BMC Works to Protect Region’s Drinking Water: Local Leaders Sign Historic Reservoir Agreement

In November 2005, just steps away from the dam at Loch Raven Reservoir, top officials from Baltimore City, Baltimore and Carroll counties, the Baltimore Metropolitan Council, two state agencies and two quasi-governmental agencies signed a new voluntary Reservoir Watershed Management Agreement and Action Strategy.

Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith said the cooperative program involves a comprehensive approach that will deal with emerging issues facing the watersheds for years to come.

"Protecting our watershed is an ongoing challenge. This is a voluntary partnership, and, I’m proud of the good work that can be accomplished when leaders of the Baltimore region come together," Smith said.

Baltimore City owns and operates the water system which includes Loch Raven and Prettyboy Reservoirs located in Baltimore County; and Liberty Reservoir which is wedged between Baltimore and Carroll Counties. Together, the three lakes provide high-quality water for approximately 1.8 million people in Baltimore City and portions of the five counties within the region.

However, because the many tributaries that feed the reservoir system are part of three watersheds that cross local jurisdictional boundaries, a regional effort must be made to protect them.

"Each of the signatories added new or enhanced commitments to this agreement. It will be important that each jurisdiction takes responsibility to protect our water supplies," said Julia W. Gouge, president of the Carroll County Board of Commissioners.

Baltimore Mayor Martin O’Malley agreed. "We are all stakeholders in this effort," he said before signing the agreement.

The new agreement and strategies replace a 1984 Reservoir Agreement and Action Strategy. Important provisions of the earlier version were kept, while many new commitments were added that strengthen the original agreement.

Some of the new provisions in the action strategy include: a technical evaluation of all the existing stream monitoring programs, a new comprehensive forest management program, an evaluation of applicable land preservation programs, new inspection and maintenance programs for sewers, a new monitoring program for sodium and chloride levels in the reservoirs and an increased public awareness effort.

Charlie Conklin, who is a board member of the Gunpowder Valley Conservancy, views the new commitments as a very positive step forward. The Conservancy is one of a number of community-based environmental groups that reviewed the new agreement. "Having this new document gives us all a direction to work in. It will hold feet to the fire," he said.

Mr. Conklin believes that one of the biggest challenges ahead is improving public awareness about the importance of the region’s water supply. "We have to continue to work together to improve public awareness. In today’s world, it is hard to get everyone excited, but this is really important work."

Under the new agreement, program participants will use the BMC web site to promote the Reservoir Watershed Program. The signatories have all agreed to continue to encourage and assist local citizens’ groups concerned about the watershed.

BMC staff works with representatives from local and state agencies to manage the day-to-day operations of the Reservoir Watershed Program. "Throughout 2005, the Reservoir Technical Group and the Reservoir Watershed Committee have worked tirelessly to help develop the new Agreement and Action Strategy," said Larry W. Klimovitz, Executive Director of the Baltimore Metropolitan Council.

In addition to hosting Reservoir Technical Group meetings, which are open to the public, BMC staff and staff from local and state agencies presented the newly negotiated Agreement and Action strategy to interested citizen groups in mid-October, while it was undergoing final legal review.