Watershed Management

For more details, please visit our Tiber and Plumtree Watersheds webpage.

In 2004 – 2005 the County’s Stormwater Management Division conducted a watershed assessment and developed a watershed restoration plan for the Centennial Lake and Wilde Lake watersheds. Wilde Lake is a 1.9 square mile watershed, which is highly developed and is predominated by low, medium, and high density residential development Centennial Lake is a 3.6 square mile watershed, which is less densely developed and contains mostly low density residential development and low intensity agriculture.

The purpose of the studies was to assess the water quality in the lakes as well as the streams draining to the lakes, and then to propose strategies and projects for the restoration and protection of the lakes and their tributaries.

Two public meetings were held to discuss the findings of the study and to solicit stakeholder input on the assessment and proposed restoration strategies. The results of the studies are contained in the Centennial and Wilde Lake Watershed Restoration Plan (September 1, 2005). The Plan contains specific locations and recommendations for projects and actions that can be taken to improve the health of the lakes and the streams that drain to them. To view the study, click on the links below:

For more information please contact Mark Richmond.

Howard County performs watershed restoration projects to help in meeting its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit conditions and Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) goals and has selected the Font Hill Tributary Stream Restoration Project as part of its watershed restoration efforts. This tributary was identified in the Little Patuxent Watershed Study completed in February 2016. The project limits consist of the existing stream starting approximately 6,000 linear feet upstream from Centennial Lane to the downstream limit at Centennial Lane. The proposed project limits are completely contained within Howard County owned open space. This project is being completed by a design/build team comprised of Johnson, Mirmiran and Thompson, Inc. and Environmental Quality Resources, LLC. The document links below were presented at the initial project public meeting on November 30, 2017. The Font Hill Tributary Stream Restoration Project Construction Phase is anticipated to begin Fall 2018 and continue through to the beginning of Fall 2020.

The Howard County Department of Public Works has undertaken a comprehensive watershed assessment within the Middle Patuxent River and the Little Patuxent River watersheds. The watershed assessment was performed to create an inventory of the natural resources as well as existing problems (erosion, trash, lack of wooded stream buffers, etc.) within these watersheds. Another result of the assessment is a list of potential projects that can be done to protect and restore these resources, address the problems, and ultimately improve water quality in our County streams and water bodies.

This assessment measured current environmental conditions and identified opportunities for restoration projects to be included in the capital budget. These projects will improve water quality in the County’s streams and rivers as well as the Chesapeake Bay. Potential projects investigated include stream restoration, adding water quality treatment to existing stormwater management ponds, constructing new stormwater management facilities, performing reforestation, and stabilizing existing storm drain pipe outfalls.

Due to the large overall study area, the field work was conducted in four distinct areas -- Northern Little Patuxent, Southern Little Patuxent, Northern Middle Patuxent, and Southern Middle Patuxent watersheds as depicted on the Little and Middle Patuxent Watershed Map. The County conducted a public meeting in each of the four study areas to report on the findings of field work results, to describe the next steps in the assessment study, to review possible restoration techniques, and to discuss the status of its countywide plan for meeting Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) goals. Crews of two or three County employees or consultants conducted the field assessments, which entailed performing visual observations, taking photos, preparing sketches, and entering the data into handheld field tablets.

The results of the field assessments were used to score and rank the potential project sites, and concept plans were developed for the highest rated 148 sites. A report was generated for both the Little Patuxent and Middle Patuxent watersheds, which includes the study methodology, results, and the concept plans. Some concept plans are on private properties; however, these potential projects will only move forward with the permission of the property owners. These reports are available through the following links:

Little Patuxent Watershed Report
Middle Patuxent Watershed Report

If you have any specific questions or concerns or would like additional information regarding the watershed assessment, please contact the County by contact Christine Lowe.

Having completed the Little Patuxent and Middle Patuxent Watershed Assessment as noted above, the County has begun another watershed study for the remainder of the County. This study includes the Patapsco River and Mainstem of the Patuxent River watersheds. The study purpose and methodology are the same as the Little Patuxent and Middle Patuxent watershed assessment. Due to the large overall study area, the field work is being conducted in five distinct areas – South Branch Patapsco River, Lower North Branch Patapsco River, Brighton Dam/Triadelphia Reservoir, Rocky Gorge Reservoir, and Patuxent River Upper watersheds. Field assessments for this study were completed in April through May 2016.

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The County welcomes public participation in the development of the watershed study. The County conducted public meetings in Summer 2016 and January 2017 to report on the findings of field work results, to describe the next steps in the assessment study, to review possible restoration techniques, and to discuss its countywide plan for meeting local and Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) goals.

The results of the field assessments were used to score and rank the potential project sites, and concept plans were developed for the highest rated 180 sites. A report was generated for both the Patuxent River and the Patapsco River watersheds, which includes the study methodology, results, and the concept plans. Some concept plans are on private properties; however, these potential projects will only move forward with the permission of the property owners. These reports are available through the following links:

Patuxent River Watershed Assessment Report
Patapsco River Watershed Assessment Report

A public review period for the watershed assessment reports is available until March 1, 2017. If you have any comments on the reports, any specific questions or concerns, or would like additional information regarding the watershed assessment, please contact Christine Lowe.

Past Meeting Presentations:

In 2007, the County's Stormwater Management Division began work on the Upper Little Patuxent River Management Plan. The Upper Little Patuxent River Study area is 17.3 square miles and contains approximately 44 miles of streams. The purpose of the plan is to identify problem areas in the watershed that may affect water quality and to develop a watershed restoration plan to address the problems.

The first of two planned public meetings was held on June 3, 2008, to report on the findings of the County's initial stream corridor assessment, which assesses the conditions of the County's stream. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss what citizens can do to help improve water quality in the watershed and to solicit input. The meeting presentation and maps are available below:

June 2008 Presentation

Upper Little Patuxent Public Meeting Presentation

Stream Corridor Assessment Results

Impervious Cover Maps

Typical Pollutant Loading Model Results Map

The second public meeting was held March 24, 2009 to review the results of the study. Overall watershed recommendations and specific projects were presented at the meeting as were actions that can be implemented to help the health of the Little Patuxent River and its tributaries. The meeting presentation and maps are available below:

March 2009 Presentation

Upper Little Patuxent Public Meeting #2 Presentation

(Note: If a potential project has a concept plan, you can view the concept plan by clicking on the site label on the Watershed Study Results Map.)

The final report and watershed results map for the Upper Little Patuxent Watershed Management Plan is available below:

Final Report

Watershed Study Results Map

For additional information, please contact Mark Richmond.

South Branch Patapsco River

Assessment Sites
Concept Plan Sites

Patapsco River Lower North Branch – Upstream

Assessment Sites
Concept Plan Sites

Patapsco River Lower North Branch – Midstream

Assessment Sites
Concept Plan Sites

Patapsco River Lower North Branch – Downstream

Assessment Sites
Concept Plan Sites

Brighton Dam/Triadelphia Reservoir

Assessment Sites
Concept Plan Sites

Rocky Gorge Reservoir

Assessment Sites
Concept Plan Sites

Patuxent River Upper

Assessment Sites
Concept Plan Sites

The Water Implementation Plan (WIP) II has now been developed for Howard County and can be viewed by clicking the link below.

Contact Mark Richmond for further questions about the WIP II plan.