# Local Government (GLG)

## Title 25. Public Watershed Associations

### Subtitle 2. Petition to Establish Watershed Association

#### Section 25-201

A petition to establish a watershed association shall be filed with the designated officer of the county in which all or a majority of the land in the watershed or subwatershed area to be affected by the proposed watershed association is located.

#### Section 25-202

(a) The petition shall:

  (1) clearly describe the area's location, boundaries, and problems to be addressed by the establishment of a watershed association;

  (2) describe the public benefit or the public health, safety, or welfare that would be promoted by establishing a watershed project for watershed protection, flood prevention, recreation, soil conservation, drainage, or the conservation, development, storage, use, and disposal of water for any beneficial purpose; and

  (3) request the establishment of a watershed association for the purposes listed in item (2) of this subsection.

(b) A petition is valid only if signed by at least one-third of the landowners or the owners of at least one-third of the land in a watershed or subwatershed area.

#### Section 25-203

(a)

  (1) The petition shall be accompanied by a report from the local soil conservation districts serving the area to be affected by the proposed watershed association.

  (2) The report shall state:

    (i) the size and location of the area to be affected by the proposed watershed association;

    (ii) the nature of the problem to be addressed;

    (iii) the type of treatment believed to be needed and the benefits anticipated;

    (iv) whether the proposed watershed association is feasible and is generally supported by the landowners in the area;

    (v) whether the proposed watershed association will benefit the public and promote the public health, safety, and welfare;

    (vi) the name of the proposed watershed association, in the form of the "________ Public Watershed Association"; and

    (vii) the number of directors, equaling not less than three, to serve as the board of directors.

(b) The local soil conservation districts shall file with the report maps that show:

  (1) a general delineation of the area to be affected by the proposed watershed association; and

  (2) the area's location in each county in which the proposed watershed association lies.

#### Section 25-204

(a)

  (1) The county commissioners, county council, or Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City shall examine the petition and report at the first meeting after receiving the petition and report.

  (2) If the county commissioners, county council, or Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City find the petition and report are not in proper form or not in compliance with the law, the petition and report shall be returned to the petitioners to be corrected and resubmitted.

  (3) If the county commissioners, county council, or Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City find the petition and report are in proper form and in compliance with the law, the county commissioners, county council, or Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City shall set a date for a public hearing on the petition and report.

(b)

  (1) At least 10 days before the hearing, the county commissioners, county council, or Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City shall:

    (i) publish notice of the time and place of the hearing in a newspaper of general circulation in each county in the area in which the watershed association would be located; and

    (ii) send notice of the hearing and any later hearing to the:

      (1) Department of Agriculture;

      (2) State Soil Conservation Committee in the Department of Agriculture;

      (3) Department of the Environment; and

      (4) Water and Science Administration in the Department of the Environment.

  (2) The notice of the hearing shall state that a copy of the report is available for inspection in the office of the designated officer.

(c) A copy of the report shall be available for inspection in the office of the designated officer.

#### Section 25-205

If the land described in the petition is located in two or more counties, the county commissioners, county council, or Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City of an affected county may exercise the jurisdiction conferred in this title, but the venue shall lie in the county in which the petition is filed.

#### Section 25-206

(a) At the hearing on the petition and report, the petitioners, any affected local soil conservation district, and any other person may appear in person or by counsel and object to any part of the report.

(b) The county commissioners, county council, or Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City may:

  (1) disapprove the petition and report and return them to the petitioners for amendment in view of the objections presented; or

  (2) approve the petition and report as submitted or amended.

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Md. Code Ann., Local Gov't (as displayed at mgaleg.maryland.gov, October 16, 2026)