The rise in employment has led to the
transformation of southern St. Mary's County. Residential and
commercial development along with other associated infrastructure
such as roadways and parking lots, have been
constructed to accommodate the nine percent population
increase from 1998 to 2003 (Maryland State Data Center, 2004).
This development has led to an increase in the amount of
impervious surfaces, which in turn, restricts the amount of
rainwater percolating into the earth. Restricted absorption
results in excess runoff that endangers small streams by
overloading them with sediment during storm events.