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Commissioners concur to seek NRCS funding for Piney Run Dam design and permitting
Summary
County staff received board concurrence to send a nonbinding letter expressing interest to the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) for design-and-permitting grant funding for Piney Run Dam; staff stressed the dam is currently maintained and not an imminent safety hazard.
Carroll County staff told commissioners on March 27 they will submit a nonbinding letter to the U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) expressing the county’s interest in grant funding to support design and permitting work on Piney Run Dam. The board gave concurrence for the letter, which NRCS required by an April 1 interest deadline.
County engineer Chris (presenter) said the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) raised concerns several years ago that require formal analysis and that the county had already pursued an initial NRCS-funded analysis phase. “This is not an imminent danger,” staff emphasized; county annual inspections have rated the dam as well maintained, but MDE requested further analysis and mitigation if needed. The engineering and permitting phase is estimated at roughly $1.8 million; staff indicated they would seek approximately $1 million from NRCS for that phase if invited to apply.
Why it matters: Piney Run Dam is a county-owned dam subject to MDE oversight. The county previously considered alternatives (including reestablishing a reservoir for drinking water) and decided to pursue required repairs/mitigation rather than reservoir conversion. Construction costs for the full project are estimated substantially higher (roughly $9 million for construction shown in staff slides), and staff said the county has capital funds set aside in the CIP but expects additional external funding will be necessary.
Board action and next steps: Commissioners authorized staff to send the NRCS letter of interest. Staff said a public hearing on the watershed/dam study is scheduled for the next week; they plan to return with detailed engineering results and a funding request if NRCS invites a formal grant application.
Ending: The item was approved by voice vote; staff will follow NRCS guidance on competitive funding and return with engineering findings at a subsequent meeting.
