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Baltimore Co. Allots $3.3M For Restoration Of Stream That Runs Into The Chesapeake Bay

PARKVILLE, Md. (WJZ)-- Protecting the Chesapeake Bay and private property. A troubled stream in Baltimore County will undergo a massive restoration. Some residents say it's long overdue.

Adam May has the story.

Erosion along Jennifer Run Stream in Baltimore County is so bad, trees and property are being wiped out.

"I just don't want to lose my house at some point," Parkville resident Sharon Murphy said.

Murphy has lost 50 feet of land in her Parkville backyard.

"The kids come back here and play and I'm always telling, 'Don't stand on the edge' because underneath, it's like a plateau," she said.

This week, county and state officials announced plans for a $3.3 million restoration.

The issues with Jennifer Run are blamed on a lack of environmental regulations on development decades ago.

"I think we're a lot better 50 years later, but now we're stuck resolving the problems when we made bad decisions," Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz said.

Water from Jennifer Run eventually feeds into the Chesapeake Bay. During heavy rains, flooding carries harmful sediments.

"The main goal here is to not only control flooding but improve water quality as it flows into the Gunpowder Falls and the Chesapeake Bay," Vince Gardina, director for Baltimore County's Department of Environmental Protection and Sustainability, said.

More than a mile of the stream will be redone, including Murphy's backyard.

"I'm kind of apprehensive at this point until I actually see the result," Murphy said.

Baltimore County has two dozen similar projects in the works around the county.

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