Water Quality Advisory Group (WQAG)

The Montgomery County Water Quality Advisory Group (WQAG) provides a formal stakeholder group for public involvement in the County's watershed protection and restoration strategies. It includes 15 resident members and 3 non-voting agency members.

The WQAG provides recommendations to the County Executive and the County Council on water quality management goals and policies, program priorities, and funding. It also provides input primarily by transmitting letters and an annual report. The WQAG was established through Chapter 19, Article IV of the Water Quality Discharge Law.

WQAG’s mission is to recommend policies, programs, and priorities that protect, maintain, and/or restore the biological, chemical and physical integrity of county streams, rivers, wetlands, groundwater, lakes, and other water resources. WQAG recommendations are considered in shaping the water resources programmatic directions of the County. 

Members

WQAG is comprised of 3 non-voting public agencies and fifteen voting representatives from each of the following community categories:

Academic and Scientific 

• Amanda Rockler, Sandy Spring, 240-393-8346, [email protected] (First term expires 5/31/25)
• Tracy Rouleau, Co-Chair, Gaithersburg, 240-316-8949, [email protected] (First term expires 5/31/25)

Agricultural 

• Travis Gorleski, Co-Chair, Derwood, 301-590-2835, [email protected] (First term expires 5/31/25)

Environmental 

• Allison Wright, Silver Spring, 919-951-8794, [email protected] (Second term expires 5/31/23)

Government Agency, non-voting 

• Bob Buglass, WSSC, Environmental Sciences Section, 301-206-0882, [email protected] (Second term expires 5/31/25)
• Amy Stevens, Department of Environmental Protection, 240-777-7766, [email protected] (First term expires 5/31/25)
• Mark Symborski, M-NCPPC, Department of Planning, 301-495-4636, [email protected] (Fifth term expires 5/31/25)

Public-at-Large 

• Keith Brooks, Derwood, 301-642-3108, [email protected] (Fourth term expires 5/31/25)
• Phillip Mariscal, Washington, 240-308-037, [email protected] (First term expires 5/31/26)
• Linda Silversmith, Rockville, 301-641-9508, [email protected] (Fourth term expires 5/31/25)

Public Agencies (non-voting)

• The Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC)
• The Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection
• WSSC Water

Department Liaison 

• Ho-Ching Fong, Department of Environmental Protection, [email protected]

Calendar of Advisory Group Activities

• 2025 Meeting Calendar (PDF)

Meeting Agendas and Minutes

Administrative Forms and Links for WQAG Members

• WQAG Procedures (PDF)

• Montgomery County Boards, Committees, and Commissions

• Volunteer Registration Form (PDF)

County Bills and Codes Concerning the WQAG

• Chapter 19, Article IV, water quality ordinance creating the WQAG