River Valley Ranch Stream Restoration

Project Description

Founded in 1952 as a cowboy summer camp for youth, the non-profit ministry River Valley Ranch serves over 20,000 youth and adults annually as a summer camp, retreat facility, outdoor education center, and destination for seasonal events.

A key feature of River Valley Ranch’s 500-acre, wooded property is Muddy Creek, a native brook trout stream which flows through the camp on its way to the Gunpowder River, a major tributary to the Chesapeake Bay.Over the past several decades, storm flows and increased runoff in the surrounding watershed has caused the Upper Gunpowder River and its associated tributaries to degrade and become unstable.

As part of its mitigation program, and working with Greenvest, LLC, an environmental consulting and mitigation banking firm, the Maryland State Highway Administration initiated the restoration of Muddy Creek and the Gunpowder River at the River Valley Ranch. A key member of the Greenvest team, Biohabitats developed and implemented plans to stabilize and enhance habitat for nearly 8,000 linear feet in total, which included a 2,500 foot reach of the mainstem of the Gunpowder River.

After thoroughly assessing the stream and site, and conducting hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, Biohabitats crafted a restoration design that focused on habitat enhancement for the native brook trout population as well as improving habitat for macroinvertebrates that make up part of the trout’s natural diet. Biohabitats also supervised construction of the restoration.