During a Maryland summer, there are a few things us Marylanders can’t go without. Fresh steamed blue crabs with some ice cold Natty Bohs, pair that with cheering on the Baltimore Orioles, you've got yourself a triple threat. But if we want those delicious crabs to be sticking around in the picture, we need to take care of the Chesapeake Bay. Rainwater and stormwater management plays an important part in that.

The blue crab population in the Chesapeake Bay has been steadily declining over time from a combination of pollution, habitat loss and over harvesting. Our roles as land development engineers come into play with trying to reduce the pollution impacts and protect habitats through proper stormwater management practices.

When rain falls on rooftops, driveways, parking lots, roads, lawns and construction sites, it picks up dirt, oil, fertilizer, pet waste, grass clippings and other pollutants. That runoff often flows into storm drains, streams, rivers and eventually makes its way to the Chesapeake Bay. When too much of that junk gets into the water, it can cause problems. Fertilizer and other nutrients can cause algae blooms, which lower oxygen in the water and block sunlight from entering it. This deprives the wildlife of oxygen and kills the underwater grasses that crabs need for shelter and food. This my friends, is where stormwater management helps.

Rain gardens, bioretention areas, swales, drywells and conservation areas help slow the water down, spread it out and sometimes let it soak into the ground. Basically, stormwater management gives dirty rainwater runoff a chance to get cleaned up before it reaches Chesapeake Bay.

So, the next time you see a stormwater management device sitting in a parking lot, community, or out front of a home, know that it’s doing more than just sitting there. It’s helping the Chesapeake Bay and is making Maryland feel like Maryland. Cleaner water means more crabs, and better summers to come!

So, gather your friends, throw some crabs on the table, crack open that ice cold Natty Boh and remember “LET’S GO Os”!! I know Gunner and Pete enjoy them.

Cheers!