OAKLAND, Md. — It’s a big lake, largest in Maryland. It sprawls with fingers of water scooting off in at least two major directions.
Deep Creek Lake just celebrated its 90th year created as a hydroelectric project in 1925. The generator still works but today the lake is centerpiece of a bustling tourism industry although wilderness remains everywhere. It has virgin hemlock stands — the only ones in the state. Savage River State Forest land to the east of the lake area adds 54,000 more wilderness acres. And it’s all scarcely 90 minutes from the Eastern Panhandle.
We began our getaway visit with a plunge into wilderness, searching out the four waterfalls in Swallow Falls State Park located not on the lake but on the Youghiogheny River along with other forest areas. Unfortunately, it’s been a dry end-of-summer and only the highest of the four — Muddy Falls at 53 feet — was rushing in a spectacular fashion over the rocks. We wrestled with inadequate signage and maps to visit three of the four falls, and once we’d figured out how it all fit together, helped guide other hikers we met along the trails. Impressive boulders fill the various streams. The park was once a legendary pioneer hunting area and the virgin hemlock and white pine forests that we walked through to find the falls were magical.
Swallow Falls is easily identifiable by Swallow Rock, a marvelously weathered pillar standing adjacent to the falls. We bypassed Lower Falls, warned away by fellow hikers but did make the trek to Tolliver Falls, barely a ripple over rocks in this season.
As a Baltimore City resident and a homeowner in Garrett County, I think the most recent round of regulations proposed by the Maryland Department of the Environment fall far short of adequately protecting the environment and citizens from the dangers of hydraulic fracturing.
The MDE’s proposals make it clear that the only “regulatory” course of action is for the public’s representatives in Annapolis to approve a complete ban on fracking next year.
In recent years we have gone from a mandate in which the state would only permit fracking if there were no “unacceptable” risks, to a set of proposals that accepted some moderate and high-level risks, and finally to the current proposal, which reduces previous protections and seeks to codify moderate and high-level risks as the norm.
The latest proposals increase the drilling site well pad setbacks from personal water wells from their previously proposed 1,000 feet to 2,000 feet. This is an improvement but still far from adequate.
The governor’s commission previously identified 2,000 feet as posing a moderate risk; a minimum of 3,200 feet would pose a low-level risk and be much safer. The new regulations propose only a 300-foot setback from streams and wetlands.
Keep in mind that fracking could well come to over half of the state. Citizens should seriously consider whether it is acceptable to have hydraulic fracturing operations a mere 300 feet from streams, rivers, wetlands and the Chesapeake Bay.
Nobody, except those who stand to make a profit, wants their natural environments industrialized in this way. Nobody wants the dangers of fracking in their backyard.
In its June 2016 proposals, the MDE identified fracking restrictions for Western Maryland watersheds that eventually flow into the Potomac River and through heavily populated areas of the state.
In the recent proposal, MDE adds the Deep Creek Lake watershed to its restricted list, in what can only be considered a cynical effort to appease wealthy property owners. Of course, most people on Deep Creek Lake know that fracking anywhere in Western Maryland destroys the natural environment as well as their property values on the lake.
Even so these protections still leave two-thirds of Garrett County — the Youghiogheny River watershed — vulnerable to the dangers of fracking.
Implicit in MDE’s proposed watershed restrictions is the idea that these environments and the people who live there need to be protected from the harms of unregulated industrialization. But apparently the environment and people in the Youghiogheny Watershed don’t merit such protections.
In what amounts to a “get a bigger hammer” approach, MDE suggests adding another layer of well-casing in drilling operations. Again, implicit in this idea is an acknowledgment that well casings are imperfect and that they frequently fail, allowing flow back contaminants to seep into the ground and contaminate water supplies, animals and people.
As for the methane emissions that contribute even more to global warming and climate change than carbon dioxide, MDE essentially leaves that responsibility to the gas industry itself.
It’s clear that MDE is under-resourced and unprepared to regulate emissions and most other aspects of the hydraulic fracturing process. These are just a few of the concerns that arise from the recently released regulatory proposals.
The problems associated with the hydraulic fracturing at every stage of the process make it clear that a fracking industry that has proven so irresponsible has no business operating in Maryland. There is only one course of action citizens can take and that is to support a total ban on fracking in the state.
The Hogan administration has proposed rules that would prohibit the gas-drilling technique known as fracking within 2,000 feet of a private drinking water well, require steel casings around gas bores to a depth of 100 feet, and require energy companies to replace any water supply that is contaminated by the practice.
The Maryland Department of the Environment submitted the measures Monday to a legislative committee that reviews regulations, a year before a state ban on fracking ends.
The plan was unveiled five days ahead of the Oct. 1 deadline set by lawmakers for the rules to be formally adopted. Department of the Environment officials now expect the approval process to finish by the end of the year instead.
Secretary Ben Grumbles said the rules “will be the most stringent and protective environmental shale regulations in the country.”
The Appalachian Regional Commission has approved a $500,000 grant to the Garrett County Commission for water infrastructure at Keyser’s Ridge Business Park.Commissioners requested funding to construct the plant and associated infrastructure that will serve the business park and surrounding community. The plant will be constructed on Puzzley Run.
The project will leverage private investment, create jobs, improve the local community and provide 14 businesses and 22 households with improved access to water infrastructure, officials said. Construction of the plant will lessen the burden being placed on the existing Grantsville water treatment plant, which is operating with a negative production capacity.
In addition to ARC funds, state sources will provide $800,000, bringing the total project funding to $1.3 million.
Front row 5BR 5.5BA chalet in Highline, boasting HUGE views of Deep Creek Lake and surrounding mountains!
Walking distance to ski slopes!
Highline Drive
This home is packed full of features you will love: multiple stone fireplaces & living areas, mud-room, gourmet kitchen, game room, screened porch, spacious decking & hot tub.
Must see!
This is a Taylor-Made rental- Mountain Rendezvous! For a 3-D tour and more, click here.
Enjoy the beauty of the fall season in the mountains as Maryland celebrates the 49th anniversary of Autumn Glory with two large parades, concerts, band competitions, art exhibits, antique and craft shows and much more from October 12 – 16, 2016 in Garrett County, Maryland. The 49th Annual Autumn Glory Festival is sponsored by Garrett Regional Medical Center, a proud affiliate of WVU Medicine.
Known for scenic Deep Creek Lake and Maryland’s only ski resort, Wisp Resort, Garrett County is also home to the annual Autumn Glory Festival, a five-day celebration of autumn that celebrates the beauty of the local fall foliage. From Wednesday through Sunday, the area offers a wide variety of things to do indoors or outdoors.
Take in the breathtaking views of our spectacular Fall Foliage by driving or biking one, or both, of the county’s 2016 Autumn Glory Fall Foliage Tours. The first tour is a scenic route which includes Fort Alice Walking Trail, Noonan and Noonan, LLC, Historic Mountain Lake Park (Ticket Office), Broadford Lake Park, Ledo Pizza, Pasta & Pub and Maryland Scenic Byways. The Extended Fall Foliage Heritage Tour includes Historic National Road, Casselman Inn, Casselman River Bridge State Park, Spruce Forest Artisan Village, Mt. Aetna Trail, Barn Quilts and Maryland Scenic Byways. Head to visitdeepcreek.com or the Visitors Center in McHenry to pick up the full map and directions.
The Garrett County Chamber of Commerce’s annual Autumn Glory Kickoff Dinner featuring live musical entertainment and recognition of the annual Autumn Glory Golden Ambassador will kick off the festival on Wednesday, October 12 at Wisp Resort in McHenry.
Thursday features the Oktoberfest dinner and concert by the Oom-Pah band and a fireman’s parade. The week continues with historic area tours, antique and craft shows, fine arts exhibits, farmers’ market, 5-K walk, musical concerts, dogsled events, a quilt show, corn maze, art glass exhibits, outdoor adventures, quilt shows, food and drink specials, live entertainment, comedy basketball game, pumpkin chucking contest, horseback trail rides, shopping specials and a wide variety of other activities.
The Official Maryland State Banjo & Mandolin Championships, Friday at 7 p.m., features banjo and mandolin contestants of all ages competing for top honors.
Saturday, October 15, offers musical entertainment at the Front Page Stage, on Second Street near the Post Office and on the Box Car at the train station. The Grand Feature Parade begins at 1 p.m. Clowns, floats, bands, and plenty of sidewalk vendors increase the festival atmosphere. That day also will feature the Western Maryland Tournament of Bands at 6 p.m. with high school field show competition, as well as the Maryland State Fiddle Championship at 7 p.m.
Antique and Craft shows continue Sunday, joined by the Autumn Glory Festival Car Show, the Great Pumpkin Race & Festival on the rapids at Adventure Sports Center International and a no-hands Sundae eating contest at Lakeside Creamery.
