A $4.1 million settlement over pollution from the Ridgely's Reserve development near the Gunpowder River has not ended concerns among nearby residents.
The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) and Gunpowder Riverkeeper sued the developers following years of alleged sediment and erosion violations. The runoff entered Foster Branch Creek, a Gunpowder River tributary, creating what Bay Journal associate editor and senior writer Tim Wheeler described as a “muddy mess.”
The sediment plume was large enough to extend into the Gunpowder River and past the Amtrak bridge, Wheeler said.
The settlement included more than $2 million in penalties, with additional money designated for environmental remediation. The case also included an agreement requiring the developers to comply with environmental laws and pay stipulated penalties for future violations. But Wheeler said inspectors have continued to find problems.
“On at least four different occasions,” MDE inspectors have documented subsequent violations, with the latest reported inspection occurring August 19. Baltimore County has also issued correction notices and stop-work orders related to problems at the development. No additional state penalties had been levied as of late.
Residents had hoped the settlement would bring the situation under control. Now, they worry continued pollution could undermine restoration efforts planned for Foster Branch and the Gunpowder River.
“The community was hoping that a lot of that would be spent in the Gunpowder and the Foster Branch drainage to restore water quality,” Wheeler said.
With restoration projects moving toward implementation, residents remain concerned that ongoing sediment runoff could leave the watershed’s recovery “pretty murky.”
