Three of the four tributaries to upper Great Seneca Creek are in good or excellent condition and are designated Watershed Protection Areas. Each of the tributaries, however, has a different protection level associated with it, based on specific conditions found.

Special Level of Protection

Wildcat Branch, the only tributary in Great Seneca found to support excellent biological conditions, is recommended for a special level of protection to ensure that the high quality conditions in this stream are protected as predominately rural, agricultural lands develop. As development pressures increase in the areas surrounding Clarksburg, redevelopment along the Route 27 corridor and special exception uses within the agricultural reserve have the potential to impact this stream system.

• Encourage the continued voluntary implementation of best management practices on agricultural lands.
• Implement education program targeted to high quality streams.
• Identify and pursue opportunities to provide a special level of stream protection through voluntary establishment of forested buffers, wetland protection, imperviousness reduction strategies, etc.
  

Remedial Level of Protection

Goshen Branch, which has undergone a great deal of development activity as part of the growth of Montgomery Village, still supports good biological conditions, but is in need of remedial habitat improvements to address areas of instability and past degradation. This subwatershed, particularly its upper reaches, is in transition from largely agricultural areas to residential uses. Large agricultural tracts still exist east of Route 124, where many small tributaries flow through fields, without the benefit of forested buffers. This subwatershed also contains areas of RE-2 zoning which are generally exempt from stormwater runoff controls due to the lot size, however runoff related impacts are being seen in many streams with this land use density.

• Public education and outreach to landowners to increase awareness of the importance of stream valley buffers, which are a key feature of environmental protection in these areas developing with larger lot sizes.
• Increase forested buffer area through educational initiatives and voluntary implementation.

Regular Level of Protection

Upper Great Seneca is designated to receive a regular level of protection, through the application of existing environmental guidelines and regulations. Above Magruder Branch, the Upper Great Seneca subwatershed is hilly, with fewer actively farmed areas than are found in Goshen Branch. Although this area is developing fairly rapidly with generally 2 acre and greater lot sizes, the current environmental guidelines and regulations are expected to provide good stream protection. In addition, many areas are protected by forested stream valley parks.

• Promote increase in forested buffer area through educational initiatives and voluntary implementation.

Watershed Restoration Areas

Magruder Branch has been impacted from older developed areas and high density uses associated with the growth of Damascus and streams exhibit varying levels of habitat degradation. Many of the newer communities contain stormwater controls, and much of the stream valley is protected by large tracts of forested parkland.

• A comprehensive approach to overall restoration is recommended; the potential for successful habitat improvement projects is quite good, particularly if opportunities exist to retrofit controls in older developments and very high density areas.

Upper Great Seneca Creek Stream Condition, Habitat Condition, and Management Category Designation

Maps
Land Cover	Impervious Area	Stream Condition	Management Categories

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