Lower Spring Branch: Stream Restoration

Project Manager: Joe Humbertson
Client: Baltimore County DEPRM
Completed: October 7, 2008
Original Contract Amount: $872,939.37
Duration: July 7, 2008 to October 7, 2008

The Baltimore County DEPRM selected Environmental Quality Resources, LLC to restore a stretch of Lower Spring Branch parallel to Chapelwood Ln and bound by Pot Spring Rd on the upstream end and Dulaney Valley Rd at the downstream end, just north of Towson, Maryland. The pre-existing conditions consisted of a concrete channel that fed into an unprotected stream channel. The water was well contained by the channel.

However, downstream of the channel, severe undercutting of the banks occurred, slowly eroding away the properties of landowners along Chapelwood Dr. EQR removed the concrete channel and replaced it with a series of rock cross vanes, cobble material riffle structures, and armor stone bank protection which was tied into the existing concrete bridge culvert beneath Pot Spring Rd. Sinuous imbricated rock walls were implemented at the location of the most severe erosion to prevent any future undercutting by the force of stormwater.

In addition to the restoration of the main channel, four tributaries were stabilized and enhanced with log structure cross vanes. Where they intercepted Lower Spring Branch, their cross vanes were often tied into those of the main channel. Deep pools were also constructed at these outfalls to slow the velocity of the stormwater during rain events. Following construction, EQR planted native grasses and trees along the stream to naturalize it and encourage habitat creation.