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Georges Creek: A Cooperative Approach Moves Restoration Efforts Forward
The Georges Creek watershed lies in the western part of Allegany County, bounded by Dan’s Mountain to the east, and Big Savage Mountain to the west. Communities residing within the Georges Creek watershed continue to be plagued by two challenging water resource problems: economic loss and personal hardship from persistent flooding; and poor water quality due primarily from acid mine drainage and combined sewer overflows. For over a decade Allegany County, Maryland has seen the need for an integrated planning approach to deal with the myriad of problems found within the Georges Creek watershed. In August 1998, a proposal for integrating flood hazard mitigation, acid mine drainage abatement, and habitat improvement, was presented to the Project Impact: Mitigation Other Than Acquisition Committee (MOTA). In February 1999 funding was made available through the Project Impact program for a pilot project to develop a restoration plan for the Neff Run watershed, a small tributary of Georges Creek.
The Neff Run Watershed Restoration Plan
A workgroup consisting of
federal, state, local and non-profit entities used a collaborative
planning approach to develop the Neff Run Watershed Restoration plan.
The Neff Run Watershed Restoration Plan outlined a
multi-objective, community based strategy for protecting and enhancing
water quality, stream stability, habitat, and recreation opportunities
in the watershed. As part
of the Neff Run plan the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
conducted a stream corridor assessment (SCA) of the watershed.
The stream corridor assessment provided an overview of watershed
conditions by identifying, documenting, and mapping observable in-stream
and ear-stream problems. The
Neff Run stream corridor assessment detailed an array of problems that
need to be addressed. These problems included, but were not limited to
seven acid mine drainage sites and 16 sites with inadequately vegetated
stream buffers. The Neff
Run Restoration Plan identified several potential project sites
throughout the Neff Run watershed.
The Allegany Soil Conservation District working with a variety of
partners has recently completed the Neff Run Phase I stream restoration
project.
The Neff Run Phase I project, partially funded by the nonpoint source program, stabilized severe stream instability problems in the middle and upper reaches of Neff Run. Nearly 4,000 lineal feet of stream was stabilized. Rock cross vanes and j-hooks were installed to reduce stream erosion and riparian buffers were planted. In addition to stream stabilization work a major fish blockage was removed. The soil conservation district also held a WATER Day (Watershed Activity to encourage restoration) with local elementary students. Students learned about the importance of stream corridor protection and were given the opportunity to help establish a riparian buffer by planting ash and oak seedlings and installing live willow stakes along the stream bank. Volunteers from the Georges Creek Watershed Association, Nemacolin Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Boy Scouts Troop 9, New Dominion School and Maple Run Youth Center also participated in buffer planting activities. The district also worked with Beall high school students on water quality monitoring activities. Neff Run project partners included the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, Maryland Department of Agriculture, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Maryland Department of the Environment, Maryland State Highways Administration, Allegany County Department of Community Services, Appalachian Laboratory and the Upper Potomac Tributary Team.
Neff Run Phase II & Neff Run Leach Beds and Limestone Sand Application ProjectsNeff Run Phase II & Neff Run Leach Beds and Limestone Sand Application Projects. The Allegany Soil Conservation
District plans to replicate stream stabilization measures on two major
tributaries entering into Neff Run, as well as additional areas
immediately downstream of the completed Phase I project.
Phase II of the Neff Run Project involves the stabilization of
severely eroding stream banks in the upper reaches of Neff Run and
it’s two major tributaries – Matthew’s Run and Dan’s Rock Run. An integral part of the overall Neff Run Project will be the Maryland Bureau of Mines (BOM) acid mine abatement project. The BOM project will address acid mine seeps at three sites on the recently completed Phase I Project, and two sites on proposed Phase II sites - one on Matthew’s Run and one on Dan’s Rock Road Run. The Maryland Bureau of Mines will be installing one in-stream and three out of stream limestone leach beds; constructing five limestone sand application sites; complete access road construction at two sites; and planting buffer zone vegetation at one site within the same Neff Run area. The Neff Run Phase II Project is well integrated with the BOM acid mine drainage project and will provide significant improvement to the water quality of this major tributary to George’s Creek. Both projects will receive nonpoint source program funds.
Lonaconing Island Project
As the Allegany County Project
Impact Initiative was restoring Neff Run, Allegany County’s Department
of Public Works was implementing a comprehensive stream restoration and
greenway park development project in Lonaconing, Maryland.
The Lonaconing Stream Restoration and Greenway Park Development
Project sought to address poor water quality, severe erosion, bank
destabilization and channelization. The Lonaconing project area was severely damaged during two major flooding events in 1996. In 1997, Allegany County acquired four properties that were damaged by the 1996 flood. The county then restored the stream, streambanks and adjacent floodplain and designed and constructed a wetland area and community greenway park. The greenway park is approximately three acres in size and has a small walking trail. Allegany County is in the process of deeding the greenway parkland over to the Town of Lonaconing. Program Open Space funds have been secured for additional park features (e.g. benches, picnic tables and interpretive signage). The completed project serves as an example of how a comprehensive planning project may simultaneously addresses flood mitigation and water quality issues and provide additional benefits to local residents.
Georges
Creek Watershed Restoration Action Strategy (WRAS) Plan As work was progressing on
restoring Neff Run, the Georges Creek Watershed Association was formed.
This non-profit citizen association holds monthly public meetings
where various watershed issues are discussed along with potential
solutions and subsequent project development.
The Georges Creek Watershed Association has facilitated citizen
action in protecting and restoring Georges Creek.
As citizen interest for restoring Georges Creek was increasing,
the Allegany County Department of Public Works applied for and received
a nonpoint source program grant to develop a comprehensive strategic
plan for the entire Georges Creek watershed.
Allegany County working with a diverse group of stakeholders
(citizens, local businesses, elected officials, local, state and federal
officials and the Georges Creek Watershed Association) led community
efforts to develop the Georges Creek Watershed Restoration Action
Strategy (WRAS). A WRAS
Steering Committee with community input developed a far-reaching vision
for the Georges Creek watershed: We
envision a reduction and where possible the elimination from impact of
Acid Mine Drainage and Combined Sewer Overflows.
We envision healthy streams and tributaries that support a
diversity of fish and other aquatic organisms; a community that aids in
the development of activities and projects that result in the reduction
of flooding impacts. We
envision a trail and greenway system starting in Frostburg, MD and
ending at the Potomac River in Westernport.
We envision numerous public access points where fishermen, school
children, and families will be able to enjoy and appreciate the stream.
We envision a healthy community where citizens, public officials,
scientists, and planners work side-by-side to identify and address
issues related to resource protection and quality of life. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) provided technical assistance to assist in WRAS development. DNR’s technical assistance included conducting a stream corridor assessment of 100+ linear miles of Georges Creek and completing a watershed characterization. The watershed characterization provided a summary of water quality, land use, living resources and habitat and restoration targeting information for Georges Creek. The stream corridor assessment identified acid mine drainage, eroded streambank and fish barrier locations, as well as channelized streams and inadequate buffer sites. The WRAS Steering Committee incorporated the characterization and stream corridor assessment information to identify locations for potential restoration activities. The Georges Creek WRAS contains an action plan that will steer local restoration efforts and help citizens realize their watershed vision. Allegany County and its citizens through the WRAS process have created a blueprint that will help restore Georges Creek to full ecological health and vitality. Georges Creek Watershed Tour>> Last Updated: 07/25/02 |
