The City of Rockville contributes to three watersheds: Cabin John Creek, Watts Branch and Rock Creek. All of Rockville's watersheds are part of the greater Potomac River Basin, which itself drains into the Chesapeake Bay. In order to ensure a sustainable city, staff has the responsibility of periodically assessing the health of its watersheds. Not only does this study take a snapshot of stream health, but it informs City staff where to focus stormwater-related activity. These activities can range from Capital Improvement Program projects like stream restoration to enforcement and education programs.
The City carries out watershed studies every 10 years. In 2010, the City assessed the Cabin John Creek watershed.
The City of Rockville conducted a Cabin John Watershed Study. The 3.6-square-mile watershed includes office areas in downtown Rockville, residential neighborhoods and parts of the Interstate 270 corridor and Route 355 commercial corridors, as well as the Woodmont Country Club.
The purpose of the study is to evaluate current conditions and patterns in the City's section of the Cabin John watershed that affect water resources. The study resulted in a prioritized list of program changes and improvement projects. The study also recommends further performance measures and monitoring needed to assess these improvements as they are implemented over the next 10 years. Specifically, the project: - Describes the current condition of Cabin John watershed's water resources using stream assessment tools, water quality sampling, and/or stormwater management facility sampling; characterizes stream water quality, stream bank stability and aquatic habitat in watershed; evaluates changes in watershed conditions compared to those found in the City's previous watershed study, the 1994 Upper Cabin John Creek Watershed Management Study.
- Characterizes the watershed's land use and natural resources, including forests, wetlands and vegetative cover and condition, and analyzes their effects on Cabin John Creek's stream quality.
- Identifies opportunities for watershed improvements. These may be new or retrofit stormwater management facilities, stream restoration, small-scale or neighborhood Environmental Site Design or other non-structural improvements, as well as management of other specific issues affecting water resources in the watershed.
- Develops quantifiable long-term assessment measures that will highlight changes in stream stability and water quality, effective stormwater treatment systems and land use conditions.
If you would like more information about the study, call Lise Soukup at 240-314-8874 or email lsoukup@rockvillemd.gov. |
