Mayor Sheila Dixon, Col. David E. Anderson, Commander and District Engineer from the Unites States Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District and David Scott, Director of the Department of Public Works (DPW) held a dedication ceremony for the $1.6 million restoration of approximately one-half mile of Maidens Choice Run. The Run is a tributary in the Gwynns Falls watershed.
"This restoration of Maidens Choice has created a more stable and clean environment for not only this community, but everyone who enjoys the Gwynns Falls watershed," says Mayor Dixon. "I want to give special thanks to our entire Congressional Delegation for their commitment to the people and environment of Baltimore."
The project site is located near Beechfield Elementary and Middle School. The upstream drainage area is 2.9 square miles and the length of stream restoration is 2,700 feet. The project included wetland restoration and the planting of 140 trees and thousands of plants native to the Baltimore region. A portion of storm drain was removed to recreate and stabilize the natural stream.
In 1992, the Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) requested that the City of Baltimore participate in the Baltimore Metropolitan Water Resources Gwynns Falls Watershed Study. A Draft Feasibility Report and Integrated Environmental Assessment presented recommendations for the ACOE to implement aquatic ecosystem restoration projects in the Gwynns Falls watershed in Baltimore City.
A detailed study focusing on Dead Run and Maidens Choice Run determined that two were the most environmentally degraded sub-watersheds of the Gwynns Falls. A major finding of the investigation was that degradation of the aquatic habitat in Dead Run and Maidens Choice Run was directly related to the highly deteriorated condition of the sewer system infrastructure and uncontrolled stormwater runoff.
A watershed-based ecosystem approach was utilized to identify and select ecosystem restoration projects in the Gwynns Falls watershed. The plan focused on evaluating a combination of measures that could prevent or reduce the exchange of flow between the stream system/groundwater and sewer system; control stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces into the aquatic ecosystem; restore wetlands habitat; and restore instream habitat.
Source: Department of Public Works
Writer: Walaika Haskins