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Beaverdam Creek:An Environmental Perspective

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Chesapeake Bay Watershed

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Montgomery County

Prince George's County

District of Columbia

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Potomac River

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Anacostia Watershed

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5 0 5 10 Miles

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Anacostia Watershed Background

• Urban, over 75% Developed

• Size : 176 mi2; avg. daily discharge: 138 cfs

• Drains both Piedmont and Coastal Plain

• 8.4 mile long tidal freshwater river portion

• Overall, approximately 25% impervious

• 805,000 + residents

• Diversity of people and streams

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Six Restoration Goals

Goal 1: Reduce Pollutant Loads

Goal 2: Enhance Aquatic diversity and Encourage a Quality Urban Fishery

Goal 3: Restore Anadromous Fish Spawning Range

Goal 4: Increase Acreage and Quality of Wetlands

Goal 5: Expand Forest Cover and Riparian Buffers

Goal 6: Increase Public Awareness, Citizen Participation and “Friends of Groups”

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Beaverdam Creek Background

• Drainage Area ~ 14.1 mi2 • Mainstem Length ~ 5 miles• Median Baseflow ~ 10-12 cubic feet per second• Located in the Coastal Plain Physiographic Province• Imperviousness ~ 11 percent• Population ~ 9,000+• Forested Area ~ 8.54 mi2 (60.7 percent of the drainage

area)

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Beaverdam Creek Subwatershed

Research Road

Soil Conservation Road

Springfield Road

Powder Mill Road

Edmonston Road

City of Greenbelt

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How Does Beaverdam Creek Compare?

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Subwatershed Watershed Area

Estimated % Impervious

Surfaces

Acres Sq. Miles

Sligo Creek 7,404.7 11.57 35.0%

Northwest Branch 26,808.6 41.89 17.0%

Paint Branch 13,285.6 20.76 18.0%

Little Paint Branch 6,687.3 10.45 19.0%

Indian Creek 9,930.5 15.52 20.0%

Upper Beaverdam Creek 9,007.9 14.07 11.0%

Still Creek 2,550.2 4.0 15.1%

Brier Ditch 2,598.3 4.1 26.4%

Northeast Branch 4,268.9 6.67 36.0%

Lower Beaverdam Creek 10,064.2 15.73 39.0%

Watts Branch 2,404.8 3.76 29.0%

Fort Chaplin 318.7 0.50 36.3%

Fort Dupont 457.1 0.71 13.3%

Pope Branch 249.9 0.39 28.0%

Estimated Percent Impervious Surface For Selected Anacostia Subwatersheds

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Subwatershed Forest Watershed Area

% Watershed Covered by

Forest

Acres Sq. Miles Acres Sq. Miles

Sligo Creek 1,100.9 1.72 7,404.7 11.57 14.9%

Northwest Branch 8,282.0 12.94 26,808.6 41.89 30.9%

Paint Branch 4,829.8 7.55 13,285.6 20.76 36.4%

Little Paint Branch 2,105.7 3.29 6,687.3 10.45 31.5%

Indian Creek 3,064.5 4.79 9,930.5 15.52 30.9%

Upper Beaverdam Creek 5,464.2 8.54 9,007.9 14.07 60.7%

Still Creek 1,400.8 2.19 2,550.2 4.0 54.9%

Brier Ditch 762.7 1.19 2,598.3 4.1 29.4%

Northeast Branch 984.5 1.54 4,268.9 6.67 23.1%

Lower Beaverdam Creek 2,515.2 3.93 10,064.2 15.73 25.0%

Watts Branch 529.4 0.83 2,404.8 3.76 22.0%

Piney Run 91.2 0.14 1,014.6 1.59 9.0%

Fort Chaplin 62.2 0.10 318.7 0.50 19.5%

Fort Dupont 292.3 0.46 457.1 0.71 63.9%

Pope Branch 89.8 0.14 249.9 0.39 35.9%

Fort Davis 171.4 0.27 588.1 0.92 29.1%

Fort Stanton 104.6 0.16 366.9 0.57 28.5%

Forest Cover For Selected Anacostia Subwatersheds

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MacroinvertebratesScores Verbal Rating 36 - 40 Excellent27 – 35 Good17 - 26 Fair0 - 16 Poor

Macroinvertebrate Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI)

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Fish Scores Verbal Rating 47 – 50 Excellent35 – 46 Good23 – 34 Fair0 - 22 Poor

Fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI)