Nice Bridge Off-Site Compensatory Stormwater Management: Bridging the Gap Between Landowners and Strategic Partners

Catherine Hoy
Steve Pawlak
Johnson, Mirmiran, & Thompson, Inc.
Hunt Valley, MD

Authors: Hoy, Catherine, Pawlak, Steve

In 2022, the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) inaugurated the new Nice/Middleton Bridge on US 301 spanning over the Potomac River from Maryland to Virginia. MDTA and its partners successfully addressed most of the stormwater management (SWM) and critical area impacts necessary for the construction and opening of the new span. However, additional credits were required outside the project footprint. To comply with SWM and critical area requirements, MDTA was obligated to design and implement 1,100 linear feet of stream restoration.

JMT, as part of the General Engineering Consultant (GEC) team co-led by JMT and WSP, was assigned the task of developing this project from site search through design and permitting to successful implementation.

The project identified a 3,000 linear-foot stretch of a tributary to Gilbert Swamp Run in the Lower Potomac Watershed of Charles County, MD. The design aimed to create a diverse and self-sustaining stream and riparian system that is more resilient to the impacts of climate change and watershed dynamics. It reestablished a natural valley-bottom ecosystem, improved biological and ecological functions, provided long-term protection for adjacent infrastructure, and achieved significant reductions in sediment and nutrients.

The presentation will focus on the process of identifying a viable project site, the importance of partner and landowner relationships, and the overall stream restoration process.

About Catherine Hoy
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About Steve Pawlak
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