County, city renew watershed pact

Baltimore City and County officials renewed an agreement to restore and protect shared Chesapeake Bay watersheds Tuesday in what environmentalists called a significant improvement to a similar pact signed four years ago.

Watershed advocates said the six-year covenant signed Tuesday is a more specific and time-driven version of a 2002 agreement between Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith and Baltimore Mayor Martin O?Malley. The pact identifies five specific target areas ? stormwater management, community greening, development, public health and trash ? as top priorities, and establishes deadlines for goals.