The Lower Rock Creek watershed contains one of the first County stream valley park systems. This park system directly connects to the Rock Creek National Park in the District of Columbia. One of the region's most heavily used and valued recreation corridors- the Rock Creek hiker-biker trail system- runs along the stream valley, linking the Montgomery County suburbs from Lake Needwood all the way down to the National Zoo and beyond. This stream valley park system also provides a protective buffer along the stream, preserving vernal pools and wetlands in the floodplain. Vernal pools near the County line still support a community of amphibians that have all but disappeared in other urban stream valley areas. Spotted salamanders return to the same vernal pools that have supported populations of this long-lived (over 20 years) amphibian for generations. Other amphibian species, such as American toad, wood frog, and spring peeper, are also locally abundant in this urbanized corridor.

The overall resource condition for Lower Rock Creek was fair to poor in 1996. Although conditions immediately upstream (in the Upper Rock Creek Watershed) are rated as good, resource conditions below Route 28 rapidly change to poor. Resource conditions improve to a fair level from the vicinity of Turkey Branch downstream to the vicinity of Kensington Heights, but degrade back to a poor level almost to the Montgomery County line. A preliminary assessment of fair has been assigned to the area from Coquelin Run downstream to the County line based on RSAT results.

Despite the extensive impacts to Lower Rock Creek from intensive development and urban runoff conditions, the mainstem still supports a warm water fish community, and large redbreast sunfish can be found in many of the scoured out pools. Large hellgramites have also been found in some of the riffles and shallow runs. Rock Creek historically supported an abundant anadromous fish community and there are accounts of the spawning runs of herring and shad observed before the Pierce Mill and other more recent man-made structures blocked these annual fish migrations. Efforts are currently underway by the National Park Service to study options and implement efforts within the District of Columbia to remove fish blockages in the Rock Creek Park, notably at the old Pierce Mill dam. Watershed restoration efforts in Montgomery County are making progress in bringing positive changes to this watershed. These efforts include a watershed restoration feasibility study being conducted by DEP, a similar study by the City of Rockville, and efforts by the National Naval Medical Center to restore Stoney Creek, a tributary on this federal property.

Lower Rock Creek Stream Condition, Habitat Conditions and Management Category Designation

Lower Rock Creek Watershed Management Category

Watershed Restoration Area

All of the Lower Rock Creek watershed is designated a restoration area. Efforts will be made to comprehensively examine and address stormwater retrofit, stream restoration and habitat improvement opportunities. Several tributaries have been extensively piped or channelized, but many areas of natural stream channel remain which may provide opportunities for habitat improvement.

A study is currently being conducted by DEP to study the feasibility of various stormwater retrofit projects in the Rock Creek watershed and develop a Watershed Restoration Action Plan to comprehensively address degraded conditions where this is most feasible. Concurrently, the City of Rockville is undertaking a similar study of restoration and retrofit opportunities in the portions of the watershed within its jurisdiction, and the National Park Service is in the process of identifying enhancements and restoration projects in Rock Creek within the District of Columbia. The U.S. Department of the Navy also has an effort underway to study, design, and implement potential stormwater runoff improvements and habitat restoration on the National Naval Medical Center.

The combination of efforts currently underway to restore aquatic habitat within seriously degraded streams reaches of the Lower Rock Creek watershed are promising. To the extent that runoff conditions can be incrementally improved, and fish barriers removed, a more diverse biological community may someday return to this well known, heavily used, and much treasured recreational resource.

• Continue efforts to develop comprehensive watershed restoration action plan to identify and implement stormwater retrofit and stream restoration projects.
• Pursue targeted educational initiatives for residents and businesses.
  

Maps
Land Cover	Impervious Area	Stream Condition	Management Categories

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