Storm Debris In Chesapeake Bay Triggers Warnings For Boaters, Swimmers
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) -- Just days after Mother Nature pounded Maryland with heavy rain, Annapolis is now dealing with dangerous debris that flowed in from rivers.
It's a dire situation at the Annapolis City Dock, with all eyes on a sea of debris that's now clogging parts of the Chesapeake Bay.
Officials were forced to open gates on the Conowingo Dam in the Susquehanna River but more than water came rushing out.
The result: logs, branches and trash that have bombarded the city dock. Some tires are even scattered around, along with parts of electrical poles. Officials believe some of the debris floated from as far away as Cooperstown, New York.
"This is our showplace. The dock is where everyone comes. It attracts people from all over the world and now look at it," said Bob Dunn, assistant harbormaster of Annapolis.
It's all hands on deck for the harbormaster with more than 12 employees working long hours to try and clean up the debris.
A debris field that's drawing hundreds of spectators, who are snapping pictures and coming to the dock to see for themselves.
"I've never seen anything like this before," one woman visiting from California said.
"I've been here 23 years and I've never seen it like this," a long-time Annapolis resident said.
Crews made significant progress at Ego-Alley but at the other end of the dock, there's still plenty of debris floating.
"We haven't even come up with a plan on how to go about this part yet," Dunn said. "How is someone supposed to try and get these huge logs?"
The debris is creating hazardous conditions for boaters. Natural resources police are warning them to be on the lookout, to take it slow and to wear a life jacket. The debris can not only cause an accident but easily damage a vessel, as well.
There's also plenty of concern over the sediment and toxins that destroy the water quality.
At Sandy Point State Park, they've now banned swimming, effective immediately, until further notice. This is due to the large amounts of debris that washed up there.
Clean-up that will take days, maybe even weeks. If there's another series of heavy storms, this debris might only be the beginning of what's to come.
"The climate is doing funny things these days," Dunn said. "Our crews are doing a great job though and we're working hard."
"I think it's only a matter of time before it happens again. It will probably get worse," John Paulos said.
Officials warn that it's not only the Chesapeake Bay but say massive pieces of debris could trap boaters and swimmers on other rivers, as well.
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