By Del. Steven Johnson
In our towns along the Susquehanna River and Chesapeake Bay, the water is part of everyday life. It’s where kids learn to fish with their grandparents, where families gather for summer weekends, and where visitors flock to watch eagles that make this stretch of the river so unique. The Bay is our backyard, and it’s a special place to call home.
The agreement between the State of Maryland, Constellation Energy, Waterkeepers Chesapeake, and the Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association, which secures the future of the dam and invests over $340 million to preserve the Bay, is just what our community needs. It represents a promise that the Bay we know and love will be cared for, and that clean water, safe recreation, and wildlife will continue to live and grow here.
Generations of Marylanders have grown up with the Conowingo Dam. It’s a big part of many people’s lives, and now it will play an even more important role than before as a foundation of long-term habitat restoration and care. The projects supported by this agreement—including hatcheries to foster mussels that naturally filter water and expanded debris management to keep our shorelines clean—are investments in the places where we live. They’ll bring cleaner creeks for paddling, safer riverbanks for families, and healthier habitats that will bring back fish and wildlife. Over the next 50 years, dedicated funding will flow into projects that both restore the Bay and strengthen our community.
This level of commitment matters in ways that go beyond policy papers or technical plans. It means neighbors can paddle without worrying about large debris in the water. It means children will have safe places to explore and play outdoors, learning to appreciate the natural beauty around them. It means family businesses will continue to see visitors passing through, supporting our local communities. These outcomes are felt not only in statistics, but in the day-to-day experiences that tie us together as a community.
I am extremely grateful for this agreement, not only for the benefits it provides, but also because it demonstrates what can be accomplished when different voices come together. All the parties who made this agreement happen set aside more than a decade of conflict to produce something that doesn’t ask families to pay more in taxes or utility rates and delivers lasting benefits for the environment and community, setting an important example. Too often, local communities are left out of important decisions or are asked to shoulder the burdens without sharing in the benefits. This agreement turns that dynamic around, showing that when government, business, and environmental advocates work side by side, we can get a fair outcome that helps everyone. People in our towns deserve to know their voices matter, and this settlement reflects that promise.
For those of us who call this area home, the Conowingo Dam agreement is about more than energy or economics. It’s about ensuring that our children and grandchildren inherit a Bay worth cherishing and giving our communities the confidence that this special place will remain vibrant, welcoming, and resilient for generations to come.
That’s a future I can take pride in.
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