CUMBERLAND — Multiple sewer system breaks caused by the May flood continue to spread raw sewage in some local waterways and hurt area outdoor recreational businesses.
Meanwhile, following this week’s denial of disaster help from the federal government, Allegany County’s flood- related expenses continue to grow, and bacteria is expected to pollute the Georges Creek region for several months.
The public should not swim, fish or come into contact with the water in Georges Creek from Shaft to Westernport, and the North Branch of the Potomac, particularly from Westernport downstream to at least the Gene Mason Sports Complex.
On Thursday, Jay Michels, owner of Clyde’s River Guides & Outfitters — which is located in Wiley Ford, West Virginia, and serves Allegany County — told commissioners the water pollution has closed his and other local businesses.
“I’m representing the whole outdoor community here,” he said.
“I’ve lost a whole season of revenue and had to still support overhead costs … in case things improved,” Michels said. “I’m operating at a significant loss.”
He said his business has fielded “thousands of questions” from its online followers.
“We don’t know how to plan for the next season,” Michels said.
He spoke of the “trickle down impact this has on the entire community.”
To continue to support the area’s outdoor tourism, “we need some help and direction on what’s going on,” Michels said, adding that he’s “heard zero” from the county.
“What is the plan for correction and why hasn’t that been publicly made especially now that we’ve been denied FEMA assistance?” he said.
Frostburg resident Olivine Phoenix said because of the local water problems, outdoor enthusiasts have headed north.
“Not only is our own residents’ money going to Pennsylvania, but our tourism is going to Pennsylvania,” she said. “People want to float. They don’t want the manmade lake.”
Allegany County Commissioner Bill Atkinson said he talked to area merchants who have suffered since the flood.
“Not being able to get in the river, to do the kayaks and do the floating has hurt a lot of the businesses,” he said.
Allegany County Administrator Jason Bennett said many organizations are working to remedy the water problems.
County and state officials plan to meet in the near future and discuss how to appeal the FEMA rejection, he said.
“What happens from here is still a little bit of an unknown to us,” Bennett said. “Our costs have only gone up.”
On Friday, Kati Kenney, public relations and communications manager for Allegany County Government, said she updated the flood recovery page on the county’s website.
The waterways are being tested, but because bacteria danger levels can change rapidly depending on environmental factors including daily temperatures, rainfall and water levels, there’s no safe zone yet, she said.
“We do not anticipate it changing for quite some time,” Kenney said of the water contamination problem.
However, the issue does not impact the area’s drinking water system, which is fed by the Savage River Dam and not Georges Creek.
The flood recovery page includes a link to an Allegany County Health Department page that states raw sewage is flowing into Braddock Run downstream from Upper LaVale, which then flows into Wills Creek and downstream to the Potomac River.
“Contaminants from raw sewage can cause severe illness,” it states.
“Do not drink, fish or come into direct contact with those waters until further notice.”