The Deep Creek Watershed Foundation is pleased to announce that three new Board members have been appointed. Nina Beitzel, Ian Smith, and Liz Georg were nominated to the Foundation. The Foundation was formed to support the Deep Creek Watershed Plan’s goal of “improving the environmental stability and economic viability of the Deep Creek Watershed while retaining its rural landscapes and natural beauty, so that, for generations to come, local citizens and visitors have a special place to live, work, and play. The Foundation’s active projects are funding: (1) neutralization of acid mine drainage in Cherry Creek, (2) a study of whether zebra mussels are in Deep Creek Lake and (3) development of a water budget tool to assure adequate water to all stakeholders.
Nina Beitzel is a full time real estate agent with Railey Realty and has an intense passion for working with and helping others. Nina also teaches group exercise classes at Deep Creek Fitness and is an exercise content developer. With a B.S. degree from West Virginia University, Nina is currently pursuing her Master of Business Administration. She, her husband Max and daughter Allie currently reside in the Mc Henry area and take full advantage of all that the watershed has to offer.
Ian Smith has been a resident of Deep Creek Lake off and on for the last twenty years. Mr. Smith obtained a Master of Science from the University of Otago in Environmental Science. After 7 years of freshwater research and protection work at the University of Edinburgh, NASA, and the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, he now works as the Project Director for the non-profit Friends of Blackwater focusing primarily on water restoration work. Mr. Smith now lives along the banks of Bear Creek with his wife and dog.
Elizabeth Georg is an attorney at Deep Creek Title Group in Oakland, Maryland and offers legal and professional experience in business law, estate planning, real estate, and oil, gas, and civil litigation. She serves as counsel for such entities as the Garrett County Liquor Control Board and the Garrett County Board of Realtors. Ms. Georg is actively involved in the Garrett County community and serves as a member of several community organizations to include the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce, Garrett College Foundation, First United Wealth Management Advisory Council, and as co-chair of the Garrett County Economic Development Corporation. She was appointed as a member of the Garrett County Planning Commission in 2016. She earned her Juris Doctorate from Vermont Law School in 2003, and her Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Idaho State University in 2000. She is admitted to the bars of Maryland and West Virginia and resides in the McHenry area with her son Avery.
