The ICPRB (Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin) has begun drought operations.
​
Put simply - the flow of the Potomac River is  665 million gallons per day, water suppliers take 400 million gallons out per day for use in the water and sewer system. That leaves 265 million gallons left over - it takes at least 100 Million gallons of water in the Potomac to prevent the complete collapse of the river ecosystem.  And no rain is forecasted soon. 

The ICPRB is the same group that  indicates that by 2040 climate change could cut stream flows by as much as 35% on an annual average (their 2010 report). Science should inform the region’s planning and goals of resource protection. 

More: 
​
​America is using up its ground water like there is no tomorrow (NY Times)

​DC is preparing to draw on backup reservoirs as drought continues (DCist)

Another update - The Mountain remains closed and Stronghold is towing cars that park there.  Check out coverage in the Washington Post

Sugarloaf Mountain has closed for the foreseeable future to the public. This past weekend there was a break-in at the Strong Mansion, a venue associated with Sugarloaf Mountain. The burglar was injured and didn't take anything. Stronghold Inc. the nonprofit owners of Sugarloaf have elected to close the mountain while they assess security concerns. More from the Frederick News Post.

Montgomery Countryside Alliance and our partners at Sugarloaf Citizens Association are continuing to carefully monitor the proposal as many as 10 data centers and a large scale grid battery storage facility at the former PEPCO Power Plant in Dickerson. The new property owner Terra Innovations will file for conditional use approval for the project very soon.
Here are the concerns and recommendations submitted by both organizations to the applicant.
We continue to advocate for both state and county regulations to guide this land use. Currently the data center land-use does not have a regulatory framework.

Some maps from the Terra Innovations site showing property boundaries and zoning:

Pieces of this property are part of the Ag Reserve as shown above

Much More: 
Community Meeting with SCA, MCA and Sugarloaf Alliance on Data Center Concerns
​Northern VA has a Data Center Problem
Data Centers in N VA are nearing a tipping point
​Quantum Loophole to Bore under Potomac is 3 places to lay data center infrastructure
​Quantum Loophole cited for many MDE violations - stop work order issued

Perhaps you've heard that a few favorite foods face going extinct - bananas (which nearly ended in the 50s and are now under threat again), avocados, vanilla and (gasp!) coffee. The reasons are many - fungal infection, decreased water availability, and of course heat. 

One bright spot is a long overlooked, spindly understory tree - called the "banana of the Americas" - the PawPaw. 

PawPaws grow mango sized fruits in late summer/early Fall and can be found long river sides in forests. The outside is rough and green, the flesh inside is soupy, yellow and sweet with seeds inside. In other words - it resembles a tropical fruit but can be found wild in northern climes or cultivated in the mid-Atlantic and further south.
The taste? Somewhere between a mango and a banana. It can be eaten fresh, made into ice cream, added to baked goods or smoothies- anything you can do with a mango. 

The wide leaves of a wild pawpaw in Guilford Woods - an area of forest in College Park subject to development by the University of Maryland and the Purple Line project. PawPaws are great stream buffer trees and can tolerate shade both in the wild and in cultivation. 

MCA was happy to be asked on to the Doomer Optimism Podcast - the media outlet of a self identified "collective dedicated to discovering regenerative paths forward, highlighting the people working for a better world, and connecting seekers to doers."

Jason and Patrick of Doomer Optimism had some great questions about how the Ag Reserve came to be and how protecting farmland is an insurance policy against an increasingly uncertain world.
It is so refreshing to talk to folks seeing the Ag Reserve with fresh eyes to re-connect to the fact that it is an astonishing feat to have thriving farms on protected farmland this close to a bustling metro area. 
​
The entire podcast can be seen here. 

Below are a few clips from the show: 

What (and Why) is the Ag Reserve? 

Why Protect Farmland in Busy Montgomery County? Why not the Midwest, etc. 

We reference the Pro Publica interactive map here (scroll to reach the "Farm Yield" map)

What is hopeful in the food system?

The Reserve as Resilience

In an increasingly urbanized world, the importance of sustainable agriculture and preserving our local farming communities cannot be overstated. The recent opinion piece published by Moco360, titled "MoCo Farms Need to Grow Community Investment," brings to light a pressing issue that Montgomery County faces. Particularly, the article emphasizes the need for community investment in local farms, and we believe that Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a powerful solution that not only addresses the concerns raised but also fosters a deeper connection between residents and the agricultural roots of their community.

Strengthening Local Agriculture:
 
Our greater food system is under pressure from environmental and economic pressures, including increased urbanization, recession fears, agricultural monocropping, desertification, climate change induced natural disasters, and more. By actively participating in CSA programs, community members can directly support local farmers, allowing them to continue their vital work. CSA not only provides financial stability for farmers but also allows them to focus on sustainable farming practices, preserving open spaces, and maintaining the cultural and community heritage associated with agriculture.

Access to Fresh, Nutritious Food:

One of the primary benefits of CSA is that it enables residents to have access to fresh,
locally grown produce. By subscribing to a CSA, individuals or families receive regular
“shares” of seasonal fruits, vegetables, and often other farm products, such as eggs,
honey, or dairy. This arrangement ensures that consumers receive the freshest, most
nutritious food available, while also reducing the environmental impact associated with
long-distance transportation.

Educational Opportunities:
 
CSA programs often go beyond simply providing fresh produce. They provide an excellent opportunity for education and engagement. Many CSAs offer farm visits, workshops, and other educational activities to increase awareness and understanding of sustainable agriculture. By participating in CSA, community members gain a deeper appreciation for the work that goes into food production and develop a stronger connection to the land and the farmers who nourish them.
 

Fostering a Strong Community:
 
Community Supported Agriculture has the power to bring people together. By subscribing to a CSA, residents form a sense of community around a shared commitment to local agriculture. This connection can extend beyond the transactional relationship, as CSA members often have the opportunity to meet and interact with the farmers who grow their food. Through community events, farm visits, and shared recipes, CSA members build relationships with like-minded individuals, strengthening social bonds and promoting a sense of belonging.
 

Conclusion
 
In response to the thought-provoking article published by Moco360, it is clear that Community Supported Agriculture offers a compelling solution to the challenges faced by Montgomery County's farming community. By actively supporting local farmers through CSA programs, residents can play a crucial role in preserving agricultural landscapes, accessing fresh and nutritious food, promoting sustainable practices, and fostering a strong sense of community. Embracing CSA is not just an investment in the future of farming but also an investment in the overall well-being and resilience of our community. 

 "County House of Delegates Delegation are forming a workgroup to examine the county’s process for reviewing and approving development projects, with a special focus on ensuring the county remains economically competitive.”

Conservation Montgomery and Montgomery, Countryside Alliance have summited comments which read in part:

“The organizational structure and decision-making power at Montgomery County Park and Planning has evolved over the past 15 years to become more concentrated, and at times, unchecked. There is a need for a more balanced, specialized, holistic, and inclusive approach to the development review process, master planning process, and general decision making within the Planning Department, especially with regards to planning for environmental resilience.
There is a clear need for a new (reinstated) position – Chief of Environmental Planning.”

We believe that the County’s economic health is inextricably tied to its environmental health.

MoCo's own Farmer Tanya of Passion to Seed Gardening in Laytonville (and her Mom!) were featured on former Senator Heidi Heitkamp's podcast "The Hot Dish." 

There are change coming to the Dickerson Power Plant property which has been closed. 740 acres of the property has been bought by a company called Terra Energy in August 2022.Terra’s owners have kept SCA, Montgomery Countryside Alliance (MCA), the Sierra Club and others apprised of their plans for this large parcel of land in Montgomery County. Those plans have evolved over the past year and will likely continue to evolve as the new owners scope out regulatory requirements and limits, and meet with county and state officials and assorted business partners and other groups. Here is a copy of our correspondence with Terra Innovations.

We are sharing a post from our partners at Sugarloaf Citizens Association with a deep dive on the large data center(s) complex and energy storage facility Terra is planning to build on the land. 

Next steps: we will be meeting with the County Executive to convey our thoughts/concerns. We will meet with Terra Innovations to convey our requested conditions/provisions for their conditional use approval for both data centers and battery storage facility. 

MCA signed onto a letter with the Smarter Growth Alliance of Frederick County asking that the County Executive expand her previous executive order that was a pause on approval of data center site plans to add a pause on certain zoning map amendments while the new use of data centers is studied.  The letter asks that a pause be expanded to include acceptance, review or approval of data centers while the report from the county's Data Center Working Group is in process and the County makes any policy changes based on that report. 
This common sense ask keeps data centers from rushing to apply now before new policies are enacted. 

More: 
Northern VA Has a Data Center Problem
Dominion proposes 230kV transmission infrastructure for Arcola data centers
How Data Center Cooling Works and Can Promote Sustainability
Reads in part:As much as 50% of all power used in a data center is spent on cooling technologies. Major enterprises are all moving towards reducing their carbon footprint, which means cooling technologies either have to change—or need to go.
According to the Global e-Sustainability Initiative (GESI), in their Smarter 2030 report, the digital world today, at this very moment, encompasses:

• 34 billion pieces of equipment
• More than 4 billion users

With the network infrastructures and data centers associated with these billions and billions, our digital world is responsible for 2.3% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Data centers themselves account for 1% of the world’s electricity consumption and 0.5% of CO2 emissions.

Glass Gem Corn - or "Rainbow Corn" - A native corn of North America 

Happy Pride - each June is an opportunity to spotlight the contributions and voices of LGBTQ+ folks across history and across vocations. Today we share some profiles of farmers that are making their mark on local farm systems. ​

More Resources:
A USDA Talk with Young Farmers LGBTQI+ Mental Health in Agricultural Communities (passcode:0%Q@Ank$)
The Queer Farmer Network
TF4TF - Trans Farmers for Trans Farmers Discord Chanel and Zine

​More resources to share? get in touch - kristina@mocoalliance.org

Montgomery Countryside Alliance is proud to announce we are the recipients of this year's Montgomery Preservation Award. 
From the Award Letter: 
"Your organization is a stellar model for education, advocacy, innovation, conservation, and preservation. The Montgomery County Awards provide inspiration and successful ideas for all admirers of historic landscapes and our history. " 

We are proud to accept this award and be among recent Ag Reserve awardees- including the rehabilitation of the Montevideo Bridge, the Sugarloaf Ethnohistory Project's archeology project. (Past Awardees Here) 

Montgomery County is in a moderate/severe drought

​Drinking water
For those in MC served by well (aquifer) water (which is everybody in Poolesville and Barnesville area, the Reserve and rural transition communities, including parts of Darnestown for example) take note. It is advisable to go into conservation mode when drought seems possible. Frankly, this is prudent, even for people on WSSC water. A shifting climate may create more drought periods and, paradoxically, higher velocity/volume rain events where stormwater runoff becomes an issue.
More on our groundwater aquifer, how changing weather patterns will affect our region etc. here - worth the read:
Understanding Groundwater in the Reserve 
The Coming Droughts and How to Cope

What a joyful gathering June 7 at AfriThrive Cultural Farm in Poolesville! Council member Natali Fani-Gonzalez presented a Council Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week proclamation, recognizing the critical importance of small diverse sustainable farms, and the role of MCA’s Land Link program in connecting new and expanding diverse farms with over 500 acres of affordable farm acreage. Joining in the presentation was councilmember Andrew Friedson. Our friends at Manna Food joined in and it was properly noted that our local farms donate over 200,000 pounds of food each year. See the video here

Following the presentation and a robust discussion about challenges to farm start ups and initiatives needed to help, we traveled to nearby Chirandu Farm to see their progress in cultivating beautiful, varied, culturally relevant crops, including pumpkins, being grown for the fruit and delectable pumpkin leaves. 

When we talk about food equity, one thing that gets lost is not just who gets access to quality food for consumption – but who gets the access to food growing opportunities. Broadening food production access has benefits for the whole community in the areas of equity, public health, economic development and more. We see this reflected in our Land Link program - most applicants are farmers of color seeking to grow culturally appropriate food for their community. 

The new master plan for the Briggs Chaney - Fairland neighborhoods is a plan that incorporates a stronger food access system for residents by taking account of the things a typical plan does - access to grocery stores and restaurants but it goes further to encourage expanded community gardens and local food hubs to strengthen the local food system. This is an exciting development and MCA wrote to support this plan - both as an individual organization and jointly with partner organizations. 

MCA's letter here
Joint Letter here

The time is ripe to collaborate on solutions that get more residents growing. This draft plan’s focus on a sustainable local food system plan and Agriculture Technical Hub is the right step forward and the Eastern County is the idea place to take this step. With partners, we are envisioning a further step – a fully featured small farm incubator program that brings together land, equipment and mentoring to create thriving small farms on hubs throughout the County. We stand ready to partner to make this pilot project a reality in the Eastern County and scale up to other parts of the county.

The plan in its draft form was well received and approved for the next step by the planning board. Follow along here. 

Also check out support for the plan from Dan Reed, native of Fairland. 

Linden Barn in Dickerson was bustling June 15 as residents from both Frederick and Montgomery County gathered to discuss the current development of data centers in Frederick County, and the potential for data center and other facilities construction on the over 700 acre former PEPCO property in Dickerson ( View maps and  slides from the presentation ).

Also Steve Black shared the excellent news of SA’s recent court victory in their quest for document release relating to Frederick County’s process in developing the draft Sugarloaf Area master plan. 
The Article reads in part: 
"The Sugarloaf Alliance filed a lawsuit against Frederick County in June 2022, alleging that the county violated the Maryland Public Information Act by failing to disclose requested records in the 30-day period required by law. The group's two public records requests, both filed in October 2021, asked that the county disclose any records that would reveal information about the development of the Sugarloaf Area Plan."

Other Press: 

• ​More Public Records reveal details of Amazon's failed data center plans  Frederick News Post
• Data centers may be nearing tipping point in Northern Virginia - Bay Journal
  
• Released records: Amazon had hand in drafting data center zoning policy Frederick News Post
• Developers (QLoop) Looking to Turn Frederick Farmland into Huge Data Center - Bore Under Potomac in 3 Places (MCA Blog)
• David Trone meets with Qloop officials as company’s construction remains on hold

Reads in part:

Asked if the economic incentives that Quantum Loophole officials value should be contingent on environmental compliance, which the company has lacked recently, Trone said Quantum Loophole’s commitment to the environment and transparency have been impressive, and in business, there will always be setbacks, referencing his own business career.
“ … [Y]ou can’t let those outliers and those bumps in the road dissuade you on what’s the most important goal, and that’s our children and their children in education,” Trone said. “It’s about taxing companies, not taxing people…”

The robust follow up discussion reflected the deep desire of residents to ensure that data center development be properly regulated to safeguard health, safety, and quality of life for nearby communities and natural resources. Moreover, it was noted that both counties and Maryland have set clear goals relating to climate change mitigation and resilience necessitating great care in siting, scale, etc. Mobilize Frederick  has sent a good parcel of draft regulations to the Frederick County Executive  - including provisions to safeguard wells and river water from these notoriously water-hungry land uses. 
All three nonprofits pledged to work diligently to protect public interest as these, and potentially other projects, are proposed in both counties. SCA and MCA have been told by Terra Energy reps that detailed proposed plans for the Dickerson site will be shared after July 4. Stay tuned…
Make sure to sign up for the organizations’ newsletters for updates.

What: Update on and discussion of two large-scale development projects underway or proposed in the Ag Reserve and southern Frederick County
Why: Both projects raise concerning land-use and environmental-impact questions
Where: The Gothic Barn at Linden Farm, 20900 Martinsburg Road, Dickerson, MD
Who: Montgomery Countryside Alliance, Sugarloaf Citizens Association and Sugarloaf Alliance  

Details: One project is located on 740 acres at the site of the Dickerson power plant. The other involves construction of a 43-mile fiber-optic cable loop under the Potomac River in two places. The project will connect data centers in Virginia with those being planned near Adamstown in Frederick County. The new owners of the Dickerson power plant property are also interested in building a data center on that site. The fiber-optic cable already runs through their property. They have proposed a large-scale solar power installation as well, possibly built on Ag Reserve land and thus requiring rezoning.

Background:
This issue is tied up with the Sugarloaf Treasured Master Plan where proposed development of data centers on farmland has become a serious issue. Northern Virginia has been the site of many already completed data center projects. Residents and civic organizations have decried the farmland being lost to this use and also the huge amount of water needed to keep the computer equipment cool and functional. The site in Frederick County is linking to these Northern VA centers with fiber optic cable under the Potomac. Much more on how this impacts Frederick and Northern MoCo here. 

Sugarloaf Alliance has asked us to inform you of two urgent threats to regional clean water related to activity at the Quantum Loophole (QL) site in Adamstown (Eastalco):

1. Active and urgent, Dumping Contaminated Water into Tuscarora Creek:14000 gallons of toxic liquid from the QL site are being discharged daily into Tuscarora Creek, flowing to the Potomac River in South Frederick County; 
2. Horizontal Directional Drilling and Destruction in Sensitive Wetlands: In August, 2022 QL commenced construction activities in the floodplain at the Monocacy river without approval. Multiple violations identified led Frederick County to issue a stop-work order. QL now requests a special exception from Frederick Board of Zoning Appeals to resume activity within the floodplains.
   Much more on their site here. 
   

Related: Frederick County Court Ordered to Release Documents on Sugarloaf Plan proposed developer carveouts - previously hidden citing "client privilege" Sugarloaf Alliance Press Release

Congratulations to Montgomery County's new Planning Board Artie Harris (l) and new member Josh Linden (r). We look forward to working with the newly formed planning board toward vibrant farms and a protected environment in Montgomery County!

Press: 
MoCo360
Montgomery Planning Press Release
​WaPo: "Artie Harris Picked to Lead Overhauled Montgomery County Planning Board" 

Governor Moore just signed a new Community Solar law that would make the "pilot" Community Solar program permanent (good explainer here).  Community Solar is when a large array is installed (could be rooftop or ground mounted) and customers of the same power utility subscribe to purchase the power created by that array. Some projects are specifically meant to supply power to low income residents. With this new law and more capacity for these project opening in local power companies, farmers may be wondering what this means for siting large solar arrays on local farms. Much more on types of solar installations here.

Our 3rd webinar in the solar series (info for businesses and households here) took place place on June 22 at 7pm on Zoom. 
Our thanks to  our partners at the MoCo Green Bank and Office of Agriculture plus solar supplier Aurora Energy.

Slides Shared: 
MCA Considerations for Solar on Farms
Green Bank Slides
​Aurora Energy Slides
FAQs for On-Farm Solar from the Office of Ag

Some years ago MCA led a coalition of over 60 state and local civic organizations that successfully advocated for siting solar carefully in Montgomery County's Ag Reserve.  Since then we have joined with our partners at the Montgomery County Green Bank and the County Office of Agriculture to guide local businesses, residents and farmers on the solar installation process.  See our solar resources page here. 

Update: 4/21/23: 
On this brilliant Spring morning, fitting to remind about the practical benefits of the County’s Rustic Roads preservation program. Today we highlight road user safety: our more narrow and winding rustic roads - lined with vegetation cause most motorists to ease off the gas a bit making for safer passage for all kinds. Posted Speed limits are 25-30.
Farm equipment fares better where speeds and traffic volume are lower. (Studies aplenty)
PS - be respectful of the farmers moving their equipment this planting season, thanks!

The Rustic Road Master Plan is having its first update since the inception of the program. 
A public hearing on the planning draft of the update took place on 4/18. we understand the Transportation and Envionment Committee will take the matter up next. 

Take a minute to share your Rustic Road appreciation with Council by 4/25

Press and Testimony:
Great article from PLENTY about the importance of Rustic Roads
​Rustic Roads Advisory Committee Testimony
Dr. Royce Hanson's Testimony ​

For those of you with affection for our County’s wonderful rustic roads- take a little time to hear from those giving voice to the benefits of the program and continued stewardship of these byways. 
(MCA’s testimony begins at approximately 6:07:00 - but hear others strong testimony as well.)

The record will remain open until December 9 for folks to write in to support the program and important Rustic Roads Advisory Committee recommendations (testimony here.)

​Details (thank you Leslie Saville):

WHO: You, your friends and neighbors, residents, visitors, groups (civic, historic, environmental, recreational), farmers, farm market and CSA operators, vintners and brewers, artists, visitors, cyclists, equestrians, hikers, businesses--anyone and everyone who loves and uses our rustic roads. 


WHAT: Please tell the Planning Board how your road (or your favorite road) is special to you. Your testimony doesn't need to be long, but if it's personal and heartfelt, it will be powerful.  

Ideas you might include: These roads are historic and unique, as are the bridges, structures and landscapes along them. They are narrow, slow, and safe, leading to places of wonder--to views of Sugarloaf Mountain, to historic communities, both Black and White, past a one-room schoolhouse, a favorite barn or a row of 100-year old cedar trees. 

Your testimony would be especially helpful if it highlights how valuable and irreplaceable these historic, scenic roads continue to be, that they are integral to our working landscapes, rural areas and villages, and the functioning of the Agricultural Reserve. They strengthen our rural businesses including our farms, markets, orchards, stables, wineries, breweries and art studios along them. These roads are safely shared by all users, and their narrow pavements protect the water quality in our streams and reservoirs. Heritage tourism along these roads is an enormous economic asset for our rural economy. 

Love your own road! Please name your road (or roads). Include a stunning photo or two! Check your road description in the master plan and point out something specific you support. Examples--a new designation, a historic or one-lane bridge that's a Significant Feature of your road, a history write up that highlights things you might not know or that you hope others might learn, or historic sites, views or champion trees shown on the new map of your road. 

Send email to:

MCP-Chair@mncppc-mc.org


BCC:  info@mocoalliance.org



Thanks for your support of our Rustic Roads!

Late breaking good news from Frederick County: Outgoing County Executive Jan Gardner has just announced that Frederick County will institute a Rustic Roads Program to protect 80 miles of roads that were identified in the 20 year old Rural Roads program with an "exceptionally rustic" designation and adds 287 miles of "candidate roads" that will be studied for inclusion in the program. 

Executive Gardner: "We know that preservation is crucial to maintaining our community’s unique characteristics,” Executive Gardner said. “By launching this Rustic Roads Program, we can preserve Frederick County’s rustic roads in their natural and historic settings so future generations can understand and appreciate our rich agricultural history.” 
Video of the proclamation here and County press release here. 

Frederick's push for more protection for rural roads makes a strong case for continued protection for those same roads as they cross the border into MoCo's rural lands. 

The bill will see a public hearing on April 18th (tentatively 1:30)

Here is the action alert  from the MC Civic Federation  and our note sent last year to ask for the Counsel's return:
​
Fund the Office of the People's Counsel - FY 2023 Operating Budget
​
Dear County Executive Elrich,
There are compelling reasons to include this in the FY 2023 budget as cited in a strong letter sent to your office yesterday from MCCF. Chief among the reasons listed:
“Furthermore, the County Code requires that prior to introduction, any proposed Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) be reviewed by a ZTA Advisory Group that includes the OPC. One of the reasons often cited by the Planning Department for the complete rewrite of the County's Zoning Ordinance (which was a seven year process) was to discourage the use of Zoning Text Amendments that bypass the master planning and land use public processes. However, since the Zoning Rewrite was adopted, there have been over 100 ZTAs proposed by a small number of Councilmembers. All of the ZTAs were proposed without the benefit of the OPC review.”
The call for return of the People’s Counsel is not new. I had, for example, included it in this 2019 piece in Maryland Matters

In truth, if looking at this from purely a dollars cost, the reestablishment of the position will save much in governmental time and money spent churning over poorly conceived ZTAs etc.
Above all… this is about just and equitable governance.
Respectfully,
**********

​To the field we go with bright and engaged high schoolers… Learning about wildlife biodiversity, sound land use planning, environmental stewardship, the importance of a strong local food system, protecting water resources and how to view the world through the lens of opportunity and optimism.
Cheers to our speakers: Jen Scully, Dr. Royce Hanson, and Diane Cameron!
​Our thanks to Black Hill Nature Center, Montgomery Parks and Friends of Ten Mile Creek and Little Seneca Reservoir