County Receives $2 Million Grant To Restore Rock Creek Watershed

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Contact: Esther Bowring, 240-777-6530
Pamela Rowe, 240-777-7712

For Immediate Release: September 14, 2000

COUNTY RECEIVES $2 MILLION GRANT TO
RESTORE ROCK CREEK WATERSHED

Under a federal program designed to address environmental impacts stemming from transportation-related construction, Montgomery County has received a $2 million from the Maryland State Highway Administration for restoration activities in the Lower Rock Creek watershed. The County will provide matching funds through its stream and watershed restoration program.

"The funding for community and environmental projects will support restoration efforts in some of our most impacted Rock Creek tributaries. These streams were designated priority areas for restoration in the Countywide Stream Protection Strategy, which assesses and rates the health of all our streams," said Department of Environmental Protection Director James Caldwell. "By upgrading water quality in our streams through watershed improvements, we also help preserve the Chesapeake Bay."

Projects funded under the grant will improve almost 60 percent of the most severely eroded tributaries of Rock Creek, and will provide stormwater control in two of the most densely urbanized tributaries.

Areas targeted for restoration projects are heavily developed tributaries of Rock Creek including Sycamore Creek, Turkey Branch and Joseph Branch in Aspen Hill and the Stoney Creek tributary of Bethesda. These areas were developed before the establishment of current regulations that require mitigation of the effects of stormwater runoff from paved surfaces.

In the past, it was common practice to channel or route streams through pipes to make way for major roads and construction projects, eliminating many small streams and their habitat. Because stormwater controls were not included in these projects, what remains of the natural stream system is significantly impacted by watershed runoff and pollutants in untreated stormwater drainage from upstream roads and developed areas.

For further information, contact Pamela Rowe at 240-777-7712 or email her at pamela.rowe@montgomerycountymd.gov.

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