Mill Creek water quality study to continue

Friday, June 26, 2009

Walter Boynton, a professor at the laboratory, gave a presentation to the commissioners detailing the 2008 study's finding that the creek's water quality was below the study's long-term average.

While nothing unusual was observed in the water's temperature or salinity, its level of dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll concentrations, algal blooms and clarity were all matters of concern. Boynton explained that the level of dissolved oxygen along the creek's bottom was well below standards, and that increasing levels of algae and chlorophyll would only further cloud the water and keep sunlight, which is needed to produce oxygen, from reaching deeper waters.

In 2005 and 2006, the creek appeared to be recovering nicely following two very wet years in 2003 and 2004, but conditions worsened in both 2007 and 2008 despite drier conditions. Higher rainfall increases the amount of runoff, contributing to water pollution.

In addition to the study, the commissioners also approved a three-year cycle of samplings to be taken from Helen, St. Leonard, Island, Battle, Hunting, Hall, Parkers, Plum Point and Fishing creeks.

While the study concluded that Mill Creek was more polluted than in recent years, the findings weren't life-altering. After seeing all the data, commissioner Jerry Clark (R) needed a little clarification on what it all meant.

"If you caught a hard crab in Mill Creek, Back Creek, Solomons harbor, would you eat it?" he asked.

"Absolutely," Boynton said.

In other business, the commissioners:

- Signed a letter in support of Catholic Charities Calvert County Center and its request for up to $100,000 in Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program (HPRP) funds. A part of President Obama's $787 billion stimulus plan, the HPRP aims to prevent homelessness by providing assistance to those hit hard by the current economy and in danger of losing their homes.

The charity required a signed letter from the commissioners to submit its application for funds to the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development.

- Voted to combine the Southern Maryland Travel and Tourism Committee (SMTTC) and the Southern Maryland Heritage Area Consortium (SMHAC) in an attempt to increase efficiency in two organizations with similar purposes.

The three Southern Maryland Economic Development Departments found that the SMTTC, a regional tourism committee responsible for collectively marketing Calvert, Charles and St. Mary's counties, had been spending a lot of time working with the SMHAC and that management of the two had become redundant and wasteful.

An important incentive to the merger was that the SMTTC's $18,000 annual budget — comprised of $6,000 from each county — would become a part of the SMHAC's funds, which are matched on a dollar-for-dollar basis by the state as a part of its operating grant. Prior to the commissioners' vote, the SMHAC has already recommended and voted for the merger.

- Were an audience to the county Ethics Commission, which gave a brief slideshow presentation on what did and did not constitute ethical behavior by government officials.

Topics covered included conflicts of interest, secondary and post-employment restrictions, gift prohibitions, using office prestige for personal gain and financial disclosures.

The commission also gave an overview of ethics issues involving county employees within the last 12 months to the commissioners in a closed session.

jnewman@somdnews.com