Union Mills Reservoir

In the 1970s, Carroll County Commissioners made a first proposal for a dam or reservoir.[13]

In 1975, the Maryland Soil Conservation Service issued a draft plan for a Big Pipe Creek Watershed, whose purposes were "primarily for flood control" and "secondarily for water supply."[14]

In February 1976, a "Carroll County Taxpayers' Committee" promised to oppose to the dam, Ted Lissauer announced, who also promised a public petition.[15] In March 1976, the committee published an Opposition Statement to the Big Pipe Creek Watershed Plan. The committee also held a public informational meeting on the "Union Mills Dam controversy."[16] In June 1976, Carroll County Commissioners published a report called Big Pipe Creek Watershed: Plan and Environmental Impact Statement. In its first pages appeared a five-page "agreement" signed by the "chairman" of a "Carroll County Conservation District," the president and secretary of the Carroll County Commissioners, a State Conservationist, and a "secretary" of the State of Maryland. It claimed to represent an agreement by the Carroll County Conservation District, the State of Maryland, and the United States Department of Agriculture (though no USDA official signed).[1] The agreement would allow the Carroll County Commissioners to acquire land along the Big Pipe Creek for "improvements" to include a "multiple purpose reservoir and basic recreational facilities," paid for by the county.[1] The report appeared in an appendix in the Federal Register dated August 1976 under "environmental impact statements which were reviewed and not commented on between July 1 and 31, 1976."[17] The county's report included "only excerpts" from the Carroll County Taxpayers' Committee's opposition statement as 21 comments, followed by lengthy responses, all of which the country rejected or dismissed its responses. For example, when the committee complained that the costs of more than $6,000,000 hardly justified $16,000 in flood control benefits and thus had "no real flood control benefits," the country responded that these costs "should not be compared."[1] (A full copy of the opposition statement went to the State Conservationist's Office, Soil Conservation Service, in College Park, Maryland).[1]

The Carroll County Taxpayers' Committee raised more than 5,000 signatures for its petition (as required by law) to stop the dam.[18]

On June 7, 1976, the Evening Sun of Hanover, Pennsylvania, asked, "Why is the Union Mills dam project like a Chinese nuzzle?" It answered, "Every time the pieces seem to fall into place, complicated new pieces appear." It cited a new statement from Carroll County Taxpayer Committee spokesperson Ted Lissauer: "The county will take 860 acres of land in the Bachman Valley, of which up to 505 acres will be subject to flooding during rains. This destruction of federally regulated wetlands is excessive, considering the minimal flood protection provided downstream according to the Environmental Protection Agency-Philadelphia office."[19]

In August 1989, the Caroll County Times reporter that "If the Union Mills dam is ever built, there could be problems making the water fit to drink," according to Carroll County government official, due to "fecal coliform bacteria levels." The newspaper also recalled that in 1976 Carroll County Taxpayers Committee spokesperson Ted Lissauer had argued, "Carroll County had adequate groundwater."[20]

According to the Washington Examiner, "the process hit a wall in 1990, county Planning Director Steven Horn said, when it appeared that the Environmental Protection Agency would not approve plans, so the county withdrew its applications."[21] According to the newspaper, "federal officials were worried about the environmental effect of flooding acres of ecosystem."[21] Driving the push for new reservoirs is "unprecedented growth."[21]

In the 2000s, Carroll County officials renewed efforts to claim property for a dam along the Big Pipe Creek, including plans for a Union Mills reservoir.[22]

In 2005, Carroll County government made a "Reservoir Watershed Management Agreement of 2005,",[23][24] first signed in 1979, between Baltimore City, Carroll County, Maryland Department of Environment, Maryland Department of Agriculture, Baltimore County Soil Conservation District, Carroll County Soil Conservation District, Baltimore Metropolitan Council, and a Reservoir Watershed Protection Committee. With regard to three existing water supply reservoirs" (Loch Raven, Liberty, and Prettyboy), all owned and operated by Baltimore City, the agreement's "most important goal of the agreement is to maintain high quality drinking water for metropolitan Baltimore including parts of Carroll, Baltimore, Howard and Anne Arundel counties and provide habitat and recreational uses."[24]

In 2006, Carroll County government announced renewed intentions to build a "Union Mills reservoir, proposed north of Westminster, and the Gillis Falls reservoir, proposed for Mount Airy" by seeking approval from the Maryland Department of Planning.[21] Affected residents expressed opposition, particularly concerned over proximity to a pollution from a John Owings landfill — "a former dump that leaches chemicals."[13]

In January 2007, according to a blog, Carroll Counter commissioners received letters from members of the United States Congress on behalf of the Whittaker Chambers Farm.[25] In a letter dated January 7, 2007, Roscoe Bartlett wrote, "It is my hope that the Commissioners of Carroll County will value, even treasure, this very special farm, that you will do all in your power to keep it whole, and protect its integrity for this and future generations to study and know."[25] A letter dated January 12, 2007, came from twelve members of the United States Congress: Roscoe Bartlett, Wayne Gilchrest, Mario Díaz-Balart, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Frank Wolf, Joe Wilson, Steve King, Madeleine Bordallo, Tom Feeney, John Boozman, Thaddeus McCotter, and Lincoln Diaz-Balart.[25] The letter said, "We understand that the Carroll County Commissioners are considering a water plan that includes the creation of a Union Mills reservoir which, if completed, would destroy a significant portion of this national treasure."[25] On January 18, 2007, Carroll Counter commissioners responded, "The need for a surface water supply for communities in northern Carroll County is real. We also believe that protecting and preserving nationally recognized sites of historic significance and irreplaceable farmland is equally important to our local, state and national well being. Our reservoir concept, with minimal impact to the Pipe Creek Farm, satisfies both of these fundamental principles of government: protecting our past while planning for our future."[25] In March 2007, the Baltimore Sun newspaper reported that the county was considering surface water options "including proposed reservoirs at Union Mills and Gillis Falls," alternatives planned "since the 1970s.".[13] The Sun also reported:

For the long term, Westminster is examining the county's revived plans for two reservoirs, one at Union Mills and the other at Gillis Falls. But those projects face significant federal hurdles, will take 10 years to complete and cost at least $166 million to construct, county officials said.
"Water projects are going to be a major factor in our [community investment plans] for some years to come," Ted Zaleski, the county budget director, said yesterday.
he federal Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency discouraged Carroll's twin reservoir projects when they were first pressed in the 1970s and 1980s. But with the state now pushing groundwater restrictions, county officials are hopeful that dam projects may again become feasible.
"It is the primary resource that is going to have to be there," Ferguson said of the Union Mills reservoir site. "We cannot continue to rely on groundwater."[26]

In June 2007, Whittaker Chambers' son objected to new efforts by the county. "This is where my parents died," he told the Baltimore Sun. He had recently bought back that farmstead of the Whittaker Chambers Farm to reform the full farm. "My end-of-life goal has been to reassemble it and make it available to the next generation as a farm."[27] (In 1949, Whittaker Chambers told newspapers, "I am not selling my farm now, and I have no intention of doing so. I expect to live here the rest of my life."[28])

During a public hearing on March 9, 2010, the County heard comments on a draft water resources element (WRE) from the members of the public, who argued:

1. Carroll County has sufficient water now and in future without a reservoir
2. Proximity of the John Owings landfill raises questions about contamination of a reservoir
3. No one from Carroll County government had discussed the proposed reservoir or its effects, e.g., flooding
4. 21 communities as water/sewer problem areas since the 1990s went unmentioned in the WRE
5. Piney Run did not appear in the WRE as an alternative for future drinking water supply
6. The US Army Corps of Engineers had already advised against a Gillis Falls Reservoir
7. Carroll County government should stop the 35% general leaks in municipal systems before considering any new sources
8. Carroll County government should ask for some funds to restore the Chesapeake Bay to restore the Bear Branch of the Big Pipe Creek

Tom Devilbiss, deputy director of Carroll County's Department of Planning, stated that planning commissions would review comments and make changes to the draft as they saw fit without further requirement fr public hearing.[29]

As of December 2010, Carroll County government had 65% of property (land) for its proposed Union Mills Reservoir (and 83% for the proposed Gillis Fall Reservoir).[11][30][31]

In 2012, Carroll County government officials made statements about the Union Mills reservoir project. Tom Rio, director of public works for Carroll County, stated that fresh water supplies were "limited" in the county, thus the county's plans for the Union Mills reservoir. Therefore, the county purchased two houses that the reservoir would "directly" impact. Then, Rio admitted, "The properties wouldn't exactly be under water if the project gets under way." However, Tom Devilbiss, deputy director of the county's Department of Land Use, Planning and Development, stated "the likelihood of either of the reservoirs being constructed is questionable." He explained that the county was only in "initial stages" of searching for groundwater at the properties purchased. The county spent $179,000 for two houses with 32.1 acres associated with the Union Mills Reservoir project. Devilbiss estimated another 20 years, "if ever," until the building of a Union Mills Reservoir.[32]

In 2014, a water and sewage master plan for Carroll County referred a Union Mills Reservoir "impoundment" for "long-term water supply needs." It also recommended for the long-term that the county main "long term water source options" at the proposed Union Mills Reservoir as well as a "York PA Water System," as well as "non-groundwater water supply." It intends the proposed reservoir for as "regional source of supply for Westminster, Hampstead, Taneytown, and Manchester Service Areas."[33]

In December 2016, the Global Liberty Alliance Fund, to defend private property rights, started investigating Carroll County government's efforts on behalf of the Whittaker Chambers Farm.[3] The Fund helped organize affected landowners and concerned citizens in contacting Members of Congress and other community leaders to help stop the reservoir.[3] According to the Fund, Carroll County government "threatened" to confiscate property under eminent domain – "despite the fact that federal law regarding National Historic Landmarks states that the land must be preserved."[3] The Fund claims that "16 Members of Congress also weighed in as well as and historians from several universities and academic institutions."[3] In conclusion, the Fund reported that "Carroll County decided to postpone indefinitely the development of the Union Mills Reservoir" and "indicated... they are no longer interested in the reservoir project."[3]

In 2017, Carroll County government published the statement: "From FY 1980 through FY 2017, 70,311 acres were permanently preserved through easement programs, which is roughly 1/4 of the total county land area,", including Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation (MALPF). A map that appears on the same page depicts a majority of land not already purchased by the county for the proposed reservoir as permanently protected under MALPF.[9]

Birdwatchers in the area have seen many species including Maryland's official state bird, the Baltimore oriole.

The Carroll County Bird Club recommends Union Mills wetlands as an excellent environment in which to spot species such as the ruby-throated hummingbird, great blue heron, green heron, eastern kingbird, great egret, barred owl, red-headed woodpecker, downy woodpecker, red-bellied woodpecker, red-tailed hawk, wood duck, northern flicker, fish crow, eastern towhee, sora, swamp sparrow, yellow warbler, solitary sandpiper, indigo bunting, eastern bluebird, orchard oriole, and Baltimore oriole.[38]