Middle River Residents Concerned About Water Quality

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During a summer when heavy rains have led to large amounts of debris and even sewage pouring into local waterways, some area residents have expressed concerns that Baltimore County is not doing enough testing to ensure that the waterways remain heathy for local boaters and swimmers.

“We have so many people swimming at places like Strawberry Point and Wilson Point and we just want to make sure our waters are safe too,” Wilson Point resident Dan Doerfer said.

Over the last year, Baltimore County switched responsibility of water sampling from the Department of Environmental Protection and Sustainability to the Health Department. In addition, the county has also suspended non-mandated sampling of open water areas.

In Middle River, this means sampling has been limited to waters along Rocky Point State Park, Gunpowder State Park, Miami Beach and Hart Miller Island. Many residents in communities, such as Wilson Point, Oliver Beach and Bowleys Quarters, argue that is just not enough in light of the large number of recreational boaters, swimmers and fishermen in the area.

Residents' concerns have increased in recent months following the water quality advisory issued for the beaches due to high bacteria levels believed to be caused by fecal matter from Canadian geese.

The Essex-Middle River Civic Council, an umbrella group of about two dozen local community associations, has told the county it wants additional testing for the area. Among those leading the fight is Wilson Point Civic Association president Bob Bendler.

"We used to have testing in all areas," Bendler said. "You see what happened in Edgewater and know that could happen in our waters. Isn't that worth taking the time of conducting a few extra tests?"

Along with those concerns from Edgewater, residents in Middle River dealt with the impact of approximately . The cause of the overflow was mostly due to heavy rainfall, which greatly increased the flow of sewage into the Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant.  Advisories were issued for waters along , Cox’s Point and Edgemere Park.

While sympathetic to residents’ concerns, Baltimore County Department of Health officials say the testing of non-mandated areas will remain suspended, although that may change in the future.

“Our staff will continue to perform the required season beach sampling as well as respond to any significant sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) as required by the Maryland Department of the Environment SSO Emergency Response Plan,"  wrote county Health Department Director Dr. Gregory Branch in a letter to the Essex Middle River Civic Council.

“Although it is not possible to expand our current efforts at this time, we are reviewing the overall sampling plan protocols for next season.”

Dr. Branch's response came before members of the Back River Restoration Committee began its latest located near Diamond Point Road which has accumulated massive amounts of debris due in large part to heavy rains in the area.

Also, the county issued a at Genesee Valley in Parkton on July 11. There is a childrens' summer camp at the center but Monique Lyle, a spokeswoman for the Baltimore County Department of Health,  said there had been no reports of harm to campers. Hammerman Beach in Chase tested high on June 22. 

Although the beaches are no longer under advisory, excess pollutants are cause for serious concern.

"There is a real need for concentrated efforts to reduce these levels," Jenn Aiosa, senior scientist at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, told Patch recently. 

She is particularly worried about high amounts of nitrogen and phosphorous.  "Too much overstimulates algae and other naturally existing plants," Aiosa said. "They grow too quickly and block sunlight to other plants and animals."

Wilson Point resident Jane Michael said the county should be doing more to ensure water quality is safe for residents.

“We have so many environmental issues impacting waters in our community and I don’t understand why more testing can’t be done, especially since they come through our community to reach their testing points anyway,” Michael said.

Cockeysville Patch Editor Nayana Davis contributed to this story.