On April 27, the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) issued a Water Quality Certification with special conditions for the proposed relicensing of the Conowingo Dam as part of a comprehensive strategy for Chesapeake Bay restoration. The certification requires the applicant, Exelon Generation Company LLC, to reduce water pollution that flows from the dam to the bay, as well as take steps to reduce sediment and nutrient pollution, control water flow, and improve management of debris that collects at the dam.
The certification follows a study that found that the Conowingo Dam has lost its capacity to trap sediment and nutrient pollution, threatening the state’s ability to meet Chesapeake Bay cleanup goals.
For more information on the dam and the certification, see here.
