Video of the hearing here.
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MCA’s work on County executive appointed Zero Waste Task Force conducted over 2 years starting in Summer of 2018 was fruitful. Task force chair Chaz Miller with MC Department of Environmental Protection presented On December 7 a summary of the recommendations that are incorporated in the draft Ten Year Solid Waste Plan.
Video of the hearing here. Sign at Little Seneca Lake - back up drinking water supply for 4.3 Million. Even our backup supplies may not be enough to meet coming demand in times of drought. Noted water research scientist, Dr. Ahmed Kettab declared in April of this year that “Water for everyone is everyone’s business.” He and other world scientist were responding to dire climate change forecasts that predict that by 2030 water scarcity will affect 40% of the world’s populace. Currently 25% of global population is in severe water stress. By 2050 demand for water will increase by 40%. Even though we know intuitively that the worlds water endlessly cycles and does not know boundaries of any sort - one could ask - what does all this dire news mean to us? Closer to home, the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin, ICPRB, released its report: Demand and Resource Availability for the Year 2050. It is a sobering read that details the potential impact of climate change and increased water demand on the Washington Metropolitan Area water supply. It was conducted on behalf of the Fairfax County Water Authority, WSSC and the US Army Corps of Engineers, Water Aqueduct Division. The ICPRB has known for some time that our region’s water supply will be faced with significant challenges in meeting demand during projected periods of drought. They are diligently working to address this. The system of existing reservoirs will be called to use more frequently and will not provide enough water in times of stress and so 4 new proposed reservoirs are in the works: Travilah Quarry in Potomac and Luck Stone Quarry B in Loudon County and the Vulcan and Milston Quarries. The ICPRB reports warns that even with the addition of these new quarries which will add 13 billion gallons of water storage capacity, coupled with water restrictions and demand management we may not be able to meet our water needs during the predicted future periods of extreme drought. The report also warns that without the addition of the 7.8 million gallon Travilah Quarry the WMA may experience periodic failures by 2040. And yet, despite this dire forecast for our region, we continue to practice business as usual, no where more so than in the siting of development which has an impact on both the speed aquifers are recharged and the quality of the water in our streams. The Friends of Ten Mile Creek are leading the charge to enforce impervious caps in the fragile Ten Mile Creek watershed where the build out of Clarksburg is continuing without regard for the master plan. The Thrive 2050 plan that will chart the County's land use for the coming generation also needs to be taking this water- strapped reality into account. For our part at MCA we, are reforesting stream buffers to clean water before it reached the reservoir through our Re-Leaf the Reserve program. Learn More: -The case of the communicating wells - a Poolesville Story - All about the federally designated sole source aquifer that much of the Reserve relies upon for well water. -Journal of Nature Communications - Impacts of Climate Change on Groundwater -USGS - Impacts of Climate Variation on Groundwater -Journal of Hydrology - Groundwater Impacts and Adaptation Protecting farmland and water quality in an uncertain future are imperatives. Since 2001, Montgomery Countryside Alliance has been the boots on the ground with a hyper-local focus on Montgomery County's farmland, open space and water quality. We have once again been named "One of the Best" small nonprofits in the DC Region by the Catalogue for Philanthropy and would be honored by your tax-deductible support.
Shelves in March in the first weeks of the pandemic Landmark new reporting shows that we won't able to count on food from the South and West coast for much longer. Enter the Ag Reserve. A new exhaustive study from Pro Publica has yielded the next in a series of alarming maps about climate change. This time, interactive maps and charts show where the threats of climate change will be felt most acutely in the near term - as soon as 2040. Of note - the map that shows the shift in table crop production. Away from the South and California, areas we have relied on for out of season produce and vegetables, and toward our own backyard in the mid-Atlantic. (Purple means decline in yields, green means increase - darker= higher decline or gain). If the flavor, transportation costs, carbon savings and economic benefits of local food were not enough, climate change is making food trucked in from elsewhere simply unavailable - and we need to be ready. Montgomery County had the foresight to protect 1/3 of it's land mass for agriculture 40 years ago and the fortitude to maintain the primacy of farming in the zone since then. MCA has matched new and expanding farmers with over 500 acres of land in Montgomery County to grow the next generation of farmers through our Land Link program. We need each and every new table crop operation we can get growing to add to the generations of expertise and production our legacy farmers offer if the Ag Reserve is going to fulfill its promise of bountiful local food production. Yet, at this time where the food growing potential (and water quality protection, more dire projections here) of the Reserve is more important than ever, the singular purpose of the Agriculture Reserve is being questioned. ZTA 20-01 would allow 3 square miles of commercial solar arrays with no real protections for forests, productive soils or water quality. What's more - the economic impact won't even be studied as part of this proposal - even though landowners report offers for their land 10-20 times what farmers are paying and some farmers are reporting the loss of lease contracts as the result of this ZTA even being proposed. (60% of Reserve farming is done on leased land). The Reserve has a role to play in meeting carbon mitigation goals, including reforestation efforts and scaling up regenerative agriculture practices. But as the threats of warming become more and more concrete, this area set aside for Agriculture is a strategic investment in just that - growing our food in a rapidly warming world. Protecting farmland and water quality in an uncertain future are imperatives. Since 2001, Montgomery Countryside Alliance has been the boots on the ground with a hyper-local focus on Montgomery County's farmland, open space and water quality. We have once again been named "One of the Best" small nonprofits in the DC Region by the Catalogue for Philanthropy and would be honored by your tax-deductible support.
Despite compelling evidence provided by Friends of Ten Mile Creek and other partners (MCA's testimony here) that the newest round of development in Clarksburg will result in significant degradation of two of the most sensitive portions of the Ten Mile Creek watershed, Planning Board chair Casey Anderson prefaced his vote in favor of the project by saying that while he did not like the project, the board had no jurisdiction to alter the proposal. Planning Board member Tina Patterson, citing concerns over cumulative impacts these developments will have on important water resources, was the lone dissenting vote. For the specifics of the concerns raised with this "Creekside" Development, please read on below. From our Partners at Friends of Ten Mile Creek - concerns yet again that the impervious surfaces (pavement) of proposed development projects in Clarksburg will foul the source of back up drinking water for 4.3 Million in our region. The Planning Board hearing for the proposed Pulte Development "Creekside at Cabin Branch" is now scheduled for December 3, 2020. This hearing will determine the development plans that Pulte has put forward. Your letters and support for the preservation of the Ten Mile Creek Watershed are truly needed if we have any chance of reducing this poorly conceived development.Our concerns are the following:
Delegate Al Carr has introduced bill MC 10-21 that would roll back in Montgomery County, a provision that was enacted in 2013 preventing local governments from regulating tree trimming (over the objections of 6 out of 8 Montgomery County Senators).
There were discussions at the time about reliability and the utilities wanted an unfettered ability to trim trees. Over time it has become apparent that Pepco's tree trimming is sometimes excessive and unnecessary. The District of Columbia has done a better job of striking a balance between reliability and preserving the tree canopy. Here is a document with background information about the bill. The virtual bill hearing will take place on the evening of December 8th before a joint meeting of the Montgomery County House of Delegates and State Senate Delegations. MCA will be testifying in favor of this legislation. Those wishing to testify must sign up by 4:00 p.m. on the day before the hearing by registering on the Delegation’s website or e-mailing [email protected]. Those registering later than that may be taken on a "virtual walk-in" basis the day of the hearing at the discretion of the Chair. Update (11/24/20): After work group sessions earlier this year (in which MCA was included) , the recommendations of the work group have been released. Thanks again to all that took action to help find a balanced way to handle deer in the Ag Reserve. Read on for the history of this deer management proposal which included the use of high powered rifles in Montgomery County. Jan 2020 Update: Delegate Luedtke has suggested 2 amendments to this bill (not yet posted). Without the text of these amendments we can only say that one limits the days rifles can be used and the other changes the kinds of cartridges that can be fired. The bill still allows high powered rifles in Montgomery County and provides no training. As the testimony of a trained markswoman and 21 year employee of the NRA says about these amendments - rifles are still simply inappropriate for Montgomery County. There needs to be a task force of stakeholders discussing how to balance crop damage with public safety. Two minutes are all it takes to share your concerns with our leaders in Annapolis. After hearing concerns from many of our members and conducting research, our position was released on State legislation introduced by MC Delegate Eric Luedtke that would open the Reserve to deer culling with rifles (hunting with bow, shot gun and black powder is currently allowed): The graphic above shows the distance rifle shot can travel. What parts of the county does this proposed law impact? Click to see the map here. (Ag Reserve Lands are in light green) MCA POSITION ON DEER MANAGEMENT
IN AGRICULTURAL RESERVE MCA is aware of the significant crop damage by deer in the Agricultural Reserve (Reserve) and supports our farmers in the need to cull the deer herds. However, we are concerned about the safety implications for various stakeholders (diversified producers, equestrians, cyclists, tourists, hikers, rural residents, anglers, hunters, birders etc.) by allowing rifle hunting 365 days a year with Deer Management Permits in the Reserve. We would ask what other possible solutions have been considered. An option would be to employ teams of trained sharpshooters to hunt in designated areas at limited, designated times, as is done successfully now in the Montgomery County parks. Another approach would be to encourage natural systems where predators such as coyotes would help reduce the deer population. We cannot support the rifle hunting legislation as written. Read excellent testimony from a markswoman and former 21 year employee of the NRA - "Allowing High Power Rifles in Montgomery County is Irresponsible" Everyone has heard of Black Friday. But there is a far more thoughtful way to kick off the holiday season. On Black Friday, many are choosing to skip the stores and instead "Opt Outside" - a campaign started in 2015 when outdoor retailer REI closed its stores, website and fulfillment center on the busiest shopping day of the year and paid its employees to go recreate with their families. Another successful campaign, "Small Business Saturday" invited shoppers to keep their dollar in the local economy and shop the small local stores that make a community thrive. This year - local is the new normal, outside is the new inside and resilience is the new way- the Ag Reserve has offered resilience to our region in this crisis and this will continue into the colder months with unique gifts and recreation close by. And speaking of supporting local, may we humbly suggest your support your local farmland protection nonprofit? Giving Tuesday is December 1. Find a park or trail or ride to opt outside to with your family here. How to recreate safely in the pandemic. Shop Small, Green and Local Markets: Staying with the theme of outdoors - many year round markets operate in MoCo and have not just the best local food around but artisans making unique gifts - find a full list of farmers markets here. Countryside Artisans Studio Tour: Holidays and each fall the artists of rural Montgomery County have open studio hours and a map for a self guided driving tour. Pottery, glasswear, fiber arts, MoCo Made: Many prepared foods and spirts are created all over MoCo. Of note, a low carb bread company owned by one of our Land Linked farmers. Spotlight on a Few Local Farmers and Artisans: Tiewyan Textiles is a small business inspired by beautiful fleeces from sheep raised on our farm in the Montgomery County Agricultural Reserve. About 15 years ago I began to develop the skills of the ancient art of felting with wool. There is a rare beauty and elegant satisfaction in the process of creating from the materials at hand: from the flock to the art. My work in wool reflects, is inspired by and celebrates the textures and forms of the natural world around me. I create art to wear and for the home and table. Questions? Call Bev Thoms at 301-461-1287 or [email protected] My studio is open for the Countryside Artisans Holiday Gallery Tour: December 4, 5 & 6 10AM - 5PM and otherwise open by appointment. Savage Acres Farm is a multi-generational family farm located in Dickerson, Md. We offer grassfed beef by the cut, as well as pork and whole chicken. We also have freshly milled on-the-farm Indian corn flour. [email protected]
This is a guest post from our friends at Cozzi Family Farm and the Cozzi Family Farm Co-op Market each weekend in Poolesville. Seek them out for baked goods, pastured eggs and sustainably produced body care products of all sorts along with many other vendors selling produce, facemasks, pastries and more. The Cozzi Family Family farm found acreage in Poolesville through our Land Link Program. Local, organic, and sustainable are all key words for our health and the health of our planet, as well as our local economies. Researchers now estimate that poor food and nutrition are responsible for more than half of all health problems today. After decades of research, science is finally recognizing that a balanced diet of whole, natural foods is crucial, and that artificial, highly processed, (packaged) foods are the problem with diet today. It’s so bad, in fact, that a recent study concluded that poor diet and health has become a “national security” concern. We need nutritious, natural, whole foods that are safe from artificial added ingredients. The biannual USDA national farm study found that older mid-size family farms (hundreds or thousands of acres) continue to be bought up and added to large, industrial scale agriculture, relying on artificial chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and artificial GMO foods. But the good news is that small farms (40 acres or less) continued to grow from 4% to 10% of agricultural lands during the recent decade. These kinds of holdings represent the local, organic farmers and producers, who are also younger. The Montgomery County Agricultural Reserve has long been an example and a haven to include this kind of clean, sustainable farming for the future. In 1980, Montgomery County made one of the most significant land-use decisions in county history by creating the Agricultural Reserve. Heralded as one of the best examples of land conservation policies in the country, the Agricultural Reserve encompasses 93,000 acres – almost a third of the county’s land resources – along the county’s northern, western, and eastern borders. The Agricultural Reserve and its accompanying planning and zoning elements were designed to protect local farmland and agriculture. This foresightedness stands in stark contrast to what can be observed directly across the Potomac River, in our neighboring state, at almost all points along the boundaries of the Preserve. When Cozzi Family Farm went into business, we started with organic, cage-free eggs, laid by healthy hens. Our poultry are fed an organic, GMO-free, corn and soy free diet, along with whatever deliciousness they find while free ranging and foraging on clean land. In terms of sustainability and food security, eggs are nature’s perfect food. Outdated concerns about the effects of eggs for health are finally being replaced by nutritional science. Eggs are high in essential fatty acids (like the omega-3s we always hear about), vitamins, and protein. Research shows eggs from chickens that are pasture-raised rather than confined to cages, have twice as much vitamin E, nearly twice as much vitamin A, and contain a whopping 2.5 times more omega-3s. Another study found that free-range chickens produce eggs with three to four times more vitamin D compared to eggs from caged counterparts. Then there is the question of ethics and treatment of animals. Including eggs in your balanced diet is a perfect way to boost your immune system, brain function, energy and muscle mass. Scientific studies show that the essential nutrients in eggs help protect you from diabetes, heart disease, macular degeneration (of the eyes), obesity and osteoporosis. It may not look like the future - it may look like a field of radishes, clover and annual rye. It is that - but also so much more. This sea of green in Dickerson is a part of a 90 acre project to sequester carbon and increase crop yields - namely regenerative agriculture. This field is a partnership between our friends at Sugarloaf Citizens Association who have offered up part of their historic Linden Farm property and seasoned sustainable farmer Greg Glenn of Rocklands Farm. Greg has long been instituting regenerative techniques on his own farm and winery but when SCA offered this acreage up through our Land Link program for a regenerative experiment, he took on the challenge. While the average acreage sought on the Land Link program is around 5 acres. This 90 acre project represents an investment in the new-old way of growing food and improving soil health at the same time. Maryland is promoting regenerative agriculture with the newly launched Million Acre Challenge, run by Montgomery County's own Amanda Cather of Plow and Stars Farm. Much more on the benefits of Regenerative Ag can be found here and the intersection of Black History and Regenerative Ag is a story that needs telling. The basic idea is that intensive cover crops serve as forage for livestock that add their manure to the soil, building up the microorganisms and porosity (or ability to filter water) of the soil. This makes for land that is teeming with rich nutrients and soil life but also allows more water to pass through - a benefit for erosion control and water quality. With the Linden Farm project, neighboring farmers have already commented that they are seeing reduced runoff as a result of the cover crop.
As soil is built, carbon is locked away. These farm practices are a carbon sequestration strategy and - as Maryland and points north will soon take on more of the food producing burden as southern areas become too hot, good soil will be necessary to making that shift. Stay tuned as this project takes root! A new farm begins in Barnesville - our Land Link program matches aspiring or expanding farmers with long term leases. This lets new farmers (of any age) get started on acreage close to local food demand. The National Young Farmers Coalition has released an open memo to the Biden-Harris transition team posted below. We heartily agree with the challenges they have identified. MCA is similarly working to: -Increase land access and and equity through our Land Link program - connecting aspiring farmers to local landowners offering long term leases. This is a pathway toward broadening land access and increasing the supply of culturally appropriate food to MoCo's diverse population. -Take climate action through our Re-Leaf the Reserve program and promotion of regenerative agriculture - along with a 90-acre pilot project in Dickerson. Our coalition of young farmer leaders have innovative solutions to heal division, promote sustainability, feed our communities, and fight for equity for those marginalized and exploited.
We’re excited to see the Biden-Harris transition commit to a unifying vision for rebuilding our country and we urge the new administration to invest in our nation’s young farmers. This week we will share this transition memo with the Biden team and outline specific measures the administration can take to ensure that we build a bright and just future for agriculture:
Thrilled to announce that we have connected another farmer to land through our Land Link program! A small paddock in Barnesville will now grow table crops, mostly to benefit Manna Food. This past weekend was perfect weather to lay down cardboard, locally produced leafgrow compost and some manure from the landowner to start forming beds for planting. This classic "Lasagna" method kills the grass underneath the cardboard to become a carbon source and the manure and compost provide a seedbed for seeds so they can be started right away. This is a quick way to start new beds.
A new farmer matched with land is always thrilled to get started but achieving a Land Link match is a moment for landowners too. This landowner says, "Thank you for making dreams possible!" On November 5, Council President Sidney Katz and Councilmember Hans Riemer convened what was to billed as a "Town Hall" for those with opposing view points on ZTA 20-01 (CM Riemers's proposal to allow 3 square miles of industrial solar in the Ag Reserve with scant protections for productive soils, forests, water quality, etc) to get together and work toward a more balanced compromise. While this is an important aim, the meeting's design seemed to hinder that goal. What was billed as an interactive Town Hall to hear from stakeholders was in fact a webinar where only a number of hand picked panelists could speak or even be seen. In the words of one participant in the Q+A chat box "I don't think I can be seen or heard by others in the meeting - is that how this meeting is supposed to go?" And the response from county staff - "Yes." Additionally, it seems that it was only after the first few speakers, almost entirely in support of the ZTA, that the meeting's conveners realized that it would be necessary to keep the following speakers to a three minute time limit. Other than the fractured communication brought on by the structure of the meeting, there were a few important takeaways.
More stakeholder input on this ZTA is very necessary and we look forward to more opportunities to hear from not just those that have been expressing their concerns from the beginning but also farmers who would be directly impacted by this proposal, and for whom the lack of broadband makes civic engagement challenging during the pandemic. Click "Read More" below to see the previous post about this "Town Hall."
11/20 Update: MCA's testimony on the plan here. Our testimony sought to push back on an adversarial tone that has seemed to come from the planning commission. Charting our path forward relies on a strong working relationship. Click here to see MCA's testimony. We have signed on to a memo to the planning commission with our civic partners to ask for more public participation in this process. Particularly, the input of certain groups has so far been lacking - high school and college students, Black and Latinx organizations, Historic Freeman communities, and organizations representing our low-income, elderly and disabled neighbors. We can all thrive together if the process to chart our future includes everyone. Weigh in on the plan here before December 10. Montgomery County is undertaking an update/revision to its General Plan, the revision is being called Thrive 2050 This plan provides the framework for future land use and associated infrastructure decisions. It matters. Getting it right in order to promote our County’s resilience and ensure equity for residents is critical. It is worth your time to check in, read up, and weigh in. Update (11/20)- From the Thrive 2050 staff - an opportunity weigh in on the draft and attend a public hearing on November 19. "As you may know, the Planning Board review phase of the Thrive Montgomery 2050 is now underway. On October 1, 2020, the Planning Board unanimously voted to make the Public Hearing Draft Plan available to the public and to hold a public hearing about it on November 19, 2020. I am writing to invite you to comment on the key concepts and proposed recommendations in the draft Plan, and share your thoughts with the Planning Board. The Planning Board will hold the public hearing at their virtual meeting on Thursday, November 19. You can testify online, over the phone, or submit written testimony. To testify online or by phone, you must sign up to testify by 12 p.m. on November 18, 2020. Written testimony must be submitted by email to [email protected] by 12 p.m. on November 18 for it to be reviewed before the public hearing. The public record will stay open until December 10, 2020, to allow more time for those who may not be able to submit testimony by November 19. All public comments, including those submitted after November 18, 2020, will be reviewed by the Planning Board during their work sessions on the draft Plan starting on or after December 17, 2020. View the Thrive Montgomery 2050 Public Hearing Draft Plan. If you do not have the time to review the whole document, the “Trends and Challenges” and “A Plan to Thrive” sections will give you the key concepts and recommendations of the draft Plan or check out our two-page explainer. Also, goals, policies and actions specific to Agriculture and the Agricultural Reserve are located within Chapter 7, Diverse and Adaptable Growth. Additional information about Thrive Montgomery 2050 can be viewed at www.thrivemontgomery.com. If you’re willing, we would also greatly appreciate it if you could notify other members of your communities of the Public Hearing Draft and the upcoming public hearing. Thanks again for your continued collaboration in shaping the future of Montgomery County. Please do not hesitant to contact us if you have any questions! Montgomery County is undertaking an update/revision to its General Plan, the revision is being called Thrive 2050 This plan provides the framework for future land use and associated infrastructure decisions. It matters. Getting it right in order to promote our County’s resilience and ensure equity for residents is critical. It is worth your time to check in, read up, and weigh in. The draft plan can be found here. Our submitted comments with Sugarloaf Citizens' Association support and expanded comments from 8/2020 here. (Thanks to colleague Diane Cameron for her invaluable help in developing comments!) Among our comments: -Adding the provision for broadband being more available in the Ag Reserve under the Connectedness section. Currently internet issues make all aspects of modern life harder, including civic participation during the pandemic. -Under the water and sewer section, with the entire Ag Reserve outside the water/sewer envelope, more emphasis on helping businesses and residents manage their wells and septic systems to promote long term viability is key - particularly above the federally designated sole source aquifer. Well and septic resources can be found here. -In the Climate Change section - MCA has provided edits to reflect the importance of strengthening our natural systems to provide for gains in air purification and water quality. We are planting acres of new forests along stream buffers through our Re-Leaf program to do just that. General Plan schedule (accelerated): The Planning Board is off till September 10. The agenda for the Board meetings is posted two weeks in advance. The next step in Thrive Montgomery 2050 is publishing the Working Draft Plan. The schedule with dates will be posted later this week but here is a preview: Thursday, 9/24: Publish Working Draft Plan Thursday, 10/1: Planning Board to review the Working Draft Plan and approve it (with any changes/edits) as the Public Hearing Draft Plan and set the public hearing date for 11/19/20 Thursday, 11/19: Planning Board to hold the public hearing on Thrive Montgomery 2050 Public Hearing Draft Plan December 2020 through March 2021: Planning Board work sessions to address public comments and review/finalize the draft plan. MCA is the lean, tenacious and award winning organization born of and for Montgomery County's Ag Reserve. Since 2001 we have been the boots on the ground focused on the protection of the small farms in the Ag Reserve, local food production and the protection of our shared water supply. We would be honored by your financial support.
Maryland Emancipation Day Celebration
At Button Farm Living History Center Saturday October 31, 2020 @ 12-3PM Celebrate the day in 1864 when Maryland changed its constitution to abolish slavery six months before the end of the Civil War. This outdoor, open-air, event includes an emancipation-themed, self-guided tour of the farm and Slave Cemetery accessible by your phone through our QR portal. Scavenger hunts, farm animals, "safe" hands-on history and musical acts will help to round out the day. Fresh air, masks and social distancing protocols will be in place. This year's Royce Hanson Award honors a rich history, lovingly preserved. MCA is proud to award the 2020 Royce Hanson Award to the Sugarland Ethno-History Project and the tireless work of their President, Gwen Reese. The Sugarland Ethno-History Project (SEHP) began in 1995 to document the African American community of Sugarland, founded by freed slaves in Montgomery County Maryland. SEHP promotes and highlights the experience of the African American from slavery to present day. To date the organization has collected more than 1,000+ artifacts and documents- some of which now live in the National African American Museum. Locals will know the lovingly maintained St. Paul Community Church on Sugarland Lane. Though the original church burned down in 1871, the current structure has been standing since 1893. The extensive information on the SEHP site states, "the current structure stands as a testimony and tribute to our heritage and the founding families of the community." The history of the Sugarland Community is profiled in a new book by the Sugarland Ethno-History Project "I Have Started for Canaan" - read more and buy your copy here. When leading tours of the Ag Reserve, St Paul Community Church is a fascinating stop. Gwen has been gathering the stories of the many families that founded the community and kept it going with its own store, post office and school for many decades. In lieu of the usual in person celebration, we are planning for the planting of a sugar maple at the church and a plaque to honor SEHP's decades of work. This dedication will take place in December, stay tuned.
Montgomery's History: "I Have Started for Canaan" from the Sugarland Ethno-History Project10/22/2020
Visit the Sugarland Ethnohistory Project to Pick up your copy!ZTA 20-01 would allow commercial solar on 3 square miles of productive farmland in MoCo's Agricultural Reserve. The ZTA is deeply flawed on many fronts. There are scant protections for forests or water quality - all while sending power not to the State Community Solar Program - but to the wider grid where it can be sold by 3rd party companies that are under investigation for predatory practices. Full Fact Sheet here. Boosters of this proposal have touted the (suggestion) of co-location of agriculture (i.e - grass that may or may not be grazed) and the requirement for certification under Maryland's Solar Pollinator Certification. This part is also deeply flawed and everyone who relies on pollinators (i.e - everyone) should be deeply concerned. Testimony from our friends at Audubon Naturalist Society and Clean Water Action: "This ZTA relies on Maryland’s solar pollinator requirements, which have been strongly protested by the beekeeping and pollinator community. As the Central Maryland Beekeepers and Maryland Pesticide Education Network have previously raised, the existing state standard allows for a solar facility to qualify as exceeding pollinator habitat standards while routinely spraying pesticides. This is unacceptable. This effectively invites pollinators to visit the habitat while poisoning them. No pollinator habitat should be certified that allows the routine spraying of pollinator-killing pesticides. While the state program is flawed, Montgomery County should reject it and create their own that does not allow for the routine spraying of pesticides." Currently, though stakeholders were assured of a task force process that would better involve farmers, the Council has instead chosen to send the proposal back to the same committee that approved it in the first place without adding substantive amendments, chaired by the sponsor of the measure - Councilmember Riemer. The potential harm to pollinators of this bill is just one of many, many issues that still need to be worked through. Please stay tuned as we navigate this process to get solar right in Montgomery County.
Get caught up- ZTA 20-01 would allow commercial solar on up to 3 square miles of the Ag Reserve with scant protections for productive soils, forests or water quality. Fact Sheet Here. Along with many hundreds of residents both up and down county urging caution, our partners at Audubon Naturalist Society and Clean Water Action have added their list of concerns in testimony here. A broken commitment to providing the means toward getting solar right through meaningfully committee/work group process... a process that would have addressed the concerns and suggestions from those most affected by the proposed zoning change... farm businesses. Council President Katz had a great opening statement on how Ag Reserve land was being considered for this project because it was cheaper and instead of the ZTA going too far he thinks it did not go far enough in getting solar arrays throughout the county, including downcounty. He raised the important point that holding these meetings by zoom and on you tube was leaving out the very people that live in the Ag Reserve and through no fault of their own have no access to broadband. In calling for a task force, he was joined by Craig Rice and Nancy Navarro. Councilmember Navarro related the story she told us on our Zoom call with her some weeks ago about the empty shelves she found on trips to the grocery store early in the pandemic while shopping for her family and how the Ag Reserve has a role to play in food security. Then the waters got muddy, Council President Katz was asked to give shape to the Task Force he was proposing and Councilmembers seemed to get hung up on whether the work would be done in 2 months or 4 months and how many people would be on the committee. Councilmember Hucker, a co-sponsor of this ZTA had told us in a zoom call previously that a Task Force was the way to go as the Council was mired in so many other things at the moment. He then joined the other councilmembers curtailing the length and breadth that task force could take until it was not a task force at all. The Council began to move away from the idea of a formal task force, Councilmembers teased amendments they had to the ZTA that were forthcoming, consensus seemed to move toward a listening session with stakeholders and then to just returning the ZTA to the committee that voted for it’s approval in the first place who would hold 3 sessions with stakeholders – probably over zoom. The end result of the 180 turn from better involving stakeholders to just informally returning the issue to the same committee again to reconsider a flawed proposal caused consternation on the part of Councilmember Friedson who asked staff to weigh in on whether a vote was needed. Hearing it was not he expressed surprise and dismay that this decision could be made with out a vote. The bitter irony is that in watching this part – our staff in the Reserve was unable to follow the discussion as youtube kept freezing – because, again, broadband internet is not available. The same thing happens on zoom or any other internet-based platform. Calling the phone line to listen to council meetings yielded – silence. When we tweeted at the Council about this, the reply came back that the meeting was also on cable. We, like many, many other residents do not have cable. This means the meeting could not be seen or heard (and many will have issues watching the recorded version) for the very people this proposal would impact most. While in-person public meetings are not safe right now and MCA is not advocating they take place, the way that civic engagement has moved online has left out the Reserve community right at the time that a potentially disastrous proposal impacting farm economics, forest protection and water quality is speeding toward passage with the entirety of the Reserve community and a broad coalition of downcounty organizations vehemently opposed. Where things now stand: The ZTA will now proceed back to the committee chaired by Councilmember Riemer, the sponsor of the ZTA. We are not optimistic that CM Riemer will consider substantive changes from farmers to his proposal, if the online platform was even working to make those suggestions. At this worksession council meeting, the only non-county employees on the zoom were a solar industry representative and a representative of Sierra Club an ardent backer of this ZTA despite its impact on forests, water quality, etc. Though neither were given time to speak, there were no representatives of the farm community and the head of the office of agriculture, Jeremy Criss was not given time to speak. It leaves us with a question – why aren’t we taking a few more months to get solar right? Why aren’t we waiting for the Climate Action Resilience Plan (CARP) due out next month that was bankrolled by the County to tackle just these sorts of legacy climate solutions? Thanks to the many, many people who have written the council on this issue. Please stay tuned as this new phase develops. MCA is the lean, tenacious and award winning organization born of and for Montgomery County's Ag Reserve. Since 2001 we have been the boots on the ground focused on the protection of the small farms in the Ag Reserve, local food production and the protection of our shared water supply. We would be honored by your financial support.
“The people where the rivers blend”
“...we have grown weary of the general public’s surprising lack of knowledge about who we were and who we are. Now, we have an opportunity to change that state of affairs―to tell our story through the eyes of the Piscataway and not from another’s opinion of us―to interface with the archaeology communities as well as other sciences of the world―to speak of our ways, life, purpose, and tribal structure that forged the alliance of the different communities of the Piscataway People―to go back in time and speak on different time lines, cycles, and events that permit us the Piscataway People to be here today at this forum―to again let it be known, ‘WE ARE STILL HERE!'” -Francis Gray, Tribal Chair or the Piscataway Conoy Tribe at the inaugural meeting of the Through Piscataway Eyes Partners, May 6, 2016 Read more about the First Peoples in Montgomery County and southern Maryland and throughout the region. The Piscataway were a Confederacy of Tribes under the premier authority of the Tayac or Emperor. The Confederacy extended between the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay to the watershed of the Potomac River in the area now known as Virginia, and all land from the southern tip of St. Mary’s County, Maryland, north to include Baltimore, Montgomery and Anne Arundel Counties, Maryland, to include Washington D.C. Bethesda Beat profiles this area's First Peoples Quick Update: 10/12 - The Council will take up ZTA 20-01 10/13 starting at 2:45 (you can find the link to watch on you tube here) - we understand that this will just be a discussion, not a vote. The full packet is here. There continue to be many, many problems with this ZTA - the lack of water quality and forest protections (full fact sheet here) all requiring the stakeholder involvement that will be brought by the Task Force Council President Katz will be proposing at this work session. Specifically, fans of pollinators (which should be everyone) should note that a landowner can still get the "Pollinator Friendly Certification" required by this ZTA by regularly spraying insecticides on the carefully chosen plants allowed by the program and actually gain points for use of herbicides (p. 27 of the packet linked above). Update 10/6: We will get to what happened at the Council on commercial solar but first - Thank You to everyone who has been following this issue and writing in to express their concerns. We now have a few more days to make the case for getting solar right in Montgomery County. We've been asking that folks reiterate the need for a task force to take on this issue in light of the fact that the ZTA's backers are still insisting this proposal go ahead without the broader stakeholder engagement necessary to balance solar and forests/water quality/productive soils. The pandemic is just one of many other issues packing the Council's overflowing agenda and this ZTA will now be taken up next Tuesday (10/13). In delaying taking up the ZTA, Council President Katz announced he plans to make a resolution for a task force and ZTA sponsor Councilmember Riemer announced his position that a task force was the wrong way to go. We brought a coalition of farmers, water quality defenders and civic groups on to zooms with the Councilmembers on this issue over the past weeks. Councilmembers expressed broad support for a task force that can chart the siting of renewable energy carefully - including incorporating the more holistic Climate Action Resilience Plan (CARP) written for the County due out in a matter of weeks. However, proponents of the ZTA are still insisting that the measure go ahead without delay or further discussion with stakeholders, calling solar on productive farmland a moral imperative to make solar affordable for low income residents in Montgomery County. This stance is being taken while the 3rd party electrical suppliers pushing this ZTA are under investigation for predatory practices in these same low income neighborhoods. (fact sheet here). Take 2 minutes to make your voice heard (again) right here before Tuesday 10/13. Update 10/5: Though many of the Councilmembers we spoke with last week are pushing to pause this ZTA so a task force can work on getting solar right in Montgomery County- the proponents of ZTA 20-01 are still instant on pushing this proposal that still lacks protections for soils, forests, water quality and regulations that would govern the cost of the resulting energy. Please let the council hear from you yet again today before they possibly vote tomorrow - a task force is the way to make progress toward renewable energy generation that balances natural systems and food production. We also just heard from our friends at Sugarloaf Citizens Association that the solar experts they had look over the ZTA have just published their findings - only about 4% of the energy produced under this proposal would stay in the County. (p. 8 Executive Summary) Breaking news: ZTA 20-01 ( up-to date amended version) would have allowed 3 square miles of commercial solar arrays in the Ag Reserve without protections for productive soils, forests or water quality. Council President Sidney Katz shared news with us last Friday that the zoning change will now be taken up through participation of a task force.
Deep gratitude to all the action takers that shared their concerns with the Council. Make no mistake - the hundreds of emails sent provided the needed oomph to make our case before an understandably otherwise occupied Council. You were fact based, respectful and tenacious. We are grateful for CM Katz's leadership in ensuring public process thoughtful and collaborative outcome. This process will afford stakeholders, notably farmers, a voice in how best to advance solar while not supplanting agriculture and damaging our critical natural resources. While this is a welcome opportunity to get solar right in Montgomery County, concerns remain about how we balance growing food and ground mounted commercial solar. Please take two minutes to thank the council and reiterate your concerns about this proposal. There are many ways this ZTA lacked protections - scant protections for forests, productive soils, water quality, etc. It also lacked equity as the same 3rd party electric suppliers that would sell this power are under investigation for predatory pricing in low income communities. To take a deeper dive into all this, please see our fact sheet here. |
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MCA is proud to announce that we have been recognized for a third time as one of the best small charities in the D.C. region by Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington. A panel of 110 expert reviewers from area foundations, corporate giving programs, and peer non-profit organizations evaluated 270 applications.
MCA is known as an effective and innovative non-profit whose efforts to preserve and promote Montgomery County’s nationally recognized 93,000 acre Ag Reserve have brought increased public and governmental support of local food production and farmland and open space preservation. Most importantly, MCA’s efforts are putting more farmers on the ground and keeping them there. |