Building Better Stream Monitoring Programs: Strategies, Innovations, and Local Government Stories

Stream monitoring programs are a cornerstone of watershed management, but their design, requirements, and implementation can vary dramatically from one jurisdiction to another. Join Eric Naibert (Montgomery County, MD), Chris Ruck (Fairfax County, VA), and Matt Gallagher (Anne Arundel County, MD) for an inside look at three of the region’s most robust monitoring programs. Each presenter will provide a brief history of their program, discuss the regulatory and permit drivers that shaped it, and showcase innovative approaches that have advanced local watershed science and management. Topics will include Anne Arundel County’s PCB source tracking efforts, stormwater pond riparian buffer study, and eDNA methods development and watershed-scale stream assessment; Montgomery County’s Special Protection Area (SPA) program, long-term planning efforts, and collaborative partnerships; and Fairfax County’s BUBBA-winning monitoring programs assess biological stream conditions above and beyond permit requirements, along with developing a rapid physical assessment tool to identify unstable areas for potential stream and outfall restoration. Whether your community is building a new monitoring program or looking to expand an existing one, this webinar will provide practical best-practice case studies and lessons learned from leaders in the field. Webinar recorded on 8/11/2026