Retention pond designed to prevent catastrophic flooding in Ellicott City now in place
BALTIMORE -- When storm clouds hover over Ellicott City, anxiety looms in the air as its residents remember the historic floods in 2011, 2016 and 2018.
"Some of my constituents go to bed every night still worried about this," Senator Katie Fry Heste saidr. "They literally had PTSD."
Rapid summer floods have unleashed devastation in the city in recent years. The storms were so sudden and intense, they were only supposed to happen once in a millennium. But instead, they happened twice in two years.
But after the double tragedy where three people died and dozens of buildings were destroyed, Howard County now has something to celebrate.
A new retention pond opened upstream in a section near Baltimore National Pike and Route 29. Engineers say it's designed to trap about 4 million gallons of water. That's enough to fill a football field—10 feet deep before all that water it rushes downstream.
The H7 Pond is designed to remain dry in usual circumstances but would fill with run-off during heavy storms.
This is just one of several projects that cost nearly $200 million.
County, state and local leaders are hoping this new retention pond will protect Ellicott City from future flooding.
Senate President Bill Ferguson said this isn't just a hole in the ground.
"These projects save lives. They may not look like it, but when it's pouring down rain and this pond is full that means somebody's life is potentially being saved," said Senate President Bill Ferguson.
There are a total of six other projects that are now in the pipeline. Another pond called Quaker Mill, which is just southeast, is the first pond scheduled to open in early 2023.
It's supposed to hold more than three million gallons of water then slowly release it over a period of time.
There are also plans for a tunnel extension and culvert that will help to divert water.
Officials say funding for all seven projects currently stand close to $200 million, which is a combination of state, local and federal funding along with grants.
According to the county's website, the funding also "includes a $75 million WIFIA loan through the Environmental Protection Agency."
Since the floods in 2016 and 2018, Howard County has been working on plans to prevent devastating floods from reoccurring.
The floods that were supposed to happen only once every 1,000 years hit this area twice in the last six years.
In 2018, roughly 60 business reopened after major flooding, while 15 more decided never to come back.
National Guardsman Sgt. Eddison Hermond died saving a woman trapped in the floodwaters.
In 2016, more than 25 buildings were damaged. Ellicott City had destruction costing more than $22 million, and at least two people died when more than six inches of rain was dumped on Ellicott City in less than two hours.
After both floods, some business owners and residents had to make the tough decision on whether to stay in Old Ellicott City or leave for good. County Executive Calvin Ball said these projects bring new hope.
"More and more businesses are investing," Ball said. "We've had the pleasure of cutting more ribbons and having not only businesses invest, but residents and visitors coming back in droves to Ellicott City Main Street because they know that we're making real progress."
