Stream conditions in both Bennett Creek and Little Bennett Creek have been impacted by past agricultural land uses and these impacts are still evidenced by areas of bank instability and some sedimentation. Generally, conditions are better where good forested stream buffers were left in place. Stream conditions are improving where the land has been farmed with modern best management practices, or left idle with forest cover coming back over time.

Stream conditions in Little Bennett vary considerably throughout the watershed. Some of the factors influencing specific areas in the Little Bennett watershed include the channelization of much of the lower tributary within the I-270 median, and the road crossings on Soper's Branch and Dark Branch. These crossings, which have created fish barriers, are being corrected through better designed stream crossings.

The hydrology of Little Bennett Creek is influenced by the fracture formation in the watershed's underlying geology. Rock outcroppings are common along the hillsides of the park, and the underlying fault pattern makes the streams naturally "flashy", with the streams having naturally low baseflow at times, which rises and peaks rapidly following a runoff producing rain.

Little Bennett is a high quality cold-water stream. However, habitat and flow problems currently are limiting the ability of Little Bennett to improve as a cold water fishery. Restoration to improve the temperature regime of the Ballfield Tributary would measurably improve the quality of this resource.

Bennett Creek is predominately zoned as an agricultural preserve, with agriculture the preferred land use, and some residential development occurring on large lots (generally over 25 acres). This watershed has somewhat less overall forest cover than Little Bennett, although most of the streams have some level of forested buffer protection. The headwater areas of Bennett Creek are influenced by imperviousness and related runoff impacts from the town center of Damascus located in the top of the drainage. More large lot residential development is expected in Bennett and Little Bennett Creeks as Clarksburg and surrounding areas develop.

Bennett and Little Bennett Creek Stream Condition, Habitat Condition, and Management Category Designation

Bennett and Little Bennett Creek Watershed Management Categories

Management of the resources in these watersheds occurs primarily through voluntary actions among agricultural and large lot land owners, particularly in Bennett Creek, and through management of the Little Bennett Regional Park by the M-NCPPC. A new State Highway Administration initiative will occur during the winter of 1998 to test the use of new more environmentally sensitive and effective road salts along the portion of I-270 adjacent to Frederick County.

Watershed Preservation Areas

This category covers all of the subwatersheds in Little Bennett Creek with the exception of the I-270 tributary and Little Bennett South. Subwatersheds are placed in this category due to the high stream quality in this area, and the existence of extensive parkland which functions to preserve watershed conditions. In addition to the large area already preserved in parkland, efforts are underway and planned to improve the preservation of these resources.

• Protect key stream reaches through parkland dedication and acquisition.

• Implement M-NCPPC Trout Management Plan
• Target in-stream and riparian habitat improvement projects to address existing problem areas in the Ballfield tributary, Sopers Branch and Dark Branch.
• Provide educational efforts to improve best management practices and stewardship among private landowners.

Agricultural Watershed Management Areas

This management category includes all of Bennett Creek within Montgomery County and the Little Bennett South subwatershed. The primary land uses in this area are agriculture and fallow land with occasional large lot residential uses. Imperviousness is not anticipated to increase significantly, and with the use of appropriate best management practices on actively farmed areas, streams should remain in good condition. Standard environmental guidelines and regulations are expected to adequately protect stream resources from limited areas of residential development.

• Continue current practices.

• Increase forested buffer area through educational initiatives and voluntary implementation.

Watershed Restoration Areas

The I-270 tributary is placed within this category due to the fair resource condition and impacts to the natural channel condition.

• Cooperate with SHA to monitor effectiveness of alternative de-icing agent.

   

  Maps
  Land Cover	Impervious Area	Stream Condition	Management Categories

  
  

  Land Cover Graph

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