Water Quality and Restoration
In Maryland, most of the northern Rock Creek watershed has good to excellent water quality, according to studies conducted by the county government. In 2004, to preserve water quality in partially developed areas, the county imposed restrictions on development (i.e., designation of a "Special Protection Area") in parts of this sub-watershed. The southern portion of the Maryland watershed is highly urbanized. The majority of this portion of the creek and its tributaries has poor water quality. The county is managing several stream restoration projects throughout the watershed.
The D.C. segment of Rock Creek also has poor water quality. In addition to typical urban stormwater pollution problems such as runoff from streets and other impervious surfaces, the creek has high bacteria levels due to combined sewer overflows (CSOs). The D.C. government, which has a stormwater discharge permit issued by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, is improving its stormwater management to improve water quality in Rock Creek. In 2009, the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority began a project to replace portions of the combined sewer with separate storm sewers. The project, which is expected to eliminate the CSO-related problems in the creek, is scheduled to be completed in 2011.
In 2006 the National Park Service completed a project to remove or bypass eight fish barriers in the creek. Restoration activities included adding a fish ladder to bypass the 1905 Peirce Mill Dam, modifying historic fords, and removing abandoned sewage lines and fords. The effort is designed to restore American shad, river herring, and other migratory fish to the creek and their historic upriver spawning grounds. It is estimated that 2 million fish migrate up the creek each year.
Read more about this topic: Rock Creek (Potomac River)
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