Clearspring Stream Restoration

Deby Sarabia setup a walk on January 10, 2022 along the site of the proposed Clearspring Stream Restoration near Magruder Branch with Erin McArdle of the Montgomery Parks Department. We had a cold, yet productive field walk where we were able to ask questions and see what is being proposed. The Clearspring Manor stream restoration and pond retrofit projects — the goals, constraints, and overall plans for the site, were explained in some detail.

We were relieved to learn that the project is being designed in a manner to minimize negative impacts on the wooded habitat. The deeply incised stream (with some banks eroded to 8+ feet deep) and silted stormwater pond will be re-designed by filling in the incised streambed but minimizing the width of the limits of disturbance to protect nearby trees while the pond will be enlarged and silt removed. Plans call for not just replacement trees but also herbaceous native plants which they hope to obtain from Pope Farm (an excellent resource available to the County of plants native to this specific area of Maryland).

We very much appreciated the willingness of Erin and her team to meet with us and explain what they have planned. We hope to stay informed as the project moves forward. The following participated in this walk.

Seneca Creek Watershed Partners:

Deby Sarabia, Merikay Smith, Laura Friend

Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection: (Pond project):

Doug Marshall (Watershed Planner), Julia Liu (Engineer)

Montgomery County Department of Parks (Stream Project):

Erin McArdle (Engineer), Brian Lewandowski (Engineer, Project Manager), Matt Harper (Natural Resources Manager), Andy Driscoll (Urban Forester)