Friends---

The traditional kick-off of summer-- Memorial Day week-end-- was less than ideal but some hearty souls did get out on the lake to look at changes which took place over the winter and to observe season renewal and recreational enjoyment.  

We have recently sent out our May, 2017 Watershed Wisdom Newsletter. If you have not received a copy, you can see it on our web page,  http://friendsofdcl.org/  .

                            Summer Focus:
     Securing Funding for the State Lakes Fund 
                  and DCL dredging projects. 

Item # 1: State Lakes Protection and Restoration Fund bill was signed into law by Governor Hogan on May 4. 

 Barbara Beelar, FoDCL, and Eric Gally, FoDCL lobbyist,watch as Governor Hogan signs State Lakes bill. Along with the Governor are President of Senate Mike Miller on left and House Speaker Mike Busch on right. We even got the pen the Governor used!

Thanks to Senator Edwards and Delegate Beitzel for their leadership and work to get the bill passed!!!       

     What was achieved: creation of a fiscal mechanism through which the state can allocated state funds for lake protection and restoration. There are no funds in the Lake Fund law!

     Next step: secure state funding for Deep Creek Lake (and other state owned lakes) to underwrite programs and projects to ensure a healthy and sustainable future for these state owned waterbodies. 

     Funding option: DCL dredging restoration is a large, expensive project which requires allocation of funds in The Capital Budget, which is developed in the Governor's Office, a process which begins now and continues through early fall.  

Another option would be a bill requiring yearly allocation of funds, say $1 million. Such bills are not well received in Annapolis these days and, honestly, we may not have political clout to get such a bill through make this happen. 

     Tasks:  We are reaching out to all the bill supporters to advocate for "funding the Fund".

For the first time ever, all key stakeholders groups acted to support the bill. They did this under the assumption such action would lead to allocation of state funds for DCL protection and restoration. We are seeking their active, collaborate effort to inform the Governor of the importance of allocation of state funds for DCL in the the upcoming capital budget, being worked on this summer. 

We are reaching out to the 500 plus property owners in the 10 sediment impaired coves and other areas to mobilize them. We also need to create and implement a state-level communications strategy with the goal of raising the importance of this issue to broader awareness and concern in Annapolis, with special attention to the Governor. We need to hire a communications firm to do this work!!!

     ACTION ITEM: SIGN THE PETITION TO SECURE FUNDING FOR DCL DREDGING. 

Our petition ask the Governor to provide the critically important funding for DCL protection and restoration.  

A copy of the petition can be found on our web page-- friendsofdcl.org. 
Please  download, print and circulate amoung your family, friends and neighbors and return back to Friends of DCL. 

Item # 2: Sediment management plan. Friends of DCL helped secure state monies to underwrite " DCL dredging". The monies raised are supporting the County contract with Maryland Environmental Services to develop a sediment management plan with costs for each cove and prioritization as well as a grant application from the state Waterway Improvement Fund. 

MES contract calls for 2 public meetings as well as involvement by lake stakeholders. We will be providing updates on their work as well as opportunities to provide statekholder input.

Clearly no plan or set of recommendations should be made without full and extensive participation by DCL stakeholders and most particularly those who live in the 10 sediment impaired coves.  You can sign on to the County web site to keep informed. https://www.garrettcounty.org/watershed/deep-creek-lake/deep-creek-lake/mes-dredging-evaluation  .


                   Upcoming events of interest: 

Watershed Plan Signing. Friday, June 9, 10 am. Garrett County Court House, 2nd floor, entrance off Alder Street, Oakland.  DNR Secretary Belton and Secretary Grumbles will sign the Memorandum of Understanding for the Deep Creek Watershed Management Plan (adopted 3/16; submitted to  County 10/14).  Plan can be found on 
https://www.garrettcounty.org/planning-land-development/ext-link-watershed-management/deep-creek-lake-watershed-management-plan

Take me to the River Celebration of the Fracking. Sunday, June 11, 1-10 pm, Friendsville Community Park, Old River Road, Friendsville, MD; more info http://takemetotheriver.us

Engage Mountain Maryland BAN Celebration and Annual Meeting
Sunday, June 25 at 11:30 am, Deep Creek Lake State Park.  

             REQUEST FOR YOUR SUPPORT

Once again, we ask for your donation to make our work possible.

In the past 4 years, we have raised over $75,000 to pay for lobbying for DCL in Annapolis.  These efforts have really changed the whole conversation about DCL and state lakes in Annapolis. We have made a diffrerence, thanks to our generous donors!

Our work has brought us to this moment: we just have to be strategic and convincing and we may finally get the State of Maryland to accept its responsiblity as owner of Deep Creek Lake and to make a real commitment for its protection and restoration and  to assuming financial responsilibity. to ensure a healthy, sustainable lake for future generations.

We are the only group in Annapolis focusing all its efforts on advocating for a protection and restoration of this amazing natural and recreational resource and regional economic engine.  

We need funds to enable us to meet the huge challenge of securing funding for DCL into the Governor's Capital Budget. 

          Deep Creek Lake turns 92 years old this month.  

      We ask that each of you consider making a "birthday celebration" donation of $92 (or more, of course! ) to support the effective and strategic work of Friends of Deep Creek Lake. 

     Download a donation form from our web site, friendsofdcl.org , and mail your check to FoDCL, 779 Chadderton School Rd, Oakland MD 21550,  
OR use your  credit card ( we need card number, expiration date, security code and zip code)
OR make a payment via PayPal, possibly joining growing number of people who have chosen to enroll in monthly payment option. 


Look foward to seeing you around the lake in the coming months. Wish you were here right now-- the colors are crystal clear, the air so fresh and clean, the sky blue with those puffy white clouds, nice breezes and it's so quiet. 

Friends of Deep Creek Lake Board.