Little Patuxent River Watershed Restoration Action Strategy

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Little Patuxent River Watershed Restoration Action Strategy Little Patuxent River Watershed Restoration Action Strategy Howard County, Maryland January 2002 Prepared by Department of Public Works, Stormwater Management Division In Cooperation with Department of Planning and Zoning, Division of Environmental and Community Planning Department of Recreation and Parks, Natural Resources Management Division Technology and Communication Services, Geographic Information Systems Prepared for Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Watershed Restoration Division Little Patuxent River Watershed Restoration Action Strategy January 2002 Prepared by Prepared for Howard County Department of Public Works Maryland Department of Natural Resources Stormwater Management Division Watershed Restoration Division James N. Robey, County Executive Prepared by: Stormwater Management Division Contributing Staff: Department of Public Works Angela Morales 6751 Columbia Gateway Drive, Suite 514 Howard Saltzman Columbia, MD 21046 410-313-6444 www.co.ho.md.us In Division of Environmental and Community Planning Contributing Staff: Cooperation Department of Planning and Zoning Elmina Hilsenrath with: 3430 Court House Drive Susan Overstreet Ellicott City, MD 21043 Jessica Ritter 410-313-2350 Michael White Natural Resources Division Contributing Staff: Department of Recreation and Parks Brenda Belensky 7120 Oakland Mills Road Laura Miller Columbia, MD 21046 Dan McNamara 410-313-4700 Mark Raab Dawn Smith Geographic Information Systems Contributing Staff: Technology and Communication Services Rob Slivinsky 3450 Court House Drive Ellicott City, MD 21043 410-313-3094 Prepared for: Maryland Department of Natural Resources Contributing Staff: Tawes State Office Building Katharine Dowell 580 Taylor Avenue Niles Primrose Anapolis, MD 21401 Catherine Rappe 410-260-8810 or Toll Free 1-877-620-8DNR x8810 Ken Shanks www.dnr.state.md.us Raj Williams Ken Yetman This project was funded in part by the US EPA Section 319 Nonpoint Source Program. Although this project was funded in part by Environmental Protection Agency, it does not necessarily represent the opinion or position of the EPA. Table of Contents List of Tables and Maps ..........................................................iii Executive Summary ..............................................................1 Watershed Vision ................................................................3 Introduction.....................................................................5 Purpose of Study............................................................5 Watershed Characterization and Supporting Studies ................................5 Watershed Characterization .......................................................7 Land Use ..................................................................7 Water Quality ..............................................................7 Living Resources and Habitat..................................................8 Stream Corridor Assessment......................................................13 Methods..................................................................13 Findings .................................................................13 Pipe Outfalls........................................................13 Inadequate Riparian Buffers............................................13 Erosion.............................................................14 Fish Migration Barriers................................................14 Exposed Pipes. ......................................................14 Channel Alterations...................................................14 Unusual Conditions...................................................14 Trash Dumping. .....................................................15 Analysis and Recommendations...............................................15 Forest Assessment ...............................................................19 Introduction...............................................................19 Methods..................................................................19 Findings .................................................................20 Analysis and Recommendations...............................................21 Deer Management....................................................22 Invasive Plants.......................................................22 Public Land Management..............................................22 Fragmentation.......................................................22 Stream Biological Assessment .....................................................25 Methods..................................................................25 Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity (B-IBI)...................................25 Physical Habitat Rating................................................25 Findings of the Benthic Survey................................................25 Watershed Restoration Action Strategy Page i Upper Little Patuxent..................................................25 Middle Little Patuxent.................................................25 Lower Little Patuxent..................................................26 Findings of the Fish Survey ..................................................26 Upper Little Patuxent..................................................26 Middle Little Patuxent.................................................26 Lower Little Patuxent. ................................................26 Analysis and Recommendations...............................................27 Impervious Cover Assessment.....................................................31 Methods..................................................................31 Findings .................................................................31 Analysis and Recommendations...............................................32 Watershed Restoration Plan and Implementation Strategy.............................35 Summary of Characterization and Supporting Studies Findings ......................35 Watershed Restoration Goals and Objectives.....................................36 Water Quality .......................................................36 Habitat ............................................................36 Public Outreach .....................................................36 Watershed Protection and Restoration Tools, Actions and Constraints .................36 Land Conservation....................................................36 Riparian Buffers......................................................37 Better Site Design. ...................................................37 Erosion and Sediment Control...........................................37 Stormwater Best Management Practices...................................37 Other Discharges.....................................................38 Stream Channel Stabilization and Restoration..............................38 Habitat and Wildlife Management........................................38 Watershed Stewardship Programs........................................38 Subwatershed Studies..................................................38 Public Outreach............................................................39 Next Steps and Implementation Priorities .......................................39 Summary.................................................................39 References .....................................................................43 Appendix A Prioritization of Problem Sites..........................................45 Appendix B Public Outreach Campaign ............................................49 Page ii Little Patuxent River List of Tables and Maps Tables Table 1 - Problem Site Summary ..............................................15 Table 2 - Priority Problem Sites ...............................................16 Table 3 - Land Cover Type...................................................20 Table 4 - Summary of Results for the Benthic Survey ..............................26 Table 5 - Summary of Results for the Fish Survey.................................27 Table 6 - Subwatershed Categories and Expected Stream Conditions..................31 Table 7 - Subwatershed Impervious Cover and Category ...........................32 Table8-Implementation Priorities ............................................40 Appendix A - Percent of Existing Impervious Cover...............................46 Appendix A - Change in Percent of Existing Impervious Cover ......................46 Appendix B - Little Patuxent WRAS Public Outreach Campaign .....................49 Maps Map 1 - Major Watersheds ....................................................9 Map 2 - Major Features......................................................10 Map 3 - Zoning ............................................................11 Map 4 - Protected Areas .....................................................12 Map 5 - Priority Problem Sites ................................................17 Map 6 - Forest Cover Types ..................................................23 Map 7 - Forest Community Types .............................................24 Map 8 - Biomonitoring Subwatersheds .........................................29 Map 9 - Existing Impervious Cover ............................................33 Watershed Restoration Action Strategy Page iii Page iv Little Patuxent River Executive Summary The Little Patuxent River watershed is located in the eastern portion of Howard County and is approximately 51 square miles, excluding the Hammond Branch
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