FREEDOM AREA CITIZENS’ COUNCIL

Reservoir Watershed Management Agreement Signed

On February 24, 2003, Carroll County signed the Watershed Management Agreement, reaffirming a promise to Baltimore City and the state to protect the water in the Liberty Reservoir. The signing of the agreement opens a new chapter in Carroll County's history. It is one of cooperation with surrounding jurisdictions and environmental protection. Present at the signing were all three Carroll County Commissioners, Julia Walsh Gouge, Perry Jones, and Dean Minnich, Baltimore City Mayor Martin O'Malley, and Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith.

Commissioner Gouge received several ovations at the event, as this was the culmination of years of effort on her part to protect the Freedom District's water supply. The act of signing shows the commitment of the new Board of Commissioners to protect the environment, to work cooperatively with the surrounding metropolitan area, to listen to the voices of their citizenry, and to promote smart growth in Carroll. Zoning Administrator and FACC member Neil Ridgely states, "These commissioners have sent a strong signal to their citizens and the other Regional government partners that they place the protection of water among the top of their priorities."

Although the act of signing is complete, there is still more work to be done. At the heart of the Agreement are the "Action Strategies" that the County must develop. These "Action Strategies" include specific management actions in categories such as water quality monitoring, point source management (where water flows from pipes), and public awareness. In the past, the Agreement and related "Action Strategies" have lead to the improvement of waters feeding into Liberty Reservoir. Once the new "Action Strategies" are in place, Carroll should see a practical implementation of the Watershed Management Agreement.

The culmination of a number of events brought us to the Watershed Management Agreement that was signed this February. Baltimore City and Carroll County agreed in 1945 that Liberty Reservoir would be built as a water supply to Baltimore. Construction of the 3,100-acre reservoir was complete in 1954. Then, in the 1970's, Liberty Reservoir suffered from pollution. In 1979, Carroll County signed the first Watershed Management Agreement. In 1984, Commissioner John Armacost signed an updated and strengthened agreement. These original agreements provided for reducing pollution, water quality monitoring, and public awareness of matters affecting reservoir water quality. Commissioner Gouge reaffirmed this agreement in 1990. At this point, the major purpose of the Agreement was to assure safe and ample drinking water for the area.

In 1996, a second reaffirmation was proposed. Carroll County refused to sign it because it limited urban development within the watershed area. Because of the rapid development of Carroll, the county was facing a diminished water supply. The Freedom District relies on Liberty Reservoir for much of its water. Baltimore would not allow Freedom to increase its draw from the reservoir unless the Watershed Management Agreement was signed. In 2000, the Commissioners targeted Piney Run Lake as a water source, rather than signing the Agreement. Citizens opposed this source because it would limit the recreational use of the lake and leave no alternative water source for future Carroll generations. More importantly, the Commissioners lacked evidence that Piney Run was the best water alternative, and failed to inform citizens of other options. Despite the outcry from Carroll citizens and groups like FACC, the Commissioners continued to plan for the Piney Run Water Treatment Plant. Piney Run became the center of attention at FACC's "Save the Lake" rally and the Watershed Management Agreement became a hotly debated issue in the 2002 elections.

After the 2002 elections, Carroll had a new Board of Commissioners. As one of their first acts, the Commissioners stopped work on the Piney Run Water Treatment Plant and announced they would sign the Watershed Management Agreement. By signing the agreement last month, the Commissioners have increased Carroll's potential water sources: a series of wells in South Carroll, additional water from Liberty Reservoir, and expansion or renovation of the existing Liberty Water Treatment Plant.