Pollution comparable to trash, oils, chemical compounds and sediment are usually present in stormwater runoff from developed urbanized areas. There may be an growing emphasis on treating stormwater runoff with using Greatest Administration Practices (BMPs), comparable to bioretention areas, permeable pavement, sand filters and rain gardens. These BMPs assist to filter out pollution previous to the runoff getting into our rivers, streams, lakes and coastal waters. NAVFAC Washington strives to be a superb steward of the setting by developing BMPs all through Navy installations within the Nationwide Capital Area. Roughly 680 BMPs have been constructed throughout NAVFAC Washington, an funding of $60 million. Moreover, to make sure these BMPs are functioning correctly, practically $5 million is invested yearly to keep up them.
Along with the implementation of stormwater therapy services, the Navy has centered on the stabilization and enhancement of wetlands and waterways in and round Naval District Washington (NDW) installations. Thus far, NAVFAC Washington has stabilized and enhanced over 24,000 linear toes of shoreline and 6,500 linear toes of streams. These shoreline and stream restoration tasks assist to scale back erosion and cease sediment from getting into the Chesapeake Bay. Wherever doable, the Navy strives to make the most of pure technique of stabilization to boost stream and shoreline habitat. Pure strategies embrace marsh and seashore habitat creation, forested and emergent wetlands, native plantings, and rock stabilization comparable to breakwaters, sills, cascades, weirs, and swimming pools. For development tasks which have impacted wetlands, the Navy has collaborated with inner and exterior companions, such because the Maryland Division of Pure Assets, to create emergent and forested wetland in adjoining watersheds. Probably the most sizeable particular person wetland encompassed 5 acres and was accomplished in 2022 at Cedar Level Wildlife Administration Space in Welcome, Maryland.
NAVFAC Washington tasks have had a major and tangible impression on the resilience and adaptability of the Navy mission. By means of stabilization and enhancement of the pure setting, NDW installations are protected against erosion, lack of shoreline and actual property, floods and storm surge, and the ensuing inevitable injury to mission-critical infrastructure. These stream and shoreline tasks create wildlife habitat and assist the Navy meet environmental conservation targets.
BMP and shoreline/stream restoration tasks have contributed to lowering our Complete Most Each day Load (TMDL) of pollution into the Chesapeake Bay. The TMDL is a historic and complete “air pollution weight loss plan” to revive clear water within the Chesapeake Bay and the area’s streams, creeks, and rivers. These tasks have prevented practically 4,200 kilos of complete nitrogen, 1,500 kilos of complete phosphorus, and a exceptional 3.7 million kilos of sediment per 12 months from getting into the Chesapeake Bay. Preservation of native ecosystems permits the Navy to coach and develop applied sciences that enable warfighters to function in practically each theater on the globe.
The NAVFAC Washington Environmental group is dedicated to working to enhance the water high quality of the Chesapeake Bay and enhancing the Navy’s mission.
