Preserve PVSP Campaign History

The "Preserve Patapsco State Park" Sierra Club campaign lasted from August 2013 until January 2015. The campaign was funded by a Grassroots grant from the national Sierra Club, and was a joint conservation campaign of the Maryland Chapter, the Howard County Group, and the Greater Baltimore Group of the Sierra Club. The contact person is Joanne Heckman (joanne.heckman[@]mdsierra.org). A history of the campaign, and supporting documentation, is below.

Sierra Club documents regarding the Patapsco Heritage Greenway, Inc. certification proposal:

Maryland Chapter Sierra Club votes to convert campaign to stewardship and support of Patapsco Valley State Park, January 24, 2015.
Summary of Campaign to Preserve Patapsco Valley State Park as of January, 2015.
Final Testimony on Certification: testimony at final hearing before MHAA, December 8, 2014.
Trail Planning: in October 2014, the Maryland Park Service began the public process for revising the 1998 PVSP trail map (see below). 
Public Planning for the State Parks: the PVSP Master Plan (see below) was last revised in 1981. New plans, such as those of PHG, Inc., require public review, not authorization through a Heritage Area certification.
Construction Projects in the Park: the Draft Management Plan proposed by PHG, Inc. included numerous development projects that were not approved in any Park plan.
No Conservation Measures: the Draft Management Plan had no provisions for environmental protection or conservation of natural resources.
Private Corporation as Managing Entity: PHG, Inc. appoints its own Board of Directors and has no public oversight.
Annotated Version of the PHG, Inc. Draft Management Plan: Sierra Club concerns about the projects proposed for the PVSP and the management by PHG, Inc.
Email generated by action alert, sent to decision-makers by more than 300 SC members:  Action Alert Email.docx. PHG, Inc. rebuttal below.
Testimony presented to the Baltimore County Council on August 27, 2014. 
Testimony presented to Baltimore County Planning Board on July 17, 2014.
Testimony presented to the Howard County Planning Board on June 19, 2014.
Memorandum of Understanding: a coalition of environmental groups represented by the Maryland Conservation Council offered to act as an advisory committee to PHG, Inc. to assess the environmental impacts of PHG, Inc. proposals for the Park:  00 PHG, Inc & MCC - Memorandum of Understanding (3) (1).pdf. PHG, Inc.'s refusal to accept advice is below.

Other documents:

PVSP Master Plan 1981.pdf
Trail Management Plan, 1998: PVSPTrailMngt00000630.pdf
PHG, Inc. refusal to sign MOU with environmentalists:  PHG, Inc Refusal of MOU for Advisory Cmte.doc
PHG, Inc. rebuttal to SC action alert:  PHG rebuttal to SC testimony.docx

Timeline of Campaign:

  • Sierra Club Maryland Chapter votes to continue "Preserve Patapsco Valley State Park" as a stewardship, advocacy and support group for the Park.
  • The Maryland Heritage Areas Authority voted to approve the Heritage Area wih PHG, Inc. as he managing entity, January 15, 2015.
  • The Maryland Heritage Areas Authority held a public hearing on Monday, December 8, 2014; see Sierra Club testimony.
  • The Maryland Park Service began stakeholder meetings with Sierra Club, Patapsco Heritage Greenway, and others, as the first step in the process of revising the 1998 Trail Management Plan for the Patapsco Valley State Park.
  • The Baltimore County Council held a public hearing on the PHG Management Plan on Tuesday, September 30, and voted to approve the Plan the following week. 
  • The Howard County Council held a public hearing on the PHG Management Plan on Monday, July 21, had a work session on July 22, and took a vote on July 25, approving the PHG Management Plan with some minor changes.
  • The position of the Sierra Club was presented to the Baltimore County Planning Board on July 17, 2014.
  • The position of the Sierra Club was presented to the Howard County Planning Board on June 5, 2014.
  • The latest version of the draft Management Plan was released, dated June 4, 2014.
  • May 18, 2014, Maryland Conservation Council and Sierra Club agree to sign MOU, PHG refuses. 
  • April 22, 2014, meeting with PVSP Manager, MHAA Administrator, PHG officials, representatives of Sierra Club, Maryland Conservation Council, American Rivers. PHG, Inc. agrees to sign Memorandum of Understanding with Sierra Club and environmental partners; the latter will submit conservation plan to be included in PHG Management Plan.  
  • March 25, 2014, Sierra Club receives revised draft of Management Plan for proposed Heritage Area: Draft PHA Plan 3.20.14-web.pdf. (Download this annotated version to see our questions and comments to date: Questions on Draft PHA Plan 3.20.14-web.pdf.)
  • March 18, 2014, Sierra Club receives the initial draft Development and Land Use Plan for the proposed Heritage Area. 
  • March 6, 2014, Sierra Club receives the draft Business Plan for the proposed Heritage Area. 
  • January 8, 2014, meeting with PHG, Inc. and the Howard County Group
  • August 23, 2013, meeting with PHG, Inc. and the Howard County Group