Deep Creek Lake POA Help Cover Sediment Study Funding Shortfall
Apr. 5, 2012
Deep Creek Lake Property Owners Association (POA) officials announced this week that they have joined with the Garrett County commissioners to make up a funding shortfall for Phase II of the Deep Creek Lake sediment study.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) plans to begin Phase II next week. The first phase was completed for selected DCL coves during 2010–2011.
“Phase II will be a continuation of those studies, targeting the entire lake to evaluate sediment distribution, character and chemistry of the sediment, and to determine alternatives to control and cope with sedimentation,” said POA board member Scott Johnson.
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The cost estimate for Phase II is $180,000, of which $65,000 has been committed to by the DNR, leaving a $115,000 shortfall for funding. The POA has joined the county commissioners to cover that shortfall.
“At a special meeting of the board of directors called by President Troy Ellington on Saturday, there was a unanimous vote that the POA, as a stakeholder in the welfare of the lake, would contribute $20,000,” Johnson said. “In the meantime the county has committed to make up the difference of approximately $95,000.”
By so doing, the study can begin immediately, he stressed.
“The importance of starting Phase II immediately is to do much of the sampling prior to the sub-aquatic vegetation starting to grow as the lake water temperature begins to rise,” Johnson said.
Funded totally by the DNR, the POA, and the county, the effort will be a scientific study, giving a data base to go forward into the future to study trends of sediment deposits and knowing how to deal with its management, according to the POA.
“Members of the POA and the county commissioners have been providing input to the DNR that will greatly improve the validity of the study,” said Johnson. “The DNR has accepted much of that input and incorporated it into the scope of the work.”
He added that sedimentation is a natural process whereby soil is deposited through erosion into a body of water.
“The existing bathymetry map (water depth) of the lake is inadequate for this study, and hence, a new map of the entire lake represents a major effort of this study,” Johnson said.
According to the POA, Phase II study has four objectives:
1. To map the accumulated sediment in Deep Creek Lake.
2. To determine the physical and chemical properties of accumulated sediment.
3. To identify realistic, feasible, sustainable alternatives to address the removal and/or relocation of the sediment.
4. To identify the sources of the sediment inputs to the lake and develop strategies to minimize additional accumulations.
Results of the study will be released as they become available. A final report is due in approximately one year.
“The report will receive widespread dissemination to all stakeholders to allow for the maximum benefit of this investment,” said Johnson.
The POA has conducted two workshops over the past two years involving a wide range of Deep Creek Lake stakeholders.
“Brainstorming sessions, along with panel discussions, have proven to bring awareness to areas of concern, sediment being one of those concerns about the long-term health of the lake,” Johnson said. “The relationships among all the stakeholders have greatly improved through those workshops. The POA wishes to express its appreciation and thanks for the excellent working relationship that has been established between its membership, the county, and state offices. As stakeholders, we all want to maintain the wonderful recreational experience that Deep Creek Lake offers.”
More here.
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Deep Creek study reaches Phase II
From Staff Reports Cumberland Times-News
2012 — MCHENRY — The Department of Natural Resources is planning next week to begin Phase II of a Deep Creek Lake sediment study, according to the Property Owners’ Association of Deep Creek Lake.
Phase I was completed for selected coves during 2010-2011.
Phase II will target the entire lake to evaluate sediment distribution, character and chemistry of the sediment, and to determine alternatives to control and cope with sedimentation, Scott Johnson, association board member, said.
The cost estimate for Phase II is $180,000, with $65,000 to be funded by the DNR, according to Johnson. Working with the Garrett County commissioners, the association has agreed to help make up the $115,000 difference.
At a special meeting of the board of directors, called by president Troy Ellington, members voted unanimously to contribute $20,000.
The county has committed to about $95,000, according to planning director John Nelson. The funding will allow sampling to begin prior to subaquatic vegetation starting to grow as the lake water temperature begins to rise.
The study will provide a database to examine trends of sediment deposits and how to deal with their management. Members of the association and county staff have been providing input to the DNR to incorporate into the scope of the work.
Sedimentation is a natural process whereby soil is deposited through erosion into a body of water. The existing bathymetry map — the water depth of the lake — is inadequate for this study.
Phase II will include mapping the accumulated sediment in the lake, determining the physical and chemical properties of the sediment, addressing the removal and/or relocation of the sediment and identifying the sources of the sediment and strategies to minimize additional accumulations.
Results of the study will be released as they become available, with a final report is due in approximately one year.
The association has conducted two workshops over the past two years. Brainstorming sessions along with panel discussions have brought awareness to concerns about the long-term health of the lake.
More here.
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! I take great pride in referrals, and I assure you, I will take great care of your friends, family & colleagues!
Waggoner To Give School Closure Recommendation
Apr. 5, 2012
The Garrett County Board of Education will hold its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, April 10, beginning at 4 p.m. The meeting will be held in Southern Middle School cafeteria.
Following public comment at 4 p.m., the board will meet in closed session until 5:30 p.m. At that time, public agenda topics will involve recognition of Girl Scout Troop 55021 and FIRST Robotics Team 1629, as well as Maryland wrestling champ-ion Austin Shaffer.
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Action will be taken on the 2012-12 school calender and the 2012 retiree recognition dinner.
Information items will deal with special education procedures and Interim Superintendent Sue Waggoner’s recommendations concerning budgetary issues and school closings.
A second public comment will be held at 7:30 p.m. The public is invited to attend.
More here.
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! I take great pride in referrals, and I assure you, I will take great care of your friends, family & colleagues!
Early Spring
The earliest spring most can remember has taken place in Garrett County this year, with trees and flowers in full bloom almost a month before their usual explosions of color.
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The Easter holiday in this area is not generally quite so vibrant. Best wishes to all Christians who will celebrate the most important festival of the church calendar this week. Photo by John McEwen.
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Garrett residents ask for wind ordinances, setbacks
Elaine Blaisdell Cumberland Times-News
FROSTBURG — A petition signed by 39 residents asks Garrett County commissioners to impose realistic setbacks or ordinances that would protect families and homes from a proposed wind farm on Four Mile Ridge and part of Big Savage Mountain.
The petition will be presented to the commissioners at a land management ordinance work session on Tuesday.
“In addition to aesthetic and environmental impacts, industrial-scale wind turbines built near people’s homes and properties have the potential to increase health and safety risks, lower property values and diminish quality of life,” said the petition.
Eleven agreements have been recorded and executed with property owners for wind turbines on St. John’s Rock Ridge, Jim Torrington, chief of the Garrett County Permits and Inspections Division, explained to the Times-News last month.
Big Savage Mountain is in the vicinity of St. John’s and has viewshed and watershed impacts on Frostburg, according to Rich Harris, Frostburg director of community development.
The city has a system of complex springs and wells in the vicinity of St. John’s Rock Road that provides water for the region to supplement the Piney Dam source.
In February, a meteorological tower permit was issued to Synergics Wind Energy LLC for a tower along St. John’s Rock Road. Synergics has proposed 24 wind turbines.
House Bill 747 would give county commissioners the authority to enact ordinances relating to setbacks and the decommissioning of wind turbines.
The companion measure, sponsored by Sen. George Edwards, has been unanimously approved by the Senate, according to a news release.
“Senator Edwards and I sought to put these protections in place prior to windmill development on Garrett County’s mountaintops,” said Delegate Wendell Beitzel. “With passage of this bill, the commissioners will have the authority to establish setback and decommissioning provisions for wind turbine projects.”
As of Friday, HB 747 still needed to be voted on by both the House and Senate.
The legislative session is scheduled to end by midnight Monday.
Contact Elaine Blaisdell at eblaisdell@times-news.com.
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Scientists: Increase in US Earthquakes Almost Certainly Manmade
Saturday, 07 April 2012 09:22
By Joe Romm, ThinkProgress
A U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) team has found that a sharp jump in earthquakes in America’s heartland appears to be linked to oil and natural gas drilling operations.
As hydraulic fracturing has exploded onto the scene, it has increasingly been connected to earthquakes. Some quakes may be caused by the original fracking — that is, by injecting a fluid mixture into the earth to release natural gas (or oil). More appear to be caused by reinjecting the resulting brine deep underground.
Last August, a USGS report examined a cluster of earthquakes in Oklahoma and reported:
Our analysis showed that shortly after hydraulic fracturing began small earthquakes started occurring, and more than 50 were identified, of which 43 were large enough to be located. Most of these earthquakes occurred within a 24 hour period after hydraulic fracturing operations had ceased.
More here.
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"What After-School Programs Mean To Me"
Apr. 5, 2012
Young Jarrett Miller had the attention of both Sen. George Edwards (seated) and Del. Wendell Beitzel one day last month when the youngster joined several other local advocates of after-school programming in Garrett County. The Partners After School (PAS) representatives from Accident and Oakland attended After School Advocacy Night at the state capital in Annapolis, hosted by the Maryland Out of School Time Network.
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Jarrett wrote a letter about how important after-school programming is to him, and read it to the two elected officials as part of the day’s activities. Partners After School programs are provided by the Garrett County Local Management Board (LMB), Garrett County commissioners, Governor’s Office for Children, and United Way of Garrett County. Programs are administered by the Garrett County Health Department and Garrett County Community Action Committee. For more information, persons may call the LMB at 301-334-7445 or 301-895-3111.
More here.
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Bay foundation: Report points to need for runoff controls
Most-polluted list has 37 additional waterways
by margie hyslop, Staff Writer
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation is pointing to a report that adds 37 streams and waterways to the state’s most-polluted list as evidence of the need to curb runoff in urban and suburban areas….
…According to MDE, among Maryland waters most polluted by runoff from urban or suburban areas were streams linked to the Potomac River in Montgomery, Frederick and Washington counties; the Anacostia River in Prince George’s and Montgomery counties; the Little Patuxent River in Anne Arundel and Howard counties; Liberty Reservoir watershed in Carroll and Baltimore counties; Back River in Baltimore city and Baltimore County; Lower Gunpowder Falls in Baltimore County; West River in Anne Arundel County and the Deep Creek Lake watershed in Garrett County.
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Forgo final walk-through at your own risk
Sellers don’t always play by rules when moving out
By Dian Hymer
Inman News®
Purchase contracts often include a provision for the buyers to walk through the property with their real estate agent about five days or so before closing. This is not a contingency of the contract.
It provides the buyers an opportunity to confirm that the property is in substantially the same condition it was when their offer to purchase was accepted by the sellers, and to confirm that any repairs the sellers agreed to do have been completed.
If you do a walk-through and discover that repair items haven’t been done per the contract or that the sellers’ possessions haven’t been completely removed from the property, ask your agent to put the findings in writing. Your agent can then deliver the “to do” list to the sellers so that there is no question about what remains to be done before closing.
More here.
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! I take great pride in referrals, and I assure you, I will take great care of your friends, family & colleagues!
General Assembly increases flush tax, sends to O'Malley
by Annie Linskey
11:48 a.m. EDT, April 9, 2012
Maryland’s House of Delegates just passed a bill that doubles the “flush tax” — a fee on water use — sending it to Gov. Martin O’Malleyfor his signature. Passing the bill was a key part of the governor’s agenda this year.
The bill increases the fee from $2.50 per household per month to $5. Funds will be used to upgrade wastewater faciliites. It passed the House 89 to 48.
The bill (HB 446) was amended to exclude parts of the state, like Garrett County and parts of the Eastern Shore, that are not part of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Del. Maggie McIntosh, the House floor leader, said the change would not have a “material” impact on the funds raised by the change.
More here.
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! I take great pride in referrals, and I assure you, I will take great care of your friends, family & colleagues!
