For some Howard County environmental groups, the top priority is Lake Elkhorn in Owen Brown in Columbia.
For others, it?s stormwater management.
Still others are focused on the hazards of pesticides.
Enter the recently formed Environmental Committee of the Howard County Citizens Association.
The committee is intended to connect the groups to distribute information and raise awareness among residents and government officials on the myriad of environmental issues.
“You have a lot of good environmental groups that are working in their niches, and there?s no real communication between them or coordinated efforts,” said Cathy Hudson, head of the committee. “I want it to be a synergy, not just one more group.”
The group also can act as an advocate for residents who don?t feel they are being heard or don?t know how to get involved, Hudson said.
“So often, you end up with angry communities that have legitimate concerns and don?t know where to turn,” she said.
The group can then work with government officials to understand the issues and determine priorities, she said.
For example, one issue is county regulations for new development setbacks and whether developers are following these regulations to protect streams and trees, Hudson said.
Hudson said she wants to find out how government officials are ensuring the environment is being protected from developments.
The group held its second meeting last month, and it is still determining its role, said Susan Overstreet, environmental planner at county?s Department of Planning and Zoning.
The department is acting as an information resource to the group, she said.
The committee is needed to help set priorities and communicate to government officials, residents and businesses alike, said Ned Tillman, chairman of the board of the Howard County Conservancy.
Tillman said he hopes it becomes a clearinghouse of major issues, so people can skim a list for what interests them or connect with other concerned groups.
“There?s great interest, but it?s probably weakened because it?s so fragmented,” Tillman said.
“I think it?s certainly time to do it.”
