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The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission
Home / Stormwater Retrofits & Environmental Enhancements Program

Stormwater Retrofits & Environmental Enhancements Program

A picture of a stormwater facility with different grasses and flowering plants.

Project Description

This program is intended to install stormwater retrofits in conjunction with environmental enhancements of natural resources at various Parks throughout Montgomery County.

During storm events, larger than natural volumes of stormwater will rush into local streams in areas with a lot of impervious surfaces (roadways, parking lots, buildings). This can cause significant damage to habitat and other features within a stream. Stormwater management uses techniques and practices to slow, soak in, or store stormwater and help reduce the amount of pollution entering our waterways. Stormwater management facilities reduce the volume and intensity of water that rushes into streams by providing an area for short-term storage of stormwater. The stormwater will slowly soak into the ground, mirroring a more natural environmental system.  Stormwater retrofits are the installation of stormwater management facilities to treat existing impervious surfaces that were originally installed without stormwater management techniques.

Environmental enhancement projects are green techniques used to protect infrastructure, resolve drainage problems and standing water issues, and enhance our riparian areas to improve ecological function. These projects generally serve to direct runoff away from pavement and infrastructure and into to areas of habitat creation that can be removed from mowing maintenance and instead function to slow the water down and create habitat features for wildlife and amphibians. These areas often include woody debris and native trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plantings.

Background

Montgomery Parks is regulated by a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. This permit serves to regulate sources of stormwater pollution in the parkland. Parks has a strong commitment to environmental protection and stewardship of natural resources. Even prior to receiving an NPDES permit, Parks staff took steps to protect water resources and prevent pollution, including providing stormwater management facilities for impervious surfaces that were developed prior to modern day stormwater regulations.

This program is funded to address several prioritized projects each fiscal year.

Dates and times are subject to change. Please contact the Project Manager for additional information.

Stormwater Management Projects

Park NameLocationDetailsCurrent Status
Colesville Local ParkSouth of the Main Parking Lot to treat parking lotStormwater Retrofit (Micro-bioretention)Out to Bid for Construction
Kemp Mill Estates Local ParkEast of Parking Lot and South of Entrance Drive to treat parking lot and entrance driveStormwater Retrofit (Micro-bioretention)In Design
Maplewood-Alta Vista Local ParkEast of Entrance Drive to treat entrance drive imperviousStormwater Retrofit (Micro-bioretention)In Planning
Glen Hills Local ParkNorth of Tennis Court to treat parking lot imperviousStormwater Retrofit (Micro-bioretention)In Design
Black Hill Regional ParkNorth of SEED Classroom building to treat impervious around SEED ClassroomStormwater Retrofit (Micro-bioretention)In Design

Environmental Enhancement Projects

Park NameLocationDetailsCurrent Status
Glen Hills Local ParkNear the intersection of Glen Mill Road and Circle Drive200 linear feet of outfall and riparian enhancementUnder Construction
Sligo Creek Stream Valley Unit 4South of University Boulevard along Sligo Creek Parkway75 linear feet of outfall enhancementUnder Construction
Sligo Creek Stream Valley Unit 5North of University BoulevardRiparian and drainage enhancementsUnder Construction
Black Hill Regional ParkWest Old Baltimore RoadRiparian and drainage enhancementsUnder Construction
Meadowbrook Local ParkMeadowbrook LaneRiparian and Drainage EnhancementsUnder Construction
Little Bennett Regional ParkLewisdale Road50 linear feet of trail drainage enhancementsUnder Construction
Last Updated: February 15, 2024