Project Brief
Wiles Branch flows southeast along the northern edge of Middletown, MD. This 1.5-mile tributary to Catoctin Creek had suffered extreme bank erosion in Wiles Branch Park. The erosion was so severe that it began endangering critical public infrastructure and private property along the waterway. We concentrated restoration efforts to target the areas of greatest need and, ultimately, we stabilized approximately 920 ft. of banks along Wiles Branch and its unnamed tributary.
Client Type
Services Provided
FSA acquired both the MDE & USACE Joint Permit and the NPDES permit for the project. Our design addressed multiple exposed sanitary sewer crossings in the stream bottom and protected a threatened shed, which the owners had previously moved due to bank erosion. To resolve these issues, we provided adequate bankfull width and floodprone benches, as well as revising the alignment. Limestone boulders were equipped to provide grade control. This restoration method provided credits to help meet Middletown’s MS4 permit requirements.
Both the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) MS4 staff and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers commended the project during a recent inspection. Park patrons have provided equally positive feedback concerning restoration results and the revised walking path.
