The Maryland State Department of Environment threatened to drain a pond in Hampstead unless residents repair the damage it caused to the dam, which would cost approximately $150,000.
Aspen Run Pond is home to dozens of fish species, and is frequented by wildlife and nearby residents. This is also useful for the fire department. According to the state, the overflow of the pond is considered harmful to the dam on the other side. If the neighbor does not repair it himself, the environmental department will drain it.
Mike Watson, a resident who owns part of the pond, said that the pond overflowed in July last year and half of the water leaked out. Watson said that a neighbor called the state out of concern for animals, and eventually the state’s Department of Environment (MDE) stepped in.
MDE spokesperson Jay Apperson said in an email that MDE inspected the pond in July and found that the pond was unsafe and issued a notice of violation to the owner.
He said: “The required measures include removing obstacles in the spillway, hiring engineers, monitoring the water level of the pond, and removing trees from the dam.”
Apperson added that the owner is responsible for maintenance and ensuring the safe operation of the dam to protect lives and natural resources. However, residents did not complete these steps when they were instructed.
“In early February, MDE issued a notice informing the department that it intends to take urgent action to destroy the dam under the authority of state law,” Apperson said. “If the owner is inconvenient to complete the tasks and maintenance required to ensure the safety of the dam, MDE will take this action to demolish the dam.”
He added that if the dam cannot be repaired, it will cause potential harm to property owners and natural resources downstream, including uncontrolled release of water and sediment into the pond, which contains a trout parallel to the pond. flow. Apperson did not answer how long residents must solve the problem, but did say that MDE is aware of their desire to preserve the pond.
He said: “However, the state is also responsible for ensuring that the insecurity of the dam is quickly resolved to protect local communities and downstream property owners and water resources.”
Watson said that three-quarters of the pond is owned by one person, and he no longer lives there and cannot be contacted. He said it has been around for 50 years and no neighbor wants to see it. He added that there are thousands of fish, turtles, frogs, beavers, muskrats, geese, ducks, deer, foxes and a pair of eagles.
Watson said he was 74 years old, retired, and did not have $150,000 to repair the pond. No neighbors either. The GoFundMe page, created by Hampstead resident Jessica Hobbs, asked the public for help to raise funds.
Losing the pond is not only about neighbors, but also about the Hampstead Volunteer Fire Brigade. The chief of the fire department, Troy Hipsley, sent a letter to the community explaining the key to the fire fighting the pond.
Shipsley wrote in the letter: “The Aspen River Pond is an important fire-fighting resource in dry areas. This loss of water resources may have catastrophic consequences.” “This pond contains millions of gallons of water. , We and other Carroll County Fire Departments count on this water for fire fighting, and the owner has refurbished it with dry fire hydrants.”
He explained that dry hydrants are pipes permanently installed below the water surface with filters at the ends to prevent debris from entering the pipes. The fire truck can be connected to the other end. Shipsley called the passage a time saver, “this is very important when dealing with fires.”
He said in an interview that if there is no pond, they will rely on the water that trucks can carry, and if the truck runs out, they will have to call in more trucks. Another option is to connect to a fire hydrant 1.6 miles away.
He said: “Anytime we add things like time or distance, it may have an adverse effect on the incident.” He added that further walking away may bring the risk of traffic accidents or mechanical failure.
Shipsley once said such a thing. The nearby Cascade Lake (Cascade Lake) was used for swimming, and the state was drained.
The fire chief said that this letter can be resolved by the fire company because it is a private matter that requires a “delicate balance.” He pointed out the importance of the problem and the productivity of the neighbors.
The GoFundMe page reads: “This is no easy task, but we are committed to protecting and preserving the lake so it can continue to be a refuge for wildlife while supporting the safety of our community.”
Post time: Mar-12-2021
