Yesterday the Support Conowingo Dam campaign delivered over 11,500 petition signatures to the U.S. Army Corp. of Engineers and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission calling for a scientific process in adopting a regional solution to a clean Chesapeake Bay. The delivery to the Army Corps comes just before the close of the public comment period on the Corps’ Lower Susquehanna River Watershed Assessment (LSRWA), which ends January 9. The petition outlines the benefits of the Conowingo Dam and implores local officials to preserve the many benefits it provides to the region.
“I am pleased to deliver this petition with more than 11,500 signatures on behalf of those that care about the lower Susquehanna River and protecting the beauty of the area near the Conowingo Dam” said Jan Nethen of Baltimore, MD. “The Conowingo Dam is a source of clean, carbon-free, reliable energy, and its continued operation is critical to the region. The dam also offers a wealth of recreational opportunities like boating, hiking, fishing and bird watching. It is an incredibly popular destination in northeastern Maryland, drawing an estimated 250,000 visitors each year,” said Nethen.
The petition calls for a science-based approach to developing a course of regional action by the state of Maryland, neighboring states, and the federal government in improving the water quality in the Chesapeake Bay. While the Conowingo Dam generates negligible amounts of sediment, the bay’s health is an important issue that requires the attention and action of multiple stakeholders. The signers of the petition believe that the best way to reduce sedimentation and protect the Chesapeake Bay is to let the science lead.
Support Conowingo Dam members have also provided additional written comments to the Corps on the LSRWA. The LSRWA contains the most detailed, scientific study on sediment and its impact to the Bay to date. One of the assessment’s key findings is that the majority of sediment that enters the Chesapeake Bay during storm events originates from upstream sources rather than “scour” from the Conowingo Pond. The Corps report concludes that a significant amount of the sediment and nutrients released during a storm event originated from the upstream drainage area or watershed.
Chip MacLeod says
Are you kidding? This “group” (www.supportconowingodam.com) is the alter ego of Exelon Corporation, inspired by Exelon and most likely funded by Exelon – the owner and operator of Conowingo Dam. See their website and ask: Who’s paying for that…a bunch of Exelon ratepayers or bird watchers? Before your readers believe that “the LSRWA contains the most detailed, scientific study on sediment and its impact to the Bay to date” or the sweeping conclusions suggested the Support Conowingo Dam group, ask why Exelon has agreed, at the insistence of the Maryland Department of the Environment, to undertake and fund a new $3.5 million multi-year sediment study to accurately assess the impact of sediment scour during storm events from Conowingo Pond and other dams in the lower Susquehanna River. Today, the Clean Chesapeake Coalition also filed comments regarding the draft Lower Susquehanna River Watershed Assessment, detailing the lack of sound science, data and modelling underpinning the report. Those comments filed today on behalf of 10 Maryland counties will be posted shortly at http://www.cleanchesapeakecoalition.com. Indeed, there are benefits attributable to Conowingo Dam; however, the accumulation of 85+ years of nutrients, sediments and other contaminates in Conowingo Pond is now presenting a real and unmitigated threat to the Bay and to downstream Bay restoration efforts.
Frederick Patt says
Just who is kidding who? The Clean Chesapeake Coalition’s primary purpose appears to be to divert attention away from the contributions of the 10 Maryland counties to the Bay’s poor health, by focusing attention on the influx from the Susquehanna River, and then creating the false impression that it somehow originates at the Conowingo Dam. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!
Gren Whitman says
From Maryland Reporter: In a January 12 Op-Ed for the Washington Post, Will Baker of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation writes that the Maryland poultry industry is fighting a common-sense solution that would clean up the creeks and rivers of Maryland’s Eastern Shore. University of Maryland scientists proposed the solution after 10 years of study. It’s simple: If a farmer uses chicken manure as fertilizer, he or she must apply the right amount to his or her fields. In November, Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) proposed regulations to do just that. – See more at: https://marylandreporter.com/2015/01/12/state-roundup-january-12-2015/#sthash.rXx9T8ko.dpuf
Steve Payne says
The group isn’t the alter ego of Exelon Corp. It IS Exelon Corp:
https://lmgtfy.com/?q=2569+Shures+Landing+Rd.+Darlington%2C+MD+21034
Gren Whitman says
I am encouraged by this broad-based citizen action.
Takes much work by many people to get 11,500 signatures!
Keith Thompson says
Doesn’t take a lot of work to get 11,500 signatures if you have the money to hire a bunch of full time petitioners.