News

Ah, the first spring in a new meadow…. The plants are germinating, the Rudbeckia are growing quickly, and the whole thing is accidentally getting mowed to the ground.

All of these things happened in our meadow in the past couple of months, but don’t worry. Our plants are going to be fine.

Once they mature a little more, they’ll be doing great things to protect our watershed. They’ll slow down stormwater, filter out pollutants and reduce flash floods that erode streambanks.

All native plant gardens provide these important benefits. But they need a little help. Join us this summer to learn how to maintain a native garden by identifying and removing (sneaky) non-natives.

Fighting back against weeds helps a native plant garden do its job — and sets an example to the community about how to be good stewards of our watershed. Our meadow isn’t ready for this type of maintenance yet, but you’ll be able to check in on its progress while helping some of the more mature plantings at the Izaak Walton League.

The League grounds sit directly on a stretch of the Muddy Branch stream that struggles with heavy runoff from major roads and big parking lots, so your help will really make a difference! RSVP here to join us Saturday, June 26 (9:30-11:30 am) and/or Sunday, July 18 (3-5 pm).

The Seneca Creek watershed is very large- it covers 129 square miles. It is roughly bounded by Darnestown, Poolesville, Clarksburg, Damascus, Germantown, Montgomery Village. Laytonsville, and Gaithersburg. The headwaters of Seneca Creek are near Damascus and the mouth is at Rileys Lock on the Potomac River. Major tributaries are Little Seneca Creek and Dry Seneca Creek. It isn’t possible for just a few people to take care of it. There’s no shortage of creative ideas! Join us for an event, or ask us to help you organize your own.

Here’s just a few possible topics:

Canoeing and Kayaking

Communications

Cultural history

Education

Environmental equity and nature access

Grants and Fundraising

Journalism, Photography, Video

Multilingual outreach

Native plants and wildlife

Outdoor performance and visual arts

Policy and Regulations

Public outreach

Spatial data-GIS

Stormwater

Stream Sampling

Trails and Greenways

Trash Cleanups

Weed Warriors

Wetlands

Winter Salt

Do you want to “dive in” deeper? We welcome new directors who help guide our mission and activities. Directors serve renewable 2-year terms, commit to several meetings annually, and lead or participate in activities according to their interests or expertise. We also have an immediate need for a Board secretary and/or treasurer. Email us at [email protected] or call Deby at 505-412-1827 to discuss.

Secretary – Records board and committee actions; takes minutes at meetings; distributes meeting announcements, agendas and minutes; and maintains membership mailing list.

Treasurer – Receives and disburses all funds and manages the finances; files annual tax reports; keeps financial books and records; assists in budget preparation and fund-raising plans; and makes financial information available to the board, the membership and the public.

CONNECT WITH US–

[email protected]

www.facebook.com/Seneca-Creek-Watershed-Partners-104298247975989/

Local Watersheds

Seneca Creek Watershed Partners has a new Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Seneca-Creek-Watershed-Partners-104298247975989/ Check it out!

We are working to remove the old FB pages.

by Laura Friend

As terrible as the COVID19 pandemic is, it gives us all a chance to re-evaluate and possibly create a new paradigm shift of our community’s attitudes. We have a chance to re-center what we base our economy on. Either we go back to the status quo or change it for the better. A creative, resilient people can turn any lemon of a situation into lemonade.

For example, we can direct our efforts toward:

• Improving human health for all, which lowers the current and future pandemic risks for all
• Improving ecosystem health, which promotes resilience to climate change impacts
• Promoting green landscaping programs such as Rainscapes & other ecosystem friendly methods to address stormwater
• Building up community gardens and the “Food Forest” to reduce food insecurity and the environmental impacts of our global food markets
• Change how we look at natural areas and watersheds to a more holistic view

In times past, the environment has often been under-appreciated by the many due to accepted norms. COVID19 has given us a chance to shift this. More people are spending time outside surrounded by nature, and telecommuting has reduced air & water pollution. We can either go back to the former rat race of an economy based on “Producing & Consuming” or it could blossom into something grander with goodness beyond comprehension- an economy based on “Healthy Ecosystems & People.”

Mere words alone cannot explain nature’s complexities & health. These are better captured and understood when we interact with all our sensory systems in a fully functioning ecosystem. As the future comes flying towards us, it will not be enough for Marylanders to know only parts of things. It will be crucial that we understand all the parts of our planet, big & small, as one unit, with charity & balanced innovation. 

So, let’s get busy. What will burst forth from each of our efforts?

🍃 Laura Friend

Laura is a director of Seneca Creek Watershed Partners.

The City of Gaithersburg Department of Public Works is implementing a stream realignment and reinforcement project for Whetstone Run and Watkins Mill Run within Blohm Park. The construction phase is scheduled to begin late spring 2020 and continue into the fall. Replanting the area with native trees and shrubs will begin once the new control structures are complete.

Note that Blohm Park will be closed during the construction.

https://www.gaithersburgmd.gov/government/projects-in-the-city/watkins-mill-road-and-travis-avenue-stream-restoration-project

Did you know that when you shop at smile.amazon.com you can generate AmazonSmile donations for Muddy Branch Alliance Inc? Check it out! We appreciate your support!

We have worked with the City of Gaithersburg and several scout troops, to get approval and install informational kiosks along the Muddy Branch. One of these is in Malcolm King Park, and the other is in the Lakelands. At this time we are looking for input on what information could be made available. We believe maps, and information about the stream’s health is important. Are there other things?

We welcome the three new Directors that were elected to our board during our April 27 Annual Meeting. The new Directors are Mary Hlavinka, Olivia Ryder, and Steven Paul (in photo below).

In addition, several board members extended their terms on the Board. To view the full list of current Board members, you may find them on the About Us tab on our website.

A student from Gaithersburg High School created this wonderful map of the Muddy Branch Watershed, including the location of the Muddy Branch Trail, both within the City of Gaithersburg and to the Potomac through the County Park Land. Have you visited the trail today? Now’s your chance! Click here to download the map to your computer or device.

Please take note of this important planning process in the City of Gaithersburg.

Gaithersburg, as an incorporated city, is subject to the Land Use Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. Land Use Division 1, §3-301(a) Plan Revisions requires the City’s comprehensive master plan to be reviewed and if necessary revised and amended at least once every 10 years. Land Use Division I, §3-102(a)(1)(i) Elements-Municipal Corporations requires the City to include a Community Facilities Element into the comprehensive plan.

Parks, Recreation & Culture is the second element of the 2018 Master Plan Update to be reviewed. This Element is an amendment to the 2003 Community Facilities Element. Parks, Recreation & Culture will present recommendations for the City’s continued parks, recreation, and cultural arts programming while being consistent with the State and City visions. The Element addresses City’s mission, as defined in the Annual Strategic Plan, by providing recommendations for future development, programs, and actions within the City in a sustainable manner that will meet the leisure, fitness, cultural, and other quality-of-life needs of Gaithersburg residents. Public comment is invited prior to and during the joint public hearing on the Parks, Recreation & Culture Element.

Process Status
The City has been receiving comments on the plan from those interested in Parks and land use in the City. A Joint Public Hearing for MP-1-19 is scheduled for Monday, May 6, 2019. Testimony will be taken during this public hearing. Comments may be submitted in writing while the Planning Commission and City Council records remain open either in person at City Hall, emailed to [email protected], or mailed to this address: City of Gaithersburg Planning Department, 31 South Summit Avenue, Gaithersburg, MD 20877.

• Index of Memoranda
• Exhibit 1 – Public Hearing Draft Element
• Exhibits 2 – 5