Watershed Update

In our effort to keep residents apprised of CA activity, we want to update you on our Watershed initiative.  Columbia Association (CA) has developed a Columbia Watershed Management Plan (CWMP) that outlines a long-term, far-reaching strategy to protect and restore the Little and Middle Patuxent rivers and adjacent waters. The CWMP will support ongoing efforts and provide a sustainable pathway to effectively manage Columbia’s watersheds.

CA adopted the following vision statement: Protecting and restoring the waters of Columbia. In pursuing the Vision, CA has identified several goals and objectives, including:

As always, Columbia is a place where we believe it is important to ensure the land is respected and its ponds and lakes are maintained as attractive community gathering posts. To ensure the beauty and health of the lakes for the future, an initiative was developed to carry out needed dredging. CA owns and maintains three large lakes: Lake Kittamaqundi, Lake Elkhorn and Wilde Lake.

The CA Board approved funding in the FY2007 budget to supplement existing funds designated for the Lake Kittamaqundi dredging project. In support of CA’s efforts to maintain the water quality of the lakes, the General Assembly approved $475,000 in the state’s budget, and Howard County approved $100,000. Columbia’s lakes collect sediment from throughout Howard County and keep it from traveling downstream to harm the Chesapeake Bay, making it more than just a local concern.

The CA Board also appropriated additional funding in 2007 and 2008 for the restoration and maintenance dredging of Lake Elkhorn.  This dredging effort will provide Columbia residents with a cleaner, healthier and pleasant recreation feature.

With input from Owen Brown and Town Center residents and from CA Board committees, the CA Board of Directors approved the dredging method and staging sites for Lake Kittamaqundi and Lake Elkhorn. The project is now in the next phase, which includes the permitting process and involves various local and state agencies. The actual dredging, which is expected to take approximately eight to ten months for each lake, is tentatively scheduled in the late summer/fall 2009 for Lake Elkhorn and spring/summer 2010 for Lake Kittamaqundi.

Wilde Lake is the third largest manmade lake in Columbia and was funded in FY2010 by the Board for dredging.  This work is currently in design and is scheduled to be dredged in late summer/fall 2010. CA has chosen the proposal submitted by Genesis Fluid Solutions headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado for the dredging of Wilde Lake. The selected proposal was unanimously rated highest on the proposed staging area and dredging methodology. The Genesis Fluid Solutions proposal is the most cost effective, while at the same time presents an environmentally and neighborhood friendly solution to the removal of accumulated sediment from Wilde Lake.

Per this plan, the contractor will launch a hydraulic dredge into the lake at the existing boat ramp and “vacuum” sediments. The floating pipeline connected to the dredge will carry the sediment to mechanical dewatering equipment located at a staging area below the Wilde Lake dam on open space property. The dredging process will last an estimated 60 to 75 days.

The efforts of the CA Board of Directors and staff is proof of the community’s commitment to care for our environment, establishing and maintaining vital habitats for both man and nature to thrive.

For more information please visit the Columbia Association Watershed web site at www.ColumbiaWatershed.org or call 410-381-3470.

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