Largest Flood Prevention Project Unveiled In Ellicott City

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — The largest public works project to date designed to help prevent stormwater from flooding historic Ellicott City during major weather events has been launched.

The H-7 pond, constructed on state land in a clover-leaf interchange at the intersection of Route 29 and Route 40/Baltimore National Pike in Ellicott City, can hold enough runoff to cover a football field to the height of 10 feet.

"This pond is the first major public works project to be completed through our Ellicott City Safe and Sound plan and is one of the largest and most important projects in the history of Howard County,” Howard County Executive Ball said during a ribbon cutting. “While we can never eliminate the risk of flooding, we can do all we can to reduce the toll of devastating storms. We are making Ellicott City a national model of resilience.

While the pond will typically remain dry, it has the capacity to hold 4.24 million gallons of water, restricting its flow into the Tiber River watershed and away from Historic Ellicott City. The H-7 pond was constructed on State Highway Administration property.

“Ellicott City residents can rest a little easier knowing this major storm water management project is complete,” said Maryland State Delegate Courtney Watson, representing District 9B. “This project is one important piece of the puzzle in creating a flood resilient historic Ellicott City.”

The project cost $5.3 million to build, $4 million of which came from state funding. It was finished four months ahead of a projected completion date. In addition to creating the retention area, 110 trees and 1,800 native plants were planted.

"As communities like Ellicott City have unfortunately experienced, climate change is an existential threat as extreme weather becomes more frequent and unpredictable. Thanks to County Executive Calvin Ball, today’s ribbon cutting marks the end of years of inaction under the previous Howard County administration. In addition, Senator Katie Fry Hester’s alongside Delegate Courtney Watson has enabled Maryland to secure nearly $1 billion in federal funds for future resiliency projects to keep Ellicott City and other vulnerable Maryland neighborhoods thriving in the years to come," Maryland State Senate President Bill Ferguson said at the ribbon cutting.