Lower Patapsco River Watershed Restoration Action Strategy
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Lower Patapsco River Watershed Restoration Action Strategy Howard County, Maryland March 2006 Prepared by: Division of Environmental and Community Planning Contributing Staff: Department of Planning and Zoning Randy Clay 3430 Court House Drive Elmina Hilsenrath Ellicott City, MD 21043 Susan Overstreet In Stormwater Management Division Contributing Staff: Cooperation Department of Public Works Angela Morales with: 6751 Columbia Gateway Drive, Suite 514 Richard Powell Columbia, MD 21046 Mark Richmond Howard Saltzman Natural Resources and Land Management Division Contributing Staff: Department of Recreation and Parks Mark Raab 7120 Oakland Mills Road Columbia, MD 21046 Geographic Information Services Contributing Staff: Technology and Communication Services Rob Slivinsky 3450 Court House Drive Ellicott City, MD 21043 Consultants: Tetra Tech, Inc. Contributing Staff: Fairfax, Virginia Katherine Labuhn JoAnna Lessard James (Sam) Stribling Center for Watershed Protection Contributing Staff: Ellicott City, MD Emily Corwin Sally Hoyt Paul Sturm Prepared Maryland Department of Natural Resources Contributing Staff: for: Tawes State Office Building Danielle Lucid 580 Taylor Avenue Robin Pellicano Annapolis, MD 21401 Niles Primrose Ken Shanks 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 the Environmental Protection Agency, it does not necessarily represent the opinion or position of the EPA. Acknowledgements We wish to thank the following members of the Lower Patapsco Watershed Restoration Action Strategy Planning Workgroup for dedicating their valuable time and efforts to this study. Gary Burnett Maryland Department of Natural Resources Patapsco Valley State Park William Duffy Patapsco Heights-Church Road Community Association David Grabowski Greater Elkridge Community Association Amy Handen National Park Service Rivers, Trails & Conservation Assistance Program Mina Hilsenrath Howard County Department of Planning and Zoning Cathy Hudson Friends of Patapsco Valley & Heritage Greenway & Rockburn Land Trust Danielle Lucid Maryland Department of Natural Resources / Maryland Department of the Environment Angela Morales Howard County Department of Public Works Lee Moser Friends of Patapsco Valley & Heritage Greenway Dan Murray Ellicott City Residents Association Lynne Nemeth Howard County Conservancy Susan Overstreet Howard County Department of Planning and Zoning Lee Walker Oxenham Patapsco Riverkeeper Sandy Parker University of Maryland Baltimore County Mark Raab Howard County Department of Recreation & Parks Howard Saltzman Howard County Department of Public Works i Table of Contents Acknowledgements .......................................................................................................................................................i Table of Contents........................................................................................................................................................ ii List of Maps and Tables.............................................................................................................................................iv Executive Summary.....................................................................................................................................................1 Watershed Vision.........................................................................................................................................................2 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................3 Purpose of Study.......................................................................................................................................................3 Public Participation...................................................................................................................................................3 Watershed Characterization and Supporting Studies................................................................................................3 Watershed Characterization.......................................................................................................................................5 Land Use...................................................................................................................................................................5 Water Quality............................................................................................................................................................5 Living Resources and Habitat...................................................................................................................................6 Fish.......................................................................................................................................................................6 Sensitive Species..................................................................................................................................................6 Stream Corridor Assessment....................................................................................................................................11 Methods ..................................................................................................................................................................11 Findings ..................................................................................................................................................................11 Pipe Outfalls.......................................................................................................................................................11 Inadequate Riparian Buffers ..............................................................................................................................12 Erosion ...............................................................................................................................................................12 Fish Migration Barriers......................................................................................................................................12 Exposed Pipes ....................................................................................................................................................12 Channel Alterations............................................................................................................................................13 Unusual Conditions............................................................................................................................................13 Trash Dumping ..................................................................................................................................................13 In or Near Stream Construction .........................................................................................................................13 Analysis and Recommendations.............................................................................................................................14 Impervious Cover Assessment..................................................................................................................................17 Methods ..................................................................................................................................................................17 Findings ..................................................................................................................................................................17 Analysis and Recommendations.............................................................................................................................19 Synoptic Water Quality Survey................................................................................................................................21 Methods ..................................................................................................................................................................21 Findings ..................................................................................................................................................................21 Analysis and Recommendations.............................................................................................................................21 ii Stream Biological Assessment ..................................................................................................................................22 Methods ..................................................................................................................................................................22 Benthic Index of Biological Integrity (B-IBI)....................................................................................................22 Physical Habitat Rating......................................................................................................................................22 Findings ..................................................................................................................................................................23 Lower Patapsco Main Stem ...............................................................................................................................23