Restoring a  Bay  Resource:
              Riparian Forest Buffer Demonstration Sites
              Foratry Workgroup
              Gieapeake Bay Program
              January i<)<|7
CBP/TRS 159/97

EPA 903-R-97-OO1
Chesapeake Bay Program

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       Restoring a Bay Resource:

Riparian Forest Buffer Demonstration Sites
              Forestry Workgroup
            Nutrient Subcommittee
            Chesapeake Bay Program
                January 1997

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
BACKGROUND	 i
IMPORTANCE OF DEMONSTRATION SITES	ii
ADELPHI MANOR PARK, MD	 1
BEAVERDAM CREEK, MD 	3
BELTSVILLE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH CENTER, MD .  . 5
BOWERSOX FARM, PA	  11
CHALLENGER SEVEN MEMORIAL GROVE, MD	  13
CHAPEL POINT STATE PARK, MD	  15
DIFFICULT RUN, VA	  17
DONEGAL CREEK, PA	  19
EDEN MILL PARK, MD	27
FOUR MILE RUN, VA 	29
HOLLYWOOD BRANCH, MD	31
HURSH FARM, PA	33
LICKINGHOLE CREEK, VA	35
LONG GREEN CREEK, MD	37
MONOCACY NATURAL RESOURCE AREA, MD  	39
ST. LEONARD'S FARM, VA	41
VERDANT VALLEY FARM, MD	43
WALKERSVILLE HERITAGE FARM PARK, MD	45
WILLOW OAKS FARM, MD  	47

APPENDIX I: MAPS TO THE RESTORATION SITES
APPENDIX II: SOURCES OF ASSISTANCE

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BACKGROUND
Riparian forests are integral to the health of the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers for many reasons.  Their
position in the landscape makes riparian forests excellent buffers between upland areas and the adjacent
waters that will eventually enter the Bay. Riparian forest buffers are capable of filtering ground and surface
water, stabilizing streambanks,  providing shade and supporting a variety of habitats.

Water Quality
Riparian  forest buffers help maintain and improve water quality by preventing substantial amounts of
sediment, nutrients (such as nitrogen and phosphorous) and toxics from reaching streams, rivers and the
Chesapeake Bay. Excess nitrogen and phosphorous are two of the biggest threats to the health and
productivity of the Bay.  If allowed to reach the waterways, nitrogen and  phosphorous promote algal
growth,  which upsets the  balance of aquatic  vegetation.  When the algae die and  decompose, they
consume large quantities of oxygen, depleting the supply available for fish and other forms of aquatic life.
Forested buffers  can retain and  absorb  up to 80  percent of the phosphorous and 89 percent of the
nitrogen in ground and surface water.  The roots of buffer vegetation also create breaches in the soil which
allow rainwater to penetrate, recharging underground aquifers.

Streambank Stabilization
A woodland floor is composed of multiple layers of dead and decaying leaves, branches, twigs and  other
organic matter. This forest "litter" acts like a sponge, retaining and absorbing large quantities of surface
runoff. This allows the water to  percolate into the soil slowly, rather than running off rapidly and carrying
substantial quantities of topsoil with it.  In fact, a mature forest floor can absorb up to six inches of rainfall
per hour. Much of this runoff also contains nutrients, which,  as discussed above, are absorbed and utilized
by plants in the buffers to  maintain their health and vigor.  In addition, forested steam buffers benefit
streambanks by physically binding their soil, which keeps the banks in place.

Wildlife  Habitat
Wildlife habitat is greatly enhanced  by riparian forest  buffers through their provision of food, water,  cover
and nesting for a multitude of birds and small animals.  Forest buffers also create an excellent protective
corridor,  which allows for freer  movement of wildlife.  In addition, these "Greenways" provide excellent
scenic routes of travel for humans to use and enjoy.

Aquatic Habitat
Aquatic life in the streams and rivers benefits from riparian forest buffers.  The trees' canopy shades the
water, which moderates water temperatures and protects against rapid fluctuations that can harm aquatic
organisms and reduce fish spawning and survival. The roots of the forest buffer, in addition to stabilizing
the streambanks, provide numerous underwater obstacles which make excellent feeding grounds for fish.
Also, leaves from the trees fall into the stream  and  are trapped on woody debris and rocks where they
provide food and shelter for small bottom dwelling creatures, such  as insects, amphibians, crustaceans and
small fish, which are critical to the aquatic food chain.

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IMPORTANCE OF
DEMONSTRATION SITES
"Seeing is believing."  This saying is especially true when it comes to communicating land management
practices.  Landowners and managers are interested in seeing the results of a conservation practice
or  a change  in their management  operations.   Although providing educational  and training
opportunities and technical guides and manuals is valuable, seeing a project first hand is invaluable.

The restoration of riparian forests and natural approaches to stream restoration are relatively new
practices.  Although we have been planting trees for nearly a century, the use of hardwoods, the
preparation and maintenance of planted sites, and the dynamic interaction with a river or stream are
all characteristics of riparian restoration that we still are working to perfect and understand.

The riparian forest buffers in this document are located in agricultural, rural and urban settings. An
effort was made to locate restoration efforts in all three of these  settings in order to show the buffers'
applicability in  different land uses.  Several of the profiled restoration sites were included in this
document because of the size of the riparian forest buffer planting.  The minimal buffer width for
effective removal of pollutants and trapping of sediment is generally considered to be between 50'-75'.
However, in several of the restoration sites, the buffer width exceeds this figure by 2-3 fold. Two of
the buffer sites were specifically planted as  part of a nature  trail that is designed to highlight the
functions and values of riparian forest buffers to visitors, Finally, some of the profiled sites are part of
a larger watershed forest buffer planting, meaning that the restoration effort consisted of planting
contiguous woody vegetation along a stream, rather than  at one isolated location.

The use of demonstration sites for riparian forest buffer establishment is one way to help accomplish
the objectives  of communication, education,  and monitoring.  A demonstration site is a completed
project that I) is representative of other similar sites, 2) facilitates access by those who wish to observe
or study project techniques, and 3) has monitoring which will help provide additional information to
improve the practice overtime. This compilation is a start.  We  will continue to add to this riparian
forest buffer demonstration site guide overtime.

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ADELPHI MANOR PARK, MD
Background

Adelphi Manor Park is located along Route 193 in College Park, Maryland. The
Northwest'Branch of the Anacostia River runs through Adelphi Manor Park. The
many smaller tributaries of the Anacostia's two principal branches,
Northwest and Northeast, form a broad, fan-shaped drainage basin
of 170 square miles.  Due to the increased  urbanization that has
occurred  in this watershed,  the Anacostia River and  many of its
tributaries have become severely degraded. Specifically, the area's
increasing imperviousness has resulted in stormwater flows with
greater velocity, volume and pollutant levels.
Adelphi Manor Park is part of the Maryland National Capital Park and
Planning Commission trail system. Therefore, along with stabilized
streambanks and improved water quality, this riparian forest buffer will
also provide aesthetic values for the trail users.  The restoration effort
is  being coordinated  by the Maryland Department  of  Natural
Resources Forest Service, with funding from the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency.
      Anacostia River
     Land. Use Statistics
Urban                44%
Wooded              29%
Pasture               15%
Cultivated             8%
Surface mines; sand
& gravel operations;
construction sites     4%
Project Description

On April 29,  1995, the first phase of the Adelphi Manor Park Restoration Effort was
initiated.   Volunteers from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation,  Metropolitan
Washington  Council of Governments,  University of Maryland and Americorps
planted one acre,  or 500 linear feet, of forest  buffer along one side of the
Northwest Branch. The average width of the riparian forest buffer is 150'.  Four
hundred and fifteen containerized trees and seedlings of the following species were
planted:  red maple,  green ash, black gum, red  osier  dogwood, arrowood
viburnum, sweetbay magnolia, pin oak, yellow poplar, red oak, sycamore and
serviceberry. On October 15, 1995, another 500 linear feet of buffer was planted
with the help of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and students from the University
of Maryland.
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In the Spring of 1996, the other side of the Northwest branch was planted. Using
the same species as in the earlier plantings, approximately 600 linear feet of buffer,
with an average width of 50' was restored. A stream clean-up was conducted in
the spring of 1996 as well.  In all, the Adelphi Manor Park project has resulted in
the restoration of five acres, or Vi mile, of streambank. Because the Northwest
Branch was experiencing erosion problems, over 100 dormant black willow stakes,
which are effective streambank stabilizers, were driven into the bank to prevent
further erosion. The Black Willow Stake Project will be used to determine if this
practice is effective in stabilizing streambanks in the Anacostia watershed.  The
Adelphi  Manor Park Restoration is an ongoing project.
Monitoring

The restoration effort at the Adelphi Manor Park will  be monitored by  MD
Department of Natural Resources Forest Service personnel.  Periodic examinations
will be  made to determine the tree survival and willow stake effectiveness.
However, the tree survival rate will not be assessed.
Contact:
                                  Dave Plummer
                        Anacostia Watershed Forester
MD Department of Natural Resources  Forest Service
                                  (301)464-3065
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BEAVERDAM  CREEK, MD
Background

Beaverdam Creek is one of the many Anacostia River tributaries that flow through
the Bertsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC). Nearly half of the tributaries in
the Anacostia watershed pass through BARC property.  Restoration in this area
provides an excellent opportunity to improve the water quality and  overall health
of the Anacostia River.  Encompassing 6,582 acres, BARC represents almost 9
percent of the land in the Maryland section of the Anacostia watershed. This is one
of the largest land holdings under single ownership in the watershed, and with
proper management  BARC can have a major  impact on the condition  of the
Anacostia watershed and the people who live there.

As  part of the restoration effort at BARC, twenty  sites have been selected  for
reforestation.  The first stage of the BARC restoration  has been establishing riparian
forest buffer plantings on a tributary of Beaverdam Creek.  Before the restoration,
the site was sparsely buffered on both sides with cedar, maple and sweetgum. This
restoration site is adjacent to a wetland of special state concern, which provides
habitat for a variety of wildlife, including neo-tropical  migrant birds.  Increasing the
riparian forest buffer will provide additional habitat  and diversity for wildlife and
enhance the filtering capacity of this wetland area.

The establishment of riparian forest buffers at BARC is  being funded through a grant
from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and  the  USDA Forest Service.
The grant provides support for reforestation  projects throughout the
Anacostia watershed and is administered by the MD Department of
Natural Resources Forest Service.                                    During  the past 20 years, an
                                                                  average of 100  acres of forest
                                                                  have  been  lost daily  in the
Project Description                                            Chesapeake Bay watershed

In the spring of 1995,  a contractor hand planted 15 acres of riparian
forest buffer. In all,  9,000 seedlings of the following varieties were planted: green
ash, sycamore, black cherry, black walnut,  crab apple, pin  oak and  red osier
dogwood. The riparian forest buffer is roughly 100' wide on one side of the stream
and slightly less on the other side.  These Beaverdam Creek plantings have resulted
in the establishment of 4,000 linear feet of riparian forest buffer. Due to the
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significant deer population, deer fencing and tubex were used to protect the
seedlings.  These two methods of protecting tree seedlings will be monitored by
MD Department of Natural Resources Forest Service for their effectiveness.
Monitoring

All planting sites will be checked to insure planting success.  Survival counts will be
taken for several years following reforestation. This will provide information not
only on  initial  planting  success  but  also on what  other  factors  may impact
reforestation  attempts  on agricultural land (e.g.  rodents,  herbicides,  deer,
machinery, etc.).  Seedling plantings should exhibit a 70 percent or greater survival
rate and containerized plantings should have 85 percent survival rate or better.
Plantings not meeting these requirements will receive a reinforcement planting to
improve stocking levels.
Contact:
                                  Dave Plummer
                     Anacostia Watershed Forester
MD Department of Natural Resources Forest Service
                                 (301)464-3065
Restoring a Bay Resource

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BELTSVILLE AGRICULTURAL
RESEARCH  CENTER,  MD
Background

Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC) is located in the Maryland portion
of the Anacostia watershed. The Anacostia watershed encompasses one of the
most heavily populated and urbanized areas in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Over 495,000 people currently live in the  120 square miles that make up the
Maryland section of the Anacostia watershed. The pressures of urbanization are
evident throughout the watershed. The bare soil of construction sites, run-down
industrial areas, expanses of impermeable surfaces and tons of trash near streams
are all signs of a degraded urban watershed.  As a result of these and  other
problems, the Anacostia has been ranked the fourth most threatened river in the
United States by American Rivers.

Nearly half of the tributaries in the Anacostia watershed pass through BARC.  This
provides an excellent opportunity to improve the water quality and overall health
of the Anacostia River.  At 6,582. acres, BARC represents almost 9  percent of the
land area in the Maryland section of the Anacostia watershed. This is one of the
largest land holdings under single ownership in the entire watershed, and with
active management BARC can have a major impact on the condition of the
Anacostia watershed and the people who live there.
The last naturally reproducing population of brown trout in the
Anacostia watershed is found in the Paint Branch, and there are a
number  of planting opportunities along this tributary on BARC
property.  By establishing riparian forest buffers, this habitat can be
improved tremendously.  Trees will not only filter  nutrients from
agricultural lands and shade the stream to provide the cool water   —mi^mmm
temperatures that  trout  require,  but they  will  also deliver the
necessary cover and food that trout need to survive. Brown trout are highly
intolerant of degraded water quality;  if they are  not protected, the trout will surely
decline.  Development in the Paint Branch sub-watershed has already put pressure
on the fishery.  Establishing riparian forest buffers at BARC can compensate for
losses of habitat in other sections of Paint Branch and will help to increase the range
and number of trout in the Anacostia watershed.
The   population   in   the
Anacostia watershed reached
569,000   by   1980   and  is
expected   to   increase   17
percent by the year 2010
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Perhaps the greatest advantage of establishing riparian forest buffers at BARC is the
research opportunity it presents.  Many questions still remain about planting forest
buffers  on or adjacent to agricultural land. Are riparian forest buffers compatible
with agriculture?  What establishment methods and techniques work best? What
problems may be encountered when  riparian forest buffers are planted?  All of
these questions and more must be answered before riparian forest buffers are fully
accepted by the agricultural community.  Establishing riparian forest buffers at BARC
can provide insight that will be applicable throughout the Chesapeake Bay region
to help farmers decide if forested riparian  buffers are workable on their property.
In this way, BARC can be a model for other agricultural landowners, both public
and  private.   Creating riparian forest  buffers at BARC will not only  promote
stewardship and water quality,  but, hopefully, will also tie in with the research and
investigation upon which BARC was founded.

The establishment of riparian forest buffers at BARC is being funded through a grant
from the U.S. Environmental  Protection Agency.  The grant provides support for
reforestation projects throughout the Anacostia watershed and is administered by
the MD  Department of Natural Resources Forest Service.  The MD Department
of Natural  Resources Forest Service,  in cooperation with  BARC,  will assume
responsibility for funding  as well as planning all  reforestation projects.
Project Description

The restoration sites were chosen in March of 1995.  At that time all of the chosen
sites had flowing water, but many of the streams in this restoration project may "be
considered intermittent streams, and some may even be ditches. The selection
process was intended to be as thorough as possible.  In some cases the proposed
reforestation sites  did not comply with current BARC management objectives;
however, these sites  were  identified strictly from a  stream enhancement
perspective. Although consideration was given to avoiding interference with farm
activities, there  may be some sites where future farm activities were not known.
In these instances the proposed reforestation may be inappropriate. Additionally,
there may be some sites that were not contained in this proposal that will become
available for planting. As part of the restoration effort, twenty riparian forest buffer
sites were chosen  based on their proximity to watercourses.

By  May  of  1996,  the first  phase of BARC  had  resulted in  15  acres of BARC
property being reforested with roughly 9,000 trees and  shrubs.  The average width
of the riparian buffers is 100'. Buffer widths were based on standard accepted
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guidelines. Where possible, a 100' buffer was proposed in accordance with United
States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service guidelines.  Where a 100'
buffer could not be implemented because of fields,  structures, roads or other
restriction, a 50' buffer was proposed. A 50' buffer is considered the minimum
buffer width for providing a full range of benefits to the stream. However, in a few
situations only a 25' buffer was possible.  Although this smaller width reduces the
capabilities of the buffer, it is still preferred over no  forest buffer at  all.  When
designing  buffer widths, consideration was given to the importance of future
research.  In addition, there was flexibility in the proposal to
allow for smaller  buffer widths where  necessary to avoid  ^^^^^••••••^^•••^^•••••^1^1^^
ongoing agricultural research projects.                        According  to the US  Forest Service, a
                                                          riparian forest buffer is an area of trees
-,-,              |   .,      .      •   •    r   _. ,  rr           and other vegetation which can intercept
 I here are several  sites where  riparian forest buffers were      _          **»_*«       j
                               r                           surface  runott,  subsurtace  flow  and
increased  beyond the standard  guidelines. This occurred in   deeper   ^0,^^^   flows  for  the
areas where there was an expanse of open land that was not   purpose of removing  or buffering the
in production, and it appeared that  a larger buffer could be   effects of nutrients, pesticides or other
established without impacting any ongoing farm operations.   chemicals from upland land use, which
These larger buffers were proposed more for the wildlife and   could otherwise enter bodies of water.
conservation benefits than from a water quality perspective,  mm^mmmmmmmm^^^^^^^mi^mf^^^m
Large blocks of contiguous forest provide habitat for a. broad
array of wildlife, including many species of neo-tropical songbirds.


Methods of Planting

The BARC restoration sites are quite varied and will require different specifications
for planting methods, spacing, species composition and size,  site preparation and
maintenance.  Three plantings methods will be used to establish riparian forest
buffers at BARC. Volunteer plantings, contract hand plantings and contract machine
plantings will all be used for this reforestation effort. Each of these planting methods
is  appropriate under  the  right conditions,  and more than one method will
frequently be applicable to a particular site. The method chosen will depend on
the size and  location of the planting area, funding, soils and planting stock.

Volunteer plantings are one of the best methods for reforesting streamside buffers.
Volunteers provide the manpower needed for planting the containerized trees
without labor costs.  When volunteer plantings are  not feasible, contract hand
planting and machine planting will be used.  These two  methods will require hiring
a private company to carry out the riparian forest buffer plantings.  These contract
methods will contribute significantly to the cost of planting and can only be used
when seedlings are being planted. Machine planting is appropriate on larger

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sites or where the ground makes hand planting difficult. Hand planting is used for
small, irregular shaped planting areas where a greater variety of seedlings are being
planted. Machine planting does not usually provide opportunity for mixing different
species.

The majority of the riparian buffer plantings at BARC will be done with'seedlings.
Seedlings are cheaper and  are about 8-18" in height, making them  much easier to
transport, handle and plant than containerized or balled and burlapped (B&B) trees.
Seedlings are also more likely to survive with little  maintenance.  However, for the
sites around buildings, which are highly visible,  the  larger B&B and
containerized trees will be used.  This larger planting stock is usually   ^•^•m^
about one inch in diameter and 6-8' tall.  Containerized trees and
shrubs also come in a range of sizes from I -4', depending on species
and supplier. Seedlings may be mixed in with B&B and containerized
plants on some sites to add diversity to the planting.  The spacing will
depend on the  size of the trees being planted. The larger B&B trees   ••^•••i
will be spaced approximately  15 X 15', which will require about 200
trees per acre. The smaller containerized trees will be planted  on a 10 X 10'
spacing with 435 trees per  acre. The seedlings will be spaced on an 8 X 8' spacing
with roughly 680 trees per acre.  In all cases, attempts will be made to avoid an
unnatural grid appearance.

Seedling plantings can be accomplished by all  three of the proposed planting
methods. In order to insure seedling survival, it may  be necessary to incorporate
some type of site preparation with the seedling plantings.  Site preparation will be
used to reduce the competition from grasses and other herbaceous species.  Site •
preparation may involve a  herbicide application, discing or rotavating.  In addition,
most of the seedling plantings will require the use  of tree shelters or fencing. Tree
shelters and fencing are important in areas with  high  deer or rodent populations.
Plantings with containerized or B&B stock will be carried out by volunteers.  For
these plantings, volunteers will dig the holes, plant the trees and  mulch the area
around the tree (approximately 1.5' radius  around the tree).

A variety of species will be planted to  establish riparian forest buffers at BARC.
They include red maple,  downy serviceberry, river birch, American hornbeam,
hackberry, eastern redbud, flowering dogwood, green ash, common winterberry,
black walnut, spicebush, sweetgum, yellow poplar, sweetbay magnolia,  black gum,
loblolly pine, sycamore, black cherry, white oak, pin oak, red oak, black willow,
elderberry and-arrowood viburnum. All of the  chosen species are native to the
state of Maryland.  For most of the restoration sites,  a mixture of hardwood trees
and shrubs will  be planted.  Some areas will be planted with loblolly pine to provide
Today, 50 percent or more of
riparian  forest  buffers  are
disturbed  or  degraded,  and
more continue to be lost.
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diversity and aesthetic value The combination of species to be planted on each site
is flexible and will depend on available planting stock, soil conditions and planting
method.
Monitoring

All planting sites will be checked to insure planting success.  Survival counts will be
taken for several years following the original  reforestation.  This  will  provide
information not only on initial planting success but also on what other factors may
impact reforestation attempts on agricultural land (e.g., deer,  rodents, machinery,
herbicides, etc.).  Seedling plantings should exhibit a 70 percent or greater survival
rate, and containerized plantings should  have 85  percent survival rate or better.
Any planting that does not meet these requirements will receive a reinforcement
planting to improve the stocking levels.
Contact:
                                   Dave Plummer
                     Anacostia Watershed Forester
MD Department of Natural Resources Forest Service
                                  (301)464-3065
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Restoring a Bay Resource
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BOWERSOX FARM, PA
Background

Bowersox  Farm is one of the nineteen properties participating in the Donegal
Creek Restoration Project. The section of Donegal Creek that runs through the
Bowersox Farm stretches approximately 1,800' and flows through a fallow pasture.
The Donegal Creek watershed is 17.2 square miles, or  I 1,008 acres. The
watershed has been identified by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania "State  mmm
Water Plan" (SWP) as a high priority area for non-point source pollution
(NPS) clean-up.  The intense agricultural land use within the watershed is
recognized  as the main cause of stream degradation.
                       In    a    small    stream,
                       temperatures  may rise 1.5
                       degrees  in  just  100'  of
                       exposure -without trees
Due to the poor quality of the stream, the Lancaster County Conservation  mmm
District and the Donegal Fish  and Conservation Association formed  a
cooperative partnership to restore 6.67  miles of impacted stream corridor,
beginning at the Donegal Creek/Chickies  Creek confluence and ending in the
headwaters of the east and west branch.  This portion of Donegal Creek is still
trying to recover from the pressure of cattle grazing that occurred in this area for
decades. As a result, the stream channel is wide and shallow in most locations.
It is hoped that the Donegal Creek restoration project will restore the once thriving
trout fishery and improve the water quality, wildlife habitat and recreational value
of the stream.
Project Description

On April 29,  1995, the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, the Lancaster County
Conservation  District and  the  Donegal  Fish and  Conservation Association
sponsored a riparian forest buffer strip planting of 2,000 trees at the Bowersox
Farm. The Bowersox Farm forest buffer measures 800' long and is approximately
50' wide. This buffer contains four rows of hardwoods (with an occasional conifer)
along the stream and two additional rows of shrubs.  The species  of trees and
shrubs planted included pin oak, shagbark hickory, red maple, silky dogwood, red-
osier dogwood, grey-stem dogwood, sycamore and hybrid poplar.

In addition, the Partnership  has installed the following streambank stabilization
improvements: five rock frame deflectors, one jack dam,  approximately 60' of rip-
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rap bank stabilization and four half-log houses. There are plans to install two more
jack dams, 10 rock frame deflectors and eight half-log houses.
Monitoring

The Partnership is intending to monitor the physical-chemical parameters
and aquatic macroinvertebrate community within the project target area.  "^^
A preliminary water chemistry and biota report for the upper reaches of
the west branch (Donegal Springs area) has already been completed.  The survival
rate  will  be assessed by Lancaster County  Conservation  District personnel.
Presently, the  survival rate for trees at  the Bowersox Farm is assessed at 75
percent.
                              Nonpoint  source   pollution
                              accounts  for  more than 50
                              percent of the pollution in our
                              nation's waters
Contact:
                       Mark Metzler
Lancaster County Conservation District
                    (717)299-5361
Restoring a Bay Resource
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 CHALLENGER SEVEN
 MEMORIAL GROVE, MD
Background

The Challenger Seven Memorial Grove  is located at the Naval Air Station in
Lexington Park on the Patuxent P\iver in Maryland.  The Patuxent River, one of the
major tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay, flows through I 10 miles of Maryland's
diverse landscape  and is the longest river located entirely within the state of
Maryland. The drainage basin of the Patuxent River occupies approximately one-
tenth of the state's total land area. Due to the rolling to flat terrain of its Coastal
Plains, the  Patuxent  watershed is  characterized  by  highly  erodible soils.
Consequently, the water quality of the Patuxent River has been degraded.
The  Challenger  Seven   Memorial
Grove, dedicated on April 20, 1990,
was designed to commemorate the
pioneering spirit  of  the Challenger
crew.  The Grove is also intended to
convey to visitors  to the  site  an
understanding of the vital importance
of trees  in an ecosystem  and their
responsibility as stewards of the land.

The Grove serves as a windbreak and   _^^_^^^^^^_^^^^^_^_^_
a  forested  green  belt along  the
Patuxent River.  This particular site was chosen because of its highly visibility, which
was desirable for  large gatherings.  In  addition, the  habitat could be improved
without impacting adjacent land usage.  The site is located in a rural setting. Prior
to the tree planting, the dominant vegetative species were Japanese honeysuckle,
sumac and autumn olive.
m frees are one of Me organisms taste to life on earth, and'itis
absolutely vital Mat we assure their survival.  Jt is tied to our
own continued existence, ft is appropriate that we should choose
to plant living memorials to Challenger Seven's crew, for trees
contribute so much to life an4 that earthly teauty one sees from
space?*

                                                frank £acer
          Quest Speaker, Challenger Seven Memorial (jrove Dedication
Project Description

On April 20, 1990, about 300 school kids from St. Mary's County and Brownie
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Troop 807, with the assistance of 300 active duty military personnel, each planted
seven trees to commemorate the crew of the Challenger Space Shuttle. In all, the
volunteers planted 2,100 seedlings. The restoration effort resulted in four acres of
buffer being planted.  The planting measures 200'by 1,200'. The average width
of the riparian forest buffer  is  125'  The seedlings were planted  on a  10 X 10
spacing using  shovels and augers.  The following
varieties of seedlings were planted:  red oak,
yellow poplar, sawtooth oak, flowering dogwood,
white pine, green ash and red osier dogwood.
Loblolly pines were later planted to replace some
of the white  pines that did  not survive the first
year.
** What we're deiftg is fealty impffrtant. Jt represents
the tree 
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CHAPEL POINT STATE PARK,  MD
Background

Chapel Point State Park is located in the Charles County town  of Marbury,
Maryland.  The Chapel Point State Park encompasses 827.5 acres and is located
adjacent to Port Tobacco PJver. Port Tobacco River is one of many tributaries that
flows into the Potomac Rjver. The Potomac River sweeps nearly 400 miles across
the Atlantic Piedmont and Plain to form the fourth largest watershed on the East
Coast and one of the nation's most bountiful and historic rivers.

Along with point source pollution, the main threat to the health and productivity of
the Potomac River is excess sediment.  Sediment is carried to the Potomac River
from te tributaries, including the Port Tobacco River. Approximately two-thirds of
this sediment stems from the erosion  of agricultural land;  the rest comes from
construction sites and other sources throughout the Potomac watershed.  The
Chapel Point State Park riparian  forest buffer will help reduce the amount of
sediment entering the Port Tobacco River, which will have favorable impacts on
the Potomac River and .ultimately, the Chesapeake  Bay.  The main objectives for
the restoration effort at the Chapel Point State Park are
improved  water quality and established forested buffer strips  HMMM^MM^H
along the Port Tobacco River.
                                  r
The establishment of riparian forest buffers at Chapel Point
State Park was made possible with funding by the Maryland
Greenways Program.  The Greenways Program provides long-
term assistance to protect public lands and coordination with
federal and local governments and the private sector on a  ^^^™^™™^™"
statewide Greenway network, of which stream and river valleys
are an essential part. The Greenways Program also prepares scenic river plans and
assists local governments in developing long-term management strategies through
the Scenic and Wild Rivers Program.
             According  to  the  most  recent
             available   estimates,  nearly  one
             million tons  of sediment washes
             into    the   tidewater    Potomac
             annually.
Project Description

In April of 1993, 22 acres of loblolly pine were planted along the Port Tobacco
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River in the Chapel Point State Park. The riparian forest buffer planting was done
by Maslen and Spence, a private contracting firm. In all, 13,000 loblolly trees were
planted.  The trees,  which were established by machine planting with Cust to
control grass competition,  are spaced 7X10' apart  and extend for 3,000 linear
feet.  The average width of the riparian forest buffer is 300'; however, in some
sections the buffer extends  1,000'.  Streambank stabilization was not a part of the
Chapel Point State Park restoration effort.
Monitoring

The restoration site at the Chapel  Point State Park will be monitored and the
survival rate assessed by MD Department of Natural Resources Forest Service
personnel.   Presently, the survival rate of the buffer planting is assessed at 90
percent.
Contact:
                                     Dave Gailey
MD Department of Natural Resources Forest Service
                                 (301)934-2543
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DIFFICULT RUN, VA
Background

The Difficult Run watershed, the largest watershed in Fairfax County, Virginia, is
one of the tributaries of the Potomac River.  The Difficult Run drainage includes ten
tributaries and encompasses approximately 56,566 acres.
The watershed is 80 percent developed  and is used in a   ••••^^^^^^^^^•^^^^^^^^^^M
variety of ways, including housing, shopping malls, recreation   The  population  within  the   Bay
and some agriculture. In spite of its urban location, Difficult   watershed is projected  to grow by
Run teems with deer, fox, amphibians, waterfowl and many   nearly one million people by the year
bird  species,   including  hawks.  However,  increasing   2000 and by 2.6 million people by
urbanization has resulted in serious flooding and soil erosion   the year 2020
as well as degraded water quality.  As a result, Difficult Run   •••^•^^^^^^•^^^^^^^^^^^^MH
it is now listed  as a critical watershed in Virginia.
The main objective of the Difficult Run Urban Reforestation Project is to moderate
nutrient influx in  floodwater  runoff.   Additional objectives include stabilizing
streambanks and improving wildlife habitat.  The restoration sites were chosen
because they were determined to lack sufficient forest buffer to adequately control
and process floodwater runoff.

The Virginia Department of Forestry (VA DOF), the Fairfax County Park Authority
(FCPA) and the  Fairfax  ReLeaf recently dedicated the  Difficult Run Urban
Reforestation project.  The dedication  site is located adjacent to Route 7 near
Carpers Farm Way in Vienna, Virginia.  A sign  identifying the project and the
participating organizations was placed next to Route 7.
Project Description

The Difficult Run Urban Reforestation Project has been initiated in four phases, with
Phases I, II and III completed by Spring 1995.  As part of these three phases,
approximately 45 acres of vegetation was planted on both sides of Difficult River
by volunteers from Fairfax ReLeaf, DC Cares and local Boy Scout troops. The
average width of the riparian forest buffer is 40';  however, in some sections the
buffer extends to 100'. The buffer protects 6,875  linear feet of stream.  In all,
8,750 seedlings of alder, apple ash, dogwood, sweet gum, red maple, water oak,
white oak, willow oak, persimmon, poplar, walnut, sycamore and river birch were

17                                          Restoring a Bay Resource

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planted. Although the funding for the project's different phases has not come from
the same source, the objectives have remained the same.  Phase IV, which is in
progress, is focused on raising public awareness concerning riparian buffers in urban
settings and  involves more  networking with  communities  for  post-planting
monitoring.

Several additional projects in the Difficult Run Restoration took  place in late 1995
and early 1996.   These projects included a planting of 600 tree seedlings adjacent
to a stream in Herndon, a planting of 50 seedlings in conjunction with a school age
Earth Conference in Reston, an installation of a 250  plant buffer adjacent to Links
Pond on Reston International Golf Course property, and a planting of 600 tree and
shrub seedlings along the Difficult Run mainstem in Vienna.
Monitoring

No  monitoring of the Difficult Run  Urban  Reforestation  Project has  been
completed.  However, the survival rate of the vegetation will  be assessed by VA
DOF personnel and volunteers.  Presently, the average survival rate is assessed to
be between 70-75 percent.
Contact:
                Judy Okay
VA Department of Forestry
          (703)324-1489
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DONEGAL  CREEK,  PA
Background

The  Lancaster County  Conservation  District  and the  Donegal  Fish and
Conservation Association have formed a cooperative "Partnership" for the purpose
of restoring 6.67  miles of Donegal Creek.  Donegal Creek, a tributary of the
Susquehanna River, is a limestone trout stream located in the northwest corner of
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The Partnership refers to their undertaking as the
"Donegal Creek Restoration Project." This riparian forest buffer restoration project
is being approached and implemented from a "Riparian Corridor Management"
perspective.

The Donegal Creek watershed covers 17.2 square miles, or I 1,008 acres. The
watershed has been identified by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania "State Water
Plan" (SWP) as a high  priority area for non-point source pollution  clean-up. The
intense agricultural land use within the watershed is credited as the main cause of
stream degradation. As a result of the degraded water quality in Donegal Creek,
the Partnership began corrective action beginning in the summer of 1994.  The
Partnership's project target area consists of 6.67 miles of impacted stream corridor
beginning at the Donegal Creek/Chickies Creek  confluence and ending in the
headwaters of the east and west branch.
The Partnership is currently working in the headwaters of the
west branch, which encompasses the Donegal Springs area.
Four landowners in the Donegal Springs area are currently
involved  in the restoration  project and have had various
corrective improvements already installed on their property.
To date, the Lancaster County Conservation District and the  mmm^^^^m^^m
Donegal Fish and Conservation Association have donated all
the necessary materials and labor required to make these improvements.

The Donegal Creek Restoration Project involves the following agencies and
associations: Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, Chesapeake Bay Foundation,
Trout Unlimited, Alliance  for the Chesapeake Bay,  Pennsylvania Association of
Conservation Districts, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, US
Environmental Protection Agency, and Pennsylvania Department of Conservation
and Natural Resources.
                                             ~1
           Cropland  erosion accounts for  38
           percent  of  the  approximately  1.5
           billion tons of sediment that  reach
           the nation's waters each year
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Project Description

The Partnership is currently working with four landowners in the Donegal Springs
area and is proposing to work with the remaining 19 landowners within the project
target area. The landowners have already been contracted either by a survey letter
or a personal visit.

Within the project area,  14 of the 23 landowners allow free cattle access to the
stream. These 14 cattle pastures make up approximately  4.7 miles of the total
6.67  miles of project target area.   The Donegal Creek  exhibits some prime
examples of the impacts that cattle have
on  streams.  At Donegal  Springs (the
headwaters of the  west branch), the
stream width at water level measured
 12' and had  an average depth  of I  I".
These measurements were taken where
the  stream  was  in  an  unimparted,
wooded condition, just before entering
one of the pastures that was slated for
restoration.  The  stream  width and
depth was then  measured along the
pasture,  100'   downstream  of the
wooded location. Along the pasture, the
stream width had increased to 28' and
had an average depth  of only 4". The dairy cattle, which had free access to the
stream, had clearly made the difference.  Within this same pasture, which contains
 1,000' of stream corridor, only a single tree was found in the riparian area.

Non-point source pollution resulting from agricultural activities is not only a major
problem  in  the  Donegal  Creek watershed, but also  in  the  downstream
Susquehanna River and the Chesapeake Bay.  The Donegal Creek Restoration
Project will reduce various pollutant sources,  such as pesticides and nutrients,
related to the intense agricultural land use surrounding Donegal Creek. Although
it will take a while to'establish and mature, the re-establishment of a riparian forest
buffer will  most likely be the most  significant  improvement resulting from this
stream corridor restoration project.

The Partnership anticipates the Donegal Creek Restoration Project to result in the
following:
** ttfff vnly the stream, tut the farmer benefits foe, with herd
health, with stream and water quality - because the herd will
te drinking frem this water - and also twisted ankles en the
tank, mastitis and water-torne bacteria.  Jt's a censdentiffus
efftrrt tetween the landowner and the neiahtors helping vut."

                                               Jravis Martin
                          £ancaster County Conservation Dittriel
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Restoration Efforts
Streambank fencing and cattle crossing
The Partnership plans to install streambank fencing in 15 different cattle pastures.
This fencing will protect approximately 4.9 miles of the total 6.67 miles.of project
target areas from cattle access to the stream.  Fences will be installed as far back as
the landowner will allow, but not less than 10' from the streambank. Additionally,
21 stone ford cattle crossings will be installed in combination with the streambank
fencing.

Fish enhancement structures
Approximately 134 rock frame and log frame deflectors, 3 porcupine deflectors,
24 Jack Dams,  15 wood  slat fish  houses, 40  half-log houses and  100 tons of
boulder replacement will be installed.
Riparian buffer strips
Riparian forest buffer strips will be planted
and re-established along the project's 6.67
miles of stream corridor. The forest buffer
strip is at least 10' wide, as it is confined to
the limits of the stream bank fencing,  and in
some circumstances the buffer exceeds 50'
in width.  This restoration will involve the
planting  of  more  than  27,733   tree
seedlings. Tree protectors will occasionally
be utilized  on the following hardwood
seedlings: red  maple, shagbark hickory,
shellbark hickory, white ash,  slippery elm,
American planetree and flowering dogwood
buffer strip establishment is being provided by
groups (e.g.  scouts,  schools, churches).
  **7he Dtweaalfish and Conservation Association operates
  a  cooperative  nursery  with  the  Pennsylvania  fish
  Commission, and we stock the Donegal Creek, ftnd Mis used
  to te, years aao, nursery waters,  fhere were ta/ae native fish
  that used to inhabit these waters, and we would tike to see
  the stream revert tack to that same scenario**

                                                lorn ftloore
              Coordinator, Donegal Jifh and Conservation District
  The labor for all the riparian forest
the Partnership and other volunteer
Streambank stabilization
The restoration effort will also involve stabilizing eroded streambanks along the
project's 6.67 miles of stream corridor.  Where appropriate and necessary, sections
of eroded streambanks will be stabilized using the following techniques:
       •      bio-engineering;
       •      rip-rapping;
       •      mud sill installation and
       •      use of porcupine, rock frame and log frame deflectors.
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Re-establishment of the trout population
The Partnership believes natural trout reproduction will be possible in the Donegal
Springs area,  where a propagation area has been  established on two of the
landowners' property.  Sport fishing is not allowed in this area.  Any adult fish,
either living in this area or traveling to it, should be undisturbed during spawning
season.
Goals and Objectives

The  Donegal  Creek  Restoration  Project emphasizes  "Riparian  Corridor
Management."  The Partnership intends to continue work in the east and west
branches and  then proceed downstream.  The Partnership will  generally be
focusing on the installation of the following:  stream bank fencing, stone ford cattle
crossings, forest buffer strips, stream bank stabilization  and  fish enhancement
structures.  Each of these corrective improvements is discussed below.
 I.     Stream bank fencing
       •      Fences  will be  installed as far back  as  the.
              landowner will allow, but no less than 10'.
       •      All fencing will be maintained by the Partnership.
              Each individual fence will have its own power
              source.  The power source will be either a 6 or
              12 volt powered fence charger.

 2.     Stone ford cattle crossings
       •      The Lancaster County Conservation District will
              oversee and design all crossings.
       •      Normally, one crossing will be installed per 1000'
              of stream corridor that has been fenced to deny
              cattle access (unless the landowner's section of
              fenced stream  is less than  1000').
 3.     Forest buffer strips
       •      Forest plantings will entail the re-establishment of native flora.
              Where appropriate, the Partnership will utilize bio-engineering
              methods such as:
              •     live stakes and
              •     fascines.
       •      Planting bare foot seedlings will be the most common method of
              establishing a forest buffer
The  Partnership  is approaching
the  project  front  a  "Riparian
Corridor      Management"
perspective.  The Partnership is
not only concerned about cattle
with free access to the stream, but
also the lack of native vegetation,
a sediment-laden substrate and a
wide,  shallow  channel  due  to
various   forms   of  accelerated
erosion      and     resulting
sedimentation.
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       •      The Partnership will perform any needed weeding and cutting of
              noxious weeds and undesirable exotic trees.
       •      No nitrogen fixing tree species will be planted because the Donegal
              Creek already has a nitrate problem.
       •      Tree protectors  will occasionally be utilized on  the following
              hardwood seedlings:
              •      red maple
              •      shagbark hickory
              •      shellbark hickory
              •      white ash
              •      slippery elm
              •      American planetree
              •      flowering dogwood
       •      Forested  buffers will be  as wide as  the landowner will allow.
              Generally, the fenced corridor along the stream will determine the
              width,
       •      Labor for all forest buffer strip establishment will  be provided by the
              Partnership and other volunteer groups

4.     Stream bank stabilization
       •      The  Lancaster County Conservation  District  will  process  the
              necessary- permits.
       •      The  Lancaster  County  Conservation  District will notify  the
              appropriate agencies and municipalities as per  permit conditions.
       •      Where appropriate, the Partnership will  utilize bio-engineering
              methods such as:
              •      live stakes and
              •      fascines.
       •      Where appropriate, the Partnership will utilize rip-rap for stabilizing
              severely eroded vertical banks.
              •      Only limestone rock will  be used since the Donegal Creek
                     is a limestone stream.
              •      All rip-rap will be a minimum size of R-4.
              •      Rjp-rap must be angular in shape thereby ensuring that rip-
                     rap material can withstand anticipated velocities.
              •      Rip-rap will only  be used as a bank stabilization method
                     when necessary due to severe erosion.
              •      The Lancaster County Conservation District shall oversee
                      all rip-rap installations.
              •      No purchased rip-rap materials will be used to build
23                                               Restoring a Bay Resource

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                     vertical masonry walls as a form of streambank stabilization.
              •      All installed rip-rap will be installed as natural as possible.
              •      Native vegetation will be encouraged to grow among  ^^^^^^
                     placed rip-rap. Live stakes incorporated with rip-rap    In the       //
                               ,   ,         i     jj         i  u XL        there are 100,000 miles
                     is one method commonly used to accomplish this.
              ^   , ,      , „         ... ,    ...   ,   ,     .,     .     ...    of streams,  rivers and
       •      Rock frame deflectors will be utilized where there is a solid     ,     ^
              substrate.                                                ^--—^^^
       •      Log frame  deflectors will be used  where  it is  possible to
              correctly anchor the device with re-bar.
       •      All anchoring re-bar will normally be  at least 3' in length.
       •      All re-bar will be sent over and made flush with the log to prevent
              snagging of floating debris.
       •      All logs will be either black walnut, pin oak, eastern red oak or other
              suitable hardwood species; conifer species will not be used.
       •      Porcupine deflectors may be utilized in backwater conditions and/or
              where the anticipated  velocity  is  less than 8  FPS.   Leftover
              Christmas trees are often used to construct porcupine deflectors.

5.     Fish enhancement structures
       •      The Partnership will install and maintain all structures.
       •      The Lancaster  County  Conservation District will oversee the
              installation of all structures.
       •      All structures will be made  from natural materials.  No tires,
              concrete  block, spoil asphalt, plastics etc. will be used. Necessary
              re-bar and nails for anchoring purposes will be allowed.
       •      No structure will  be  higher than  I' above normal summer flow
              elevation.
       •      No structure  will block the mitigation offish.

6.     The district also  plans to work with the farming community on manure
       management.  As  opportunities arise, the  District  will utilize  already
       existing programs to cost-share conservation  practices where necessary.
       This restoration project offers  a perfect opportunity for the District to get
       additional farmers involved in the Chesapeake Bay Program.
Milestones

March I, 1995-April I, 1995:
The Partnership has contacted all 23 landowners in the project target area.
Restoring a Bay Resource                                           24

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August 11, 1995:
A hands-on workshop was held on one of the properties in cooperation with
PACD.

February I,  1996  February I, 1998:
Installation of stream bank fencing and associated stone ford cattle crossings in the
remaining 14 cattle pastures will be completed to limit free cattle access to the
stream.

February I,  1996 - February I, 1999:
Installation of  necessary forest buffer strips, stream bank stabilization and fish
enhancement  structures will be completed.  These improvement will only be
installed in the cattle pastures upon completion of necessary stream bank fencing,
Work will continue in the west branch and will then switch to the east branch.
Upon completion of the east branch, work will proceed downstream on the main
stem.

February I,  1996 - indefinitely:
The Partnership will  maintain all improvements.  The Partnership will sponsor
various open houses and /or workshops for various groups.
Recognition

The Donegal Creek Restoration Project and Lancaster County Conservation
District were recognized in November 1995 with a "Land Stewardship Award" by
the Chesapeake Bay Program.
Monitoring

The Partnership proposes to continue to monitor the physical-chemical parameters
and aquatic macro  invertebrate community within the project target area. A
"Preliminary Water Chemistry and Biota Report" for the upper reaches of the west
branch (Donegal Springs area) has already been completed.
Contact:
                       Mark Metzler
Lancaster County Conservation District
                     (717)299-5361
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EDEN MILL PARK, MD
Background

Eden Mill Park is a 57.5-acre county park located in northern Harford County,
Maryland. Eden Mill Park borders Deer Creek for approximately 4,000 linear feet.
Deer Creek, the largest tributary in Hartford  County, flows into the Susquehanna
River. The Susquehanna is the largest tributary river to the Chesapeake Bay and
adds an astonishing 19 million gallons of freshwater to the Bay every minute. The
population in the Susquehanna basin increased by 19 percent, more than half a
million people, between 1950 and I960.  Changes in land use have accompanied
this population growth.  As a result of these  significant changes, the Susquehanna
River is experiencing nutrient, toxics and  sediment pollution.

Eden Mill Park is a county park used primarily as a field trip site for local school
kids; Its facilities include a educational center and nature trails. The specific goals
of the Deer Creek restoration effort are improved water quality, wildlife habitat
and stabilized stream banks.

This riparian forest buffer was established, maintained and reinforced by the
Maryland Department of Natural Resources Forest  Service and Eagle Scout Eric
Wolfe of Scout Troop #238.   Eric raised  $300 to purchase 20 balled  and
burlapped (B&B) TreeMendous Trees for this restoration project.             i

The restoration effort is proceeding in two phases.  Phase  I, which has been
completed, involved the area downstream from the Eden Mill Dam construction
area.  Phase II  will involve the area above the  Dam and will  occur after the
completion of construction.
                                                                          Susquehanna River
                                                                          Land use Statistics
                                                                        Cropland
                                                                        Pasture
                                                                        Forest
                                                                        Urban and.
                                                                        Other Uses
17%
18%
62%

 3%
Project Description

As part of Phase I, Eagle Scout Eric Wolfe, along with MD Department of Natural
Resource Forest Service personnel, planted six hundred seedlings (1.4 acres) to
reinforce the existing forest buffer in April of 1995.  The buffer measures 1,200
linear feet and is 50' wide.  It consists of the following species: willow oak, green
ash,  river  birch,  eastern  redbud, pin  oak  and serviceberry.   In addition,
TreeMendous Trees  containerized stock of American sycamore, pin oak,
                                                                                           J
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sweetgum, green ash and red maple were used.  As part of the streambank
stabilization, red osier dogwood and speckled alder were planted 10' X 10' along
the Deer Creek streambank.

Phase II will occur after the construction of the new Eden Mill Dam. The extent
of the impounded water will determine the need  for riparian  forest buffer
establishment.  A planting plan for Phase II will be written by a forester from the
MD Department of Natural Resources Forest Service upon request by personnel
from Eden Mill  Park after the construction work is completed.
Monitoring

The reforestation planting done at Eden Mill Park will not be monitored for water
quality. However, the survival rate will be assessed by MD Department of Natural
Resources Forest Service personnel.  Presently, the survival rate of the trees is
assessed at 98 percent after the Phase I reinforcement.
                                                       Accordi n g      to
                                                       estimates, over 7 tons
                                                       of soil per  acre of
                                                       cropland   are   lost
                                                       every  year  in   the
                                                       Susquehanna basin.
Contact:
                                     Michael Huneke
Maryland Department of Natural Resources Forest Service
                                    (410) 836-4551
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FOUR  MILE  RUN,  VA
Background

Four Mile Run, which flows through Arlington County, Virginia, is a tributary of the
Potomac River.  Nearly twenty square miles of land drain into Four Mile Run.  This
drainage area contains 60 percent of Arlington County, as well as parts of Fairfax
County and the cities of Falls Church and Alexandria. The Four Mile Run watershed
is heavily urbanized, with 40 percent of the land covered by impervious surfaces,
such as highways, parking lots and rooftops.

The Izaac Walton League's Save Our Streams (SOS) restoration demonstration
project is located in East Falls Church Park, an open park with recreation fields, a
playground and a heavily traveled foot/bicycle path.  The restoration site is located
approximately eight miles from the confluence of Four Mile Run and the Potomac
River in the uppermost quarter of the watershed.  Four  Mile Run  is heavily
degraded from nonpoint source pollution and was also experiencing streambank
erosion. In many reaches, banks were vertical and were sloughing into the stream
thereby contributing to a heavy sediment load.

The goals of the restoration project were to conduct a stream habitat restoration
project that repairs the stream banks and re-establishes soil-binding streambank
vegetation; to provide hands-on bioengineering training for local citizens who might
seek similar solutions to problems on their streams and to demonstrate the
necessity of recruiting a diverse array of stakeholders to successfully complete a
habitat restoration project.
Project Description

The project, which was broken into two units, repaired approximately 3 10 linear
feet of streambank on  May 7,  1994.  The first unit was a 220-foot
stretch on the inside of a shallow bend that fades into a 50-foot stretch  ••••^M
of riprap armoring an active scour point. The project then resumes for
another  90 feet, fading into  riprap  that  protects the base  of a
footbridge.  All work took place on the north bank of the stream.
                    Riparian forest buffers  are the
                    naturally  occurring vegetation
                    along streams.
The site was seeded with an equal mix of annual and perennial rye
grasses'. The annual grass provided immediate cover, and the perennial would
29
Restoring a Bay Resource

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provide protection during the winter The site was mulched with a thin layer of
straw to intercept rain drops and retain moisture near the soil, providing suitable
conditions for plant growth. The entire bank was covered with an erosion control
fabric mesh made of biodegradable jute. Volunteers planted 3,500 cuttings of red
osier dogwood and bankers dwarf willow, each averaging seven feet in length. All
plant materials were donated by the United States Department of Agriculture
(USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service Plant Materials Center. Finally,
alders were planted at the top of the bank approximately four feet apart.  They
were marked with bright yellow flags so that park maintenance staff would not
mow into the project.
Monitoring

The site will be monitored by Save Our Streams employees, and maintenance
actions will be taken when necessary.
Contact:
Izaak Walton League of America
             Save Our Streams
             (800) BUG-IWLA
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HOLLYWOOD BRANCH, MD
Background

The Hollywood Branch is located in Montgomery County, Maryland, just north of
Washington,  DC.   The  watershed drains  approximately 1.3 square miles.
Hollywood Branch flows into Paint Branch, a major tributary of the Anacostia River
that supports  a  reproducing population  of brown trout.  The trout live  —
upstream of the Hollywood Branch confluence. The predominant land use in
the Hollywood Branch watershed is residential housing. Most homes are single
dwellings on approximately !/4 acre lots.  This area is heavily crisscrossed by
roads, and several large roads serve as major arteries for the area.
                         Areas covered with trees
                         and  shrubs absorb  14
                         times more rainfall than a
                         mowed lawn.
As  a  result of the development in the watershed and the conveyance of
stormwater into the stream channel, streambank erosion is an obvious problem in
many parts of the Hollywood Branch watershed.  Streambanks were vertical and
sloughing into the stream.  Many of the large trees have exposed roots and are
leaning precariously  toward the stream  channel.  The Hollywood Branch
Restoration Effort was performed by 12 environmental educators participating in
the Save Our Streams Summer Water Institute.   Also volunteering were
Montgomery County teachers from  Kensington  Parkwood Elementary  and
Rockville High School.

The restoration demonstration project is located in Martin Luther King, Jr. Regional
Park.  The park is managed by the Maryland National Capital Parks and Planning
Commission. The project is located in a narrow finger of land that runs upward
from the northeast corner of the park.  The site is located in a nontidal wetland,
characterized by lush growth  of rushes, sedges and other types of frequently
encountered wetland vegetation.  The site  is approximately  Vi mile above the
confluence of Hollywood Branch and Paint Branch.
Project Description

The Hollywood  Branch restoration project took place on July 12,  1995, and
repaired approximately I 10 linear feet of streambank.  Volunteers sloped the
streambank, placed riprap along the toe  of the bank, planted streambank
vegetation, seeded and mulched the restoration site and secured the streambank
with erosion control fabric.
31
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Volunteers also planted a total of 50 black willow and silky dogwood saplings, with
one half of the trees (25) planted in each row.  The entire site, including the areas
disturbed by the heavy equipment, were seeded with a mix of annual  and
perennial  rye grass. Volunteers covered the entire site wrth straw mulch to provide
immediate protection  against rain.  The straw will serve an important erosion
protection function until the grass becomes established as a permanent soil  cover.
Monitoring

Until the plants become well established, which may take two to three growing
seasons, a local Montgomery County Stream Team has been set up in case the
plants need to be watered.   Structurally, the maintenance requirements are
minimal.  The silt fence must be watched until the grass  and woody plants are
established to stop any sediment-land overland runoff from entering the stream.
The woody plants may require pruning in the future to stimulate accelerated lateral
growth in the form of new roots and shoots. Eventually, with proper management,
this site can provide a large number of cuttings for future streambank projects.
Contact:
Izaak Walton League of America
            Save Our Streams
            (800) BUG-IWLA
Restoring a Bay Resource
                           32

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HURSH FARM, PA
Background

Hursh Farm is one of the nineteen properties that is participating in the Donegai
Creek Restoration Project. Donegal Creek, which empties into Chickies Creek, is
a limestone trout stream located in the  northwest corner of Lancaster County,
Pennsylvania. The Donegal Creek watershed is 17.2 square miles, or   1,008 acres.
The intense agricultural land use within the watershed is recognized as the main cause
of stream degradation. Due to the poor
water quality of the stream, the Lancaster
County Conservation District and  the
Donegal    Fish    and    Conservation
Association  formed   a   cooperative
m What mattes this prffjecf unique is Mat is was dene stricfty
frem a eff/tservatitm sfandpffint because the taneteufner hadnff
Cffnce/ns  0f attyene  hunting or  fishing in  here.    /In
environmental appwach was used as the setting pvint."
partnership to restore the once thriving
trout  fishery  and  improve the  water
quality, wildlife habitat and recreational
value of Donegal Creek.

The section of Donegal Creek that runs
through Hursh Farm stretches for  1,000'
and flows through a dairy pasture. The
stream has been heavily impacted by cattle; the steam channel was wide, shallow and
lacked adequate cover for aquatic  organisms.  When the restoration project is
completed, this stretch of Donegal  Creek will have received  the most intensive
corrective work.

All materials,  including the trees,  shrubs, fence, solar charger and stone for the
Donegal Creek Restoration Project at the Hursh Farm were donated by local
businesses, conservation organizations and state and federal agencies.
                                                lorn
            Cwfdinahr, Donegal Jith and Conservation Association
Project Description

In August of 1994, volunteers fenced  1,000' of Donegal Creek on this property.  The
volunteers also constructed a cattle crossing to allow the cows to reach the adjacent
meadow or drink from the stream without hurting themselves or the environmentally
fragile waterway.  In April  of 1995, volunteers from the Lancaster  Conservation
District and the Lancaster Stream Bank Fencing Work Group planted  over one
33
       Restoring a Bay Resource

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thousand (0.5 acres) trees and shrubs along 1,800' of the stream corridor.  The
average width of the riparian forest  buffer  is 10'.  The species  planted  include:
streamco willow, silky dogwood, grey dogwood, red osier dogwood, poplar, green
ash, black walnut, shagbark hickory, shellbark hickory and red maple.

There  are  plans to install fish enhancement structures  in this section of Donegal
Creek.  Approximately 24 log frame deflectors, two wood slat fish houses,
one jack dam and some boulder placement will  be  used to make  this   m^^^m
section of the stream more hospitable to fish.
Monitoring
                                                                   Riparian forest buffers are
                                                                   the    naturally   occurring
                                                                   vegetation along streams
The Partnership intends to monitor the physical-chemical parameters and
aquatic macroinvertebrate community within the project target area. A preliminary
water chemistry and biota report for the upper reaches of the west branch (Donegal
Springs area) has already been completed.  The survival  rate will  be assessed by
Lancaster County Conservation District personnel.  Presently, the survival rate for
trees at the Hursh Farm is assessed at 75 percent.
Contact:
                       Mark Metzler
Lancaster County Conservation District
                    (717)299-5361
Restoring a Bay Resource
                                  34

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LICKINGHOLE  CREEK, VA
Background

Lickinghole Creek is a small stream that originates 2,420' above sea level in the Blue
Ridge Mountains  of Virginia.   Located entirely within Albemarle County, the
Lickinghole basin  drains  13.7  square  miles of predominately agricultural land.
Lickinghole Creek flows  east by southeast and merges with many other small
streams before it enters the South Fork Rivanna River Reservoir, which provides
drinking water to the city of Charlottesville and surrounding  ^^^^^^^^^^
towns.  Its Waters leave the reservoir and become part of
the James River.  The James River flows for 450-miles as it
works  its way to the  Chesapeake  Bay.  Agricultural
development in this part  of Virginia has altered the natural
landscape for hundreds  of years.  As a result, eroding
streambanks caused  by cattle grazing and the removal of
riparian forest buffers are  commonly seen.
        Approximately   two   million
        people,  nearly   one  third  of
        Virginia's population, live in the
        James watershed.  This figure is
        projected to grow to 2.3 million
        by the year 2000.
Lickinghole Creek supports a diverse aquatic community, although nonpoint source
pollution from cattle manure and streambank erosion is an obvious problem.   The
restoration demonstration project is located just west of the town of Crozet on
land owned by a local farmer.  The project is in the upper quarter of the
watershed, approximately  5.5 miles from Lickinghole's confluence with the
Mediums River.
Project Description

The project repaired approximately 240 linear feet of streambank on June 4, 1994,
along the north bank of Lickinghole Creek. Prior to the plantings, a backhoe was
used to slope the streambank, eliminating its vertical position.  Volunteers planted
one thousand cuttings of red osier dogwood and streamco willow, each averaging
5 feet in  height. These species are bred selectively for streambank stabilization
applications and remain supple enough to lie flat against the bank during high flows.
Most importantly, these species produce an enormous amount of deep subsurface
root mass that provides long-term soil binding.  In addition, three hundred I -foot
root cuttings were donated for this project. The cuttings were a mixed set of alder,
streamco willow and red osier dogwood. All plant materials were donated to the
project by the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources
35
Restoring a Bay Resource

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Conservation Service  Plants  Materials  Center. When the  plantings  were
completed, the entire bank was covered with an erosion control fabric mesh made
of biodegradable jute.
Monitoring

The restoration site will be monitored regularly, and maintenance actions will be
taken when necessary.  To date, the site has demonstrated structural soundness,
and major maintenance seems unlikely. Because beaver activity was observed in
the areas upstream from the site,  sprouting willows and dogwoods should be
inspected for animal damage and appropriate steps taken to allow plant growth.
Finally, local volunteers and area officials are expected to monitor the site's water
quality to assess the long-term water quality improvements in Lickinghole Creek.
Contact:
Izaak Walton League of America
              Save Our Streams
              (800) BUG-IWLA
                                       r
                                                                                          ,J
 Restoring a Bay Resource
                             36

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LONG  GREEN CREEK, MD
Background

Long Green Creek, which runs through Baltimore County, Maryland, is one of the
tributaries of the Gunpowder River. Long Green Creek flows for about 4.13 miles
and has a watershed that encompasses 14.3 square miles.  The Long Green
Creek flows primarily through an agricultural landscape with  numerous   mfm
pasture grasses.  As a result of the agricultural activities along Long Green
Creek, the stream has experienced declining water quality and streambank
erosion, which have resulted in degradation of the stream's habitat.          —
                         Gunpowder River
                         Land Use Statistics
About 10 years ago, Trout Unlimited (TU), a non-profit group made up of
fishing  enthusiasts,  noticed  a  decline in the  natural  reproducing trout
population in Long Green Creek. They worked their way up Long Green
Creek using  an  electric shocking gun,  a  tool used  to determine fish
populations. TU conducted water quality analyses to determine the cause
of the declining trout population and discovered that the trout populations ^^
were living in areas  where there were more trees and lower water
temperatures. TU believes that if the habitat and water quality conditions were
improved in Long Green Creek, the trout would return. Therefore, TU, along
with the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay (ACB) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (F&WS), targeted Long Green Creek as a showcase for effective stream
techniques that would improve the stream's habitat,  as well as stabilize its eroding
streambanks. The Long Green Creek Restoration Project is being approached as
a watershed  effort.  As  such, TU, ACB and F&WS have plans to  conduct
restoration projects at other sites along Long Green Creek.

Project Description
                                  1973   1984-85
                     Residential  13%     15%
                     Commercial  2%      5%
                     Agricultural 33%     31%
                     Forest       37%     35%
                     Wetlands     1%      1%
                     Urban        3%      5%
The Long Green Creek restoration project is being completed in three phases over
a two year period.  In April  1995, as part of Phase I, ACB volunteers fenced 1,200
linear feet of streambank  and planted 2,000 live stakes and  1,500 seedlings of
native tree species. These efforts have greatly improved the stabilization of the
banks and floodplain. As part of Phase II, ACB sponsored a reforestation planting
in October 1995. Volunteers planted over 420 containerized stock and 2,000 live
stakes of native facultative and facultative wet species along the streambank. The
riparian buffer width varies from 75' to over 150' due to the meandering of the
37
Restoring a Bay Resource

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Long Green Creek.  For Phase III, volunteers from ACB, Americorps, and the
Gunpowder Valley Watershed Association fenced 1500' of streambank and planted
approximately 10,000 seedlings of native floodplain tree species in April of 1996.
In all, the Long Green Creek Restoration has resulted in about I mile of stream
restored using vegetation and streambank fencing.
Monitoring

The Long Green Creek Restoration is now
in the maintenance and monitoring phase.
Members  of  the  Gunpowder  Valley
Watershed Association are being trained
•by   ACB  staff  to  monitor  physical
measurements,  which  include  shape,   	
pattern, profile and fishery assessment and
chemical analysis, including macroinvertebrate sampling.  The survival rate of the
vegetation will also be assessed by the Watershed Association staff, after training is
provided by ACB staff. The survival rate is currently assessed at 85 percent.
*• Sffcattiside forests are extremely itnptffattf ft Me voter
quality and living resources in the ffay.  Hthen planted next
fe streams, trees act as tuffers that help the ffay ty reducing
pollution and increasing hafa'tat h of/set the large amount
of hatitat that has hen lost in the ffay watershed?*

                                         ?«rwm Jlanigan
             Executive Director, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay
Contact:
                     Glenn Page
   Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay
                 (410)377-6270
Restoring a Bay Resource
                             38

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MONOCACY NATURAL
RESOURCE AREA, MD
Background

The Monocacy River is the largest Maryland tributary to the Potomac River.  It
begins near the Maryland-Pennsylvania border west of Harney, Maryland, at the
confluence of Marsh and Rock Creeks. The Monocacy watershed encompasses
774 square miles, or 476,200 acres, of which 75 percent is in Maryland and the
rest in Pennsylvania. Roughly three-quarters of the land in the watershed has been
cleared for agriculture;  the remaining land supports forests, the City of Frederick
and ever-growing residential neighborhoods.

The stream targeted for restoration is an unnamed tributary to Furnace Branch,
which flows into the Monocacy River.  The restoration site is located in a pasture
that is actively grazed by cattle and was chosen because of the stream's poor
water quality.  This project was initiated by the MD Department of Natural
Resources Forest Service.

The goals of the demonstration site  are to explain the different methods of
planting a riparian forest buffer, the different ways of caring for the tree seedlings,
and the many benefits of forested buffers and other water quality projects.  The
buffer area contains a serf-guided tour, which,  along with a brochure, highlights the
restoration effort as well as the benefits  of forests and riparian buffers. In addition,
recovering wetlands and native "volunteer" plants are pointed out in the tour.
                            The      Monocacy
                            watershed    supports
                            3,500    farms,   each
                            averaging  150  acres.
                            Crop   land   erosion
                            ranges  from  2  to 35
                            tons per acre.
Project Description

The initial planting occurred in  1990, with reforestations done in 1992 and 1993.
As  part of this restoration effort, 2,640 linear feet of stream and  I 1.4 acres of
vegetation were planted. The average width of the buffer is 100' on both sides of
the stream. Some of the trees were planted by hand using volunteers on Earth
Day.  The volunteers included local Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, as well as
students from Hood College in Frederick,  Maryland. Other areas were planted
with a mechanical tree planter and a tractor.  In all,  3,600 trees were planted,
including: loblolly pine, gray dogwood, silky dogwood, sergeant crabapple, white
ash, green ash, black walnut, sawtooth oak, Maryland alder, river birch, yellow
39
Restoring a Bay Resource

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poplar, sycamore, redbud, hackberry and pin oak. The seedlings are being cared
for in different ways. The seedlings planted by volunteers are in tree shelters, and
a few sections are being kept free of competing vegetation by mowing.
Two sections of conifers are being sprayed with an herbicide. In addition
to the buffer planting, two livestock watering facilities were also installed as
part of this project. One watering facility is a 400-gallon gravity fed trough
that utilizes a spring development.  The other is a 400-gallon trough fed by
a well through a solar-powered electric pump.  Two stream crossings are
present in this buffer demonstration area;  one crossing was recently
constructed, and the other already existed. These crossings give cattle and
machinery access to all the pastures without causing streambank erosion.   •"•"
There are plans to further improve the demonstration area by fencing and
installing crossings on the remaining spring and streams.  Rotational intensive grazing
and pasture rehabilitation may also be introduced.

Monitoring

This site will not be monitored. However, the tree survival rate will be assessed
by MD Department of Natural Resources Forest Service. The current  survival
rate is 70 percent.
                   According   to   the   MD
                   Department   of   Natural
                   Resources Forest Inventory,
                   there  is  a  maximum  of
                   85,000 acres of cropland in
                   Maryland  that  could  be
                   converted to forest buffers.
Contact:
           Patricia Feely
MD DNR Forest Service
        (301)473-8417
Restoring a Bay Resource
                    40

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ST. LEONARD'S  FARM, VA
Background

St.  Leonard's Farm, a 330-acre cattle field in Warrenton, Virginia, is located on
Great Run, a tributary of the Rappahannock River.  The Rappahannock watershed
is spread over 2,848 square miles;  63 percent is
forested, 35 percent is covered by cropland, and only
2 percent is urban. Since 35 percent of the land in the
Rappahannock  basin is used for  either pasture or
crops, it is not surprising that much of the pollution in
the river comes form agricultural  runoff such as soil,
manure, pesticides and fertilizer.  Up the river from St.
Leonard's  Farm  is  the  Warrenton  Waste Water
Treatment Plant.   Chlorine, bacteria and nutrients,
including nitrogen and phosphorous, are some of the
pollutants that can enter water from  a waste water
treatment plant. Over the years, Save Our Streams
has monitored the water quality of Great Run and found it to be very poor.

The goal of this restoration effort is to test the use of hybrid poplar trees in riparian
areas as a method of reducing pollution running into nearby streams.  St. Leonard's
Farm provides an opportunity for research on the technique of establishing poplar
riparian forest  buffers. Poplar trees are not only capable of improving water quality
and providing wildlife habitat; but the trees are also a valuable cash commodity
when harvested. St.  Leonard's Farm also provides a site for comparison between
poplar and native tree buffers. Establishing poplar riparian forest buffers will provide
insight that can be used throughout the Chesapeake Bay region to help farmers
decide if poplar riparian forest buffers are applicable on their property.
      ** Watty 6''tame  Me pellutien ef Me  ffay 0/t
      /afme ft.  ffiit we all Cffnfriiwfa, and Mis is we
      way  fo dtf sffmeMing afouf if and we tope
      farmers can eventually tncffrpffrafe Me ptrplar
      mttf Meir daily management. "
                                       Paddy katien
                Vfl Department yj ZnvinHtmentai Quality
Project Description

Approximately  1,400 poplar trees were planted in  the Spring  of  1995 by
volunteers from Keep Faquier Clean and Central Elementary School.  Five hundred
four-to-five foot hybrid poplar trees were planted 3X12' apart in three rows on
both sides of the stream.  Three different kinds of five-foot hybrids were planted,
including: 200 androscoggin poplar, 150 red caudina and  150 charkowiensis
41
Restoring a Bay Resource

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incrassata.  In addition, 400 unrooted  12-inch cuttings of androscoggin poplar were
planted, as well as 250 Imperial Carolina poplar. These cuttings were planted in
four rows of 2 X 6'.  The average width of the buffer is 30' on both sides of the
river. Different planting methods were used for this restoration project. Initially the
holes for the five-foot trees were dug with a post-hole auger.  After that, the
preferred  method was to use a ditch witch.  As a companion project, VA
Department of Forestry (DOF) planted 250 river birch, willow oak, green ash  —
and bald cypress at the same Warrenton site.
Monitoring

Over the next five years, tree growth and stream  pollution levels will'be
measured to determine the poplar's effectiveness at curbing pollution and
whether these trees have widespread application to farm runoff. The details
of the St. Leonard's monitoring plan are still being discussed. However, the site will
definitely be monitored for macroinvertebrates and nitrate levels twice a year. The
survival rate will be assessed by volunteers of Keep Faquier Clean, in collaboration
with DOF. Presently, the rooted stocks have done quite well; the sticks, however,
have experienced problems due to climatic changes.
                                              The  St.  Leonard's  Farm
                                              experiment will determine
                                              whether a poplar riparian
                                              forest     buffer     will
                                              significantly      reduce
                                              pollution  running   into
                                              Great Run.
Contact:
                              Dennis McCarthy
Virginia Department of Forestry - Warrenton Office
                               (540)347-6358
Restoring a Bay Resource
                                            42

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VERDANT VALLEY FARM, MD
Background

Verdant Valley Farm is a 223-acre horse and agricultural farm located in Harford
County, through which the Little Gunpowder Falls River flows .  Little Gunpowder
Falls runs from northern Baltimore County to Days Cove, wh ere it empties into
the Chesapeake Bay.  The Little  Gunpowder Falls provides about 25 miles of
habitat supporting brook and brown trout, and much of this area is bordered by
Gunpowder Falls State Park.

The headwaters of the Little Gunpowder, in the Monkton area near the Baltimore-
Harford County line, flow through heavily grazed and  cropped agricultural fields.
Consequently, sediment, nitrogen and phosphorous loadings and changes in water
temperature that result from increased non-point source  pollution have degraded
the water quality. The specific objectives of this restoration are moderated water
temperature for the trout that inhabit the stream
and improved wildlife  habitat  for  the  Farm's
numerous species of migratory waterfowl.
    ^ We ceut alfeady see the fffffftt effects,  fhefe are
    tifds 0itf there that we ttever saw teftre."

                                      fames Easier
                                        JCandoumer
The Verdant Valley Farm restoration is part of the
Little Gunpowder Falls Restoration Project, one of
the most extensive watershed  restoration efforts
undertaken on private land in the state of Maryland.
This project is being funded with the help of the
Federal Forest Stewardship Incentive Program (SIP) and the Maryland Department
of Natural Resources' Greenshores Buffer Incentive Program (BIP). SIP pays 65
percent of certain improvement costs, while BIP pays between $300 and $500 per
acre of improvement.
Project Description

At the Verdant Valley Farm, three acres of pasture land was restored along the
Little Gunpowder Falls in 1993.  One thousand seedlings of the following varieties
were planted: sycamore, black walnut, pin oak, green ash and white ash. The
seedlings were spaced  12' X 12' and were planted by a private contractor.
43
Restoring a Bay Resource

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The riparian forest buffer measures 50' wide and travels 3,000 linear feet along the
Harford County side of Little Gunpowder Falls. Only one side of the stream was
planted because the other side was already established with woody vegetation.
Since one row of woody vegetation was already present along the streambanks,
bank stabilization was not needed. A survival inspection was completed in the Fall
of 1993 at the Verdant Farm, at which time it was determined there was a need
for reinforcement.  Consequently, replantings with the same species used in 1993
were conducted in 1994.  Due to buck rubs and flood damage, the plantings were
reinforced again in 1996.
Monitoring

The Verdant Valley Farm will not be monitored. However, the survival rate will
be assessed by MD Department of Natural Resources Forest Service. Presently,
the trees are roughly I" in diameter and 8' high.
Contact:                                             Michael Huneke
                  Maryland Department of Natural Resources Forest Service
                                                       (410)836-4551
Restoring a Bay Resource
44

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WALKERSVILLE HERITAGE
FARM PARK,  MD
Background

The Walkersville  Heritage Farm Park Forest Buffer Nature Trail is located on
Devilbiss Bridge Road along Glade Creek in Walkersville, Maryland. Glade Creek
is a tributary of the  Mononacy River, the largest Maryland tributary to the Potomac
River.  The Mononacy River forms near the Maryland-Pennsylvania border west
of Hamey, Maryland, at the confluence of Marsh and Rock Creeks. The  ^^^
Monocacy watershed encompasses 774 square miles, or 476,200 acres,
of which  75 percent is  in the  state of  Maryland  and the rest in
Pennsylvania. Roughly three-quarters of the land in the watershed has
been cleared for agriculture and currently supports about 3,500 farms,
each averaging 150 acres.  However, the Monocacy watershed is quickly
evolving from an agricultural to a suburban landscape.
                   Wildlife  habitat  is  greatly
                   enhanced,  by  riparian  forest
                   buffers. Trees, shrubs, grasses
                   and the transition from aquatic
                   to upland habitats are critical
                   in the life stages of over */2 of
                   all native Bay species.
The Walkersville Heritage Farm Park was targeted for riparian forest
buffer restoration because of the severely degraded water quality in Glade Creek.
Another objective of the project is improved wildlife habitat.  Prior to the planting,
the park mowed the fields.

A buffer trail and brochure have been developed for visitors to the Walkersville
Heritage Farm Park to follow a self-guided trail and learn about trees and wildlife
along the way.  The Vs mile handicapped-accessible loop contains two foot bridges
and sixteen informative steps as it winds its way along Glade Creek.
Project Description

The riparian forest buffer planting and  bridge construction were completed in
 1990.   At that time, roughly two acres of vegetation were hand planted by
volunteers.  The  riparian forest buffer  protects both sides of Glade Creek for
approximately 900 linear feet. The average width of the riparian buffer is  100'.
The species planted included sycamore, river birch,  tulip poplar, red maple, green
ash, red oak, blackgum, hackberry, spicebush, silky dogwood, red bud, white pine,
black"walnut, yellow poplar and pin oak.
45
Restoring a Bay Resource

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The ground between the trees in the buffer is mowed to about '/>" because of
public pressure. A 2-5' buffer of dense silky dogwood  exists between the creek
bank and the mowed area. The most impressive part of this area is the growth
rate of the trees;  many of them are 20' tall and 4" in diameter.  The possibility
exists to extend the riparian forest buffer downstream as the land on either side
of Glade Creek becomes high density subdivisions.
Monitoring

The Forest Buffer Nature Trail at the Walkersville Heritage Farm Park  mmmmm
will not be monitored. However, the survival rate will be assessed by
the Town of Walkersville and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Forest Service.  Presently, the survival rate is assessed at 80 percent.
                                             Areas covered with trees and
                                             shrubs absorb 14 times more
                                             rainfall than a mowed lawn.
Contact:
                                        Patricia Feely
Maryland Department of Natural Resources Forest Service
                                     (301)473-8417
Restoring a Bay Resource
                                                46

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WILLOW OAKS  FARM,  MD
Background

Willow Oaks Farm is an 800-acre privately owned farm with 300 head of cattle.
This farm, through which the Little Gunpowder Falls flows, is located in Jarrettsville
Pike, Maryland, at the Battimore-Harford county line. Little Gunpowder Falls runs
from  northern  Baltimore County to Days Cove, where it empties into the
Chesapeake Bay.   Little Gunpowder Falls provides about 25 miles  of habitat
supporting  brook and brown trout, and  much of this area is  bordered  by
Gunpowder Falls State Park.
The headwaters of the Little  Gunpowder Falls flow
through heavily grazed and cropped agricultural fields.
Sediment, nitrogen and phosphorous loadings and the
change in water temperature that results from increased
non-point source pollution has degraded the water quality
of this stream.  The specific goals of this restoration are
stabilized streambanks and improved water quality, which
will benefit the trout that inhabit the stream, and enhanced
wildlife  habitat for numerous species of migratory
waterfowl.
The Willow Oaks Farm restoration effort is part of the most extensive watershed
restoration effort on private land undertaken in the state.  The project will cost
more than $ 14,000, with $ I 1,000 being returned to the landowners through the
Federal Stewardship Improvement Program (SIP) and the state Department of
Natural Resources Buffer Improvement Program  (BIP). SIP pays 65 percent of the
costs, while BIP pays between $300 to $500 per acre of improvements.
         m ttty dream is Mat 
-------
about 5,000 willow posts and ships are being used to stabilize the streambank.
These willows are fast growers and deep rooting, which makes them ideal for
anchoring high erosion areas of the property.  In addition to the streambank
stabilization and buffer reforestation, nearly 4 linear miles of high-tensile fencing was
installed on the property to keep cattle from grazing in the
water. Three cement crossings and one non-cement crossing
for cattle are also being installed to prevent  livestock waste
from entering the stream.  In the spring of 1996, an additional
fencing  and  planting of  15  acres was completed along the
Yellow Branch,  a tributary of Little Gunpowder Falls, which also
flows through the  Willow  Oaks  Farm   property.    A
reinforcement of this Yellow Branch planting with sycamore,
black walnut, and green ash seedlings is planned for the spring
of 1997. When this project is compete, over 30 acres of forest
buffer along Little Gunpowder Falls and Yellow Branch will have been reforested.
                                          s if Me iffffst significant riparian
                                     reiteration ftte /Maryland forest Service
                                     has ever undertaken."
                                                                 Mike tiuneke
                                       Watershed Joretter, MD Vltil - Jvrett Service
Monitoring

This site will not be monitored; however, the survival rate will be assessed by MD
Department of Natural Resources Forest Service. Presently, the survival rate is
assessed at 80 percent.
Contact:
                                    Michael Huneke
Maryland Department of Natural Resources Forest Service
                                    (410)836-4551
Restoring a Bay Resource
                                                48

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         APPENDIX I:
MAPS TO THE RESTORATION SITES

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           BEAVERDAM CREEK
                   PC Hap 8;A,BZ,
                 Research
                jtoad
                                                           A
                                                            N
                                farm road
5ch
                                                    field
                                                          5 l/2ch

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BELTSVILLE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH CENTER

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     CHALLENGER SEVEN MEMORIAL GROVE
                              Challenger Seven Memorial Grove
;_::;::  -w *..£:: >'.•!"•: i'-:::>*

V^':n:.:::v*. ^Vi.rf
   V?S;|-Pt|E^
   >..  ::... •--•• -a^  \ V-•  -^- >
            " "^  * *•-   K1-. '.I
  .:;    r!j,:•  '•'.'•' •':<••••• .^V&:
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                CHAPEL POINT  STATE PARK
                               FOREST MANAGEMENT MAP
                                          (or

                                 CHAPEL POINT STATE PARK
LOBLOLLY PINE BUFFER PLANTING
                                                1"=660-
                              Prepared by-  J- Sprout

                              Date:   Jan.  ]9. 1996
                                       Maryland

                                     Forest  Service
         LEGEND
Property  boundary	
Stand  boundary	
Stand  number	    Q
Hard  road	=====
Farm  lane	====.
Woods road	
Stream	—
Ridge  line-
Fence•
Railroad	
 Buffer Planting
                                                                          I  I I I t

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DIFFICULT RUN
                     FAIRFAX  CO I

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                           DONEGAL CREEK*
                              ' x—
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N
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT MAP
               for

	Eden Mill Park

Acres:   57.5   Scule: I" =660'

Prepared by:  Michael J .  Huneke

Dale:    10/20/93	


             Maryland
    Forest Park &. Wildlife Service
                                                                                                        LEGEND
                                                                                             Property boundary_
                                                                                             Stand boundary	
                                                                                             Stand number,	
                                                                                             Hard road	
                                                                                             Farm lane	
                                                                                             Woods road	
                                                                                             SI rca m	
                                                                                             Ridge line	
                                                                                             Fence_
                                                                                             Roilroad_
0

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LONG GREEN CREEK

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/-Parking   //
«>   Lot   JJ
                                                  SCALE :   1" = 1080'

                                                  DATE:  October 30,1991

                                                  Drawn  by:  Callahan
.A  .^-Monocacy Nat.
       Mgmt. Area -
1 )*** Clearcut
>—
2  I***      pence

 3 >** Forest Buffer


 4 V* Field  Plantj_ngs
 >—<

 5 4** logging Road/Larvling

 6 ** Buffer Demon. Area

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                      VERDANT VALLEY FARM
LEGEND

PROPERTY LINE
STREAM
HARD SURFACE ROAD
FARM LANE
FOREST STAND
PLANTING ZONE
TOREST LiMO
                  c:
JUNE A.  1993

PREPARED BY-
MICHAEL J. HUNEKE

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        WALKERSVBLLE FARM HERITAGE PARK
    Forest buffer
demonstration area
                                        compost
                                        ommunity garden

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FOREST  MANAGEMENT  MAP
              lor
                                               i
                                               o
                                               ff

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     APPENDIX II:
SOURCES OF ASSISTANCE

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SOURCES OF ASSISTANCE
Forested buffers can be used in both rural and urbanized areas to improve water
quality and wildlife habitat and stabilize streambanks. Forested buffers are most
effective when used in combination with other conservation measures that address
nutrient management, runoff and erosion control.  Prior to creating the forested
buffer, seek the assistance of technical experts who will help you evaluate important
factors, including:

       •      the immediate and long term goals of this site;
       •      which vegetation, if any, should be removed;
       •      the characteristics of the waterway, including its age, water flow and
             soil conditions, and
       •      how to reduce costs.

If you are a streamside landowner, establishing a forested buffer will help you save
soil,  improve wildlife habitat and protect water quality. Streamside  landowners
who develop improved land management plans,  including the use of forested
buffers, fencing and other Best Management Practices, may be eligible for cost-
share assistance through a variety of sources.

For more information please contact:

                        Chesapeake Bay Program
                      410 Severn Avenue, Suite 109
                          Annapolis, MD 21403
                            (800) YOUR BAY

                Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay (MD Office)
                       6600 York Road, Suite  100
                          Baltimore, MD2I2I2
                            (410)377-6270

                Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay (PA Office)
                            225 Pine Street
                          Harrisburg, PA 17101
                            (717)236-9019

                Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay (VA Office)
                             P.O.Box 1981
                          Richmond, VA 23218
                            (804)775-0951

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Or your State Forestry Agency Representatives:

                      Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry
                             P.O. Box 8552
                          Harrisburg, PA 17105
                             (717)787-2106

           Maryland Department of Natural Resources Forest Service
                     Tawes State Office Building, E-1
                          Annapolis, MD 21401
                             (410)974-3776

                     Virginia Department of Forestry
                             P.O. Box 3758
                         Charlottesville, VA 22903
                             (804) 977-6555
If you would like to have a project of yours included this guide, please send a
short description and detailed planting and location information along with the
name, address, and phone number of the contact person to:
                        Chesapeake Bay Program
                       Forestry Workgroup Fellow
                      410 Severn Avenue, Suite 109
                         Annapolis, MD2I403
                          (410) 267-5700 (telephone)
                          (410)267-5777 (fax)

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