DEP Home > Watershed Restoration Implementation Strategy

On this page:

Project Overview

MS4 Permit Background

Watershed-Specific Restoration Plans

Watershed Pre-Assessments

Countywide Restoration Strategy

Environmental Site Design Strategy

Provide General Feedback

Public Meetings: Schedule & Locations

Join a County Watershed Group

The next public meeting is 7:00pm, Wednesday, November 18th, 7th floor meeting room, Council Office Building, 100 Maryland Av, Rockville, MD.

Montgomery County wants to meet watershed-specific restoration goals and water quality standards. The County is developing a strategy to do just that - but we need your input!

These pages provide:

• further information on the suggested strategies and plans
• opportunities to post your comments
• details on attending public meetings to learn more about these efforts

Add your voice to the conversation!

Project Overview

Montgomery County Maryland has a nationally recognized program for stream protection and watershed restoration. It has been developed under the regulatory requirements of the County's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit.

The Permit requires development of a coordinated implementation strategy to meet watershed restoration goals and water quality standards. It also requires the County to evaluate its codes, regulations, standards, policies, and planning process and develop recommendations to implement Environmental Site Design (ESD) to the Maximum Extent Practicable (MEP).

There are three areas where the county would like your input:

• Watershed-Specific Restoration Plans,
• Countywide Restoration Strategy, and
• Environmental Site Design Strategy

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The MS4 Permit Background

Montgomery County is responsible for controlling the pollution that is discharged from our public storm drain system in order to comply with the federal standards set by the US EPA's Municipal Separate Storm Sewer (MS4) permit program. For more specifics visit the County and State websites. The plans and strategies outlined here establish the steps Montgomery County is taking to fulfill the requirements associated with this permit.

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Watershed-Specific Restoration Plans

For an enlarged version of the map shown above, view the Montgomery County Watersheds PDF.

There are 7 watershed restoration implementation plans being developed. For more information about a specific watershed and the associated plans click on a specific watershed on the map or on the watershed’s name below.

• Anacostia
• Cabin John Creek
• Lower Monocacy
• Lower Potomac Direct (Muddy Branch and Watts Branch)
• Patuxent
• Rock Creek
• Seneca (Great Seneca, including Clopper Lake)

The goals of these plans are to:

• identify feasible best management practices (BMPs) and
• quantify the area they treat and the amount of pollutants they can remove from the stormwater runoff before entering into the County's streams, rivers, and lakes.

The County would like your comments on these plans and how they can better serve your community.

• Click on the link for your watershed of interest to learn more about what is being done.
• Attend one of the public meetings to participate in these efforts.
• Add your voice to the conversation!

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Watershed Pre-Assessments

There are 3 watershed pre-assessments that will be completed for watersheds that have not been previously assessed. The pre-assessments will be used by the County to develop watershed assessments and associated implementation plans.

• Seneca: Little Seneca and Dry Seneca
• Lower Potomac Direct, including Rock Run but excluding Muddy Branch and Watts Branch
• Upper Potomac Direct, including Little Monocacy & Broad Run

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Countywide Restoration Strategy

Based on the implementation plans for each watershed, a County-wide restoration and implementation strategy will be developed to meet requirements for stormwater discharge, providing additional stormwater runoff management, meeting the commitments of the Trash Free Potomac Watershed Initiative Action Agreement, and establishing a framework for reporting and evaluating successes, all while including input from stakeholders.

We need to hear from you with your comments and suggestions for this to be a successful Countywide effort. The link to the Countywide Restoration Strategy provides further detail on the restoration and implementation strategies.

You may also participate in a public meeting where the Countywide Restoration Strategies will be presented and discussed in greater detail.

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Environmental Site Design Strategy

In order to meet Maryland's new stormwater regulatory requirements, Environmental Site Design practices must be used to the Maximum Extent Practicable (MEP). Montgomery County must review and update the County code to comply with this.

The first step is defining what MEP means. Then the County will come up with recommendations to promote the use of Environmental Site Design and Low Impact Development techniques. The link to the Environmental Site Design Strategy provides further detail on the recommended techniques.

You may also participate in a public meeting where the ESD strategies will be discussed in greater detail.

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Provide General Feedback

We want to hear from you. Express your general comments, concerns, and any alternative considerations you'd like the County to take into account. Your comments will be submitted in the form of an email to the County. Periodically, comments will be compiled and posted for public access.

Public Meetings: Schedule & Locations

Click here for a list of public meetings, agendas, and summaries.

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