NRCS Invites Public Review of Piney Run Watershed Study

BELTSVILLE, March 17, 2025 – The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Caroll County have initiated the interagency and public review comment period for the planning phase of the Piney Run dam rehabilitation project. A public meeting to discuss the environmental assessment and proposed watershed plan for the Piney Run Watershed Study will be held during the Board of Carroll County Commissioners meeting on April 3, 2025, at 9 a.m.

The Piney Run dam and reservoir provide flood protection in the Piney Run Watershed as well as recreation opportunities and a potential future water supply. A recent hydrologic and hydraulic study indicates that the dam does not have sufficient capacity to safely pass its spillway flood design, and there is concern over the erodibility of the auxiliary spillway if it were to activate. The watershed plan outlines opportunities to rehabilitate the Piney Run dam to meet current safety and performance standards while providing flood protection, sediment storage, recreational opportunities, and a backup source of municipal raw water.

The final watershed study report may be viewed on Carroll County’s website at https://www.carrollcountymd.gov/government/directory/planning-land-management/resource-management/piney-run-watershed-study/.

Federal funding has been received to assist the local sponsors in developing the plan, but funding has not yet been secured for the design or construction of these projects.     

For information on how to comment during the public comment portion of the hearing, please contact Christopher Heyn, Director, Department of Planning and Land Management at 410-386-2949 during normal business hours, Monday through Friday, prior to the date of the hearing.

The Americans with Disabilities Act applies to the Carroll County Government and its programs, services, activities, and facilities. Anyone requiring an auxiliary aid or service for effective communication or who has a complaint should contact The Department of Citizen Services, 410-386-3600 or 1-888-302-8978 or MD Relay 7-1-1/1-800-735-2258, as soon as possible but no later than 72 hours before the scheduled event.

More Information

For more than 90 years, NRCS has helped farmers, ranchers and forestland owners make investments in their operations and local communities to improve the quality of our air, water, soil, and wildlife habitat.  NRCS uses the latest science and technology to help keep working lands working, boost agricultural economies, and increase the competitiveness of American agriculture. NRCS provides one-on-one, personalized advice and financial assistance and works with producers to help them reach their goals through voluntary, incentive-based conservation programs. For more information, visit nrcs.usda.gov.