Loch Raven Reservoir

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Send sports notices a minimum of two weeks before the requested publication date to Patuxent Publishing/OMT Sports Notices, 501 N. Calvert St., Baltimore, MD 21278; email tworgo@patuxent.com . Include date, time, location, contact information and subsection. Competitive Central Maryland Soccer Association sponsors Baltimore 6v6 Summer Shoot-Out, July 30–31, in Owings Mills. Registrations for boys and girls teams ages 7-8 to 17-18. 410-363-8610, scorenews@aol.com or http://www.cmsasoccer.com.

The recent article about rules and regulations at Loch Raven Reservoir ("Think before you leap," June 25) was very informative and was an important reminder for citizens using the reservoir. The public needs to abide by the rules in order to preserve our drinking water and for safety reasons, too. Bikers, hikers, nature photographers, birdwatchers and any other groups or individuals need to work together to support the laws put into place so that we can enjoy our beautiful Loch Raven in a respectful manner.

A recent Sunday afternoon at the normally sleepy Loch Raven Reservoir played out like an episode of "Cops. " At its eastern point, a young man and woman who had been hiking made their way down to the infamous Loch Raven cliffs and jumped into the calm, beckoning waters to cool off. They were blissfully unaware that across the water, reservoir Ranger Simon Phillips was watching, just waiting for the splash to spring into action. "We have swimmers in the water," Phillips radioed a fellow ranger and jetted off to cite the swimmers $200 each.

Several hundred people got a new perspective on the Loch Raven Reservoir Sunday, watching the Gunpowder River pour over the spillway as they stood on the dam itself, just a few yards from the water. It was the Baltimore Department of Public Works' third Loch Raven Day, one day a year when the public is invited into an otherwise off-limits area for the unusual view. "It's awesome," said Dave Wilmot, a fire safety engineer from Lutherville, expressing a sentiment heard often during the unexpectedly sunny afternoon that drew families outdoors.

When it comes to allowing mountain bikers to ride the narrow trails around Loch Raven reservoir, Baltimore officials have waged a two-year campaign of sticking their fingers in their ears to avoid the voice of compromise. Let's be clear: Their concern for maintaining the watershed's integrity is admirable given that the reservoir is part of a drinking water supply that serves 1.8 million customers. Loch Raven is not a park. But these officials act as if they alone possess the wisdom to protect the watershed.

Baltimore County police are investigating a shooting Sunday afternoon near the Loch Raven Reservoir in Cockeysville, where windows on several vehicles were shot at by a BB gun as the drivers slowed to navigate a bend in the road, said Baltimore County Police spokesmen. At least two vehicles were struck as they drove near the Warren Road Bridge, Cpl. George Erhardt said Sunday, and one man in his 20s was taken to a medical center for treatment after glass flew into his eyes. The shooter, who used some kind of pellet gun, struck another person in the leg, though it didn't cause injury, Erhardt said.

Baltimore County fire and rescue teams have recovered the body of a Baltimore man who drowned while swimming in the Loch Raven Reservoir Thursday morning, according to county fire officials. Quentin D. Robinson, 23, was fishing on the shore with two friends but went into the water, according to authorities. He experienced distress but the other two were not able to reach him before he went underwater. Emergency crews responded at about 9:58 a.m. Specialized dive units from the city of Baltimore and Baltimore County are assisting with the recovery, according to county fire officials.