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Wheaton Stormwater Pond Polluting Northwest Branch January 29, 2006 Followup Letter February 6, 2006

Dear Chairman Berlage and other MNCPPC colleagues:

I am sorry to have to report that the stormwater pond behind the Wheaton Riding Stables is seriously deficient and is actively polluting the Northwest Branch and all bodies of water downstream. Please take immediate action to stop this degradation of our water resources.

I am attaching two sample pictures that show a little of what the problem is: one shows turbid, dark brown water entering the small stream along Old Randolph Road (which is not a picture of health itself, because of the other large pond upstream and other problems), and that the water above the outfall from the stormwater pond is much clearer. The other shows that a portion of a silt fence has been completely removed, right at the edge of a horse field above the pond, so that the mud and feces from the field may wash without obstruction into a stormdrain that leads to the pond and then the creek. A few more pictures will soon be posted on our website (www.neighborsnwb.org) showing more of the area and its problems, and I have even more pictures available if you would like to see them. We have also taken water samples of the outflow of this pond, which we suspect will reveal high levels of contamination with bacteria and other pollutants when we have them tested.

Besides the apparently intentional and malicious removal of the silt fence, the main immediate problem appears to be that the water from the horrid pond is draining out near the bottom through a valve, rather than only draining out over the top of the overflow structure. Given the nature of the water in the pond, I seriously doubt that even draining from the top would improve things much, but I understand that is at least the design theory.

In order to remedy this situation, we request that you take at least the following immediate actions:

1. Stop the water flowing out from the valve, or from the pond entirely.
2. Re-install the silt fence upstream of the pond that was apparently removed without justification.
3. Add straw bales or some other filtration materials in the channels upstream of the pond and behind the silt fences to capture more of the silt before it enters the pond.

In addition, prompt and more permanent improvements to this area are also clearly called for. Such steps might include adding a double silt fence, planting more vegetation througout to filter the runoff and hold the soil, increasing the distance from the fields to the pond, installing special filter materials or devices for the intakes and outflows of this pond, and other steps. We would like to see what the initial design and goals of this pond were, and what new steps are proposed.

We request that you respond to this report of violation in accordance with the call for accountability recently sent to you and others in County government by many civic groups, including ours. In this situation, we would place special emphasis on several points of those principles: 2-transparency, 3-fairness, 5-citizen participation, 6-tough, swift enforcement, and 7-acknowledgement and correction.

If you have any updates, reports, request for input and comment or other issues, you may contact me, although our Secretary, John Fay, at 301-946-5599, or jhfay@comcast.net is also watching this issue and will have greater daytime availability than me.

Thank you for your anticipated prompt and positive attention to this report.

Sincerely,
William F. Howard
President, Neighbors of the Northwest Branch of the Anacostia River
Vice-Chair, Anacostia Watershed Citizens' Advisory Committee

Followup Letter sent February 6, 2006

Despite our report to you a week ago (copied below), and visits to the site last Monday by representatives of both DPS and DEP, absolutely NOTHING has been done to stop or even slow down the pollution pouring from this stormwater pond into the Northwest Branch. We simply do not understand why you could not direct your farm manager who has a barn full of straw about a hundred yards away to place some of those bales along inflows and outflows to filter even a little of this pollution. We also do not understand why the missing silt fence could not be replaced in a week's time, or why the valve that is allowing drainage from the bottom of the pond could not be turned off or adjusted. Your agency owns and operates these riding stables, so your agency is the polluter, and we intend to hold you and your agency accountable. Please see that something is done NOW to stop this pollution.

William F. Howard

p.s. Two more pictures from this past Saturday morning (before the heavy all-day rains) are attached. Also, I now request that I be informed in writing, by email, when (and what) something has been done to stop this pollution.