President's Message & Recap of 2025 Highlights
Ten Mile Creek in the Fall
As we review FOTMC’s work and activities over the last couple of years, we are reminded of why our mission to serve as guardians of Ten Mile Creek and its watershed began. We remember the urgent need to protect what has been called “the last best stream” in Montgomery County by protecting the forests, tributaries, and wetlands of the Ten Mile Creek watershed. Ten Mile Creek is the 2nd largest, and the cleanest, tributary flowing into Little Seneca Reservoir, the back-up drinking supply for 5 million people in the Washington D.C. Metropolitan area. But the Reservoir is constantly threatened by development proposals, and FOTMC’s mission remains as urgent as ever. The Clarksburg Gateway Sector Plan, located entirely in the Clarksburg Special Protection Area, is just the most current development proposal that threatens the health of the Little Seneca Lake Reservoir.
We continue our work to protect the Little Seneca Reservoir, a critical component of our regional drinking water system, and to protect the Ten Mile Creek watershed, a unique ecological treasure. Alongside others with shared values, we are dedicated to safeguarding the health of this beautiful stream, the health of the Reservoir, and the preservation of the countryside.
FOTMC’s other activities and concerns, and fun times, are highlighted below. We also have wonderful news to report: we have recently received a very generous land gift from member, Norman Mease! Thank you Norman from all of us!!
Click on the links to learn more and see photos:
We hope we can see/meet you at some of the following upcoming venues:
Our booth at Poolesville Day, September 20
The hearing at Park and Planning on the Clarksburg Gateway Sector Plan, September 25
Our Annual Meeting at the Cinque Farm, October 19
Autumn Walk on the New land, October 25
As always, your donations and participation are what keeps us going!!
May each of you have a beautiful autumn.
Be well.
Anne Cinque, President
Friends of Ten Mile Creek & Little Seneca Reservoir
Here’s a short recap of the year’s activities, with links to more information and photos of each area of activity.
New Land Gift. First, the Highlight of the year! FOTMC is the proud recipient of a generous land donation from Norman Mease, an FOTMC Board Member. Norman donated 52 acres of his land, encompassing both sides of Ten Mile Creek, to the continued care and stewardship of Friends of Ten Mile Creek and Little Seneca Reservoir. Link to learn more
Clarksburg Gateway Sector Plan. Since 2023, FOTMC members have been actively participating in the formulation of the Clarksburg Gateway Sector Plan. Our goal has been the preservation of forests, protection of streams and wetlands, and safeguarding the water quality of Little Seneca Lake Reservoir, the region’s back-up drinking water supply. Here is the link to our Action Alert Link to learn more Link to Action Alert.
Agricultural Reserve issues. The Ten Mile Creek Watershed is part of the 93,000-acre Agricultural Reserve, “the country’s most successful farmland preservation program,” established in 1980. FOTMC members have written letters and testified on critical issues, such as prohibiting industrial solar on farmland and siting and regulation of data centers, that would threaten the Ag Reserve’s forests, farms, open space, and ground water. Link to learn more
Eyes of the Creek. FOTMC members have kept abreast of cleaning up the creek and removing trash along West Old Baltimore Road. We also keep a watchful eye out for excessive sediment flowing into the creek from the ongoing housing developments in the upper watershed. Link to learn more
Monitoring Water Quality. FOTMC’s Water Quality Monitoring team of volunteers regularly monitors the biological health of Ten Mile Creek by assessing the macroinvertebrate population. At Ten Mile Creek events, the monitors set up tables, water samples, and microscopes by the ford so that people can experience first-hand the invertebrate life of the creek. Water quality monitoring is one of FOTMC’s many volunteer opportunities. Link to learn more
Watershed/Wildflower Walk. FOTMC has been leading annual Spring WatershedWildflower walks to introduce people to the unique flora of the Ten Mile Creek Watershed and to enjoy the beauty of the surrounding forest and streams. On a beautiful Spring day in April, a group of 20 intrepid explorers gathered at the Cinque’s to take the Hay Wagon ride across the Ten Mile Creek Ford to where our exploration of the Watershed and wildflowers began. Link to learn more
Little Seneca Lake Reservoir. The mission of Friends of Ten Mile Creek and Little Seneca Reservoir is to serve as guardians of Ten Mile Creek and its watershed, preserving and protecting this unique place. This will ensure that Ten Mile Creek continues to provide clean drinking water to Little Seneca Reservoir – a backup drinking water supply for the Washington, DC Metropolitan region and an important recreational resource. Link to learn more
