Before

Arundel Rivers restored approximately 1,000 linear feet of stream in Caffrey Run, a tributary to Harness Creek in the South River watershed. This project is located entirely within Quiet Waters Park, which is owned and operated by Anne Arundel County’s Recreation and Parks. Arundel Rivers utilized a valley restoration design approach to halt erosion from the stream’s channel and banks, reduce the amount of pollutants flowing from the site into Harness Creek, and restore the ecological function of the stream. This project reduced pollution loads entering Harness Creek and the South River by 170.95 tons/year of total suspended sediment, 67.7 lbs/year of total nitrogen, and 96.3 lbs/year of total phosphorus. These reductions provide water quality benefits, support the lives of local wildlife, and enhance visitors’ recreation in one of the most popular creeks of the South River.

This is the first major project in a long-term partnership between Quiet Waters and Arundel Rivers to restore ecological function and protect visitor safety within the park. Quiet Waters Park is Anne Arundel County’s most visited park, welcoming over a million visitors each year. The project site is situated in a highly-visible location - near the ice rink, pond, main buildings, pagoda, and one of their most popular hiking/biking trails that crosses directly over this stretch of Caffrey Run. The prominent location of this project makes it an excellent demonstration of an effective stream restoration and stormwater management practice.

Before intervention, the stream’s erosion was actively threatening the structural stability of the pedestrian bridge that provided safe passage to those traveling on the trail. Streambank erosion caused a great amount of soil and pollution to break down from the site and wash downstream into Harness Creek. The stream channel had completely disconnected from its floodplain, which means that water flowing through Caffrey Run was unable to spread out, slow down, and soak into the ground as nature intended. This also means an immense loss of habitat for native wildlife like frogs, turtles, fish, and pollinators. With the completion of this project, the stream has been stabilized and the floodplain reconnected, providing invaluable wetland habitat as well as stormwater treatment prior to the water entering Harness Creek. The former eroded channel is now a wide, flat, and stable forested floodplain that allows water to soak into the ground and flow gently through the forest, rehydrating wetlands and increasing the habitat value of the site. The construction staging area has been transformed into a wildflower meadow attracting native pollinators and song birds to the area.

After