City's position doesn't hold water for Loch Raven Reservoir
By Candy Thomson - Baltimore Sun
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In November 2009, 10 city council members filed a resolution that called for transportation and public works officials to work with the mountain biking community to update a decade-old watershed agreement. There was a little back-and-forth, then the city found the money to hire watershed police officers. Naturally, the officers began to issue warnings to riders for straying off the fire roads, which are fine for walkers but useless for mountain bikers.
The mountain bikers say they have been good stewards, picking up trash, educating riders not to cause erosion and eliminating "rogue" single-track trails that cause damage.
Department of Public Works officials say their first responsibility is maintaining a clean drinking water supply, which means it must keep strict buffer areas and restrict human uses. When asked if an "agreement" with mountain bikers might ultimately be extended to restrictions on fishing and other activities, city officials won't say.
But the city's position doesn't hold water. Lots of other jurisdictions have figured a way to make reservoirs and recreation compatible. New trail-building techniques have drastically reduced erosion and runoff. City officials have been antagonistic. There's no reason this matter should have dragged on since Thanksgiving 2009.
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