PRESS RELEASE
 
Contact Person:                Deborah Carpenter
                                                Designated County Staff Person
                                                Deep Creek Lake Management Plan Steering Committee
                                                301-334-1920; dcarpenter@garrettcounty.org
 
Date:                                     June 14, 2014
 
The "State of Deep Creek Lake and Watershed" will be presented on Thursday, July 24, 2014 at Garrett College Auditorium beginning at 7:00 p.m.  The public is invited and encouraged to attend.
The meeting will be hosted by Secretary Joseph Gill, of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources in collaboration with the Garrett County Commissioners. It will include updates on the current state of the lake and its natural resources, the current state of growth in the watershed, and the official release of the Deep Creek Watershed Management Plan. 

 

The public comment period for the Plan will be from July 25th – August 23rd.  The Deep Creek Lake Watershed Management Plan will serve as a best practices guide to ensure the lake and its watershed meet the vision developed by the Steering Committee:
 
"Through partnerships with private land owners and government agencies, the Deep Creek watershed will improve its environmental stability and economic viability while retaining its rural landscapes and natural beauty so that, for generations to come, local citizens and visitors have a special place to live, work, and play".  
 
Developed with input from stakeholders, the Plan identifies important actions partners can take to enhance the lake and surrounding area. It describes existing water quality and environmental conditions, assesses future conditions, prioritizes policy changes, identifies pollution sources, and determines restoration opportunities as well as opportunities for public outreach and communication.  Additional information on the planning process can be found on-line at      http://www.dnr.state.md.us/ccs/dcl_wmp.asp.  The Plan will be posted at this site by Friday, July 25, 2014.