At a Glance
A degraded Coastal Plain outfall system was restored to enhance aquatic habitat, augment ecological function, and arrest erosional processes that would otherwise export sediment into the Chesapeake Bay.
Project Description
Biohabitats helped Anne Arundel County, Maryland to restore approximately 500 linear feet of the Sagamore Way Tributary, a degraded, perennial stream that flowed into Bailys Branch, the Magothy River, and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay. Years of flashy storm flows from surrounding residential development and prior land use impacts had caused this tributary to become severely incised. With excessive sedimentation and high bank height ratios, the degraded tributary provided minimal habitat and ecological function.
After performing a thorough suite of on-site and desktop assessments and modeling, Biohabitats developed a design to restore stability and enhance ecological habitat and function to the tributary. The design featured a series of cobble riffles and pools to dissipate high energy flows along the length of the Sagamore Way Tributary to achieve a stable confluence with Bailys Branch.
During the course of construction, Biohabitats provided design support and oversight to ensure that the stream design was built correctly. The project, completed in Winter 2020, will assist the County in fulfilling its MS4 and TMDL pollutant load reduction goals.