Rock Creek Regional Park stretches across approximately 1,800 acres in Montgomery County, Maryland on the outskirts of Washington D.C. The beautiful natural area is home to two lakes, miles of woodland trails, and recreational areas, along with a wide range of fish and wildlife. Its namesake Rock Creek winds through the park, eventually connecting with other parks and natural areas in the region.

When an eight-inch sewer pipe broke in Rock Creek Regional Park, emergency repairs were called for to protect and restore the shoreline. PRIME AE performed the design for this urgent project and worked with Montgomery Parks to develop a restoration plan for a significant portion of shoreline along Rock Creek.

Our team jumped into action, developing comprehensive restoration plans that included permits, wetland delineation, floodplain protection, diversion along a popular walking, hiking, and biking trail, and the development of a Forest Conservation Plan. Understanding the critical importance of preserving our natural spaces and resources, we worked closely with the Maryland Department of the Environment and the Army Corps of Engineers to maintain National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) compliance.

Maintaining a construction schedule for the restoration project posed a challenge since the creek experiences significantly increased flows along its banks immediately following rainfall. To address this, PRIME AE coordinated a time-of-year variance from the Department of Natural Resources to complete the work while protecting fish migration. Because of our quick response and collaboration with the park and environmental organizations, the shoreline restoration successfully preserved the natural environment for visitors and wildlife.