Union Mills Reservoir facts for kids
The Union Mills Reservoir is a big idea for a large lake, called a reservoir, that was planned near Union Mills, Maryland. This reservoir would have stored water for people to drink and helped control floods. For about 50 years, leaders in Carroll County, Maryland, have thought about building this reservoir on a stream called Big Pipe Creek.
However, many people in the area didn't want the reservoir built. In the 1970s, a group called the Carroll County Taxpayers' Committee gathered thousands of signatures on a petition to stop it. Because of this, the plan was put on hold.
Even though the project was stopped, some county officials still thought it might happen. But for now, it's "postponed indefinitely," which means it's on hold for a very long time, maybe forever.
One important place that would have been affected by the reservoir is the Whittaker Chambers Farm. This farm is a very special place, recognized as a National Historic Landmark, and it's also protected by a program that saves farmland in Maryland.
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What is the Union Mills Reservoir?
From 1980 to 2017, over 70,000 acres were permanently protected through special programs. This is about one-fourth of all the land in Carroll County!
The Union Mills Reservoir was designed to be a large lake that would serve several purposes. It would hold back dirt and mud (sediment), help prevent floods, and provide drinking water for towns like Westminster, Hampstead, Taneytown, and Manchester. It was also planned to be a place for recreation, like boating or fishing.
The reservoir would have covered about 325 acres of land. In 2014, the plan suggested it could provide about 3.76 million gallons of water per day. The water level in the reservoir would normally be around 610 feet high.
The Big Pipe Creek, where the reservoir would have been built, flows into the Double Pipe Creek. This creek then joins the Monocacy River, which eventually flows into the Chesapeake Bay.
History of the Reservoir Plan
Since 1970, the Carroll County Water and Sewerage Master Plan has included the Union Mills Reservoir as a future water supply. The County has bought most of the land needed. People in the community want realistic plans for developing the reservoir to serve Hampstead and Manchester.
Plans for the Union Mills Reservoir have been around for a long time, starting in the 1970s.
Early Plans in the 1970s
In the 1970s, the Carroll County Commissioners, who are local government leaders, first suggested building a dam or reservoir. In 1975, a plan was made for the Big Pipe Creek area, mainly to control floods and also to supply water.
However, in February 1976, a group called the "Carroll County Taxpayers' Committee" announced they would fight against the dam. Ted Lissauer, a spokesperson for the committee, said they would collect signatures on a public petition. In March 1976, the committee published a statement explaining why they opposed the plan and held a public meeting to discuss the "Union Mills Dam controversy."
The county government published its own report in June 1976. This report included an "agreement" signed by various local and state officials. It said the county could buy land along the Big Pipe Creek for "improvements," including a reservoir and recreation areas.
The Taxpayers' Committee gathered more than 5,000 signatures for their petition, which was enough by law to challenge the project. News articles at the time described the project as a "Chinese puzzle" because it was so complicated. The committee argued that the project would destroy wetlands and that the county already had enough groundwater.
Concerns in the 1980s and 1990s
In August 1989, a local newspaper reported that if the Union Mills dam were built, there might be problems making the water safe to drink due to "fecal coliform bacteria levels." This type of bacteria comes from animal or human waste. Ted Lissauer from the Taxpayers Committee had pointed out in 1976 that Carroll County had enough groundwater already.
By 1990, the project faced a big problem. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a federal agency that protects the environment, was worried about how the reservoir would affect the natural areas. Because of these concerns, the county stopped its applications for the project.
Recent Developments (2000s-2020s)
Carroll County decided to postpone indefinitely the development of the Union Mills Reservoir. More recently, in 2016, the County has indicated... that they are no longer interested in the reservoir project.
In the 2000s, Carroll County officials again tried to get land for a dam and the Union Mills reservoir. In 2005, the county joined an agreement with Baltimore City and other groups to protect existing water reservoirs.
In 2006, the county announced new plans for the Union Mills reservoir and another one called Gillis Falls. People living nearby were against these plans, especially because of concerns about pollution from a nearby old landfill.
In January 2007, members of the United States Congress wrote letters to the Carroll County Commissioners about the Whittaker Chambers Farm. They asked the commissioners to protect this special farm and keep it whole. The commissioners replied that they believed in protecting historic sites and farmland, but also saw a need for new water sources.
The Baltimore Sun newspaper reported in March 2007 that the county was looking at surface water options, including the proposed reservoirs. These projects would be very expensive and take many years to complete. The United States Army Corps of Engineers and the United States Environmental Protection Agency had discouraged the reservoir projects in the past.
In June 2007, Whittaker Chambers' son, who had bought back parts of the farm, spoke out against the county's new efforts. He wanted to keep the farm together for future generations.
During a public meeting in March 2010, people shared their concerns about the reservoir plan. They argued that Carroll County already had enough water, that the nearby landfill could contaminate the reservoir, and that the county should fix leaky water pipes before building new sources.
By December 2010, the Carroll County government had bought 65% of the land needed for the Union Mills Reservoir.
In 2012, county officials gave mixed messages about the project. One official said new water supplies were "limited" and that the county had bought two houses that would be "directly" impacted. However, another official said the chance of the reservoirs being built was "questionable" and that it might take another 20 years, "if ever."
In 2014, a county water plan still mentioned the Union Mills Reservoir as a way to meet "long-term water supply needs."
In December 2016, a group called the Global Liberty Alliance Fund started working to protect the Whittaker Chambers Farm. They helped landowners and citizens contact government leaders to stop the reservoir. The Fund reported that Carroll County decided to "postpone indefinitely" the reservoir project and was "no longer interested" in it.
In 2017, Carroll County government stated that a large amount of land, about one-fourth of the county, had been permanently protected through special programs, including farmland preservation. Maps showed that much of the land not already bought by the county for the reservoir was protected farmland.
Water Quality and Bacteria Concerns
Studies by the Maryland Department of Environment in 2007 and 2009 found that levels of fecal bacteria were increasing in the Big Pipe Creek. This bacteria often comes from humans and pets. The reports suggested that reducing pet waste and fixing leaky sewer systems could greatly lower the bacteria levels.
In 2010, a large report by Carroll County government mentioned that the proposed Union Mills Reservoir could also be a way to make money by selling water to other areas. It noted that many of the streams that feed into existing reservoirs are "impaired," meaning they have water quality problems.
The report also suggested fixing failing septic systems and old, leaky water pipes to improve water quality and reduce water loss.
Union Mills Wetlands
Near Union Mills, there's an unofficial area called the "Union Mills Wetlands." This is where several streams meet the Big Pipe Creek. Nature groups and birdwatchers recognize this area as important for wildlife.
Another wetland area exists along the Little Pipe Creek, not far from Union Mills. Carroll County government says that protecting streams, ponds, and wetlands is a big part of how they manage water resources.
In 2015, a new law required Carroll County and other large areas to collect a fee to fund projects that restore streams and wetlands. In 2017, the county said one of its main environmental goals was to protect and restore the Chesapeake Bay.
Bird Watching
The Carroll County Bird Club recommends the Union Mills wetlands as a great place to see many different kinds of birds. Some of the birds you might spot include the ruby-throated hummingbird, great blue heron, green heron, eastern kingbird, great egret, barred owl, and Maryland's state bird, the Baltimore oriole.
Maps and Land Use
Maps from different years show how the proposed Union Mills Reservoir would have affected the land. Some maps show the reservoir covering large parts of the Whittaker Chambers Farm. Other maps show that much of the land in the area is already protected for conservation or agriculture.
Even though the reservoir hasn't been built, some tourism websites have mistakenly referred to a "Union Mills Reservoir" area for hiking. In 2020, many of these websites changed their titles to "Union Mills Area" or "Union Mills Trail" to be more accurate.
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