Save Aspen Run Lake
Donation protected
Dear Neighbors, Friends, and Family,
In the past several months, a few of us who surround Aspen Run Lake off Coon Club Rd. & Aspen Drive in Hampstead, MD., have been notified by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) that the dam of the lake is in need of significant repair. This came as a surprise to all of us. Since then, we have been researching and brainstorming ideas to determine how we can save the lake that is not only an aesthetically pleasing feature to the community, but a habitat to hundreds of animals, & a vital source of water for the Carroll County Fire Departments.
We are asking for your help to raise the necessary funds to repair the dam and save the lake. The repair will involve massive engineering & construction costs to bring the dam up to code & protect the existing trout stream, which runs parallel to the lake. If we do not act quickly, MDE will breach the dam, which will cause a significant loss in wildlife, remove a vital source of water for the fire department, and increase homeowners’ insurance for many surrounding properties. Our community has already lost Cascade Lake, which was loved by so many, and we don’t want to lose another one of our beautiful bodies of water.
The Hampstead Volunteer Fire Department is aware of the situation and they have written a letter explaining how crucial this lake is to the local community. The lake contains millions of gallons of water and has been retrofitted with a dry hydrant (a permanently installed pipe that is below the surface of the water) for easy and reliable access to water at any time of the year. If the fire department does not have access to the Aspen Run Lake, their water sources will be limited to what they can carry on their engines and the next closest hydrant, which is over 1.6 miles away. This creates a higher risk for our local firefighters and residents while significantly delaying a consistent flow of water to the fire scene.
In addition to the safety of the community, we are dedicated to preserving and protecting the flourishing habitat that is home to an abundance of wildlife. The lake provides a home and food source for many animals, including, bald eagles, beavers, turtles, snakes, blue herons, osprey, red tailed hawks, river otters, snails, foxes, rabbits, weasels, geese, ducks, frogs, 5+ species of fish, and more. There is not a day that goes by where there isn’t an abundance of wildlife using the lake. For those of us that live in close proximity to the lake, we get to watch juvenile bald eagles take flight, baby turtles hatch, osprey and herons dive for their meals, and watch offspring of many kinds thrive each year.
By no means will this project be easy, but we are dedicated to saving and preserving the lake, so it can continue to be a refuge for wildlife while supporting the safety of our community. Together we can save Aspen Run Lake!
If you have any questions or concerns, please email [email redacted].
Thank you for your time & donations!
In the past several months, a few of us who surround Aspen Run Lake off Coon Club Rd. & Aspen Drive in Hampstead, MD., have been notified by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) that the dam of the lake is in need of significant repair. This came as a surprise to all of us. Since then, we have been researching and brainstorming ideas to determine how we can save the lake that is not only an aesthetically pleasing feature to the community, but a habitat to hundreds of animals, & a vital source of water for the Carroll County Fire Departments.
We are asking for your help to raise the necessary funds to repair the dam and save the lake. The repair will involve massive engineering & construction costs to bring the dam up to code & protect the existing trout stream, which runs parallel to the lake. If we do not act quickly, MDE will breach the dam, which will cause a significant loss in wildlife, remove a vital source of water for the fire department, and increase homeowners’ insurance for many surrounding properties. Our community has already lost Cascade Lake, which was loved by so many, and we don’t want to lose another one of our beautiful bodies of water.
The Hampstead Volunteer Fire Department is aware of the situation and they have written a letter explaining how crucial this lake is to the local community. The lake contains millions of gallons of water and has been retrofitted with a dry hydrant (a permanently installed pipe that is below the surface of the water) for easy and reliable access to water at any time of the year. If the fire department does not have access to the Aspen Run Lake, their water sources will be limited to what they can carry on their engines and the next closest hydrant, which is over 1.6 miles away. This creates a higher risk for our local firefighters and residents while significantly delaying a consistent flow of water to the fire scene.
In addition to the safety of the community, we are dedicated to preserving and protecting the flourishing habitat that is home to an abundance of wildlife. The lake provides a home and food source for many animals, including, bald eagles, beavers, turtles, snakes, blue herons, osprey, red tailed hawks, river otters, snails, foxes, rabbits, weasels, geese, ducks, frogs, 5+ species of fish, and more. There is not a day that goes by where there isn’t an abundance of wildlife using the lake. For those of us that live in close proximity to the lake, we get to watch juvenile bald eagles take flight, baby turtles hatch, osprey and herons dive for their meals, and watch offspring of many kinds thrive each year.
By no means will this project be easy, but we are dedicated to saving and preserving the lake, so it can continue to be a refuge for wildlife while supporting the safety of our community. Together we can save Aspen Run Lake!
If you have any questions or concerns, please email [email redacted].
Thank you for your time & donations!
Fundraising team (5)
Jessica Hobbs
Organizer
Hampstead, MD
Ken Kvech
Team member
Erik Petry
Team member
Caren Keyes
Team member
Douglas Witham
Team member
