Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Maryland wind farm draws protests
Environmental groups have threatened to sue Constellation Energy Group Inc. for risking protected bats at a planned Western Maryland wind farm, but the company says it will honor endangered species laws.
Save Western Maryland and the Maryland Conservation Council gave Constellation notice June 23 that they plan to attempt to block its Criterion wind project on Backbone Mountain in Garrett County. They argue the project puts at risk Indiana bats and Virginia big-eared bats, both federally protected as endangered species. Federal endangered species law requires 60 days’ notice before filing such a lawsuit.
But Constellation officials said they are in the process of applying for what is called an “incidental take permit,” which allows private entities to undertake projects that could harm or kill endangered species if they work with federal fish and wildlife officials on a conservation plan. Constellation is going through that process, spokesman Aaron Koos said.
The Criterion wind project is a major one for Constellation and Maryland. The company spent $140 million in April to buy it from Clipper Windpower Inc., including wind turbines and plans that had already been crafted. That came on top of $90 million Constellation committed to spending on solar projects in 2010. The Garrett County project will put 28 wind turbines on ridges around 3,360-foot-high Backbone, the state’s highest mountain.
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Jay on 07/13 at 08:25 AM
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Park Quest 24/7: Nearing the finish line - Outdoors Girl
This morning I pulled the last T-shirt from my duffel bag. It’s red, for stop.
I’m in my final day of Park Quest 24/7, a personal challenge: visit all 24 state parks across the state participating in the state’s annual Park Quest contest in seven consecutive days.
I’ve been wearing a different color shirt each day, partially to remind me that I’ve turned a page and partially to ensure that, well, I remain nominally presentable.
On Day One in Garrett County last Wednesday, the shirt was green for go. Then it was cream, purple, light blue, pink and yellow.
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Illegal dump seems water pollution culprit - Friends of Deep Creek Lake
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Deep Creek site cleaned up twice after tests showed poor quality
Megan Miller
Cumberland Times-News
Oakland — OAKLAND — An illegal garbage dump located on private ground in Garrett County could be the cause of ongoing water quality problems in Deep Creek, according to local officials.
The dump site is located off Mayhew Inn Road east of the intersection with Sang Run Road. Water from nearby Deep Creek flows directly into the Youghiogheny River just below Swallow Falls.
The organization Friends of Deep Creek Lake discovered water quality problems in Deep Creek through sampling and testing conducted in 2004, and repeated in April 2009. Both rounds of testing showed the creek’s water quality to be very poor. Director Barbara Beelar attributed the testing results largely to contamination from the dump site.
“Volunteers found everything from old tires, microwaves, batteries and household items to multiple animal carcasses at the site,” Beelar said. When the organization discovered the garbage dump, members reported it to county officials.
A cleanup crew removed one refrigerator, 13 tires and an additional 1,940 pounds of trash from the site this spring. That cleanup followed less than one year after a similar project at the site in summer 2009, in which an unknown amount of trash was removed.
Both cleanups were organized by county officials and the work was done by local inmates, with assistance and equipment provided by the county roads department.
This spring the county also took steps to prevent more trash from being dumped in the future, by blocking a pull-off area near the dump site with a row of large rocks.
The water sampling was conducted as part of a Maryland Department of Natural Re-sources program called Stream Waders, in which trained volunteers take water samples from streams throughout the state. The samples are analyzed in an Annapolis lab.
The water’s quality is determined by the types and numbers of tiny aquatic animals found living in it, since certain organisms can only live in healthy streams while others typically live in poor-quality water.
“This is an excellent example of collaboration among many parts of Garrett County government and the local watershed group,” Beelar said. “We will resample the water next spring and expect there will be major improvements.”
If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! 877-563-5350 Deep Creek Lake Info, Business Directories, Classified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on http://www.deepcreekalive.com/!
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Jay on 07/13 at 08:24 AM
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$30,000 ARC grant puts Garrett Trails step closer to goal of connecting recreational paths
Megan Miller
Cumberland Times-News
Oakland — OAKLAND — Advocates for construction of a Garrett County trail system have received major funding support in the form of a $30,000 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission.
The funds will go toward planning efforts for a countywide trail network, approximately 150 miles long, that will connect many of the county’s towns to the Great Allegheny Passage.
“Back in 2002 there was a master recreational trail plan done,” said Paige Teegarden, spokeswoman for the nonprofit volunteer organization Garrett Trails. “Last year we took a look at that plan and said, so how can we tie some of these different ideas together into a whole that takes advantage of the environment today?”
Teegarden said the project, with the working title “Garrett Loop,” will connect to the Passage and create a “spine of good trails” suitable for hybrid bikes to ride throughout the county.
Though the loop’s exact route hasn’t been established, it will run roughly from Meyersdale, Pa., to Grantsville, to Deep Creek Lake, and through Mountain Lake Park, Oakland and Friendsville.
Garrett Trails Vice President Mike Dreisbach said in May that he believes the project could bring a major economic boost to the county.
“It’s an expensive trail ... but at the same time, if you look at the impact of the Great Allegheny Passage, this trail could be easily a $75 (million) to $100 million-per-year tourism generator,” he said.
It would also give county residents the option to travel from point to point by trail instead of highway, Teegarden said.
The ARC grant, announced July 6, will fund preliminary planning for trail routes and investigation of property ownership, she said. In addition to ARC funds, Garrett Trails will provide $20,000 and Maryland Program Open Space will provide $10,000.
Teegarden said she hopes grant money will be available for construction to begin on some segments as early as 2011.
The ARC grant award was announced by the offices of U.S. Sens. Barbara Mikulski and Ben Cardin.
“Garrett County is one of Maryland’s top tourist destinations and strengthening its trail system will make it even more attractive to visitors,” Cardin said in a prepared statement. “Garrett County has more publicly owned land than any other in the state and this funding will strengthen Mountain Maryland by connecting the Great Allegheny Passage to the growing network of trails in Garrett County.”
If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! 877-563-5350 Deep Creek Lake Info, Business Directories, Classified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on http://www.deepcreekalive.com/!
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