Report an Environmental Concern

• Natural erosion—Streams are dynamic systems therefore minor erosion is to be expected. The flow in streams will overtop the banks or flood periodically.
• Yard waste along streams—Placing leaves and grass clippings along stream banks degrades water quality.
• Riparian buffers (vegetation around streams and waterways)—Baltimore County’s policy is to allow riparian buffers to grow naturally and not be maintained.

Foam can be natural or a sign of pollution. Foam can occur naturally in streams when dissolved organic compounds act as surfactants. They reduce the surface tension of the surface film of water. This allows fine bubbles and froth to form, accumulate on the surface, and be moved into calm areas by wind and water currents. A good way to tell if it’s natural or manmade is the smell. Naturally occurring foam usually has an earthy or fishy smell, where as the manmade detergent foam has more of a perfume smell. Don't hesitate to contact us if you notice something suspicious.

Also called iron flocculent, can be found in slow moving or stagnant areas of a stream. It can appear as a rusty, orange slime and may create an oily sheen on the water surface. This is a naturally-occurring bacteria. You can tell the difference between an iron bacteria oily sheen and real oil by poking the surface of the water with a stick. If the globules move back together again, this is a true oil sheen.