I Love Deep Creek Blog

Deep Creek Lake is located in Garrett County, the westernmost county in Maryland with a land area of approximately 423,680 acres or 662 square miles. Garrett County has a population of 29,846 according to the 2000 census, and is the least densely populated county in Maryland. Oakland is the county seat. The county lies entirely within the Allegheny Plateau, a physiographic area which is characterized by deep forests, diverse wildlife, and rich river valleys. These natural resources combined with a close proximity to major metropolitan areas such as Pittsburgh, Washington, and Baltimore, attract a wide variety of recreational users. Deep Creek Lake is Western Maryland's premier tourist destination.

The Lake was created in 1925 when the Deep Creek hydroelectric project was constructed. The land which was flooded by construction of the dam as well as many properties surrounding the newly created lake had been acquired by the power company. Eventually, the Pennsylvania Electric Company (Penelec) began divesting itself of some of the real estate surrounding the lake, although a buffer zone around the lake was retained. Over the next few decades, the Deep Creek Lake region developed as a recreational resort region. In 1968, Penelec was issued a license to operate the facility by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Penelec, as the lake owner, had established corporate policies and procedures for managing recreation and access to Deep Creek Lake. In 1980, the State of Maryland agreed to take over management of recreation and access at Deep Creek Lake. Lake management regulations were promulgated through a public process beginning in 1981 and were updated in 1986, 1988, 1989 and 2000. These regulations are still in effect and provide the basis for the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) lake management operations.

On September 26, 1991, FERC determined that the Federal government should not maintain jurisdiction over the Deep Creek Lake project. The State of Maryland issued a water appropriation permit in 1994 to guide the maintenance of lake levels and discharges for hydro-electric generation as well as recreational activities in the Youghiogheny River.

In 1999, General Public Utility, Inc (GPU), Penelec's holding corporation, and the State of Maryland entered into negotiations for the transfer of the lake bottom, buffer zone properties and certain other parcels owned by the power company. The sale of these areas to the State of Maryland was completed in 2000 for $17 million. The dam, intake, tunnel and power plant were not acquired by the State. General Public Utility eventually sold these assets to Sithe Energy. During its 2000 session, as the sale was being finalized, the Maryland General Assembly passed legislation to guide future management of Deep Creek Lake.

The new law enacted by the General Assembly established a Deep Creek Lake Policy and Review Board (PRB). The PRB is required to meet a minimum of four times per year and is charged with advising DNR on matters relating to lake fees, budget and management. All fee and regulation changes must be approved by the PRB. In addition, the PRB and DNR were mandated to develop a Deep Creek Lake Recreation and Land Use Plan by June 2001 that provides for the wise use, protection and management of the natural and recreational resources of Deep Creek Lake. It was specified that the Deep Creek Lake Recreation and Land Use Plan address, at a minimum, the following items: Lake Water Quality, Shoreline and Buffer Area, Adjacent Land Use, Zoning, Carrying Capacity, Visitor Access, Recreation Areas, Commercial Uses, Private Uses and the Recreational Activities of fishing, boating, docking, hiking, water sports, scenic appreciation and interpretive programs.