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Carroll County seeks NRCS funding to study and design upgrades to Piney Run Dam after MDE review
Summary
County staff told commissioners the Maryland Department of the Environment raised concerns requiring analysis and potential mitigation at Piney Run Dam; commissioners authorized sending NRCS a letter expressing interest in grant funding for design and permitting work and staff said the county has set aside CIP funds for later construction.
County staff asked and the Carroll County Commissioners approved sending the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) a nonbinding letter expressing the county’s interest in NRCS grant funding for design and permitting work at Piney Run Dam.
Staff said that MDE, which regulates dams in Maryland, raised concerns about Piney Run Dam in recent years and directed the county to analyze the structure and, if necessary, address deficiencies before an end‑of‑2027 mitigation/repair deadline. Staff stressed the dam is "in excellent condition" and that annual inspections by county and MDE staff have rated the structure highly; the current work is an engineering and regulatory response to MDE observations rather than an emergency.
County staff said the phase‑two engineering and permitting estimate is roughly $1,800,000 and that construction, which staff estimated could be in the FY‑28 timeframe, could be in the neighborhood of $9,000,000. The county has previously set aside capital funds toward dam work; staff noted approximately $3.2 million is already budgeted in the capital project with an additional $700,000 recommended in the FY‑26 draft, leaving $3.9 million identified in CIP so far.
NRCS informed the county that jurisdictions seeking FY‑28 implementation funds must register interest by April 1; the board authorized staff to submit the nonbinding interest letter by that deadline. Staff said any subsequent grant application would return to the board for formal approval and that NRCS grant awards are not guaranteed.
Ending: The commissioners authorized staff to express interest to NRCS and asked staff to return with the watershed study and public hearing results next week and with any finalized grant application for board approval.
