Lake Forest Community
4.0 Acres Lake Liberty
Interview with Glenn Klavans (GK) and Colby Rucker (CR)

Glenn Klavans was attorney &L president of the Lake Forest Community Association from 1992-94 and in 1996-98. Colby Rucker was president of the Severn River Association from 1982-84.

SRLT:

What can you tell us about the history of Lake Liberty?

GK:

The earliest records we have seen are those of the Liberty Sand & Gravel Company from the first decades of this century. When our community came into ownership of the Lake, we had the name legally changed to reflect this history.

CR:

Yes, it's a freshwater pond very similar to another a mile down the river on Forked Creek. Both were apparently formed around the turn of the century by companies excavating for glass sand, and by the roadway damming of lowland corridors leading to tidal creeks.

SRLT:

What is the water source for the lake?

CR:

Well, that's an interesting question, as the size of the Stevens Creek valley far exceeds the acreage of its draining watershed. Geologists believe that this anomaly was caused by diversion of the larger and original source, Chartwell Branch, directly into the Severn either through natural geological forces or by man-made diversion for a water-powered sawmill in 1878.

GK:

We also know that the Lake has a major spring-fed component. And then, the county has added considerably to the flow with stormwater runoff over the past two decades.

SRLT:

Who were the previous owners?

CR:

During the 1940's the lake was owned by Harry Perkins and known as "Perkins Pond".

GK:

In 1962, Robert Litz purchased the property with "use of lake to run with the land", and for over thirty years the lake was known as "Litz Lake".

SRLT:

How did the county get involved in ownership of the lake?

CR:

In the late '70s the county widened Benfield Road to improve east-west travel along the north shore of the Severn. That was in the days of relatively shoddy sediment control, and there was apparently both significant erosion of the stormwater outlets, and construction run off into the lake.

GK:

Mr. Litz complained so vociferously and consistantly that in the early 1980's the county agreed to buy the damaged lake from him, to improve the stormwater drainage into it, and to stop further siltation into the lake.

SRLT:

Was that a good solution?

CR:

Well, yes and no. Mr. Litz was, in part, responsible for calling the public's attention the atrocious status of our county's sediment control laws, which were subsequently strengthened and enforced. For this Mr. Litz received a conservation award from the Severn River Association. But the soils were sandy and no real long-term damage was sustained by Liberty. Unfortunately, the county's solution to the stormwater erosion problem was simply to dump a few hundred tons of riprap into the Stevens Creek ravine, further damaging an already stressed natural area.

GK:

Furthermore, the county had no real interest in the lake it had purchased, since transfer documents precluded it from use for public access or recreation, and the surrounding landowners of the newly formed Lake Forest Community distrusted the county's ability to protect and preserve the lake.

SRLT:

So what was the solution that met everyone's needs?

GK:

The county agreed to sell the lake back to the community association (for $1), and the landowners agreed to hold the county harmless for any damage.

CR:

And the community agreed to establish a Conservation Easement on the Lake and surrounding lands so as to keep them natural for perpetuity.

SRLT:

With whom did Lake Forest draft the conservation easement?

GK:

Initially, in 1992, with the county.

CR:

But in 1994, following the incorporation of the private Severn River Land Trust, and on advice of the Severn River Commission, the county turned the easement over to the SRLT, at that time their fifth recorded easement.

SRLT:

Why did the Lake Forest want to establish a Conservation Easement?

GK:

We wanted to make sure that our lake was preserved into the future, and we didn't want major changes of character caused by future county administrations, the public in general, or surrounding landowners.

SRLT:

Why is it so important to insure that the character of the lake not change?

GK:

It has inherent scenic value to all of us that live on it, or near it, and see it every day. We don't want that to change.

CR:

Lake Liberty has recovered well from the stresses thrust upon it in the '70s. There are several great blue herons in the headwater marshlands, and migrating ducks make regular stopovers.

SRLT:

Are there any other unusual inhabitants of the area?

GK:

We've seen otter and beaver.

CR:

When last surveyed, the adjoining magnolia swamp had the largest Atlantic White Cedar on our river. The lake itself has an excellent growth of waterlily.

SRLT:

What is the significance of a community organization establishing a Conservation Easement?

GK:

Well, I understand we are the first, but I certainly hope not the last. Severn River communities, whether waterfront or upland, own property with important wildlife habitat. Most are heavily wooded, steeply sloped, and at least partly wetland in nature. While they cannot be developed today, they might well be in the future. We should all see to it that a part of our natural world is preserved for future generations. A conservation easement is an excellent tool to insure that that happens.

CR:

Ditto, I couldn't have said it better.