Despite some concerns, Deep Creek Lake relatively healthy

Elaine Blaisdell
The Cumberland Times-News Wed Nov 16, 2011, 11:30 PM EST

OAKLAND — Despite some issues, three years of data show Deep Creek Lake is healthy, John Griffin, secretary of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources said Tuesday.

“(The lake has) good water quality, diverse plant and animal life and a moderate load of nutrients. That’s not to say there aren’t some areas of concern,” Griffin said during a public meeting in Oakland.

Those concerns include an invasive aquatic plant known as Eurasian water milfoil, the deaths of about 1,000 fish last year, deepening sediment in some coves and low water levels.

“I think we our on the verge of a new era,” Griffin said. “Generally the lake is healthy and we want to keep it that way and that means we need to develop a much more prominent relationship with everyone with the county and the town of Friendsville to keep it the way it is and solve some of these problems so they don’t become major problems.”

Nicole Christian, president and CEO of the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce, wants the state to help promote a positive image of the lake, noting that a negative portrayal could have an effect on tourism and real estate.

“We need you guys to help to spread the message that the lake is in good health because, right now, the only message that is out there is about sewage spills, fish kills, that the lake is in poor health or sediment is filling it in,” said Christian. “Not that there aren’t issues, but we need to handle those issues here locally working with our partners. We don’t really need that battle fought in the media.”

Sixteen sites are used to monitor lake conditions and the water is tested and sampled during all seasons, said Bruce Michael, the DNR’s director of resource assessment. The agency is establishing a water treatment program that will assess trends in data and look at potential impacts of development and land use changes.

“We want to make sure we assess the health of the lake at these potential impacts,” Michael said.

During the public comment portion of the meeting, Friendsville Mayor Spencer Schlosnagle, Councilman Jess Whittemore and Charlie Walbridge of American Whitewater spoke about the importance of lake levels to the whitewater rafting businesses in Friendsville.

Griffin said recreation on the lake is important and that one of DNR’s goals is to continue to preserve the lake and maintain it as a recreational and economic asset for the county and the state.

Contact Elaine Blaisdell at eblaisdell@times-news.com.

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