Implementation of the Anacostia Watershed Restoration Plan of 2010
$50,000,000
The 176 square mile Anacostia River Watershed includes the District of Columbia and parts of Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties in Maryland. More than 70 percent of the watershed has been developed and impervious surfaces cover approximately 25 percent of the area. Water quality in the Anacostia River continues to be significantly degraded due to inefficient stormwater management and resulting high levels of nutrients, toxics, sediment, and trash. WRDA 2007 directed the Corps, in consultation with impacted state and local governments to develop a 10-year comprehensive action plan to provide for the restoration and protection of the ecological integrity of the Anacostia River and its tributaries. The result - the Anacostia Watershed Restoration Plan of 2010 - is expected to identify more than 2,500 projects at a cost of over $1 billion that, when undertaken, will significantly bolster the health of the river and improve the quality of life of the 800,000 people who live in the watershed. The plan is scheduled to be released in early 2010. Lacking specific details until it’s release, I urge the committee to include language in the 2010 WRDA bill that would enable implementation of the plan and restoration of this vital natural resource and request that the committee authorize at least $50 million for this purpose.
Strengthen and expand the Chesapeake Bay Environmental Restoration and Protection Program, established in Sec 510 of WRDA 1996.
$50,000,000
The Chesapeake Bay Environmental Restoration and Protection Program, which was established in Section 510 of WRDA 1996, authorized the Army Corps of Engineers to provide design and construction assistance to State and local authorities in the environmental restoration of the Chesapeake Bay. These projects can range from shoreline buffers to oyster reef construction. However, as currently structured, the program has been limited in its scope for several reasons. First, the Corps’ restoration efforts have been limited to Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania and there is no comprehensive watershed plan for projects or prioritization of projects. Second, unlike all other major federal agencies engaged in Bay restoration, the Corps has no small watershed grants program that engages state and local governments in small scale restoration projects. This problem is compounded by the Corps’ complex and costly procurement processes. Finally, the matching fund requirements of the Section 510 program do not allow for the use of in-kind services or contributions, which stifles collaboration. The Chesapeake Bay Commission recommendations, which are the basis for this legislation, would solve these problems and strengthen the Section 510 program so that the Army Corps of Engineers can continue to be a strong partner in Chesapeake Bay cleanup.
USACE Levee System (Anacostia River Branches)
$8,000,000
To reduce flooding damages for those citizens who are living behind the Anacostia River levee systems. Perform required work to ensure existing USACE Constructed Levee Systems along Northwest Branch (approximately 5100 linear feet) and Northeast Branch (approximately 7400 linear feet) to meet current levee system requirements as determined and required by USACE Engineering Technical Letter (ETL) 1110-2-570 (July 2007). This work includes, but is not limited to the following: (1) Hydrologic/Hydraulic analysis to current standard; (2) determine height of existing levee, (3) determination of required freeboard to cure deficiency, (4) inspection of levee system closure devices (gate valves, sluice gates, etc.) and their repair; (5) protection of levee from erosion (rip rap); (6) an assessment of the levee’s embankment and foundation; (7) assessment of the drainage systems within the protected areas behind the levees to ensure that drainage is effective (pumping stations, channels, piped drainages systems); (8) assessment of Operation Plans & Maintenance Manuals; and (9) other items that may be required for Levee system to meet current standards and requirements. This project will raise the height of the Anacostia River Levee Systems where necessary to meet current levee certification requirements to protect 2100 homes (including the Allison Street Levee system) from river flooding.
Rockville Stormwater System Renovation Project
$13, 200,000
The stormwater renovation project includes constructing stormwater management facilities and stream rehabilitation projects to restore Rockville’s streams and decrease stream bank erosion, improve aquatic habitat, and improve stream water quality. The specific benefits to the project will result in reduced downstream erosion by managing stormwater, improve the quality of streams by removing pollutants, and restore streams to improve aquatic habitat and stabilize stream banks. Storm drain improvements increase the capacity of underground pipes, and reduce. localized flooding.
Allison Street Levee System
$5,000,000
To reduce flooding damages for those citizens who are living behind the Northwest Branch levee system along Allison Street. Perform required work to ensure existing Allison Street Constructed Levee Systems along Northwest Branch (approximately 3400 linear feet) meet current Levee System requirements as determined and required by 44 CFR 65.10. The work includes, but is not limited to the following: (1) Hydrologic/Hydraulic analysis to current standard; (2) determine height of existing levee, (3) determination of required freeboard to cure deficiency, (4) inspection of levee system closure devices (gate valves, sluice gates, etc.) and their repair; (5) protection of levee from erosion (rip rap); (6) an assessment of the levee’s embankment and foundation; (7) assessment of the drainage systems within the protected areas behind the levees to ensure that drainage is effective (pumping stations, channels, piped drainages systems); (8) assessment of Operation Plans & Maintenance Manuals; and (9) other items that may be required for Levee system to meet current standard and requirements. The project will raise the height of this levee systems where necessary to meet current levee certification requirements to protect 2100 homes (including the Anacostia levee systems) from river flooding.
Greenbelt Lake Dam Rehabilitation
$2,000,000
Rehabilitation of an old dam on Indian Creek within the Anacostia River watershed that has been determined to be in need of repair. This is an 80 years old dam with a significant impoundment that is in desperate need of correction of structural issues and dredging. The dam is classified by the Maryland Department of the Environment as a High Hazard Dam. This lake is located in a park and provides the local community with environmental and recreational opportunities in the Indian Creek watershed. The embankment and the outlet structure of the lake are in very bad shape and could fail during a significant storm event.
Rehabilitation of County Storm Water Management Facilities (Ponds)
$8,000,000
Restore capacity and design intent of the County’s 446 storm water management ponds to improve their performance and help protect the Chesapeake Bay. The County performs functional maintenance for approximately 446 Storm Water Management Facilities located throughout the County. Functional maintenance currently performed does not include requisite major maintenance work such as dredging and re-grading activities to meet design storage capacity, or include modifications to the ponds to meet recent storm water management regulation requirements. These types of operations are equipment and labor intensive and expensive to perform, and would be contracted repairs. Work includes a detailed assessment of each storm water management facility in the inventory to determine the requirements necessary to restore each pond to its original design parameters; an assessment of the pond retrofit options to improve water quality; and a prioritization of the work to be performed. Water quality improvements will benefit the many tributaries within the county that discharge into the Chesapeake Bay.
Lower Beaverdam Creek Stream Restoration
$500,000
To restore water quality of the stream. Restoration of approximately 700 LF of severely eroding stream channel. Project includes Rosgen-type restoration measures including readjusting channel geometry and employment of rock veins, J-hooks, rootwads and selective imbricated rip-rapping. This will reduce the annual sediment deposition within Lower Beaverdam Creek by approximately 600 tons. Fish passage to be addressed via one, approximately 100 foot long riffle grade control structure that will allow for further upstream migration of fish due to the elimination of an in-stream blockage (2.0 miles of stream) for fish. Riparian buffer restoration of approximately 600 LF of stream will result in the addition of approximately 0.5 acres of new forested buffer. This will help shade currently open sections of the stream. Citizen volunteers will be employed in the reforestation work.
Cabin Branch Stream Restoration
$1,500,000
To restore water quality of the stream. Restoration of approximately 1,500 LF of severely eroding stream channel. Project includes Rosgen-type restoration measures including readjusting channel geometry and employment of rock veins, J-hooks, rootwads and selective imbricated rip-rapping. This will reduce annual sediment deposition within Cabin Branch by approximately 1,000 tons. Fish passage to be addressed via one, approximately 200 foot long riffle grade control structure that will allow for further upstream migration of fish due to the elimination of an in-stream blockage (2.1 miles of stream) for fish. Riparian buffer restoration of approximately 700 LF of stream will result in the addition of approximately 0.5 acres of new forested buffer. This will help shade currently open sections of the stream. Citizen volunteers will be employed in the reforestation work.
Little Paint Branch Stream Restoration
$3,000,000
To restore water quality of the stream which would include five (5) elements: Create extended detention wetland marsh; provide an improved storm drain outfall; stream bank protection of approximately 2,000 linear feet using selective rip-rap or brush bundles; reforestation of riparian land adjacent to channelized section of stream; and install instream baffles and boulders where appropriate.
Northeast Branch River Restoration
$1,500,000
To restore water quality of the Northeast Branch of the Anacostia River watershed, which would include two (2) elements: Construction of an extended detention dry pond with a wetland around the control structure; and provide stream channel protection for approximately 1,500 linear feet upstream of the proposed site.
Northwest Branch River Restoration
$2,000,000
To restore water quality of the Northwest Branch of the Anacostia River watershed, which would include four (4) elements: provide channel protection for approximately 500 linear feet of the river using selective rip-rapping; reforest approximately one acre area with native plants; provide stream channel protection and fish habitat improvement for approximately 2,400 linear feet of another reach of the stream using selective imricated rip-rapping and in-stream boulder placement; and reforestation of riparian areas.
Peace Cross, Anacostia River Green Highway and LID Restoration
$500,000
To restore water quality of the stream, and to initiate and implement an Environmental Restoration and Beautification Project in the vicinity area of Peace Cross at Bladensburg (intersection of US Route 1 and Route 450) to demonstrate how Low Impact Development (LID) techniques can improve the community’s quality of life while improving the water quality of storm water runoff (the Green Highway Program). The purposes of the project are 1) to improve water quality by retrofitting the highway median and interchanges using LID techniques; and 2) to improve the visual appearance of the County’s entry points and corridors. This project work area consists of the median areas near the intersection of US Route 1 and US Route 450 and the adjacent areas. Various LID techniques will be used, as site drainage conditions will allow. A Gateway Beautification project and several LID rain gardens are part of this project. Citizen volunteers will be employed in the reforestation work.
Army Corps of Engineer Study to conduct a study with COE to improve the Anacostia River and Tributary Levee Systems
$1,000,000
Work effort to be completed with this funding includes the finalization of the Anacostia River Risk Analysis and Flow Frequency Update prepared by the USACE Hydrologic Engineering Center, development of preliminary levee system raising designs, Interior Flooding Analysis, Civil, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Analyses, Geotechnical Engineering Analysis and a Levee Certification Report.
