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Winter, 2001 |
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Tour Boat The Saturday March 17 meeting about a tour boat on Deep Creek Lake was well attended. Room 314 at the GCC Continuing Education Center was filled. The Policy and Review Board was present and chairman Forman conducted the meeting. Lake Manager Paul Durham presented a summary of the draft Proposal for Managing Tour Boats Carrying Passengers for Hire. A copy of the seven page draft was available for all attendees. A summary of this draft was presented in the Special Winter Bulletin of the Dispatch. About 20 people signed up to comment. Several people believed that McHenry Cove was too narrow and congested for 70 foot boats. There was also concern about parking for up to seventy people that might be carried on each of three boats. Others commented that the speed requirement to be such as to not create a damaging wake, was too vague, and that 6 knots was a reasonable speed. It was pointed out that the only proposed COMAR regulation was two sentences. ãThe Department may permit certain vessels not to exceed 70 feet in length overall or exceed engine displacement greater than 550 cubic inches, under a managed tour boat concession contract with the department. This regulation shall expire on December 31, 2007.ä An attorney present said that the 550 cubic inch displacement was not clear, and another gentleman explained that according to marine engineers who manufacture such tour boats, two engines of approximately 350 cubic inch displacement each are required for maneuverability. In fact boats so equipped can turn on their own axis. The remaining seven pages would be in the concession contract, which could be changed by the DNR at any time. Paul Durham explained that he and the DNR Secretary agreed that they would not change the contract during the six year term. However, it was pointed out that neither Paul or the Secretary might be in their present position for six years. Roger Titus, your POA president urged the Policy and Review Board to put all the requirements in COMAR, so that they could not be changed without a public hearing and the approval of the Policy and Review Board. The Garrett County Chamber of Commerce endorsed the plan, and several property owners spoke in favor of tour boats with various changes in the draft management plan. Several members of the audience were anxious to have a vote for or against. This was finally done, with about 2/3 to 3/4 those of those present against large tour boats, and the remainder in favor of the concept, if not the details as presented. The Policy and Review Board (P & RB) will accept written comment until the end of the month. Write to: The Deep Creek Lake Policy and Review Board, c/o The DNR, 898 State Park Rd., Swanton, MD 21561. Policy & Review Board Meetings The P&RB will hold a special meeting Friday, April 20, 2001 at 6 p.m. at the Deep Creek State Park Discovery Center. The only agenda item for this special meeting will be the tour boat. The next regularly scheduled meeting will be 7 p.m., April 10 at the Discovery Center. At this meeting the P&RB will continue its discussion and preparation of a recreation and land use plan for Deep Creek Lake. Speed Boat Races On Nov. 13, 2000 Pride Promotions requested permission to hold speed boat races in June 2001 at Deep Creek Lake. They requested that the event be put on the Chamber of Commerce Event Calendar. Unfortunately, the Chamber obliged without review by their Board of Directors. The DNR, thinking that the Chamber had approved the event, asked the P&RB to act on the manner. About this time The POA learned of the proposed event, and responded most vigorously against such a race. The GCC of C board discovered it was on their calendar. They informed the DNR, that they did not approve or endorse such a race. Many lake property owners learned of the event and also sent strongly worded letters to the DNR and the P&RB. The race will not be held. Lake Sale Update Field work has begun on the final surveys as the weather improves and the snow melts. As final surveys are completed, they will be sent to property owners, and settlement should follow within 30 days of receipt of a signed contract. The surveyor has produced almost 600 digital drawings, and the Office of Real Estate for the State Department of General Services has sent out 250 contracts in four phases with graduated due dates. The response has been very positive for those already due; more than 72 % of the 250 property owners have contracted to purchase. The map is on the web, and is updated regularly. Check it out to see progress at www.dgs.state.md.us. Click on the icon on the left of the screen - a fisherman in a boat. To date contracts have been sent to properties from McHenry Cove clockwise to the Glendale Bridge, and digital maps are complete almost to Poland Run. Cathy Mateer and Lori Joy Eisner are looking forward to spring at the lake and again staffing the lake office. They are available for individual appointments before then, and are glad to answer questions and address concerns by phone or by e-mail. Lori Joy Eisner: 410-767-4089, e-mail leisner@dgs.state.md.us; Cathy Mateer:410- 767-5764,e-mail:catherine.mateer@dgs.state.md.us. Their mailing address is: Maryland Department of General Services, Office of Real Estate, 300 W. Preston St., Room 601, Baltimore, MD 21201. Use of Lake Water to Make Snow at the Wisp The Wisp ski resort has requested permission to use lake water to make snow. The use of the waters of the State of Maryland is regulated by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE). However, the inlet pipe to bring water to the slopes will cross State property on the ãbuffer stripä and lake bottom. This is regulated by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and is subject to review by the P&RB. Although some people have been greatly concerned, the truth is that the proposal will have no effect on lake levels during the summer boating season. As we have explained in past issues of the Dispatch, lake levels are regulated by the ãrule bands.ä These require that the lake be maintained at certain maximum and minimum levels each month. The Wisp has requested the use of 200,000,000 gallons of water over the winter season. This sounds like a lot of water, but in terms of Deep Creek levels it is less than two inches total over a 6 month period. For reference, four hours of electric generation with both turbines can lower the lake four inches. Garrett County United Way Campaign POA members provided wonderful support for the Garrett County United Way campaign. As of March 12, eighty-four families have contributed more than $5,100 to the campaign. The Garrett County United Way sends its sincere thanks to the Property Owners Association. This contribution helped the United Way to achieve much of its goal of $81,000 at this time. The campaign will continue until the end of April, so there is still time to help the agencies in the area where we live and play. Over 99% of the money will stay in Garrett County and help such agencies as Big Brothers/Big Sisters, The Dove Center, Garrett County Lighthouse, Hospice, the Salem School for Children, and the Mountain Glade Adult Day Care Services. Thanks again for your generous support.
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Lake Level and Water Use POA representatives attended working group meetings in December and February. These meeting are conducted by MDE. The POA has maintained a position that the existing rule bands serve lake property owners well, and represent a good compromise between the needs of various lake water users. We have seen no indication that MDE plans to change the rule bands. However, in the past, Penn Elec generally lowered the lake gradually during the month within the confines of the rule bands. The new power plant owner, Reliant Energy, is more likely to use a monthâs allotment of water in a few days. This change is not only due to a new power plant owner, but changes brought about by the deregulation of the electricity generating industry. Power is sold at auction through a computerized system. Deep Creek is part of the MD, PA, NJ, & DE power grid. On a hot summer afternoon, power from Deep Creek can be sold at up to ten times the amount obtained at off peak periods. POA representatives at these meetings have explained that we much prefer a gradual draw down during the month. These meetings generally debate the priorities of: (1) the white water interests, (2) the trout fishermen, and (3) power generation. The white water people want regular releases on weekends, and advance notice of releases at other times. The fishermen, donât like weekend releases, because they canât fish when the water is high. They also want and need advance notice of releases. If a fisherman is in the middle of the Yough when a wall of water hits, he could be in serious trouble. Also kids swim in the river in the Friendsville area. The fishermen also want temperature releases to keep the water cold enough for trout to live through the summer. And of course the power company wants to release water, when demand and price are high. This seldom occurs on weekends. POA Membership Meetings The general membership meetings are scheduled for Saturday, June 30 and Saturday, August 25. All meetings are at 8:30 a.m. at the Garrett County Community College auditorium in McHenry. Meetings are held at 8:30 a.m., so that members can get out and enjoy the lake sooner. At the August meeting new board members will be elected. Please try to attend. POA Dues Are Due Your 2001 POA dues of $30 are due. We have enclosed a coupon and addressed envelope for your convenience. Some of you have already paid 2001 dues. If the number after your name on your Dispatch address label is 01, you have already paid in advance. If there is no number, or any other number, it is time to pay your dues. Please include the address at which you normally receive mail, and let us know if you are a full time Garrett County Resident. We have included a request for an e-mail address if you have one. We are not planning to e-mail your Dispatch, but we will start building a file in case we need to notify you of special situations. Remember, you can also read the Dispatch at deepcreektimes.com Gypsy Moth Last summer, some lake areas had a very bad infestation of Gypsy Moth caterpillars. Fortunately, a fungus killed most the caterpillars before extensive defoliation occurred. Our friends in adjacent Allegany County were not as fortunate. However, the State did survey many areas around the lake for egg masses. Two areas were found with greater than 250 egg masses per acre. These are Blakeslee/Penn Point Area, and Turkey Neck Loop and adjacent Cedarbrook. These areas total 455 acres. Spraying with BT will occur in mid to late May, or as soon as the oaks leaf out. BT is a material toxic only to caterpillars. It is best sprayed early in the morning before a breeze begins, and when it is not raining. The State calls the Blakeslee area GA 101 and the Turkey Neck area GA 102. Starting in late April, for down state areas, residents can call 1-800-492-2106 to determine when their area will be sprayed. The announcement will usually be on the recorded message three or four days before spraying and refer to the GA number. If you are interested, donât start calling before mid May. If you find several hundred egg masses per acre in your area you may be interested in joining with your neighbors for private spraying. Remember the Gypsy Moth egg masses look like half a fuzzy walnut shell. Look for them on your home, your trees, or almost any surface. Private sprayers who will be working in Western Maryland are Helicopter Applicators, phone 717-337-1370 and Agrotors, phone 717-334-6777. Campground As many of you may recall, a campground was proposed with access from Sand Flat Rd. adjacent to The Penn Cove area, and near Pergin Farms. Many lake area residents opposed such a development. Last year the Garrett County Board of Zoning Appeals approved the campground as a special exception. The approval was contingent on a number of specific requirements concerning fencing, septic systems, roads, etc. Area residents appealed the decision to Circuit Court on the basis that the appellants changed the portion of their land to be used for the campground after public notice of the hearing. Before the case got to court attorneys for both sides agreed to reapply. The new hearing before the Board of Zoning Appeals was held in January. During the hearing Gary Harvey revealed that he did not want approval for all 123 acres, but wished to reserve some of that property for other uses. He was advised to reapply. As of March 20, 2001 he has not reapplied. GLAF Summer 2001 Schedule The Garrett Lakes Arts Festival has announced its 2001 season schedule. April 27 The Scarlet Letter, Drama 8 PM GCC May 26 Lisa Moscatiello, Cabaret 6 PM Will OâWisp June 16 Molasses Creek, Band 8 PM GCC June 30 Maryland Symphony Pops 8 PM GCC July 22 Orlovksyâs Piano & Cello 4:30PM Will OâWisp Aug.19 Chamber & Brunch 11:30AM Will OâWisp Aug. 22 Symphony for children 7 PM GCC Aug 24 & 25 Symphony 8 PM GCC Sept. 2 U.S. Navy Band 4 PM DCL State Park Sept. 16 Feasley Classical Guitar 4:30 PM Will OâWisp Sept 22 Kremlin Chamber Orchestra 8 PM GCC For ticket information call 301-387-3082, or write Garrett Lakes Arts Festival, P.O. Box 151 McHenry, MD 21541. Visit GLAF on the web at www.artsand entertainment.org or e-mail them at glaf@artsand entertainment.org. Garrett Community Concert Band The newly-formed Garrett Community Concert Band will present its Spring Concert ãSTRIKE UP THE BANDä on April 7 at 7:30pm at GCC Auditorium. If youâre in the neighborhood, you might like to attend. Your POA Board of Directors Mike Belmonte 301-387-6371 Roger Dandridge PO Box 3002, Swanton, MD Robert Eddin 112 Amesbury Dr., Pittsburgh, PA Barbara Elster 301-387-4093 Katheryn Gemberling 301-384-2850 Sanford Gold 412-687-0865 Scott B. Johnson 301-387-8547 Jonathan Kessler 301-387-6229 Ed King 301-387-5702 W. Thomas Myers 301-387-9162 Carole Perez 301-387-5406 Ed Peters 301-397-7824 Ted Rissell 301-387-6463 Mark Rothman 301-229-7992 Jack Seelig 703-323-7076 Hon. Fred Thayer 301-387-9439 Dave Thomas 301-387-2516 Roger Titus 301-344-0052 |
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