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Chapter 2 – Planning Context and Environmental Scan 2.1 Physical CHAPTER 2 – PLANNING CONTEXT AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCAN Prince George’s County is comprised of 487 square miles of land and 19 square miles of water. It is a suburban county immediately east of Washington, DC, with a growing population of over 863,000 people in 27 incorporated municipalities and unincorporated areas (see Map 1. Municipal Boundaries.) The land outside of the Capital Beltway, which held onto remnants of agricultural use into the end of the 20th Century, is being rapidly replaced by residential development, while areas inside the Beltway have been developing at a steady pace throughout the 20th Century. The county has significant natural resources, particularly sand and gravel deposits, tidal wetlands in the critical area, and non-tidal wet- lands. Its land development history, the booming residential scene of the early years of the 21st Century, and land ownership of both federal and county governments will affect future park and recreation facili- ties and land conservation efforts. 2.1 Physical Characteristics The Prince George’s County boundary is mostly defined by water: the Potomac River to the southeast, the Patuxent River along the entire eastern boundary, and Mattawoman Creek to the south. The county lies within the coastal plain. The transition to the Piedmont Plateau begins to occur toward its northern boundary with Montgomery County. Elevations range from sea level on the major rivers to 365 feet in the northern area of the county. Soils in the county range from those found in the Piedmont with soils only a few feet above bedrock to coastal plain soils with hundreds of feet depth to hydric soils associated with floodplains and wetlands (see Map 2. Soils.) In the past, soils in the county were quite conducive to the production of tobacco, and they continue to supply sand and gravel to the burgeoning suburban development in the region. Agricultural practices dating back to colonial times accelerated erosion. Siltation in the Anacostia River due to erosion caused the demise of the Port of Bladensburg in the early 1800s. Erosion and siltation continues to be exacerbated by the urbanization of the county. Marlboro clays require special considera- tion for development. This clay layer found in areas between Bowie and Upper Marlboro is impermeable to water, and in heavy rains is prone to landslides. Streams comprise three major watersheds of the Patuxent, Anacostia and Potomac Rivers. Approximate- ly half of the county drains to the Patuxent River and the rest to the Anacostia/Potomac River watershed (see Map 3. Watersheds.) The major streams are sluggish and deposit large amounts of silt, which is par- ticularly evident in Bladensburg on the Anacostia River. An increase in impermeable surfaces throughout the county has caused streams to display erosion of their stream banks, due to the erosive power of fast peak flows after storm events. The rivers and streams have shaped the topography, creating broad stream valleys, gently rolling hills on plateaus, and steep ravines. Steep ravines are found near the Potomac and Patuxent Rivers, where streams have cut V-shaped valleys with short, steep slopes (see Map 4. Steep Slopes.) The upland eastern deciduous forest, combined with the river system, have created several habitats including tidal wetlands of the Potomac, Patuxent, and Anacostia Rivers, non-tidal wetlands, and upland forests (see Maps 5. Woodlands, 6. Wetlands, and 7. Wildlife Habitats.) The native vegetation has been Land Preservation, Parks & Recreation Plan 16 affected by development either by removal, regeneration, ornamental plantings, and/or invasive species. and scientific value. Initially, the pattern of suburban development radiated eastward from Washington, DC, generally along Zekiah Swamp. The county contains the northernmost reaches of the swamp, which is mostly located in the railroads. Over time, suburban development displaced plantations and farms, which were the pre- Charles County. The swamp is the largest natural hardwood swamp in the state and is a valuable habitat dominant land use of the 19th and early 20th centuries. The suburban areas inside the Capital Beltway for plants and animals. are the oldest and most densely populated, followed by a ring outside the Beltway with many residential subdivisions. The least populated and most rural areas are the easternmost areas of the county along Mattawoman Creek. The area includes the 100-year floodplain in both Prince George’s and Charles the Patuxent River, and especially the southeasternmost areas of Aquasco, Baden, and Croom (see Maps Counties. It has extensive wooded swamps and is home to many mammals and a rare lotus species. 8. Agricultural Land Use, and 9. Land Cover). Piscataway Creek. The area includes the 100-year floodplain. T he stream is noted for its significant 2.2 Natural Resources herring run. It is the habitat for numerous plant and animal species. Broad Creek/Henson Creek Wetlands. The wetlands at the mouth of Broad Creek are prime wildlife One of the primary reasons for the creation of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Com- habitat and anatropous fish use the stream for spawning. mission was for the acquisition and protection of the county’s stream valley corridors. General land use regulations as well as the development review process are used by the county and M-NCPPC to promote Jug Bay Natural Area. This 2,000-acre property is a complex of wetland and upland habitats containing greenway development and the county-wide walking, biking, and equestrian trail system (see Map 10. some of the largest freshwater marshes in the state. Because of the variety of ecological habitats, Jug Greenway Corridors). Programs for the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area and Patuxent River Primary Man- Bay supports an abundant variety of plant and animal species. In addition, it is located along the Atlantic agement Area contribute significantly to river corridor protection efforts. Coast Flyway, which makes it a haven for bird life and waterfowl reproduction. The Green Infrastructure Plan, approved in 2005, is a comprehensive vision for interconnecting envi- Belt Woods. The old trees found in this mature Tulip Poplar Mixed Upland Deciduous Forest make it ronmental ecosystems within the county. The plan considers the ecological protection of significant unique in the region. It provides an opportunity for scientific research on old growth habitats. T his sensitive habitats and the ways the environment interacts with quality of life and the local economy, and nature reserve contains the 43-acre “South Woods,” a National Natural Landmark constituting one of the includes implementation recommendations. The purpose of the plan is to guide development, green last stands of virgin hardwood forest on the Atlantic coastal plain. space protection, and mitigation activities, and to implement a long-range vision for preserving, protect- ing, enhancing, and restoring a contiguous network of environmentally important areas in the county. Sand and Gravel Because of the sandy-gravelly soils of the coastal plain, Prince George’s County has several rich sources Prince George’s County has a number significant natural features and resources, many of which are in for sand and gravel that have contributed to the development of Metropolitan Washington. Sand and public ownership. Other areas are located on private property and need protection either via fee simple gravel deposits occur in the Patuxent Formation found in the Calverton and Beltsville areas in the north, transfer to public or nonprofit agencies, or conservation easements to limit development. T he following and in the Brandywine Formation in the towns of Brandywine and Aquasco in the south. The Patuxent are some of the significant natural features and resources located in Prince George’s County: Formation has been the most important source of sand and gravel in Maryland, and the Brandywine Formation is the most productive in Prince George’s County. As such, there are several mines in active Patuxent River Wetlands and Regional Greenway operation, other mines have been closed, and operators continue to seek to open additional areas Anacostia River south of Bladensburg against considerable community opposition. Typically, open pit extraction is employed. By ordinance, Potomac River sand and gravel areas must be reclaimed. Reclamation projects could include a variety of recreational facilities. Natural Heritage Areas Fossil Deposits Natural Features and Resources In addition to sand and gravel, there are fossils in the earth below Prince George’s County. Exposed soils contain fossilized plants, invertebrates, marine creatures, and dinosaurs in a band of sediments stretch- Natural Heritage Areas ing from Cecil County to Washington, DC through the northern half of the county. The Arundel Clays There are several natural heritage areas recognized by the state and county (see Map 11. Natural Herit- found between Beltsville and Muirkirk have proven to be one of the richest fossil sites ever found on the age Areas and Wetlands). The following is a brief description of each. east coast, containing fossils from the Cretaceous period, about 144-65 million years ago. Teeth from the dinosaur Astrodon johnstoni were first discovered in the Arundel Clays of Muirkirk in 1858. The lat- Wetlands of Special State Concern. A group of nontidal wetlands in the Beltsville area designated by the est discovery was in 1991 when part of a femur of Astrodon was discovered. In 1998, Astrodon johnstoni Maryland Department of Natural Resources. was designated the State Dinosaur. Suitland Bog. One of the last remaining bogs in the Washington Metropolitan area, this Coastal Plain The marine cretaceous fossils are found in the Severn and Brightseat Formations from the Paleocene magnolia bog is home to several carnivorous and insectivorous plant species that have high educational Epoch, about 65-55 million years ago. These formations are generally located in the central area of the 17 M-NCPPC Department of Parks and Recreation – Prince George’s County Land Preservation, Parks & Recreation Plan 18 county.
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