 pounds of litter and more than 60 bags of trash were removed from communities across Howard County. 

From Glenwood to Elkridge, Clarksville to Savage, Columbia to Ellicott City, hundreds of residents chipped in for a cumulative 86+ volunteer hours toward a shared purpose of making Howard County cleaner and greener.

Photos from this year’s 20 Minute Cleanup are posted on the Live Green Howard Flickr page.  

During this season of new growth, Howard County celebrated National Arbor Day on April 25 with a tree planting at Rockburn Branch Park West. Howard County Executive Calvin Ball joined community volunteers, Howard County Department of Recreation & Parks staff, and members of the Chesapeake Conservation and Climate Corps to celebrate Howard County’s 35th consecutive year as a designated Arbor Day Foundation “Tree City USA.”

Attendees planted 100 trees and removed invasive vines from existing native trees in the park. The Arbor Day observance followed a major environmental milestone earlier this spring, in which 46,800 trees were planted across 107 acres in Howard County in partnership with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, representing the largest voluntary planting in Howard County’s history. 

The massive tree planting supports the health of both the Patapsco and Patuxent watersheds while advancing the County’s progress toward its goals of achieving 50 percent tree canopy cover by 2030.  

The sixth grade class at Ellicott Mills Middle School planted 40 trees across the school’s grounds in early May as part of the Students Branching Out program offered by Howard County’s Department of Recreation and Parks in conjunction with the Office of Community Sustainability and Howard County Public School System.

Students learned about the County's Climate Forward plan, native trees and their benefits, and proper tree planting technique, then got outside the classroom for some hands-on learning! See photos from the event on the Live Green Howard Flickr page’s Students Branching Out album.  

As Bike to Work Week comes to a close, Howard County is celebrating with a pitstop party on Friday, May 16 (National Bike to Work Day), from 4 to 6 pm at Color Burst Park in Downtown Columbia. In addition to the health, fitness, and climate benefits of cycling, cyclists can reap savings as part of a new “Trip Rewards” program from BikeHoCo, which offers discounts at participating retailers throughout Columbia when cyclists bike there and display the Trip Rewards sticker on their bike helmet. 

Friday, May 16, is also a fare-free day on RTA buses as part of the Ride to 1 Million celebration by the Regional Transportation Agency of Central Maryland, so cyclists who need a transportation backup can take advantage of bus rides fare free (RTA stops at the transit hub at The Mall in Columbia as well as the Merriweather District, the site of the Bike *from* Work Day pitstop at Color Burst Park).  

Howard County Bee City was as busy as a bee during Earth Month, planting pollinator habitat under the new solar canopy at the East Columbia Campus and adding two “soft landing” plantings to native plant garden beds at South Branch Park in Sykesville, located on the Howard County side of the Patapsco River.  

The fourth annual Trees for Bees giveaway event at GreenFest distributed 1,650 pollinator powerhouse trees and shrubs to the community, while Bee City’s Pollinator Kits made their debut and sold out the same day. Visitors to the Howard County Government’s George Howard Building in Ellicott City are invited to see a pollinator kit in action, planted on the campus there. Visit the Bee City website to sign up to receive Howard County Bee City’s newsletter for updates about the program and upcoming events celebrating Pollinator Month in June.  

Volunteers Wanted to Spread the Buzz About Bee City

Howard County Bee City is looking for pollinator enthusiasts to join the new Bee City Volunteer Corps. Volunteers are sought to staff informational tables at community events, help with pollinator planting projects and maintenance events, and assist with other Bee City activities as they arise. 

Any Howard County resident can sign up to volunteer, and no experience with or knowledge of native pollinators or plants is required – a brief online training video is provided. Registered volunteers will be contacted via email about future volunteer opportunities.  

Spring into Farmer's Market Season

It’s the time of year where local agriculture shines and fresh produce is available multiple times a week at Howard County Farmer’s Markets. 

In addition to traditional markets, the Roving Mobile Marketplace operates five days a week to brings the market experience to ten locations around the county.  

Shopping local and adding more fresh produce to your diet is good for both our personal and planetary health. In addition to supporting the local economy and local agriculture, adding more local produce to your diet is a way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with shipping, packaging, and manufacturing processed and other foods produced outside our region.  

Howard County’s Economic Development Authority has a helpful guide to the 2025 market dates and a seasonal harvest schedule to help with meal planning that features the freshest local produce. The Meatless Monday campaign from Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future has ideas for incorporating more plant-based meals into your diet and also shares tips for preparing vegetables to maximize their appeal. 

Looking ahead, World Environment Day is June 5. According to Yale Climate Opinion Maps (2024), 70 percent of Marylanders are worried about global warming, yet only 40 percent discuss the crisis at least occasionally. As best-selling author and climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe reminded residents last month as the keynote speaker at the Faith & Waters Restoration Forum in Columbia, climate action begins with conversation. Beyond talk, Howard County Climate Forward, the County’s climate action and resiliency plan, offers practical ways for residents to get involved in reducing greenhouse gas emissions on World Environment Day and every day. 

Howard County resident and Clean Miles Club member Dennis Ayers purchased a Lexus RZ-450e in December 2023 and shares his experience below:

My wife and I have been Lexus fans for many years, so I jumped on one of the first Lexus RZ-450e models available in this area, and after 16 months of ownership, I am still very much a satisfied customer. 

It didn't take much to motivate me to switch to an EV. I’m usually an early adopter of new technology and, as a retired engineer, I believe clean energy and reduced vehicle emissions are absolutely necessary for our planet's future. 

I really love the quiet, effortless EV driving experience. Although my vehicle is an intermediate sized SUV, it is exceptionally zippy, and whether driving on the open highway or in heavy traffic, it literally jumps at my command. With an installed Level 2 charger in my garage, charging the vehicle is also very easy. I save money by charging overnight with reduced rates through my utility. Additionally, I get 3.5 to 4.0 miles per kilowatt hour which equates to around 5 cents per mile. 

For prospective EV buyers, I’d say that the decision to own an EV definitely depends on your living and driving situations. Although range anxiety is a primary concern for many, it is not typically a problem if you mostly drive locally or within Maryland. Besides, most families have a second non-EV that allows for longer trips when needed. Having a charger at home or readily available to you is a definite plus. I’ve found that the overall cost of EV-ownership is much lower than other vehicles with almost no maintenance costs and low driving costs. 

Have questions for Dennis? Register to attend the May 21 “Ask an EV Driver” webinar, in which he will participate as a panelist. See event details within the events section below. 

If you are an EV enthusiast and would like to be included in an upcoming “Clean Miles Profiles” feature, email Susan Johnson.  

Howard County residents spend an average of almost 30 minutes commuting to work, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2023), and 64 percent of Howard County workers drive alone while only about six percent carpool to work.  

A new app called CommuterCash is making it easier and more rewarding to explore sustainable commuting options anywhere within Maryland or in the Washington, D.C. metro area.  

The free app is one of many resources from Commuter Connections, a service of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments working to improve commutes in the area. CommuterCash helps residents plan their commute using car- and vanpool, transit, biking, and multimodal travel options while earning rewards.  

CommuterCash helps workers realize the benefits of sustainable commutes, including fuel savings, reduced vehicle and infrastructure wear and tear, reduced traffic congestion, and improved air quality. The app even allows users to track and understand the impact of their commutes, providing eco-driving tips, estimated fuel savings, and pollution reduction metrics.  

Commuter Connections also provides commuters with the “Guaranteed Ride Home” program, designed to provide a free ride home when unexpected emergencies arise (up to six times per year). The program gives peace of mind to workers who commute via ridesharing anywhere in Maryland, D.C., and Northern Virginia. See the program guidelines on the Guaranteed Ride Home website.  

Have something to share with Howard County’s Office of Community Sustainability about your commuting experience or your commute-related workplace policies? Take this quick commuting poll on the Climate Forward dashboard.  

The program starts June 23 and runs through August 15, 2025. Find additional program details and an application on the Howard EcoWorks website. Apply by June 1, 2025.

Looking for stormwater solutions for your community? The Community Stormwater Partnership grant offers funding to eligible nonprofits and homeowners associations (HOAs) in Howard County to implement on-the-ground stormwater treatment practices. The Office of Community Sustainability is accepting applications for the FY26 Community Stormwater Partnership grant program until June 20. Applicable projects include watershed outreach, education, and small-scale stormwater best management practices (BMPs) found in Chapter 5 of Maryland’s Stormwater Design Manual. Please note that this is a competitive grant program.

Visit Clean Water Howard’s nonprofit grants page for frequently asked questions.  

Applications for cycle 2 of the Campbell Foundation Grants Program are open through August 29. The Campbell Foundation is focused on enabling vibrant, livable communities in watershed regions.  

The grant program gives priority to projects in the Chesapeake Bay region and provides funding for a wide variety of issue areas including but not limited to underserved communities, youth, food security, and education/arts. 

Eligible applicants are government agencies, 501(c)3 public charitable organizations, and educational institutions. In FY 2025, an unspecified amount of funding is available to support awards of up to $25,000 each. A list of previously funded projects can be found online.  

The Cost of the Climate Crisis

During the 2025 session of the Maryland General Assembly, Annapolis lawmakers approved the “Responding to Emergency Needs from Extreme Weather" (RENEW) Act, which greenlights a study to assess the total economic costs of greenhouse gas emissions in the state. Advocates of the RENEW Act see the study as the first step in making polluters pay for the impacts of climate change. 

Meanwhile, researchers at Dartmouth recently developed a scientific framework that can link corporate emissions to climate change, reporting in the April 23 issue of the journal Nature. The peer-reviewed study provides a tool for potentially recouping the costs of extreme weather amplified by climate change. 

The authors find that extreme heat caused by emissions from 111 fossil fuel companies cost the world economy an estimated $28 trillion between 1991 and 2020. 

Switch Together: Last Chance for a Free Quote on Rooftop Solar

Interested in letting the sun pay your energy bills? Get a free quote on a rooftop solar installation from Switch Together, a hassle-free group buying program that aims to make solar energy more accessible and affordable for all. Offered by nonprofit Solar United Neighbors, the program uses the power of group buying to secure a competitive price through a reverse auction process in which vetted solar installers compete to offer their lowest price for a rooftop installation. The current program is expected to save the average Howard County household $6,201 on a typical-sized solar installation and the 30 percent federal tax credit can help further reduce the overall cost.

The current discount is available to residents who register by Wednesday, June 4. To learn more about Switch Together and/or to sign-up your home up for a free installation proposal, visit the Switch Together website.