Save the Date: The Deep Creek Watershed: Past, Present and Future
Garrett College, McHenry, MD
The Deep Creek Watershed Management Plan at Ten Years: Measuring Progress and Looking Ahead
Curious about the health of Deep Creek Lake? Wondering what progress has been made to protect and restore its waters—and what comes next? Join us for a free community symposium on Saturday, October 25, 2025, at Garrett College’s Performing Arts Center.
Nearly a decade ago, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), and the Garrett County Commission endorsed the Deep Creek Watershed Management Plan (“The Plan”). Since then, the Plan has guided local and state efforts to safeguard the lake and its watershed, funding a Watershed Coordinator position and establishing an Administrative Council that meets monthly to monitor progress and recommend actions.
This free symposium, sponsored by the Deep Creek Watershed Foundation, will explore the past, present, and future of the watershed. Attendees will hear directly from experts and community leaders, with opportunities to ask questions and provide input on next steps for protecting the lake. Talks will focus on several of the thirteen goals of The Plan, while inviting public engagement.
Program Highlights
Tom Parham, DNR, Administrative Counsel representative, will discuss the Current State of the Lake, water quality monitoring and funding strategies for future work.
Molly Ramsey, a Garrett County native, serves as the county’s Watershed Coordinator. She will discuss achievements of The Plan, the public-private partnerships and emerging priorities.
Don Rosenberry, PhD from the USGS in Denver, CO, will discuss Modeling and Monitoring Water Releases from Deep Creek Lake.
Cristina Sanders, the new Deep Creek Lake Manager, will discuss a new DNR pilot project regarding nuisance sub-aquatic vegetation.
Hannah Patton, PhD, an environmental engineer for Eastern Research Group and Board Member of the Watershed Foundation will discuss progress on Goal 9: Protecting the Watershed from the Adverse Effects of Impaired Septic
Systems.
Bruce Michael, who is a past Director of DNR’s Resource Assessment Service and now works for Garrett County regarding Special Projects, will discuss Deep Creek Lake sediment studies and related projects.
The day will conclude with a panel discussion open to audience questions and comments.
Doors open at Garrett College’s Performing Arts Center at 8:30 for sign-in and coffee. Attendance, a box lunch and morning and afternoon snacks will be free to the public. The Symposium will be available virtually and registration will be found in the following link: https://www.deepcreekwatershedfoundation.org. Times for each speaker will be available by October 15th .
The Deep Creek Watershed Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit corporation which bases its activities on the goals and strategies of The Deep Creek Watershed Management Plan. Its mission is to help preserve and protect the Deep Creek Watershed and Deep Creek Lake.
The Deep Creek Watershed: Past Present and Future
October 25, 2025, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM
Garrett College Performing Arts Center, McHenry, MD
(click arrow to view details of each agenda item.)
David Myerberg, MD, JD; Symposium Master of Ceremonies
- Former Chair of the Deep Creek Policy and Review Board
- Chair of the Deep Creek Watershed Management Plan Steering Committee
- One of the Founders and Past President of the Deep Creek Watershed Foundation
Tom Parham 2nd, DNR, Member of the Garrett County Watershed Administrative Council and Director, DNR Tidewater Ecosystem Assessment
- Tom will report on a trend analysis and status update of the DNR/RAS Water Quality monitoring program at Deep Creek Lake from 2009 to 2024.
Bruce Michael – Past Director of DNR’s Resource Assessment Service and now works for Garrett County for Special Projects
- Bruce will report on how accumulated sediment was identified as a contributing factor in impacting recreational activities. As growth around the Lake continues, assessing lake health and implementing protection and restoration projects is imperative. Bruce will describe how funded projects such as the Arrowhead Cove Dredging project came about and what the project outcomes were.
Molly Ramsey, Garrett County Watershed Coordinator, Advisor to the Watershed Foundation
- At the 10-year mark, Ms. Ramsey will highlight public-private accomplishments across the plan’s 13 goals. She will recap what the progress has been since 2016, referring to the work of the revived Steering Committee for the plan. She will look at the successes of the plan and the accomplishments of the Public-Private partnerships. She will focus on 2024/25 meetings and discussions about progress, concerns, and identified priorities.
Don Rosenberry, PhD, Hydrologist, USGS Emeritus, Denver CO
- Having 40 years of experience with water budget models and collaborating with competing interests throughout the US, Don will describe the significance of monitoring various parameters including ground water recharge to answer some management questions related to allocation of water during various conditions.
Cristina Sanders, MS, Deep Creek Lake Manager, DNR RAS and Parks
- Cristina has a strong background in aquatic ecology, land-use management, and interagency collaboration. Her professional experience includes roles with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Bureau of Land Management, where she specialized in fisheries management, habitat restoration, environmental permitting, and public outreach. She is also a proud veteran of the United States Army, where she served as a mechanic and wrecker operator.
Hannah Patton, PhD Environmental Engineer, Eastern Research Group, Inc., Board Member of the Watershed Foundation
- Hannah will discuss barriers to wastewater treatment in the US and in Appalachia, public and private wastewater treatment in Garrett County, progress on Goal 9 of the Deep Creek Watershed Management Plan, protecting the Watershed from the adverse effects of impaired septic systems and future steps to improve wastewater infrastructure in Garrett County.
Tom Parham DNR, RAS & Deep Creek Watershed Administrative Council
Bruce Michael, Molly Ramsey, Tom Parham, Cristina Sanders, Hannah Patton and Ted Giovanis, MBA
– Ted is a major donor to the Watershed Foundation. He was President of the Turkey Neck Loop Association and continues as a Board Member. He is the President and Founder of the Jayne Koskinas Ted Giovanis Foundation for Health and Policy which funds the Giovanis Institute for Translational Cell Biology at Johns Hopkins Medicine. Ted founded and is an active driver for Team TGM, a championship-winning race team that competes in major North American road racing series, including the Michelin Pilot Challenge.