The Eyes of Paint Branch - Fall 2001 Newsletter
Volume: 7 Issue: 2

Army Corps Begins Major Stream Restoration


The Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE), in cooperation with the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), initiated a major restoration project on the Paint Branch this past June. This restoration project primarily involves streambank stabilization and aquatic habitat restoration. Specific sites range from Fairland Road down to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Park (just above the Route 29 crossing). This project is part of the Corps’ larger, multi-year, Anacostia Watershed Restoration effort, which includes projects in the Northwest Branch, Paint Branch, and other local streams.

EOPB and the Paint Branch Technical Team have followed the Paint Branch projects closely since they were first proposed several years ago. There was little doubt that the Corps could do a good job of streambank stabilization. However, we emphasized the importance of minimizing collateral damage to the surrounding areas, and the need for aquatic habitat to be a major component of the project.

Last year the Corps started the their first projects on the Paint Branch. This included the Gum Springs Parallel Pipe project, the Snowden’s Mill I and II projects, and some lesser projects. Unfortunately there were numerous problems with these projects, and we made our concerns known.

The Gum Springs Parallel Pipe project was eventually completed, and the resource agencies now report that the benefits from this project are already apparent. The purpose of this project was to stop stormwater from draining into the lower Gum Springs tributary by piping it underground and discharging it further downstream into the larger Main Stem. Gums Springs is a small tributary and historically responsible for an important contribution to the trout spawning and nursery functions. As a result of this project, water temperatures in the Gum Springs tributary have apparently been reduced several degrees. They also found adult trout in this section of the stream this year, which has been uncommon in recent years.

The bank failures on the Snowden’s Mill I and II ponds remain exactly as reported last fall. Fortunately there have been no bank collapses or deposition of dirt into the stream. The Corps hopes to have a replacement contractor identified soon. This work involves digging out the embankments until good conditions are confirmed, and then rebuilding the embankments properly. This will most likely be done late this summer.

We have expressed our concerns about problems throughout the first round of projects. It appears as though the Corps has responded with corrective actions in many cases, and different procedures are being used for the next phase of activities in the Paint Branch.

In June the Paint Branch Technical Team met with the COE and their new contractor, Environmental Quality Resources (EQR), to review their final plans and schedule for the Main Stem projects. The Corps used a new strategy for selecting their contractor, and is managing their work closely. EQR is experienced in this type of work and has special purpose low-impact equipment.

Their work to date appears to be top notch. In some places you actually have to look to find their access points. One of the habitat improvements involved open box frame structures called “lunkers” that extend three feet below the streambed. In some places huge boulders were placed as deep as four feet below the streambed. The point is that this is major construction work, particularly on a small stream like Paint Branch, and they have done it with minimal damage.

The viability of the aquatic habitat improvements is something that will only be known years from now. Their work was designed in anticipation of changes that will occur in the stream in the future. The trout will be the ultimate judge of the suitability of this habitat restoration.

It is important to express our appreciation to the Corps for this work throughout the Anacostia. This is a significant contribution to the long-term vitality of these resources that is well beyond what could have possibly been accomplished without them. The Corps has agreed to lead a stream walk to highlight their work on the Paint Branch, most likely in early October. See our calendar of events for more information.