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Beyond the Potomac Spill: How Infrastructure Stewardship Shapes Compliance Risk

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The recent sewage spill into the Potomac River began with the structural collapse of a 72-inch interceptor sewer line built in the early 1960s — a major trunk line carrying wastewater toward regional treatment facilities. The failure released hundreds of millions of gallons of untreated sewage before emergency bypass pumping could be installed. Response efforts continue, with federal assistance joining local and state crews. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has supported stabilization and site protection. Investigations into the cause remain underway. Even so, public debate has already shifted toward assigning responsibility — with elected officials, river advocates, and commentators pointing fingers across agencies and jurisdictions. At the same time, the utilities and government entities involved have pivoted toward cooperation under established interjurisdictional agreements and defined operational roles. More than simply a news story, this is a case study in how regional system de...
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New Year, New Approaches to Resilience

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  A year into the current federal administration, organizations working on climate resilience , watershed restoration , and infrastructure are operating with different expectations. The work continues, but the context has shifted. Federal funding is less predictable. Regulatory alignment often requires more explanation. Public conversations feel more charged, even as the underlying challenges—flooding, land loss, grid reliability—remain familiar. In Maryland, these shifts are playing out in real time. Some federal grants awarded to local governments and nonprofits have been cancelled or suspended, with disputes unresolved and reinstatement uncertain unless projects can be clearly defended as consistent with current national priorities. Energy policy, in particular, has become a flashpoint. Litigation continues over a planned offshore wind project near  Ocean City , while rising electricity demand—driven in part by  data centers  and electrification—has pushed r...
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The Great Lock-In… for Nonprofits

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The first cool mornings of September, the shift in the light, and the sound of school buses on the road all signal that fall is here. Trees start to turn, migratory birds gather, and gardens wind down. In nature, fall is a season of transition and preparation—and the same can be true for nonprofits. This year, social media has given that idea a new spin with something called “The Great Lock-In.” It’s a Gen Z trend about focusing hard from September through December—locking in on goals to finish the year strong. Environmental nonprofits don’t need TikTok accounts to participate. But the idea of a fall lock-in is right on point: dedicating time and energy now to shore up the policies, training, and practices that will sustain your mission through winter and into the next growing season. Here are a few things worth “locking in” this fall: 1. Review Your Core Policies Take a fresh look at the backbone documents that keep your organization strong: Bylaws – Do they reflect your current boar...
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Meeting the Moment: Finding Opportunity in Uncertain Times

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  If you’re feeling unsettled right now, you’re not alone. Across the country—and especially here in Maryland—people doing important work are staring down a moment of real uncertainty. Researchers counting on federal grants, local governments trying to balance their budgets, businesses navigating shifting regulations, nonprofits wondering if their funding is about to dry up. It’s a tough time to plan when so much seems up in the air. Recent events have only heightened the tension. A White House executive order temporarily freezing federal funds sent organizations scrambling, unsure if the money they’d been counting on would still come through. Maryland’s $3 billion budget deficit is already sparking debates about cuts and tax increases, with the impacts likely to ripple through state contracts and programs. And in the energy world, the explosion of AI-driven data centers has been driving major infrastructure decisions—until new research (most recently the release of DeepSeek) threw...
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From Risk to Resolution: Crafting Legal Strategies That Work for You

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What would you do?” It’s one of the most common questions clients ask their lawyer. While it may seem like a fair question, the answer might not be that helpful. Sure, a lawyer can tell you what they might do if they were in your shoes, but the better focus is on what you should do—based on your unique goals and risk tolerance. This post explores the conversation around risk that should take place between you and your lawyer and the role both parties play in developing effective legal strategies. While we offer examples from the environmental and natural resource space, these principles apply to any attorney-client relationship. Types of Risk: Financial, Litigation, Reputational, and More When engaging a lawyer for matters involving transactions, disputes, or policy development, you need to weigh several types of risk: Financial Risk – Will the resolution cost more than the reward? Can future costs be contained? Litigation Risk – What are the chances of winning or losing, and how doe...
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