The Susquehanna River Basin Commission this week released a draft plan on the management of the Conowingo Pond in the lower Susquehanna River for public review.

May 17 is the deadline for public comments.

The Conowingo Pond is a 14-mile interstate reservoir formed behind the Conowingo Dam on the lower Susquehanna River that straddles the Pennsylvania-Maryland state line.

The 100+-page report, Conowingo Pond Management Plan, is the result of a 4-year planning initiative led by SRBC and the Conowingo Pond Workgroup and includes a proposed protocol for reservoir operations during times of critical low flows to meet public health and safety, environmental and economic needs.

The Conowingo reservoir provides water for public water supply systems, energy production, recreational activities and aquatic habitat, and provides fresh water to the upper Chesapeake Bay. Current reservoir users include the Chester Water Authority, City of Baltimore, Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station and Muddy Run Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Facility, Conowingo Hydroelectric Station, and many recreational users.

On March 15, 2006, SRBC approved an application by Conectiv Mid-Merit, LLC to withdraw 19.01 million gallons per day from the pond and to consumptively use 8.72 million gallons per day for cooling purposes.

The purpose of the Conowingo management plan is to minimize the stresses on the water resources during times of drought to help avoid the water use conflicts and ensure adequate flows to the lower Susquehanna River and the upper Chesapeake Bay.

The draft management plan is available online.

Persons interested in commenting on the draft plan should direct their comments to Andrew Dehoff, Director of Planning and Operations, Susquehanna River Basin Commission, 1721 North Front Street, Harrisburg, PA, 17102, 717-238-0423, ext 221, Fax: 717-238-2436, by sending email to: adehoff@srbc.net .

4/7/2006