Committee recommends amended equitable public water‑access plan after water‑quality questions

The Annapolis Environmental Matters Committee voted to recommend R40‑25, the draft Equitable Public Water Access plan, as amended after a briefing and discussion that balanced new capital projects with policy safeguards.

Eric Wysinski, chief of comprehensive planning, told the committee the draft plan includes a historically large set of public‑water‑access improvement projects already in the capital improvement program — "probably 26 projects," he said — and also recommends policy changes to formalize how the city approaches shoreline and waterfront access.

Committee members raised water‑quality concerns for headwater areas such as Spa Creek and Back Creek. One member noted constituents had reported elevated E. coli counts after rain events and asked whether such contamination should affect decisions about expanding access. Wysinski and other staff emphasized that many headwater and shallow areas are not being promoted for increased public access because they are poorly circulating and can show higher bacteria counts; staff recommended focusing new access where water circulation reduces bacteria risks.

Jackie Veil, deputy city manager for resilience and sustainability, said the city does not currently conduct routine creek water testing and that local nonprofits — including Spot Creek Conservancy and the Severn River Association — perform sampling. Veil said she has invited Spot Creek Conservancy to present its water‑quality data to the committee in January or February.

Beyond site selection, Wysinski highlighted two policy priorities: ensuring recommendations about public water access are clearly articulated in plats and major site‑plan reviews, and considering whether adequate public‑facilities requirements should include water‑access components for waterfront projects. He cited examples of projects in the pipeline — from larger investments at Cars Beach and Hawkins Cove to smaller sites such as Bill Jones Alley — and flagged a signage effort to improve public information.

After staff confirmed no objections to the committee’s proposed language, the committee moved, seconded and voted in favor of recommending R40‑25 as amended.

The committee directed staff to: arrange a data briefing by Spot Creek Conservancy, continue coordinating signage improvements tied to water‑access sites, and consider internal processes to ensure plat notes and site plans record public‑access commitments. The committee also discussed broader follow‑up with public works and state agencies where water‑quality issues may extend beyond city jurisdiction.

The recommendation now moves to the full council process for further consideration.