Rocky Gorge Reservoir/Supplee Park (PG County)

[Derek Richardson]

Highlights today at Rocky Gorge/Supplee Park were a Northern Harrier soaring and 3 Purple Finches. Lots of Common Mergansers continue on the water. Here's my eBird checklist for today.

As a reminder to those planning to visit the reservoir on the PG side, the trails and boat ramp area remain accessible to the public without a permit, but that may change March 15. Those of us who bought a permit last year get another year free, but I suspect new people may need to buy a permit. You do not need a permit to bird Supplee Park or the road down to the boat ramp.

Speaking of Supplee Park, the water company that owns the land around the reservoir is laying down a new raw-water pipe, which sadly means they are removing a long stretch of pine forest along the north side of Brooklyn Bridge Rd, between Cannfield Dr and Supplee Park (the line will also continue through the park, to Bond Mill Rd). Construction will likely continue for many months. I'm definitely sad about the lost habitat, but since this remains WSSC land at least we can expect it will remain undeveloped after they bury the line.

D

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Derek Richardson (he/him/his)

West Laurel MD USA

[Chas Argent]

Derek-

Are they required to mitigate the tree loss somehow?

~Chas

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[Marcia Watson]

I just want to add to Derek’s mention of the watershed access permits:  These annual permits are free for people 65 and older but must be obtained in person (no online form) so that you can show ID to prove your age. The senior permit information is not easy to find on the WSSC website so here is a link to a FAQ that covers it; scroll down to the question about 65 and older. https://www.wsscwater.com/what-we-do/environmental-protection-and-sustainability/watershed-recreation-user-program/faq

That FAQ entry also has the addresses of the two locations where the permits can be obtained (Brighton Dam and the WSSC headquarters a short distance from Duckett Dam). FYI the permits (both the paid ones and the senior ones) cover both Triadelphia and Rocky Gorge watershed lands.

If you’re under 65 and want to buy an annual permit for the upcoming season, you can create an online account to purchase the permit online; see https://my.wsscwater.com/selfcare/views/public/login/login.faces Or you can buy them in-person at Brighton Dam or the WSSC headquarters. 

Marcia 

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Marcia Watson

Bowie, MD

On Mar 9, 2021, at 10:13 AM, Derek Richardson <derek.c.r...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Derek Richardson]

Hi Chas, I'm not sure. Since it's WSSC property, my instinct says no, but a local PG County council member (Tom Dernoga) is aware of the situation and is looking into whether there are any mitigation plans. I imagine they won't be able to replant trees (since the water pipe would be underneath...?) but I'm hoping for at least some brushy habitat. Others have suggested making a trail to connect the playing fields near the dam to Supplee Park (safer than walking on Brooklyn Bridge Rd, which only has a sidewalk for a portion of the route).

D