Dry Seneca Watershed

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The Dry Seneca Creek Watershed

Dry Seneca Creek, originating south of Barnesville, is a large tributary to Great Seneca Creek. The towns of Beallsville and Poolesville are located on the western edge of the drainage and influence conditions in Upper Dry Seneca and Russell Branch. Stream conditions in Dry Seneca are generally good, although, habitat conditions tend to be influenced by excessive levels of sediment deposition. Change has come to the upper reaches as the town of Poolesville has grown. A newly designed wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), brought on-line in 1988, has overflowed several times into Dry Seneca, however, this is not expected to be a recurring problem.

The watershed remains in primarily agricultural land uses, with the exception of developed areas within the town of Poolesville. Large lot residential uses within the agricultural preserve are beginning to appear across the area. No significant changes in land use are anticipated. A drive along Montevideo Road above Poole's Store crosses an old metal span bridge over a County stream that flows much as it has for the last hundred years; this is the Dry Seneca Creek.

The upper reaches of Dry Seneca contain forested tributaries that have been investigated in 1997 for potential inclusion into the County's reference stream database. Detailed monitoring will be conducted during 1998 as part of the County's baseline monitoring program. This watershed includes a north to south transition in geologic character. In the southern part of the watershed, the streambed has cut down to reveal blocks of red sandstone bedrock. The fish community includes large populations of central stonerollers which feed on the algae coating these sandstone blocks. This is also one of the very few County watersheds where the eastern silvery minnow is found.

The Maryland Biological Stream Survey also monitored several areas of Dry Seneca. The County will incorporate all comparable stream data to evaluate existing conditions in the Dry Seneca stream system. The County's monitoring during 1997 and 1998 will provide data for a more comprehensive understanding of the status and possible existing impacts to the biological community of Dry Seneca Creek.

Dry Seneca Creek Stream Condition, Habitat Conditions, and Management Category Designation

Subwatershed/

Stream Condition
Habitat Conditions
Primary Factors Affecting Stream Condition
Unique Characteristics and Management Designation

DEP will be conducting baseline watershed monitoring in 1998. This current assessment is based on two monitoring stations and land use characteristics.

Upper Dry Seneca - GOOD

(preliminary)
GOOD to EXCELLENT (preliminary)
Some Sediment deposition and embeddedness noted.

Agricultural Watershed Management Area

Peach Tree Trib.

GOOD (preliminary)
no current data

Agricultural Watershed Management Area

Darnall Trib. - GOOD

(preliminary)
no current data

Agricultural Watershed Management Area

Russell branch - GOOD (preliminary)
no current data

Agricultural Watershed Management Area

Lower Dry Seneca - GOOD (preliminary)
EXCELLENT (preliminary)
Low abundance in macroinvertebrate community, likely the result of upstream WWTP. Sediment deposition noted.

Agricultural Watershed Management Area

Dry Seneca Creek Watershed Management Category

Land uses remain primarily agricultural throughout most of Dry Seneca. Areas of residential development occur in the towns of Poolesville and Beallsville, and throughout the watershed on large lot residential parcels within the agricultural reserve. BMPs on agricultural lands and standard environmental guidelines and regulations elsewhere are expected to continue to protect stream conditions. Further investigation of stream conditions will occur in 1998 and will allow more detailed evaluation of stream conditions and appropriate management strategies.

Agricultural Watershed Management Area

All of the subwatersheds in Dry Seneca are within this management category.

Watershed Management Strategy

Conduct baseline monitoring in 1998 to more thoroughly evaluate conditions
Continued application of applicable environmental regulations and guidelines for new development.
Voluntary implementation of best management practices.

Maps

Land Cover
Impervious Area
Stream Condition
Management Categories

Land Cover Graphs

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