Meeting Montgomery County's Stormwater Improvements

• 11/4/2022 | Normandy Falls HOA Board Call
• 11/18/22 | Normandy Falls HOA Site Walk
• 3/7/2023 | Normandy Falls HOA Board Call
• 1/19/24 | Project Letter sent via email
  •  Project distribution mailing map 
  •  Kickoff letter 
• 1/31/2024 | Normandy Falls HOA Board Call & Presentation -
  •  Presentation 
  •  Meeting summary 
• 5/10/2024 | Postcard invitations for virtual community meeting mailed
  •  Project distribution mailing map 
  •  RES Pine Knolls postcard 
• 5/16/2024 | Yard signs for virtual community meeting posted
• 5/23/2024 | Virtual meeting with HOA and Community
  •  View recording 
  •  Meeting minutes 
  •  Presentation 
• 5/28/2024 | Shared May 23 presentation Normandy Falls HOA Board
• 8/20/2024 | Posted yard signs for community meeting and site walk
  • Distributed door-to-door invitations
• 9/5/2024 | Community meeting & site walk
• 11/7/2024 | Community meeting
  •  Presentation  
  •  Feature stakeout cutsheet, stake ID 
  •  Feature stakeout, sketch 

The Pine Knolls Pond between Haislip Court and Fall River Lane has been identified for retrofit and enhancement. The pond capacity will be increased and a permanent pool will be added so the pond can increase the Water Quality Volume.  Work will also be done to bring the pond into compliance with Dam Safety by removing trees growing too close to the pond's embankment. 

Permits are currently being obtained.

The existing site consists of a dry pond and dam safety issues.   

A Dry Pond is a Stormwater Management (SWM) facility that is designed to hold stormwater runoff, and then release the runoff over a period of time. The purpose of a Dry Pond is to allow time for pollutants and sediment to settle out of water, and to manage the volume of stormwater runoff in order to prevent floods. A Dry Pond generally appears to be a grass basin. It is not designed to have a permanent pool of water, and therefore should not have standing water during dry weather conditions.  

The existing pond has some sediment accumulation and minor issues at the outfall of the facility.   

The dam safety requires that no trees be growing on the embankment and within 15’ of the toe of the embankment.    

The project will convert the existing dry pond to a wet pond.  A Wet Pond is a SWM facility that is designed to hold stormwater runoff and then release the runoff over some time to remove pollutants and sediment from water and provide flood protection. Unlike a dry pond, however, a wet pond is designed to hold some volume of water permanently at all times. A Wet Pond generally includes a grassed embankment and aquatic perimeter planting around a pool of water.  The proposed pond will have a new weir installed with a pedestrian bridge to replace the riser.  The weir installation will address the minor issues at the facility's outfall.   

•  View the design plans (9/4/2024 )

Construction is anticipated to start in 2025.

• 7/13/2023 | Project update letter sent to Cypress HOA for internal community distribution
  •  View letter 
• Spring 2024 | Kickoff letter with a map sent to 164 addresses/community members
  •  View map 
• 3/27/2024 | First contact with Tim Malac, Cypress HOA president and provided a project overview
• 6/12/2024| Site walk held with HOA president Tim Malac
• 6/21/2024 | Residents received the initial letter
• 7/22/2024 | Doorhangers distributed to nearby homes
• 7/24/2024 | Virtual meeting with HOA and community
  •  View recording 
• 10/25/2024 | Postcard about project sent to community
  •  View postcard 

The Cypress Hill Pond, located between Erin Tree Court and Autumn Maple Lane, has been identified for a retrofit and enhancement project to improve water quality and stormwater management. Currently, most of the runoff entering the pond flows through a 48-inch storm drain pipe, which discharges into a 400-foot-long riprap channel. This project will enhance the system by removing a portion of the existing storm drain and replacing it with a step-pool stormwater conveyance. This naturalized approach will improve water filtration, enhance water quality, and provide a more sustainable way to manage stormwater runoff.

Permits for the project are currently in the approval process.

The existing site consists of a dry pond with mature trees in the bottom of the practice and a long riprap channel inflow.   

A Dry Pond is a Stormwater Management (SWM) facility designed to hold stormwater runoff, and then release the runoff over time. The purpose of a Dry Pond is to allow time for pollutants and sediment to settle out of water, and to manage the volume of stormwater runoff in order to prevent floods. A Dry Pond generally appears to be a grass basin. It is not designed to have a permanent pool of water, and, therefore should not have standing water during dry weather conditions. 

The project plans to remove 48 feet of the existing 48-inch storm drain pipe and replace both the removed pipe and the riprap channel with a 487-foot-long step-pool stormwater conveyance system (SPSC). SPSCs are open-channel structures designed to manage stormwater by gradually slowing runoff and filtering it through attenuation pools and a sand seepage filter, converting surface storm flow into shallow groundwater flow.

No modifications will be made to the existing pond to preserve the mature trees in the area.

Construction is anticipated to start in 2025.

• 9/25/2024 | Olney Oaks Single Family Homeowners Association (OOSFHOA) held a virtual meeting to present and kick off the project
• 12/13/2024 | Meeting invitation postcard emailed to HOA representatives for community distribution
  •  View postcard 
• 12/19/2024 | Project introduction letter mailed to community members
  •  View letter 
• 1/8/2025 | RES hosted a community meeting to introduce the project
  •  View recording 
• 1/22/2025 | Follow-up presentation at the January HOA meeting

The project study area is comprised of two wooded parcels surrounding a section of Williamsburg Run and a section of an unnamed tributary to Williamsburg Run located within several residential neighborhoods west of the intersection of Olney Laytonsville Road (Rt. 108) and Georgia Avenue (Rt. 97) in Olney, Maryland. The Project study area is approximately 38.05 acres in size. Williamsburg Run is 2,714 linear feet (LF), and the unnamed tributary to Williamsburg Run is 2,344 LF. The objective of this project is to create stable streams that prevent bank erosion and prevent future downcutting by utilizing natural channel design techniques to create a stable plan and profile. Impacts on existing wetlands and forests will be kept to the minimum extent possible. 

Permitting in 2024 and Construction in 2025. 

 See photos

The design is currently in development.

Construction is anticipated in 2025.

• 3/19/2024 | Meeting with the HOA
• 4/19/2024 | Signs installed for Buckhorn Branch Stream Restoration Project
  •  View sign locations 
• 6/18/2024 | Kickoff letter sent to 102 addresses /community members
• 7/3/2024 | Site walk with Longmead Crossing Board President

• 10/28/2024 | Project postcard mailed to the community
  •  View postcard 

The primary goals of the restoration are to stabilize the bank and bed of Buckhorn Branch, enhance floodplain connectivity along the project reach, and reduce pollutant and sediment loads to capture TMDL credit to meet Montgomery County’s MS4 permit goals. Additionally, this project will help promote increased biodiversity and habitat creation with the introduction of native plantings and the creation of new pools and snags. 

Project permits are currently in progress

The project area is experiencing bank and bed instability.  The upstream area of the project is incised with limited floodplain connectivity with eroded and undercut banks, particularly on the left side of the channel running along Baughman Road.  The downstream conditions have characteristics of backwatered conditions with sediment deposits.   

The primary goals of this stream restoration project are to stabilize the streambank and bed, enhance floodplain connectivity, and reduce pollutants and sediment flowing into the Anacostia River. Additionally, the project aims to improve biodiversity and habitat by managing invasive species, reintroducing diverse native tree species, and incorporating habitat features using natural materials. By applying natural stream restoration techniques, this effort will help protect and enhance the ecological integrity and water quality of Buckhorn Branch.

 View design documents 

Construction is anticipated in 2025.