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The Muddy Branch Watershed 

Mike Haddaway taking stream photos.

Muddy Branch originates in the City of Gaithersburg and, like many of the tributaries of the mid-Potomac basin in Montgomery County, has been influenced by development which occurred early in the County's history along major transportation corridors such as Route 355 and the railroad. Developed areas with the highest levels of imperviousness are located in the headwaters of the watershed, and development densities decrease steadily in a downstream direction. Not surprisingly, stream conditions improve in a downstream direction as well.

Muddy Branch supports a warm-water fish community. Bluntnose minnow, swallow-tail shiner and redbreast sunfish are abundant. Also found in Muddy Branch are greenside and fantail darters and large Potomac sculpins. The large flat rocks found in Muddy Branch riffles support some of the largest (and most fierce!) hellgramites in this area.

Large areas of the Muddy Branch stream valley have been purchased as parkland by the M-NCPPC to protect adjacent landowners from flooding, and providing a valuable natural resource in a fairly urban area. The floodplain of the middle and lower portions of Muddy Branch support a rich and diverse Spring wildflower community

Muddy Branch has seen a very rapid pace of development, with most of the development outside the City of Gaithersburg having occurred since 1972. The watershed hydrology is still adjusting to these relatively new land use changes, and areas of instability are common. Many of the communities in the lower part of the watershed have developed with some level of environmental protection, although only the most recent developments have incorporated the full complement of stream valley buffers and on-site stormwater controls. Higher in the watershed, a number of regional stormwater ponds have been constructed, particularly along the eastern tributaries. These regional facilities control much of the high imperviousness associated with the Shady Grove R&D and commercial corridor.

Muddy Branch Stream Condition, Habitat Conditions, and Management Category Designations

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

(preliminary)
Stream channel is incised and bank stability is poor. Sediment deposition and embeddedness problems observed in the mainstem. High levels of imperviousness and inadequate riparian buffers in the headwaters have affected streams over time.
Watershed Restoration Area - applies to areas outside the City of Gaithersburg

Bank instability and sediment deposition noted.


Watershed Protection Area - regular

Muddy Branch Watershed Management Categories

A clear demarcation occurs in mainstem conditions on Muddy Branch around Route 28. Above this point development patterns are much more urban with high densities and mixed uses. Results of baseline monitoring of Muddy Branch, conducted in 1997, will allow refinement, if necessary, to the stream condition rating and management category designation.

The Potomac Subregion Master Plan Study is currently underway which will include an examination of land use and stream condition relationships in the subwatersheds in that planning area. Watershed management approaches will be updated in the CSPS as necessary to respond to land use recommendations.

Watershed Protection Areas

The subwatersheds below Rte. 28 fall into this management category, with two different levels of protection, reflecting the extent to which stream channels have been impacted by higher densities of land use. The Potomac Subregion Master Plan Study is currently underway and will include detailed study of land use and stream condition relationships in these areas.

Remedial level of protection

This management category includes the area between Rte. 28 and Turkeyfoot Rd. Conditions improve significantly in a downstream direction on Muddy Branch, and this trend is reflected in the management category designation for the streams. Preliminary assessment of the mainstem in the central portion and tributaries indicates high levels of bank erosion occurring, most likely in response to conditions upstream which have impacted this area. Development in this area has occurred largely with on-site stormwater management controls, and remedial efforts to correct previously impacted areas are recommended. This could help to restore some level of stability to these stream reaches which have been adversely affected by storm flows from high density areas upstream.

• Continue application of environmental guidelines and regulations for new development.
• Detailed analysis of stream monitoring data gathered in 1997 will occur in 1998 and will be used to thoroughly evaluate conditions and update preliminary assessment.

• Further evaluate relationships between land use and stream conditions thorough the Potomac Subregion Master Plan Study.

Regular level of protection

Below Turkeyfoot Rd., land use gradually changes to larger residential lots, where stream buffers are a primary environmental protection feature. Stream conditions gradually improve through this section and large forested tracts further protect the stream valley. Imperviousness is not expected to increase greatly in this area and stream conditions are deemed adequately protected by existing guidelines and regulations. Within the context of a regular protection level, small areas of habitat improvement may be necessary to correct instability, particularly where riparian impacts have occurred.

• Continued application of environmental regulations and guidelines for new development and other regular protection tools.

• Detailed analysis of stream monitoring data gathered in 1997 will occur in 1998 and will be used to thoroughly evaluate conditions and update preliminary assessment.

Watershed Restoration Areas

This management category includes the mainstem and tributaries above route 28. This designation was selected because of the need to comprehensively address degraded stream conditions stemming from high imperviousness and channel erosion. Several areas of newer development and redevelopment include regional stormwater controls which help to mitigate the effects of the high imperviousness in the upper watershed, however, extensive areas of channel instability remain, particularly in downstream channels.

• The City of Gaithersburg has conducted an inventory of stream conditions within their jurisdiction and is in the process of identifying potential projects to address observed problems.
• Detailed analysis of stream monitoring data gathered in 1997 will occur in 1998 and will be used to thoroughly evaluate conditions and update preliminary assessment.

Muddy Branch Watershed Maps

Land Cover
Impervious Area
Stream Condition
Management Categories

Muddy Branch Watershed Graph

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