BALTIMORE (February 24, 2003) – Officials from Baltimore City and Baltimore and Carroll counties, the Baltimore County Soil Conservation District, Carroll County Soil Conservation District, the Baltimore Metropolitan Council and the secretaries of the Maryland Departments of Agriculture and the Environment today reaffirmed the 1984 Reservoir Watershed Management Agreement.  In signing the reaffirmation, the officials agreed to extend their cooperative efforts to protect and enhance the quality of water in Liberty, Loch Raven and Prettyboy reservoirs.  The municipal watersheds cover much of northern Baltimore County and parts of eastern Carroll County.

"Our water supply system is truly a regional asset," said Baltimore Mayor Martin J. O’Malley, Vice Chair of the Baltimore Metropolitan Council. "Although Baltimore City owns the reservoirs in Baltimore and Carroll counties, and water treatment plants in the City, 1.8 million people in the City and five surrounding counties depend on this system for their drinking water.  All three jurisdictions have an obligation to work together to protect the sources of our drinking water."

"Today’s signing signals improvements in regional cooperation on a broad scale," said Julia Walsh Gouge, president of the Carroll County Board of Commissioners and Carroll County’s representative on BMC’s Board of Directors. "This is a big day for Carroll County and the whole region."

By signing the document, the commissioners are renewing the promise to safeguard watershed areas, while providing for development in South Carroll, the county’s most populous region.

 The 1984 Reservoir Watershed Management Agreement, signed by the same organization as the 2003 Agreement, sought to address concerns about pollution in the reservoir watersheds.  In the 1970s, all three reservoirs were found to have high levels of phosphorus and excessive sedimentation.  A coordinated effort had to be taken to correct the problems and establish the basis for continual improvement in water quality in the reservoirs.

The parties to the pact have worked cooperatively over the last 18 years to carry out the many commitments made in the original Agreement and the accompanying Action Strategy.  Implementation was assigned to a policy board, consisting of local elected officials or agency heads, and the Reservoir Watershed Technical Group, made up of staff from each signatory agency.  Specific action items were implemented by the state and local agencies, working through their planning and zoning programs, public works departments and also programs which provide direct assistance to landowners.

"Recent changes in leadership at the local and state levels made this an auspicious time to review the 1984 Agreement," said Paul Farragut, Executive Director of the Baltimore Metropolitan Council.   "The 1984 Agreement broke new ground in the field of watershed management in Maryland, and has been emulated elsewhere.  All of the parties to today’s signing are to be commended for renewing their commitment to protecting our watersheds."

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Last Updated: 12/17/2008