Protect one of the healthiest tributaries in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

Save the Mattawoman Creek Watershed!

The Mattawoman Creek is one of the the healthiest and most productive tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay because its watershed is protected by forested lands. It supports a world class bass fishing industry, anadromous fish that swim up from the Potomac River and the Chesapeake Bay to lay their eggs, clean water and air, wild animals, trees, recreation, and is our children’s heritage.

Now, a controversial four-lane highway, the Charles County Cross-County Connector Extension, is proposed to cross this jewel of the Chesapeake Region. If built, a new major highway with the accompanying increase of sprawl development and traffic, paving over of parks, farmlands, and forests, would destroy the Mattawoman Creek Watershed. TAKE ACTION

Another major roadway, the proposed Waldorf Bypass also threatens the Mattawoman. This bypass, a segment of a stealth outer beltway, would hurt our streams and wetlands and aquative resources, and spur massive additional growth. INFO

New roads and sprawl also reduce our quality of life by degrading public facilities and services such as schools and fire and police response. Preserving this precious resource is critical to our region's efforts to combat the threat of global climate chaos. Preserving the Mattawoman will help counteract the effects of Global Warming, while working to stop other contributions to Global Warming will help protect the Creek.

Documents and Factsheets

Mattawoman Briefing Booklet (pdf)

Mattawoman Creek Factsheet (pdf) (html)

Army Corps Letter to Charles County about proposed CCC highway (doc)

The Smarter Growth Alliance for Charles County (SGACC) Press Release 12-2008 (doc)

The SGACC June 2009 "Trouble Ahead: Road Map to a Smarter, Greener, and More Prosperous Charles County" (pdf)

Other Articles
News Release - Charles County Connector (pdf) (web)

US Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) applauded the Charles County Commissioners' efforts to bring passenger rail transit service to Waldorf and White Plains from the Branch Avenue Metro station

BUT, the Indian Head Science and Technology Park Infrastructure Connection stimulur project is of great concern. The new highway is proposed to connect the Charles County Connector to the Technology Center. The present location proposal for the Technology Center is 260 acres of 100% forested and with over 100 acres of Mattawoman Stream Valley. This "high risk" industrial park's proposed location is next to an elementary and a middle school. [NOTE: The best place to locate the Technology Center is on the base in Indian Head, where it would help secure the mission of the base]

News Article - Majority Supports Connector Proposal (Percentage drops if alternatives discussed) (web)

A recent survey shows a majority of Charles County residents support the cross county connector. 59% voted in support, while 24% opposed the plan.
However, when told the connector will cost the county $60 million, 52% of those surveyed opposed the plan, and 38% remained supportive. Similar percentages were recorded when the interviewees were told of the threat the road poses to Mattawoman Creek.
73% of citizens think the railroad should be a priority above the cross-county connector.
More ways to get involved and preserve the Mattawoman Watershed:

Global Warming threatens the Mattawoman.

Join the Sierra Club Cool Cities campaign to fight Global Warming.

Encourage Charles County and it's towns to sign onto the U.S. Mayor's Climate Protection Agreement, pledging to reduce global warming gas emissions. Join the Southern MD Cool Cities team
Use Green Development techniques, such as Green Buildings, Native plants, Green Roofs, Rain Gardens, Rural Clustering, and Storm Water Management
Article on the Mattawoman Watershed, the Bay, and Global Warming

Sprawl development threatens the Mattawoman.

Stop sprawl development and reduce traffic, to reduce carbon dioxide emissions that cause Global Warming...and to avoid paving over one of our last remaining wild places.

Sprawl and Global Warming factsheet (pdf) (html)
Take personal action: Take public transportation, Set up a carpool, Bike when you could have driven

The Mattawoman needs ecosystem restoration.

Participate in Ecosystem Restoration.

Reduce erosion, sedimentation, and pollution
Remove invasive species (attend Charles County stewardship outings in the Mattawoman Watershed!)
Leave forests and trees standing
Plant native plants, restore barren areas – Maryland Native Plant Society

Water pollution threatens the Mattawoman.

Stop Water Pollution.

Prevent, identify, and quickly clean up spills of sewage, chemicals, and toxic substances. To report a spill contact the MDE at (866)633-4686.
Don’t dump! We live in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, so all the water that drains through our area eventually reaches the Bay - after passing through our local watersheds; materials dumped into open sewer drains will flow directly in our important and irreplaceable waterways.

Contacts:

Find out how you can take action...

Team Leader: Bonnie Bick, bonniebick@gmail.com

Visit www.mattawomanwatershedsociety.org

email: info@mattawomanwatershedsociety.org

Please check www.mattawomanwatershedsociety.org for latest updates!

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