Some of the ponds found at Connelly Mill Park; at-risk of being filled with dredge and debris

The following comments were delivered to the Wicomico County Council by an advocate for Save Connelly Mill Park, outlining the community's response to the new dredge storage plan.

On September 10, Adam Corry revealed the Administration’s new dredge storage plan at a meeting of the NRCAC. I attended as an advocate for Save Connelly Mill Park. This plan proposes to dump forest slash into the pits of Connelly Mill, and encapsulate them with dredge spoils from the Wicomico River. The stated purpose of this plan would be to create carbon credits and wetland mitigation banks while dealing with the Dredge Storage Crisis.

After I left that meeting our group has consulted with many experts and members of our community. We believe that this plan is deeply flawed.

This new dredge-dumping plan is unnecessary, fiscally reckless, environmentally questionable, and completely ignores years of public input regarding Connelly Mill Park. It also betrays the original intention of the donation and the promises made during that process.

Barging dredge material for beneficial uses like island and shoreline restoration is the standard approach. There are dozens of these projects in the Chesapeake region that spoils could be used for which would be far more beneficial than dumping them at Connelly Mill Park. Trucking dredge spoils inland is a costly, disruptive alternative that should only be a last resort.

Tens of thousands of truckloads will be required to transport dredge spoils from Sharp’s Point to Connelly Mill. This isn't free. This plan will cost taxpayers millions of dollars in trucking fees alone, not counting the inevitable road damage and repairs.

This operation would mean a constant stream of heavy trucks creating dangerous traffic and destroying local roads—and the taxpayer will get the bill.

The old saying applies: We have a 'bird in the hand'—a magnificent 234-acre park, ready to go with existing trails.

The county wants to trade that for 'two in the bush'—a reckless gamble on a carbon credit market that many say is collapsing. Not to mention the truck exhaust will release thousands of tons of carbon into the atmosphere, far more than would be released by naturally decomposing forest slash left to deteriorate naturally.

We shouldn't be gambling with public land. We should be honoring the promise of a park that benefits everyone right now.

The Executive’s assertion that creating wetlands at Connelly Mill is necessary to establish a park is simply untrue. The existing features at Connelly Mill– forests, natural wetlands, streams, trails, and abundant wildlife, make it ready to go as is.

This is about public trust. The original 2018 park plan was a promise made to the people of Wicomico County.

That original vision was a testament to good government—where the county worked with citizens, not against them.

Our message is simple: Honor the original plan.

Developing Connelly Mill Park grows our economy, protects natural resources, and promotes physical and mental well-being of our entire region while reversing this plan sends a chilling message that public input can be ignored and that a promise from the county can be broken.

One month ago we wrote a letter to the Council outlining the importance of protecting the public trust and fulfilling the original vision for Connelly Mill Park. I stand before you tonight urging you to take legislative action to make good on the promise made when Connelly Mill Park was donated to the citizens of Wicomico County.