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DEP Home : Water : Monitoring in Montgomery County
For questions about monitoring in Montgomery County, contact DEP:
311 Email: AskDEP@montgomerycountymd.gov
The water monitoring program is the cornerstone of the Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) entire watershed program. Water quality monitoring includes:
Stream monitoring supports water resource management in the County in many ways:
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Streams are often at the receiving end of rainfall (stormwater) runoff from land surfaces and local stormwater drain-pipe systems. Stormwater pollution, as well as sewage from leaky sewer lines and contamination from landfills, can shock a stream system for a brief period. But if these influences are persistent and repeated, they can degrade streams and the aquatic habitat for insects, fish, stream salamanders, and other biological communities.
Water monitoring identifies where pollution is degrading stream conditions and helps DEP to prioritize its watershed restoration efforts. Learn how you can help protect our watersheds.
All County watersheds are monitored in detail once every 5 years according to a defined schedule. The map below illustrates the 5-year rotational biological monitoring schedule. The streams in SPAs are monitored every year.
In 2010 DEP is monitoring the following watersheds for its Baseline Monitoring Program, in addition to all SPAs:
Proposed baseline monitoring schedule for Montgomery County, MD.