Exelon Commits More Than $200M At Conowingo Dam To Water Quality

The state of Maryland and the owner of the Conowingo Dam have reached a settlement that would require dam owner Exelon to invest more than $200 million to improve water quality in the lower Susquehanna River and Chesapeake Bay. It allows both parties to sidestep litigation over water quality to focus on making improvements, a statement from the governor's office said.

Debris clearing, efforts to increase the population of mussels — including a hatchery, as well as $1 million in eel research are part of the plan. So is $12 million for the Maryland Department of the Environment and Department of Natural Resources to oversee implementation of the agreement.

Improvements around the Conowingo Dam are vital because it feeds the Susquehanna River, the largest freshwater tributary into the Chesapeake Bay. If the water quality does not improve around the dam, then the bay would bear the consequences.

The dam was at 92 percent capacity as far as sediment and was losing its ability to trap nitrogen and phosphorus, research from the U.S. Geological Survey revealed in 2015. Nutrient pollution from these two could lead to algae blooms and decrease oxygen available for wildlife.

The agreement between Exelon and the state "charts a bold course for clean water and climate resiliency in the Susquehanna River and Chesapeake Bay," Maryland Environment Secretary Ben Grumbles said in a statement Oct. 29. He noted Exelon's commitment was both "comprehensive" and "enforceable."

Exelon has committed to pay nearly $107 million in cash for these environmental initiatives under the terms of the more than $200 million settlement, according to the governor's office:

• $52 million toward flow control, improving conditions for aquatic life downstream and facilitating upstream fish passage
• $47 million for climate resiliency projects (e.g., submerged aquatic vegetation, restoration of living shorelines)
• $41 million to clear debris flowing down the Susquehanna River
• $25 million to restore water-filtering mussel populations in the Susquehanna River, including land for the construction of a 40,000 square foot hatchery
• $11 million⁠ to improve the passage of migrating fish and eels
• $1 million for eel-related research and projects

Chlorophyll reporting, forest buffer installation, a study around managing dredged materials and other measures are also included in the Exelon agreement.

State officials say the settlement will build on a 2016 agreement between Exelon and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to improve environmental and recreation conditions around the dam, where Exelon is investing more than $300 million toward fish passage facilities and more than $120 million to dredge Conowingo Creek, Glen Cove Marina, Broad Creek and Peters Creek.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will review parts of the new agreement between Exelon and the state in the process of renewing the license for the dam.

According to Gov. Larry Hogan, part of his strategy for improving the Chesapeake Bay water quality involved relicensing for the dam; reusing dredged materials; and partnering with other jurisdictions around sediment control to handle nutrients.

"Our administration has committed an historic $5 billion toward wide-ranging bay initiatives and taken bold and aggressive steps to address the challenges posed by pollution, sediment and debris at the Conowingo Dam," Hogan said in a statement Tuesday. "This settlement is a significant and positive step in the right direction, and with the cooperation of Exelon and upstream states, we can continue making progress in our efforts to preserve and protect this great national treasure."

SEE ALSO:

• Hogan Responds To Conowingo Dam Case
• $10K Grant Funds Conowingo Dam Sensors
• Sediment Discussions Swirl Around Conowingo Dam