The perfect cabin in the woods! 3,000+/- sq ft log home offering 4 spacious BR’s and multiple living areas. Hardwood floors, exposed beams and a vaulted ceiling present a ‘lodge’ type atmosphere. Multiple decks and a covered front porch that is sure to provide hours of peace, tranquility and conversation. Enjoy close proximity to state parks, Deep Creek Lake & area activities.
Approximately 40 people attended the Watershed Planning Forum hosted by Friends of Deep Creek Lake (FoDCL) on Saturday at Garrett College.
Originally planned to explore the watershed work already under way in the watershed, FoDCL folded in a section covering the just announced watershed planning partnership between the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Garrett County.
Ellen Williams, chair of FoDCL welcomed attendees, reminding them of the importance of National Lakes Appreciation Month and proclamations passed by both the Governor Martin O’Malley, as well as Garrett County commissioners. William said that U.S. Senator Ben Cardin has also acted to endorse Lakes Appreciation Month in the Congress.
John Major, a student at Northern High School, gave a PowerPoint presentation on the Cove Run restoration project, which he reported has already produced substantial results. Teacher Rebecca Kenyon-Sisler led the students in this project. The theme of the presentation was that “it takes a whole ‘village’ of resources and organizations to restore a stream.” While Cove Run lies outside the Deep Creek Lake watershed, this project is seen as a model for stream restoration within the watershed.
James “Smokey” Stanton, representing the Soil Conservation District Board, covered the history of creation of soil conservation districts across the country in response to the dust bowl crisis in the 1930s. He said that today the Garrett County District is working with property owners to voluntarily adopt best-management practices. Examples of manure-retention mechanisms and rain-water reduction were highlighted in his PowerPoint presentation.
Stanton reported that 3% of the total properties in the DCL watershed are classified in the tax roles as “agriculture.” He said that promotion of voluntary adoption of best-management practices in the DCL watershed will be an important component of any watershed plan.
“And, thanks to the work already done by the board, we have an excellent start and solid models to inspire and guide adoption of best-management practices,” he said.
Charles Hoffeditz, representing the Forest Conservancy Board, provided a parallel presentation on forestry and forest product businesses. Forestry boards were created in Maryland to promote stewardship, conservation, management, and wise use of Maryland’s forest resources. As with soil conservation, property owner participation is voluntary. Working with the board, forestry experts are available to provide owners with a range of recommendations and incentives to enhance forest management.
In the “state-of-the-lake” meeting held last Wednesday, also at the college, Catherine Shanks of the DNR stated that one of the best assets of the DCL watershed is that 50% of the land in the watershed is forested. The forestry board recently wrote to the Garrett County commissioners noting that there appears to be conflicting actions by the state and the county. As with agricultural interests, it was noted that there are opportunities for promotion of voluntary adoption of best-management practices and forest conservation in the watershed plan.
It was reported that there are 18 Marcellus shale mineral leases located in the DCL watershed. Eric Robison, president of Citizen Shale, provided an update on the work of the governor’s Marcellus shale advisory group. He said that current efforts are focused on compiling best-management practices, which would be required for any gas company drilling in the state. These BMPs are focused on a range of environmental protections, from streams to water wells.
In addition, Robison talked about other work, including current economic impact analysis and its relevance to the DCL watershed.
“We need to understand the economic impacts on our resort-based economy center around on Deep Creek Lake,” he said.
Barbara Beelar, director of FoDCL, provided the audience with an update on current research reports which were given at the “state-of-the-lake” presentation.
She said that in mid-June ,DNR conducted a survey to determine the distribution and density of Eurasian watermilfoil, an invasive plant species. DNR found this species in many areas of the lake last year, covering 6% of the shallow-water area (from shoreline out to 20 feet).
Bruce Michael, head of resource services for the DNR, stated that the 2013 survey was impacted by the unusually cold water temperatures in June, and little EWM was found. This was reported as “good news,” but Beelar said that it is instead “no information” because of cold weather conditions.
Michael also provided an update at the “state-of-the-lake” presentation on Phase II of the sediment study, as a major initiative is under way within the DNR. He said that “excellent progress” has been made, but because of contracting problems, there will be a delay in the release of findings and recommendations until at least January 2014.
DNR secretary John Gill reported at the same meeting that “the two worst coves by far” are Pawn Run and Penn Cove, and there are others that the DNR is now focusing on.
The other coves are Deep Creek, Chadderton School, Back Bay, Hazelhurst, Green Glade, Poland Run, North Glade, Harvey’s Peninsula, and Arrowhead. Based on analysis by the FoDCL, Beelar reported that there are as many as 500 properties in the impacted coves with a combined property valuation of approximately $250 million.
Beelar said that the delay of release of the sediment findings by DNR will have substantial repercussions for property owners directly impacted by sediment accumulation. Because of the delay, she said, there will be no consideration of state funding in the 2014 General Assembly session. The next session she noted will be a transition one, with a new governor, new heads of state agencies, and new members of the state legislature. She said that some action to provide state funding might take place in the 2016 General Assembly, but that the “lobbyist rule of thumb” is that it takes at least one year before a bill, especially a money bill, is likely to pass.
“It is likely we are looking at the 2017 General Assembly before we can expect any financial action from the state to help fund dredging of this state owned lake,” she said.
The forum concluded with a presentation lead by Brian Greenberg, FoDCL board member, who summarized the DNR presentation on the watershed planning process, using slides provided by DNR. He urged everyone to consider becoming involved in the lake watershed steering committee that will be appointed soon. In order to be considered for a position on the committee, one must send a letter and resumé to Monty Pagenhardt, county administrator at mpagendhardt@garrettcounty.org no later than close of business this Friday, Aug. 2.
The county Commissioners will meet to pass the memorandum of understanding between the county and the state on August 13 and will name the members of the steering committee. Citizens with comments or recommendations on the MOU should submit them to Commissioner Bob Gatto at bgatto@garrettcounty.org. A copy of the MOU can be found on the Garrett County government web site.
Among items considered during an audience discussion was the question as to whether or not the proposed eight seats on the steering committee is sufficient in number to ensure a representative and sufficiently inclusive viewpoints of all those associated with the DCL watershed.
Another topic covered was whether or not the public outreach of one newspaper (The Republican) article and a meeting attended by 40 was sufficient to communicate to the 8,000 to 9,000 property owners in the watershed about the planning process, opportunity for involvement on the steering committee, and the level of importance of this work for the whole county.
One recommendation made that garnered unanimous support was that there should be a youth member on the steering committee, which would bring the county school system into the process and give a voice for the county’s youth in the shaping their future because of the huge economic impact of Deep Creek Lake and its watershed.
Celebrating local farms, local foods, Appalachian culinary heritage, and healthful eating will be the goal of the first Serve It Up Local: Celebrating Farms and Food Fest, slated for Saturday, Aug. 10, at the Agriculture Heritage Hall on the Garrett County Fairgrounds. The festivities will be held from 12:30 to 9 p.m.
The day will begin with the Local Lunch Cook-Off. Lunch guests will be the judges of the cook-off, which will feature regional chefs creating dishes made with farm-fresh local food. Using as many locally grown ingredients as possible, each competing chef will create a special dish. Chefs are slated to attend from a number of area restaurants, from Garrett County as well as Morgantown and Davis, W.Va.
A list of the participating chefs is available on the event web site, which can be found at www.ServeItUpLocal.com. The official judges for various food contests will be chef Spike Gjerde of Baltimore’s Woodberry Kitchen, chef Adam Murray of Garrett County, and Susan Walter Sink, an organic foods specialist and chef from North Carolina.
The Local Foods Fest will follow, a free admission time with local food cooking demonstrations, farmer demonstrations, culinary heritage displays, live music, children’s activities, and other activities for the whole family.
An evening Local Sips Social will allow guests to relax while sampling regional wines and beers, and listen to farm-to-table stories from Chef Gjerde.
The culminating event will be the 50-Mile Meal Dinner, where the goal is to source as many of the foods as possible from farms within 50 miles. The 50-Mile Dinner will be catered by the Local Pantry, which consists of Chanteclaire Farms with help from FireFly Farms and Garrett Growers.
Tickets and information are available at www.ServeItUpLocal.com or by calling 240-442-2585.
The second annual Garrett County Appreciation Day will be held on Saturday, Aug. 10, at the Community Aquatic and Recreation Complex (CARC), Garrett College, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This year’s theme is “Arts & Adventure.”
The event will feature swimming in the CARC pools, a hands-on art activity, a display of emergency vehicles, a Discovery Center Scales and Tails presentation, kindermusik, a candy drop, and more.
Free hotdogs, hamburgers, chips, soft drinks, and cake will be served at noon. Music will be provided by the Garrett Highlands Pipes & Drums.
Appreciation Day is sponsored by Garrett County government, the Garrett County Arts Council, and the CARC.
Not a beach at all, of course, but the nighttime vision of the 2013 Garrett County Fair, now under way at the fairgrounds in McHenry. The weeklong event has all the traditional rides, carnival food, livestock animals, and exhibits, along with daily musical entertainment and a wide range of contests at the race track. The weather has been so-so for the fair this week, but that has not kept the crowds away, as residents and visitors alike have been there, walking the mid-way, buying the foodstuffs of many a local organization, and making mooing sounds at the cows. The fair will continue through Saturday, when the annual livestock show and sale will take place. All are encouraged to support the county’s youth in that event. A complete section with the results of the sale and other events will be published in two weeks. Photo by Lisa Broadwater. More here.
It is the mission of the organization to improve the quality of life for those of limited means and those in critical need. Christian Crossing Thrift Shop:
•Accepts donations of clothing, housewares, books, furniture, major appliances, small appliances, toys, etc. from those who no longer need or like what they have
•Sells donated items at nominal prices
•Gives items without cost to those who cannot afford the nominal prices and are referred by social service agencies
•Gives cash assistance in behalf of those in critical situations and to programs designed to keep people from getting into critical situations
A core group of volunteers oversees the coordination of six departments within the operation of the Thrift Shop.
Garrett Cooperative Ministry, Inc. trades as Christian Crossing Thrift Shop. Garrett Cooperative Ministry, Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) organization. Donations are tax deductible, and tax receipts are given upon request.
In a sense, we are a recycling center!
The volunteers sort through hundreds of bags and boxes of clothing, household items, linens, decorating accessories, dishes, pots, pans, toys, sporting goods, appliances, furniture and more that are donated to the Thrift Ship.
These items are then arranged and displayed as neatly as possible to be sold at nominal prices. While our primary mission is to improve the quality of life for those with limited means and those in critical need, anyone is invited to shop at Christian Crossing. Critical-need items are also given free of charge to referred persons who have no funding available.
Anyone who wishes to donate useable furniture, appliances, household items, clothing, linens, gift items, etc. is invited to bring them to the Shop during hours of operation. If you have large items which you are unable to haul, volunteers may be able to pick them up.
Sources of income are sales and contributions from churches, organizations and individuals. No workers, officers or directors are paid. After monthly expenses (mortgage payments, utilities, insurance, supplies, building repairs and maintenance) are paid, funds are used as follows: half of the excess funds are set aside for capital improvement; the other half is available for individuals and families who find themselves in crisis situations and are referred to us through the Health Department or Community Action, and for programs designed to prevent families from getting into crisis situations.
Anyone willing to volunteer services for any aspect of the Christian Crossing operation is invited to come to the Shop during open hours or call 301-334-6339. We would also like to have a coordinator from each church congregation in Garrett county. Click HERE for more information on volunteering.
We look forward to hearing from you as we work together to help others.
“Help carry one another’s burdens and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2
OAKLAND — The Garrett County commissioners will conduct a public hearing Aug. 20 at 4:15 p.m. on a proposal to update and readopt the county’s Floodplain Management Ordinance to assure compliance with the National Flood Insurance Program.
The update will include adoption of all accompanying updated Flood Insurance Rate Maps effective Oct. 2, 2013, and amendments to the current ordinance.
Copies of the draft ordinance and updated study and mapping are available for review at the County Permits and Inspections office weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The ordinance can also be found on the county’s website under Permits and Inspections under the Planning and Land Development tab at www.garrettcounty.org.
The meeting will take place in Room 209 of the courthouse.
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http://deepcreeklake.com/RealEstate/JayFerguson/detail.aspx?id=GA7817907
A $250,000 broadband grant awarded by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), and matched by $250,000 from the Board of County Commissioners of Garrett County, will quicken business growth and opportunity in Garrett County. The grant allows Garrett County to begin its first phase of a wireless broadband network, which along with other service providers is anticipated to bring access to 90% of homes and businesses over the next several years. On Friday, July 26, 2013, Congressman John K. Delaney formally announced the award, and celebrated its value to Maryland’s Sixth District. The event was held at the Garrett Information Enterprise Center in McHenry, Maryland at 2:00 p.m.
“Broadband is the backbone of a strong communications infrastructure,” noted Congressman Delaney. “It expands jobs and educational opportunities, and increases our competitiveness in a global marketplace.” Last May, Congressman Delaney introduced the Partnership to Build America Act, a bill designed to rebuild the country’s infrastructure, including communications and broadband.
Agreement announced at annual State of the Lake presentation
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Garrett County have partnered to develop a comprehensive watershed management plan for Deep Creek Lake. DNR Secretary Joe Gill announced the agreement in concept – through which guidelines to protect the popular area will be established – at the third annual State of the Lake presentation at Garrett College. The draft agreement will be available for public comment until August 13.
“The Deep Creek Lake Watershed Management Plan will serve as a comprehensive, best practices guide to ensure that one of Maryland’s most visited, revenue-generating sites is protected far into the future,” said Secretary Gill. “In addition to protecting the lake’s sensitive natural resources, the plan will address water quality and recreational activities like swimming, fishing, boating and scenic viewing.”
The plan, which will be developed with input from stakeholders, will prioritize policy changes, restoration actions and public outreach needed to achieve both immediate and long term benefits. It will identify existing water quality and environmental conditions, survey future conditions, assess pollution sources and determine restoration opportunities.
“The Board of Garrett County Commissioners is pleased to partner with DNR as co-sponsors of a plan that will maintain and enhance the lake and its surrounding habitat,” said Monty Pagenhardt, County Administrator.
A Steering Committee of seven to nine members – that will include representatives from State and local government, the agricultural, forestry, business communities, recreational interests, residents and the power plant – will lead development of the plan. The committee will be supported by staff from Garrett County, DNR, and other State agencies, and will be professionally facilitated through a Memorandum of Understanding with the Hughes Center for Agro-Ecology.
Individuals wishing to serve on the Steering Committee should email a letter of interest and resume to mpagenhardt@garrettcounty.org no later than August 2, 2013. An official appointments announcement will be made at the Board of County Commissioners Public Meeting on August 13.
In his State of the Lake address, Gill also shared good news about the lake’s water quality and its diverse living and natural resources.
“Thanks to the park’s managers, supporters and conservation-minded citizens and visitors, the lake continues to exhibit good water quality, a robust fishery, healthy wetlands and wildlife, and extensive opportunities for recreation,” said Gill. “We are confident that the watershed management plan will help us protect and enhance this tremendous asset even further.”
DNR conducts continuous monitoring efforts that provide citizens and resource managers a better understanding of threats to the lake’s health, so that they may take the appropriate actions to lessen these impacts. The most recent data confirms that the lake continues to support diverse and healthy fish, plant and wildlife populations, and is experiencing low algal levels due to low phosphorus concentrations.
Located in western Maryland, Deep Creek is one of the State’s largest and most popular lakes, providing recreation (including year-round fishing) for hundreds of thousands of residents and visitors annually. The reservoir is owned and operated by the Maryland Park Service, with additional help and support provided by Garrett County.
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