Future of Water Panel Wrap Up

"Like life, liberty and democracy, clean water is not something we can take  for granted." 

~Scott Fosler, keynote address at December 3 Regional Water Forum

UPDATE: (1/18/17)

Various studies and reports relating to regional water availability and storage were cited during the forum. To be clear, MCA and partners acknowledge these ongoing efforts but stress the imperative to coordinate via inter-jurisdiction and interagency our efforts to maintain and protect our regional water supplies, both quantity and quality.

The ICPRB has released the following report on water supply alternatives:

Executive Summary
Full Report

The water forum hosted by MC Sierra Club in partnership with MCA and other local non-profits drew a crowd of nearly 100 on a sunny winter day. The goal was to begin a collaborative discussion focusing on regional water resources challenges and how we might best address them and featured representatives from WSSC, Montgomery Parks and the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB). When asked about the lapsed 50 year water plan, the panelists' responses were both surprising and troubling, highlighting why groups have launched this initiative. 

​"What plan are we talking about?" 
"To my knowledge there are not people sitting down and saying 'ok lets make a plan for the next 50 years'."
 Speaking for many in the audience, Caroline replies, "Uh-Oh". 

 The audience submitted many additional good questions, including:

• "To what degree are the issues of water quantity and quality solvable by man made engineering? What other strategies are needed?"
• "What current efforts are either in place or could be implemented for more effective water conservation in the County?"
• "Do we need a water "czar" with responsibility for oversight of WSSC and all other water resources?"
• "Cleaning up Watts Branch could be an alternative to the proposed new mid-river intake. Why is this not be studied by WSSC and planners instead of putting the last straw in the middle of the Potomac?"
• "Am concerned about sewer lines that border Little Seneca Creek/Lake. In the summer, these pipes smell, so clearly that are not secure enough. This is a threat to the recreation and water distribution goals of this facility."

The forum concluded with short statements from the candidates for Montgomery County Executive - Roger Berliner, Marc Elrich, Robin Ficker and George Leventhal. Each expressed firm commitment to promoting protection of our water resources.

While we were disappointed that the various agencies were not engaged in updating the regional water plan, we were nonetheless heartened at the expressed desire of the panelists to collaborate moving forward. We look at this as glass half full and opportunity to plan more wisely, together.

In 2018, getting all stakeholders to the table to craft a new regional water plan is job one.

 We've seen what citizens can achieve just recently with the success in providing improved protection of Ten Mile Creek and Little Seneca Reservoir. We will be calling on you in the months ahead to make your voices heard to support of collaborative planning, conservation and collaboration. We've got this.

Help us press forward. Support MCA with your tax deductible gift today.
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The excellent Keynote delivered by MCA Board Member Scott Fosler. He has been on the forefront of water conservation in the County both in a decision making role on the County Council and from the civic side. Click here to see the full live stream of the event. 

​We want to highlight our event partners for helping to organize and host a great event. Sierra Club Montgomery County, Friends of Ten Mile Creek, Seneca 
Creek Watershed Partners, Muddy Branch Alliance, Watts Branch Watershed Alliance, 
Potomac Conservancy, Conservation Montgomery, and Audubon Naturalist Society! The event was also supported by the Montgomery County Green Democrats and Indivisible Montgomery.