Stream Restoration

WATERSHED RESTORATION

What is stream restoration? What problem can it solve?

The Problem: Stormwater, Erosion, and Sedimentation

In urban areas, like Montgomery County, rain and snowmelt run across streets, sidewalks, and rooftops, rather than soaking into the ground. This fast-moving, excess water harms our waterways, tearing away the sides of our streams, causing erosion.

The erosion is hard on the trees lining the banks, often causing them to prematurely fall into the stream. Erosion can also be harmful to public infrastructure (such as exposing a sewer pipe) and private property (such as a backyard in danger of eroding away into a stream).

Sediment (soil and dirt) from erosion is also one of the most prevalent pollutant sources in Montgomery County.

Sediment creates a lot of problems for plants and animals in the water:

  • It makes the water cloudy. Cloudy water keeps sunlight from reaching aquatic plants, limiting photosynthesis. It also makes it harder for stream critters to hunt for food.
  • It reduces the amount of oxygen in the water and makes it difficult for aquatic bugs, fish, and other stream critters to breathe. The sediment in the water can literally clog gills.
  • It can increase water temperature. In the same way that we as humans can only live in certain temperatures, high temperature water can be fatal to many fish and other critters.
  • It destroys habitat. Many aquatic critters live in the nooks and crannies between rocks and under logs. When a stream becomes filled with sediment, these spaces also get filled in, leaving critters with nowhere to live.

Sediment also impacts our drinking water. All of Montgomery County drinking water comes from our local rivers and reservoirs. Cloudy, sediment laden water requires additional filtration and treatment, increasing costs for treatment and ultimately for our residents.

Stream Restoration in Montgomery County

Stream restoration is a set of techniques or methods the County uses to protect adjacent properties and public infrastructure by reducing stream bank erosion, minimizing the down-cutting of stream bed, and restoring aquatic ecosystems (natural stream system).

Restoration techniques typically use natural materials such as rock, logs, and native plants to help slow down stormwater flow and restore the natural meander of curve pattern found in stable streams. They are usually done in larger scale projects utilizing large equipment to mobilize plants and rocks.

Download Restoring Montgomery County's Stream Poster(PDF, 1.63 MB)

Stream Restoration Techniques

Before & After/ Stream Restorations

See some of our before & after photos of projects DEP completed.

stream restoration - hollywood branch before

Hollywood Branch - Before

hollywood branch after stream restoration

Hollywood Branch - After

Woodlawn before stream restoration

Woodlawn - Before

Woodlawn after stream restoration

Woodlawn - After

Frequently Asked Questions

Video Learning

Stream Restoration Listening Session Part 1

Hear from Montgomery County residents about stream restoration.
MORE: Part 2/ Part 3

Streambank Restoration Techniques

How Stormwater Destroys Our Streams