Erik Michelsen on Watershed Protection and Restoration

What if there was an environmental restoration movement you could see from your backyard? In the latest episode of the Pittman & Friends podcast, County Executive Steuart Pittman sits down with Erik Michelsen, Deputy Director of Public Works and Chief of Watershed Protection and Restoration, to unpack how Anne Arundel County is working to clean our water, protect our forests, and implement smarter growth along the Chesapeake Bay.

Erik explains how a dedicated stormwater fee now funds rigorous maintenance of aging drains, ambitious stream retrofits in older neighborhoods, and living shorelines that replace failing bulkheads with native marsh. We revisit the Berrywood project that reconnected yellow perch spawning habitat, explore a South River marsh stabilization that could reuse dredge material to rebuild wetlands, and highlight strategic land preservation wins at Quiet Waters Retreat, Glebe Heights, and more. With the Green Infrastructure Master Plan guiding acquisitions and stronger forest conservation rules reshaping development, the county is stacking long-term water quality gains.

Community power runs through every story. The Watershed Stewards Academy trains residents to lead projects and pursue grants. We also touch on the new Whole Watershed Act, which is focusing state dollars on the Severn River watershed via a nonprofit-led coalition. Behind the scenes, tighter interagency coordination keeps land deals, tree protections, and restoration moving.

If you care about the Chesapeake Bay, our rivers, forests and open spaces—this conversation offers practical models and real results. Follow for more grounded stories of restoration, share this with a friend who loves the environment, and leave a review to help others find the show.

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