Portal Navigation Links (Level 1):
Residents | Government | Business | Culture

Portal Navigation Links (Level 2):
News | County Executive | County Council | Departments | Services (A to Z)   | Online Services
County Cable 6 | Transportation  |  Education  |  Careers | Volunteers | Contact Us

Department of Environmental Protection Navigation Links:

 

The Hawlings River Watershed 

The Hawlings River, located in the northeastern part of the County, originates near Etchison just below the intersection of Routes 108 and 650. The Hawlings flows into the Patuxent River between the Triadelphia and Rocky Gorge reservoirs. As a major tributary to the Patuxent, the Hawlings plays an important role in the overall efforts to reduce nutrient and sediment loadings to this river, and in particular, to the Rocky Gorge reservoir, a public drinking water supply. Much of the Hawlings River watershed, particularly above the Reddy Branch tributary, is agricultural land, parkland with old farmhouses, and newer large lot residential areas. The Hawlings River and its tributaries are included in the Patuxent Primary Management Area (PMA). The PMA is a stream buffer and transition zone within which land uses are closely managed in order to reduce nonpoint source pollution and improve and protect stream conditions. The ultimate goal for the PMA is to maintain low-density, low intensity land uses within 1/4 mile of the Hawlings River mainstem and within 1/8 mile of tributaries and to actively establish a minimum 50' forested buffer strip immediately adjacent to all streams. The PMA guidelines are applied to development projects submitted to M-NCPPC for subdivision and/or site plan review, and are otherwise voluntarily implemented and strongly encouraged on remaining parcels throughout the watershed.

The Hawlings River passes through three distinct land uses. The upper watershed above Sundown Rd. is in rolling agricultural lands east of Laytonsville. This headwater area has many small tributaries that flow to create the Hawlings River mainstem. The middle section passes through a narrow, rocky valley area where the velocity of the stream increases. Within Rachel Carson Conservation Park, there is some of the best stream habitat in the watershed. Below Georgia Avenue, the stream passes through a sandy loam floodplain. The change to sandy soils and the addition of uncontrolled storm flows from the Olney Mill tributary has resulted in severe bank erosion and scour pools. The tributaries flowing into the Hawlings from the southwest, including James Creek and the Olney Mill tributary in Reddy Branch, contain much higher densities than in the rest of the watershed as a result of development in and around the Olney Town Center. The resulting higher impervious conditions and regional in-stream stormwater ponds have contributed to degradation of stream conditions in certain areas. Regional in-stream ponds control runoff from large areas, through one large regional facility rather than many on-site structures. Streams above the facility are often exposed to high uncontrolled runoff velocities from areas with high imperviousness. Stream banks above such facilities frequently need to be protected with armoring such as rip-rap, which displaces natural in-stream habitat. Stream restoration activities to address some of the problems stemming from high density development associated with the Olney Town Center area have been undertaken in Reddy Branch and are planned for James Creek

Throughout the watershed, a cool water fish community may be found. Shield darters are found here, in the Patuxent River mainstem, and have been reported in the Little Paint Branch, but are found nowhere else in the County. Large sunfish and fallfish are found in the lower reaches of the Hawlings. Some reports of wild trout being caught usually end up as large feisty creek chubs that have risen to the bait and lures of local anglers. Overall, the Hawlings River, particularly the mainstem, continues to maintain good resource conditions. The state designation Use IV-P is based on temperature and dissolved oxygen standards which could support adult trout (the -P indicates that this area drains to a public drinking water supply). Below Georgia Ave., however, stream habitat conditions degrade with large areas of bank erosion, scour pools and sediment deposition. A combination of approaches is necessary for this watershed in order to protect, improve, and restore biological resource conditions.

Hawlings River Stream Condition, Habitat Condition, and Management Category Designation

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

Watershed Restoration Area

Management of the stream resources in the Hawlings River occurs through state and county park systems, and through private landowners. The Patuxent Primary Management Area guidelines are applied to new development. DEP baseline monitoring was completed during the Spring and Summer of 1997. Possible refinements to preliminary stream biological and habitat condition ratings and to the draft management category designations will occur as more information is obtained.

Agricultural Watershed Management Areas

This category covers part of the mainstem - Upper, and Middle Hawlings - and Middle and Lower Mt. Zion tributaries, and Reddy Branch (not including Olney Mill Trib.) These subwatersheds are part of the agricultural reserve and are expected to remain in primarily agricultural or large-lot land uses. The land uses in Lower Hawlings are primarily agricultural, resulting in the agricultural watershed management designation, however, stream restoration efforts are needed in the Lower Hawlings to repair damage that has resulted from flows entering the mainstem from the Reddy Branch and James Creek stream systems.

• Pursue educational efforts to encourage voluntary implementation of the Patuxent Primary Management Area guidelines through the Patuxent Reservoir Protection Strategy.
• Investigate and improve conditions which are limiting the biological communities in Middle Hawlings and Lower Mt. Zion through cooperative efforts.
  

Watershed Restoration Areas

This category includes the Lower Hawlings, Upper Mt. Zion Tributary, Upper and Lower Olney Mill Trib., Upper and Lower James Creek. Higher densities and intensities of land uses within these subwatersheds have resulted in degradation to the stream systems. Further investigation is needed to determine cause of impairment in the Mt. Zion tributary headwaters. Impairment in the Olney Mill and James Creek headwaters is related primarily to development in these areas, either from a lack of stormwater controls or from regional stormwater facilities which resulted in habitat loss upstream of these facilities.

Watershed Management Strategy

• Investigate opportunities to improve conditions in the Lower Hawlings as part of the Upper Patuxent Reservoir effort.
• Continue implementation of restoration approaches in Olney Mill Trib. and James Creek in order to improve conditions in the Lower Hawlings mainstem.
• Increase stream stewardship and pollution prevention efforts through public education and outreach for urban and suburban areas in the Olney vicinity.

Maps

Land Cover
Impervious Area
Stream Condition
Management Categories

Land Cover Graphs

[ Home ] [ Up ] [ Broad Run Watershed ] [ Cabin John Watershed ] [ Dry Seneca Watershed ] [ Great Seneca Creek Watershed ] [ Hawlings River Watershed ] [ Little Bennett Creek ] [ Little Falls Watershed ] [ Little Monocacy Watershed ] [ Little Paint Branch Watershed ] [ Little Seneca Watershed ] [ Muddy Branch Watershed ] [ NW Branch Watershed ] [ Paintbranch Watershed ] [ Patuxent River Watershed ] [ Rock Creek Watershed ] [ Rock Run Watershed ] [ Sligo Creek Watershed ] [ Watts Branch Watershed ]