Entering the Next Chapter with Blue Water Baltimore
In 2021, Maryland State Delegate Tony Bridges led legislation improving forest conservation , environmental justice, and voted for clean water on policies related to stormwater, transportation, and land use. All of this will serve him well as he begins his new role as Executive Director of Blue Water Baltimore.
As is true in many states, Maryland's General Assembly is comprised of part-time legislators, most of whom have jobs back home in their communities that they balance during the annual 90-day session. This unusual calendar and expertise is well-suited for Blue Water Baltimore, an important clean water, community education, and advocacy organization working in Baltimore City and the surrounding region.
As the 2022 legislative session began, the Executive Director and Delegate took a few minutes to answer some questions about his vision for the organization.
Tell us about Blue Water Baltimore and its mission
Blue Water Baltimore's mission is to restore the quality of Baltimore's rivers, streams, and Harbor to foster a healthy environment, a strong economy, and thriving communities. For too long, Baltimore's waterways have been plagued by trash, toxins, sewage, and polluted stormwater. These problems do more than harm our environment; they threaten the health and well-being of our residents, communities, and local businesses. We work to change this through direct environmental restoration, movement-building, policy advocacy, enforcement of pollution regulations, and scientific monitoring.
What are you most excited about in your new role at Blue Water Baltimore?
Blue Water Baltimore is in an exciting phase. We're about to begin our new strategic plan; we're seeking a new facility for our offices, lab, and nursery; and we have a lot of great new staff on board. I'm looking forward to helping steer this ship into a new chapter that centers the communities where we work and focuses more on root causes and long-term outcomes.
What is one of your current projects you are the most excited about?
I am really excited to help BWB develop its next strategic plan. We're working with an equity consultant now to help us build our skills in understanding the communities where we work and the systems and history that have shaped them. Our goal is to write this next plan with a strong equity analysis that will help us put our values into practice even further.
What issue area do you hope to focus on more of in the future? How is it relevant for clean water restoration?
We're raising funds now to launch a pilot community science program, inviting residents of the Back River Watershed to receive training as volunteer water quality monitors and participate in monthly sampling days. This will not only give us more data for internal planning, but will also reinforce the fact that every person in our watershed has the right to be involved in its protection. After 11 years, we know that the most important resource we have as an organization is our members. The more we can inspire, train, and prepare others for this fight, the quicker we'll win—and the more equitable that win will be.
What do you hope to gain from being a member of the Coalition?
The Coalition has already been so beneficial to our organization. As we face the accelerating climate crisis, it's more obvious than ever that we have to work together. From organizing to get bills passed at the state level to developing better communications strategies, CCW has accelerated our learning and the pace of our work together.
Kristen Harbeson is the Political Director at Maryland League of Conservation Voters and the Choose Clean Water Coalition's Maryland State Lead