This process, occurring from urbanized north county to rural south county, causes damage to infrastructure - including roads and sewer pipes - and threatens properties in many communities.

Even in the absence of federal imperatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which could result in significant fines or consequences for new development if our clean water objectives are not met, this is a step that the county has to take now and should have taken years ago. A failure of leadership has gotten us to this point, and it is tremendously encouraging to see bipartisan support for this critical legislation, particularly when we have become accustomed to gridlock at other levels of government.

Without a significant, dedicated funding stream to undertake this restoration work, our rivers will not be spared from the annual ravages of "dead zones," fish kills and swimming advisories associated with elevated fecal bacteria levels.

In the same way that dedicated utility funds have allowed us to overcome generations of deferred maintenance and upgrades to our sewer and drinking water infrastructure since the early 1980s - when they were in an embarrassing state of disrepair - the creation of a dedicated stormwater fund will allow us to begin to seriously correct centuries of damage within a matter of a decade or two.

Most people in Anne Arundel County are willing to pay a bit more per month for clean water if they can be assured that the money will be used for the purpose that it was raised for and that it will also help create good jobs in our communities. This legislation was crafted so that it will do precisely that.

It is encouraging to see members of the council recognizing this important need and displaying the courage to act now and lead Anne Arundel County to a solution.

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