Special Protection Areas (SPAs)

What is an SPA?

Under County law, a Special Protection Area (SPA) is defined as:

• A part of the County that has high-quality or unusually sensitive water resources (i.e. high quality streams, sensitive wetlands, and soil prone to erosion) or other environmental features AND
• Where those resources or features are threatened by land use changes (such as development) unless extraordinary or special protective measures are being taken.

Goals of the SPA Stream Monitoring Program:

• Assess development impacts on streams
• Evaluate the effects of land use change on a watershed
• Assess if project performance goals are met
• Link best management practice effectiveness to changing stream conditions
• Guide future planning decisions

County SPAs

You can find maps and more detailed information about the five SPAs but visiting the Montgomery County Planning's SPA page.

Ecological Importance

The designated SPA areas all have existing water resources or other environmental features that are of high quality or are unusually sensitive. They consist of smaller streams, springs, seeps, and wetlands that flow into larger streams. These headwaters are naturally healthy ecosystems with significant environmental features, may contain threatened or endangered species that can influence better planning decisions. They are responsible for a majority of stream functions, carrying nutrients and organic matter to the larger streams and rivers and help us better understand our impacts to nature.