Roberts Field Stormwater Restoration Project

The Town of Hampstead, in partnership with the Carroll County Bureau of Resource Management, is preparing for a major stormwater restoration project at Roberts Field. The Town and County will hold a public Town Hall meeting on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, at 6:30 PM at Hampstead Town Hall, located at 1034 S. Carroll Street, to share project details and answer questions. This project seeks to improve public safety by lowering the hazard classification of the existing pond, shifting it from a Significant Hazard dam to a Low Hazard dam. It also will improve water quality by providing cleaner, colder water to the streams below, which helps fulfill Town restoration obligations that are required by the State.

This classification means that if the dam were ever to fail, area homes could be at risk. In addition to the safety hazard, the current facility does not meet modern stormwater treatment standards, and its discharges contribute to the degradation of downstream streams—many of which are already classified as impaired.

Because of these issues, the Town is required by the MDE and EPA to take corrective action. Doing nothing is not an option and would result in significant penalties, increased liability, and potential public safety consequences.

Project Highlights:

• The existing pond will be replaced with a modern system, including a submerged gravel wetland and a smaller, deeper wet pond that will continue to support fish and serve as a community amenity.

• The new design will protect water quality, reduce downstream thermal impacts, and eliminate the safety hazard posed by the aging dam.

• Construction is expected to begin this fall, and fish from the existing pond will be humanely relocated prior to draining the facility.

• This is the first of four planned stormwater improvement projects in Roberts Field over the coming years.