Client/Owner: Frederick County Department of Public Works/Parks and Recreation Commission

Description: Pinecliff Creek is a second order tributary to the Monocacy River that flows through Pinecliff Park. Unstable conditions have so severely impacted the upper reaches that a wetland trail system installed by the Parks and Recreation Commission is no longer accessible to the public. Failure of a dam and continued instability along the upper reach is threatening to eliminate the water supply for an ice skating pond. Unstable channel conditions along the middle and lower reaches in the Park threaten adjacent athletic fields, parking lots, footbridges, and a newly installed water main. The Frederick County Department of Public Works is working with the Parks and Recreation Commission to restore Pinecliff Creek and the adjacent floodplain to improve the overall conditions along the stream corridor within the boundaries of the Park to prevent damage to public land and infrastructure and to reduce the need for future maintenance.

Significant Facts:

• Watershed reconnaissance survey was conducted of the 1.5 square mile watershed to identify problem areas and sources of sediment.
• Detailed assessment of the project reaches within the park was conducted. The assessment included topographic survey, hydrologic and hydraulic analysis, Level II and III Rosgen stream classifications and channel stability assessments along the project reaches, identifying and surveying reference reaches, and wetland delineations and forest stand delineations.
• A Report of Findings was prepared that summarized the results of the field and office studies and provided recommendations for a restoration approach.