Section 319
NONPOINT SOURCE PROGRAM SOHESS STORY
Collaborative Planning Leads to Community-Wide Solutions
WatPrbndv Imnrnvpd ~'~'ie Georges Creek watershed in western Maryland faced
'} * '' " ' challenging water quality problems from persistent flooding,
acid mine drainage, and combined sewer overflows. Through a combination of projects
targeting the stabilization of streambanks, removal of fish blockage, and treatment of
mine seeps, the stream now supports increased fish populations and over 2,200 tons of
sediment are kept out of the stream each year.
Problem
Georges Creek is listed as impaired under
Maryland's 303(d) list due to acid mine drain-
age (AMD), nutrients and suspended sedi-
ment, and biochemical oxygen demand. In
response to ongoing problems with poor water
quality, the Maryland Department of Natural
Resources'Watershed Services Center con-
ducted a Stream Corridor Assessment survey
of Neff Run, a tributary to Georges Creek, in
1999. The survey identified problems such as
bank erosion, acid mine drainage, pipe outfalls,
fish barriers, trash dumping, combined sewer
overflows, failing septic systems, and other
unusual conditions along Neff Run.
Project Highlights
Photos of the
culvert/fish block-
age taken before
and after the Neff
Run Phase I project
show significant
improvement.
(Photographs cour-
tesy of Maryland
DNR's Watershed
Services Center)
In February 1999 a work group consisting of
federal, state, local, and nonprofit entities
received funding to develop a restoration plan
through Project Impact: Mitigation Other Than
Acquisition (MOTA). The two-phase Neff Run
Watershed Restoration Plan outlined strategies
for protecting and enhancing water quality,
stream stability, habitat, and recreation
opportunities in the watershed of Neff Run.
Phase I called for the removal of a major fish
blockage and installation of rock cross vanes
and j-hooks (both consist of rock structures
placed across the stream channel) to reduce
stream erosion. Also, approximately 4,000
feet of fence and stream bank protection was
installed to stabilize the stream. The Phase I
activities were mainly performed by volunteers
from local community groups.
Phase II of the project included the removal
of an additional fish blockage that prevented
the migration offish upstream. To eliminate
the blockage, 16 rock cross vanes were
installed downstream to stabilize the channel
and elevate the streambed. The Allegany Soil
Conservation District assisted with the restora-
tion of an additional 1,000 feet of streambank
and stream channel.
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To supplement restoration efforts, the Mary-
land Bureau of Mines is addressing acid mine
seeps at three sites of the Phase I project and
two sites of the Phase II project by installing
limestone leach beds.
Results
The combination of all Phase I efforts resulted
in a sedimentation/siltation reduction of 1,795
tons per year and prevented more than 280
tons of manure per year from being deposited
in the stream. According to the U.S. Depart-
ment of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources
Conservation Service (NRCS), Phase II efforts
resulted in significant reductions in sediment
loads to the stream450 tons of sediment
per year.
Since a 1999 fish population survey conducted
by the Maryland Department of Natural
Resources, several fish species, including
central stonerollers and rosyside dace, have
repopulated Neff Run below the restoration
site, and white sucker have been identified in
the stretch of Neff Run near the Judy Miller
farm. Efforts in both phases of the project
have contributed to the recolonization and
repopulation of fish species in the watershed.
Improvements to Georges Creek have
been successful, but to ensure continuous
Relative Abundance of Fish Species
Downstream from Restoration Site
(CPUE fish/hour)
Species
Central stoneroller
Rosyside dace
Blacknose dace
Creek chub
Total Species
1999
0
0
438
55
2
2002
133
61
623
42
4
'. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
\ Office of Water
a Washington, DC
EPA841-F-05-004N
August 2005
protection of the water resources, the
Georges Creek Watershed Association
holds monthly public meetings to discuss
watershed issues and potential solutions. The
association remains optimistic, saying that in
the future they envision healthy streams that
support wildlife while also allowing for public
development of the area around the creek.
Partners and Funding
Project Impact: MOTA provided funding to
develop the restoration plan. The two-phase
restoration effort in the Neff Run watershed
cost a total of $391,300. Section 319 funds
provided through the Maryland Nonpoint
Source Program provided $173,000 for erosion
control and streambank stabilization projects.
In addition, approximately $142,000 was spent
implementing AMD treatment measures.
Section 319 provided $85,500 for this project
and the Maryland Bureau of Mines provided
the remaining $56,500 in matching funds. The
implementation of the Neff Run Watershed
Restoration Plan would not have been a suc-
cess without support from the Georges Creek
Watershed Association, Nemacolin Chapter
of Trout Unlimited, Boy Scout Troop 9, New
Dominion School, Maple Run Youth Center,
Maryland Department of Natural Resources'
Watershed Services Center, Allegany Soil
Conservation District, Maryland Department
of the Environment, Maryland Department
of Agriculture, USDA NRCS, and U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency Region 3.
For additional information contact:
Craig Hartsock
Allegany Soil Conservation District
301-777-1747 craig.hartsock@md.nacdnet.net
Fred Suffian
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 3
215-814-5753 suffian.fred@epa.gov
Joe Woodfield
Maryland Department of the Environment
410-537-4222 jwoodfield@mde.state.md.us
Joe Mills
Maryland Department of the Environment
Bureau of Mines
301-689-6764 jmills@allconet.org
Ken Sloate
Maryland Department of Natural Resources
410-260-8736 ksloate@dnr.state.md.us
Sam Thrasher
Georges Creek Watershed Association
301-463-3074 gcwatershed@mindspring.com
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