Hollywood Branch Stream Restoration
Parts of the Chesapeake Bay watershed contain a high percentage of impervious cover – paved or other hard surfaces such as roofs and roadways that prevent rain water from being absorbed into the ground. Instead, water runs along these surfaces, collecting trash and substances such as motor oil, lawn fertilizers, and pesticides. This polluted stormwater flows into streams and rivers, where it threatens aquatic ecosystems and public health.
Effective stormwater management, on the other hand, creates safe paths for polluted runoff to be captured and filtered through the ground before it reaches waterways. This helps keep the environment clean and our communities healthy!
Project location: Colesville, MD
Problem: Portions of Hollywood Branch, a tributary of the Anacostia River, were becoming severely eroded from stormwater during rain events, creating unsafe and unsightly conditions in addition to damaging water quality in the stream.
Solution: Montgomery County and the Maryland-National Capital Parks and Planning Commission launched a stream restoration effort for Hollywood Branch. The project involved stabilizing the stream channel, repairing damaged storm drain outfalls, and creating micro wetlands to treat runoff and recharge stream flows. The restoration was integrated with an adjacent green infrastructure project, the Cannon Road Green Streets effort.
Scale: 4,470 linear feet
Cost: $1.7 million for construction; $449,000 for engineering and design
Funding sources: Montgomery County stormwater fees
More information: http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/water/restoration/hollywood-branch.ht…
