Green Living News from Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection

Thursday, June 5, 2025

• Did Someone Say "Hurricane Season?"
• DEP Workday With Poolesville High School's Global Ecology Program
• Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week, June 7-15
• Juneteenth Holiday Collection Slide
• Gas Leaf Blowers Are Out. Electric is In!
• Upcoming Events

Did Someone Say "Hurricane Season?"

Hurricane season is here and it is important to prepare! Floods are among the most common and dangerous natural disasters. They can develop slowly or strike suddenly, especially during heavy rain, tropical storms, or dam failures. 

Here are 4 tips to stay prepared and informed:

1. Learn the terminology:
   • Flood Watch - Be Aware: Conditions are right for flooding.
   • Flash Flood Watch - Take Action: Flooding is happening or will happen soon.
   • Flash Flood Warning - Seek Higher Ground Immediately.
2. Sign up for Alert Montgomery to receive emergency alerts.
3. Make an emergency plan.
4. Research flood insurance.

Visit the County's Flooding webpage for more information and resources.

DEP Workday With Poolesville High School's Global Ecology Program

On Monday, June 2, our RainScapes team partnered with Poolesville High School's Global Ecology program for a student workday. Students learned about native ecology, gained hands-on experience restoring the environment and heard about different careers in the environmental field. 

For the last 16 years, students from Poolesville High School's Global Ecology program and staff from DEP have partnered to restore native habitats in the Lathrop E. Smith Environmental Education Center and maintain stormwater best management practices. 

Interested in seeing snippets from the day? Check out our Flickr album, Facebook post and Instagram reel.

Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week, June 7-15

Dive into Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week with us! This year's theme is: The Bay in Your Backyard! Everything we do on land impacts our water, and ultimately, the magnificent Chesapeake Bay. 

Did you know that Montgomery County is home to over 150 subwatersheds? A watershed is an area of land that all flows into a single body of water, like a lake, river, stream or bay. 

Why is this important? Any rain that falls on Montgomery County will drain into a branch or creek, then make its way to the Potomac River, the Anacostia River and eventually the Chesapeake Bay!

If pollutants like litter, salt, pet waste, etc. are left on the ground, they will end up in our water, making our streams unclean and unhealthy for us and the critters living there.

What actions can we take to protect the Chesapeake Bay?

1. Become a responsible pet parent by picking up after your furry friend and disposing of their waste in designated areas. Did you know that pet waste left on sidewalks or lawns can wash into storm drains? From there it goes into our waterways polluting the Chesapeake Bay? It’s not just unsightly—it’s harmful to the ecosystem.
2. Pick up litter when you see it. The Anacostia River watershed spans 176 square miles in the District of Columbia and Maryland and is home to over 40 species of fish, over 200 species of birds, and over 1 million people. Imagine how much litter that many people can generate. Sign up to join a cleanup on our Stream Steward Volunteer website.
3. Go organic! Did you know that traditional lawn care chemicals can harm not only your lawn but also the critters that call it home? Opting for organic lawn care methods helps keep critters, you and your family safe from harmful pesticides and fertilizers! Learn more about the benefits of organic lawns on our Organic Lawn Care website.
4. Invest in a RainScape. Rain gardens, bioretentions and dry ponds are like sponges. They are designed to catch, filter and slowly release rainwater into the ground. They prevent pollution like sediment or trash from reaching our local streams and provide valuable habitats for pollinators. Check out our RainScapes website to learn how you can use native plants to keep our waterways clean. 

Juneteenth Holiday Collection Slide

All County recycling and trash collection services will follow a slide schedule, with the last pick-up on Saturday, June 21. 

Did you know you can sign up for collection reminders and alerts? Sign up on our website.

Gas Leaf Blowers Are Out. Electric is In!

A friendly reminder to all residents and businesses that the use of handheld, backpack and walk-behind gas leaf blowers and vacuums must stop by July 1, in Montgomery County! Unsure of what to do next? Visit our website for tips and additional information.

Upcoming Events

• Friday, June 6: Senior Housing Resource Expo, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
• Saturday, June 7: Party in the Park, 11 a.m.- 3 p.m.
• Sunday, June 8: Grupo Mulheres do Brasil Community Event, 2-4 p.m.
• Thursday, June 12: Long Branch Power in the Park, 6-7:30 p.m.
• Thursday, June 26: Let's Go SOLAR TkPk!, 7-9 p.m.
• Illumination Station
  • Monday, June 10, 10:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.
  • Thursday, June 12, 10:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.
  • Monday, June 17, 10:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Check out our community calendar for more details about upcoming events.

Visit our website and join us on Facebook, X (formerly know as Twitter), Instagram and BlueSky!