Latest Blog on the Harris Creek Watershed Project

Go to http://RBahr.blogspot.com/ for the Sept 20,2009 Blog RDB BHWA

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http://www.baltimorewaters.org/ Thank you,Raymond D.Bahr MD
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Concerned about the Trash Build Up with the New Paddle Wheel Trash Interceptor?

Citizens can voice their Concerns by contacting David Scott Director Department of Public Works at 410-396-3500 and Mayor Sheila Dixon at 410-396-3835. We will try and have these Officials come to an Upcoming Meeting of the Canton Community Association to get a more Complete Explanation.

The Previous Trash Interceptor has been replaced by the Department of Public Works without Input from the Baltimore Harbor Watershed Association. The DPW has now installed a Paddle Wheel Trash Interceptor that will Collect Trash behind the Walking Bridge. The Trash will become more Visible because it will have to travel a longer distance from the Harris Creek Outlet on Boston Street.

Ray Bahr MD BHWA www.Baltimorewaters.org

Baltimore Guide Article on the Harris Creek Watershed Stormwater Project

http://baltimoreguide.com/http:/baltimoreguide.com/protecting-the-source--harris-creek-renewal-efforts-underway/

Log two-Walking Tour of the 1780 Harris Creek

Walking Tour of the 1780 Harris Creek can be accomplished in less than one hour and covers about 25 City Blocks. It consists of five Legs with the First Leg across the mouth of Harris Creek that leads into Baltimore Harbor.One begins the Walk by starting at Circle Park (just below St.Casimir's Church on the South side). One walks up Boston St. from the Safeway parking lot to the Outback's restaurant.....in olden days,from the Booz Boat Yard to Tom Stodder's Boat Yard across water. In those days,it was also called the "Navy Yard" and was the place where The Frigate Constellation was built as well as many Clipper Ships used in the War of 1812. Remember that when we got our Independence in 1776,we had no Navy or no Ships and it was not until the War of 1812 that we finished the job.

Across Boston St here,we can see Harris Creek Park where there is a Public Pier that will have a Water Taxi pickup this summer. This is also the Entry to the Waterfront Promenade that travels seven miles downtown. Walking over the Pedestrian Bridge,one can look back and see the Harris Creek Stormwater Outlet and a Netting System Trash Interceptor.Monthly,this collects three to five Tons of Trash and prevents it from getting into The Baltimore Harbor

The Second Leg begins with Taking a Right at Hudson St for several blocks and turning Left on Lakewood Ave. Here, one will view the most four Beautiful Blocks in all of Canton. It is four blocks (800 to 500 Lakewood Ave) of awesome delight,punctuated by blossoming trees,wide streets,marble steps,and splendid Homes. Silence and Reverance exist despite being right around the corner from a bustling City (Eastern Ave). Take your Time walking through this area and take deep breaths,sighing peacefully as you do.

This Leg ends when one comes upon Eastern Ave. Directly across the street are steps to enter the Park. What a Beautiful Sight! It was here where Harris Creek ended as a Creek and where William Patterson had his Estate. Tributaries to the Creek came from the Northern side of the Park. Standing at Eastern Ave. and Lakewood Ave. and looking to the far left ,one can see on the Hill the Pagoda with the American Flag flying. It was here at Hampstead Hill that 10,000 American soldies were camped ready to meet the British in the War of 1812. The British were not able to get far enough into Baltimore because of the Battle at Fort McHenry. Looking to the far right,one can again see an American Flag flying over the Monument to Pulaski for his efforts in the Revolutionary War. Thus the Entrance of Harris Creek into Patterson Park at Lakewood Ave and Eastern Ave has glimpses of both the War of 1812 and the War for our Independence.

The Third Leg has us walking up Eastern Ave to the 3100 Block and turning Right on East Ave. By walking nine blocks to the South(fourth Leg),one will come upon the most Beautiful Panoramic Scene in our Country. It is the View of Baltimore Harbor from Canton Hollow or Canton Cove and across the water is Fort McHenry with our Flag flying for all to see. It was here where many Schooners would sit in wait to go into the Inner Harbor. It is here where the Bentztown Bard would write the words "Look away to Canton Hollow". It was here where Father James Gibbons would land each morning in a row boat from Locust Point where he has just said Mass for Our Lady of Good Counsel only to get ready to repeat Mass at St.Brigid's Church. Father Gibbons would eventally go on to become Cardinal Gibbons and serve forty years at the Cathedral (now Basilica).

Standing at this point and looking left to Clinton St,one remember the Marriage of Betsy Patterson to Jerome Bonaparte that was officiated by Bishop John Carroll(the first Bishop in the USA) in the Home of Captain O'Donnell at Boston and Clinton St.

This is the End of the Harris Creek Walk. One now can go to the foot of the Canton Park and catch a Water Taxi to Fells Point,the Inner Harbor or Fort MeHenry.....or one could walk up a few blocks to O'Donnell Square where one could find Food and Drink to quench one's appetite.

Thank you for visiting Harris Creek that was the Creek that built the Park that built our Neighborhoods in Canton.The Industries that came with Steam Power along our Waterfront contributed greatly to the Stability Of Baltimore Town.

Please note that this Walk was put together to highlight the Harris Creek Watershed. We now have a Project for this Watershed that we hope will reduce the 3-5 Tons of Trash coming into the Trash Interceptor each month. We hope that with Education to the 20 Neighborhoods in the Watershed and putting into practices best management actions,we can do this. If we are successful here,we can do likewise in the other 26 outlets to the Harbor....and one day,have a Clean,Safe,Fishable,Swimmable Harbor. As my wife always tells me,"no seed ever sees it's flower"....which translates to "we need your help to pass this along. If interested, www.baltimorewaters.org Raymond D.Bahr MD

Log Number One Harris Creek Watershed (246) Project

The Harris Creek Watershed is a very large Watershed (over 1200 acres) and is thought to be too large to tackle all at once. Planned at this time is to start with part of the Watershed,starting in Canton and extending North to Monument St. Funding for the Grant with Parks and People has now been finalized and signed. The Initial Strategy is now being revised and will include "touring the area with some key people",developing the Questionnaire and Survey Plan, and understanding the stormdrains in Patterson Park and Lakewood Ave before they get to the Harris Creek Outlet.

The Harris Creek Interceptor that presently collects 3-5 Tons of Trash each month is being replaced with the Paddle Wheel Interceptor. The BHWA is upset with this decision because (1) the present one just had $100,000 with of improvements and we are satisfied with it's performance and (2) the Paddle Wheel Interceptor can only be placed beyond the walking bridge.This will result in Visible Trash all the way out to this Interceptor. None the less,we will have to live withis this DPW decision. We have asked them to place Signage that will explain this to the Canton Community. Comments? Ray Bahr MD Coordinator Harris Creek Watershed (246) Project.

Harris Creek Watershed 246

The Harris Creek Watershed (GIS 246) is located in the Canton Area of Baltimore. It is one of 27 Storm Water Outlets to the Baltimore Harbor. These Outlets brings Tons of Trash daily into the Harbor. Trash on the Streets in Watershed 246 is washed by Rain Water into the Sewers that underground travel down the Watershed into the Outlet located on Boston Strret (next to the Anchorage Towers). We have a Trash Interceptor here that collects 3-5 Tons each Month before it can get into the Baltimore Harbor. What we like to do is start a Watershed Project that will Educate Citizens in the 20 Neighborhoods in this Watershed about the Source of the Unsightly Trash in the Harbor and get them to prevent Trash from getting into the Streets of Baltimore. We would also like to Teach them about BMPs which is the Acronym for Best Management Practices for managing the "run off" Rain Water. This implies directing the Storm Water or Rain Water into the Ground so that it does not reach the concrete side walks (so called "impervious surfaces). If we are successful with these two Plans,we should see a Significant Reduction of Trash flowing into the Baltimore Harbor at the Canton Site (Harris Creek Outlet). We hope that this turns out to be the "Model" for the other 26 Outlets and can likewise reduce even more Trash from getting into the Harbor. Left unsaid is the association of Trash to Bacteria and Human Infection. It is Hoped that one Day we will see a Clean Baltimore Harbor that Citizens can safely Swim in,catch Fish and Crabs and enjoy Water Events not thought possible. This is the Vision of the Baltimore Harbor Watershed Association(BHWA). Just as a Seed never sees it's Flower, Volunteers working on this Harris Creek Watershed Project may not be around when this Project comes to Fruition.......but they will have seen it in their Dreams,much like Walt Disney did in his Dreams,but was not around at the Completion of Disney World.

If interested in this Project and can bring Environmental Passion to it,Let the BHWA know