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Watershed
Restoration
For a description of more recent projects, please review our Runoff Rundown, the Center's quarterly newsletters for the latest info on projects.
Yarmouth Watershed Conservation Plan The Center is currently
developing a watershed conservation plan for the Yarmouth Watershed. This
coastal plain watershed drains to the James River near Williamsburg, Virginia
and contains a diverse mix of tidal and non-tidal wetlands, shellfish
beds and rare plants. This unique study focuses on protecting critical
conservation areas containing rare plants, high quality streams, contiguous
forest, diverse wetlands, and bald eagles. Another restoration effort
is underway in Breton Bay (St. Mary’s County, MD) where the Center is
identifying priority resource areas as well as stormwater retrofit opportunities
in urbanized subwatersheds |
Other Watershed Plans The Center is pursuing various other
watershed restoration opportunities worked in urban and ultra
urban subwatersheds in Milwaukee, WI and Portland, OR, and Baltimore, MD developing stormwater
management concepts that target source reduction and volume control to
reduce existing strains on combined sewer systems. We anticipate involvement
in at least one additional watershed restoration project. |
|
Stony Run, MD This project provided eight hours of training
for community educators, a watershed reconnaissance focused on residential
areas and parklands to identify pollutant sources, and general technical
assistance and review. Technical information will be provided to develop
targeted education and community participation programs. Read
the project report here. |
Watershed Restoration and Education in the South River and Beyond, MD
Working with South River Federation, this two-part project involves creating
a public watershed education program and increasing restoration activities
in the South River. Small restoration teams will be formed to assist homeowners
and associations in implementing native plantings, oyster gardening projects,
rain gardens and rain barrel projects. Additionally, draft articles, presentations,
graphics and related resources will be made available to other watershed
groups and other local organizations via the internet. Completed: December 2002 Staff Contact: P. Sturm |
Weems Creek, MD The goal of this project
is to identify and prioritize stormwater retrofits, stream restoration,
and riparian reforestation projects that can be carried out by the Weems
Creek Conservancy, State Highway, the City of Annapolis and Anne Arundel
County. |
Community Watershed Training This
project provides technical training to three local watershed groups in
the Chesapeake Bay region. Focused primarily on protection and restoration
skills, topics include estimating impervious cover, rapid stream assessment,
delineating subwatersheds, GIS training, stormwater retrofitting and watershed
education. Completed: October 2002 Staff Contact: P. Sturm |
|
Lower Charles River, MA In 1999, the
Center completed a retrofit inventory in portions of the Charles River
Basin in Massachusetts as part of an effort to clean up this highly visible
urban river. In 2001 we designed several demonstration stormwater retrofit
sites for local implementation. The project was intended to reduce pollution
to the river in a series of ponds and wetlands. As part of our continuing
involvement in the cleanup of the Charles River, we also advised a consortium
of local agencies on how to develop a more effective watershed education
campaign. |
Englesby Brook Watershed Study, VT
The Center completed an implementation plan to restore a small, highly
urbanized stream that runs through downtown Burlington, Vermont and into
scenic Lake Champlain. Key issues were beach closures due to urban stormwater
and stream habitat degradation. We also applied our rapid watershed planning
techniques to diagnose and fix problems in this subwatershed. Local government
earmarked over a million dollars for implementation of our recommendations.
|
Watts Branch Watershed Study, MD The
Center developed a watershed restoration plan for a ten square mile watershed
in suburban Maryland. During 2000, staff completed a comprehensive implementation
plan with strong community involvement that enhances stream quality. The
final plan includes construction of 15 stormwater retrofit ponds, nearly
two miles of stream restoration and riparian reforestation, along with
a watershed education campaign. The City of Rockville has budgeted funds
to implement the projects over the next five years. |
Rock Creek Watershed Plan, MD The
Center worked with Montgomery County, Maryland to complete elements of
a watershed plan in the highly developed Rock Creek watershed. The Center
provided critical implementation recommendations and participated in the
public outreach for the plan. This was a long-awaited phase for the Center
staff, since we initially started work on the project in 1995. |
Hickey Run, MD This watershed restoration
project targeted a heavily urban subwatershed of the Anacostia River,
which flows through the National Arboretum of the District of Columbia.
The primary focus of the project was to design a facility that can remove
trash and oil from one-square mile area drainage. The project is important
both to the Arboretum, since Hickey Run is the major water resource feature
on the property, and to the District, as there is a total maximum daily
load (TMDL) limit that has been placed on Hickey Run for oil and grease.
As part of this project, the Center also conducted a review of proprietary
stormwater technology. |
Doan Brook Watershed Study, OH Working
in partnership with a local nonprofit, the Center developed a watershed
plan for this highly developed watershed that runs through Cleveland,
Ohio. We proposed stormwater retrofits, watershed education and backyard
restoration projects to help recover this degraded system. Read
more here Completed: September 2000 |
|
Spring Creek Watershed Study, PA Spring
Creek runs through the campus of Penn State and is the focal point of
a major local protection effort. The Center provided both watershed assessment
and management services to a consortium of local watershed agencies, and
conducted a stormwater retrofit inventory. Completed: September 2000 |
Peavine Creek Watershed Study, GA The Center developed a detailed stream restoration plan for the Lullwater Fork, which runs through an Olmstead-designed Atlanta neighborhood. We worked with a consortium of local watershed and community organizations to help make the first major watershed restoration project happen in the Atlanta area. The project included stormwater retrofit ponds, stream daylighting, and riparian reforestation projects. Completed: June 2000 |
|
Western Run Watershed Study, MD Maintaining trout was the focal point for this watershed protection effort in the rural portions of Baltimore County. Working with Trout Unlimited, we worked with private landowners to help restore and protect key trout habitat. Completed: December 2000 |