Staff Draft Recommendations Would Damage Ten Mile Creek Headwaters;
Degrade Last Reference Stream; Hurt Region's Emergency Drinking Water Supply
SILVER SPRING, Md., July 25, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- At a rally and press conference 9-11 am Thursday, July 25th, the Save Ten Mile Creek Coalition will release an analysis on the steps of the Montgomery County, Maryland Planning Board at 8787 Georgia Avenue of the Board's "Staff Draft: 10 Mile Creek Area Limited Amendment Clarksburg Master Plan and Hyattstown Special Study Area". This land use plan was developed in response to a request from the Montgomery County Council to protect Ten Mile Creek while allowing some development and will, unless further amended, serve as the basis for construction in upper Montgomery County.
Statement by Diane Cameron -- Save Ten Mile Creek Coalition; Audubon Naturalist Society
"In their own words, the Planning Board staff states that their plan would significantly degrade the water quality of Ten Mile Creek. We appreciate the pressures on the staff to deliver a plan that satisfies all parties. While our Coalition respectfully acknowledges that the Planning Board staff has tried to minimize development in sensitive areas, their own document says these efforts are insufficient to protect the creek.
"There are many options to bring the Clarksburg area long-awaited and needed amenities. But once we hurt Ten Mile Creek, there are no options to bring it back.
"We ask the Planning Board to revise this plan so it reflects established peer-reviewed science, the recommendations of county, state and national environmental agencies, and our own failures protecting County creek systems.
"Good governance requires us to conserve the County's natural resources for current needs and future generations. Developers' financial interests cannot be balanced equally with the quality of our regional drinking water and the natural integrity of Clarksburg. It is possible to protect Ten Mile Creek and still deliver needed services in Clarksburg. We ask that the Planning Board do so."
THE FULL ANALYSIS CAN BE FOUND HERE.
Save Ten Mile Creek Coalition: Am Kolel Jewish Renewal Community, Audubon Naturalist Society, Clean Water Action, Conservation Montgomery; Maryland Native Plant Society, Montgomery Countryside Alliance; Muddy Branch Alliance; Seneca Watershed Partners; Sierra Club Montgomery County Group; Stormwater Partners Network; Sugarloaf Citizens Association; Timber Oak Citizens Association, Watts Branch Watershed Alliance; WeAreMoco
www.savetenmilecreek.com
https://www.facebook.com/SaveTenMileCreek
@Save10mileCreek
SOURCE Save Ten Mile Creek Coalition
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