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Rock Creek begins from several springs above Fieldcrest Road in
the Laytonsville area, and flows approximately 21 miles before entering
the District of Columbia. In the District, Rock Creek courses through
the Rock Creek National Park before ending its journey by entering
the Potomac River near Haines Point. The Rock Creek Watershed in
Montgomery County has a drainage area of approximately 61.5 square
miles. Above Route 28 the upper watershed still contains many miles
of small headwater streams and streams in good condition. The Upper
Rock Creek Special Protection Area (SPA) includes the mainstem above
Muncaster Mill Road and the western side of the North Branch of
Rock Creek above Muncaster Mill Road. New development is limited
to 8% new imperviousness in the SPA. Designation as an SPA requires
use of enhanced plan review, sediment and erosion control, and stormwater
management techniques for new development in order to provide additional
stream resource and water quality protection.
Below Route 28, the watershed becomes highly developed, densely
populated, with a mix of residential, commercial and industrial
land uses. Prior development piped many headwater streams, impacting
aquatic habitat and stream systems. Much of the development in the
lower portion of Rock Creek was completed by the 1960s, consequently
little or no stormwater management was provided. The high level
of development and lack of stormwater controls in many areas of
the lower watershed have led to unmitigated flows that have damaged
Rock Creek and its tributaries. There have also been incidences
of acute water quality impacts in the lower reach that have damaged
stream health. For example, a toxic chemical released into the creek
near East-West Highway in 2002 killed thousands of fish as far down
as Pierce Mill in the District of Columbia.
Montgomery County Rock Creek Watershed Implementation Plan  (PDF, 43 pp, 2.32 MB)
The Montgomery County Rock Creek Watershed Implementation Plan recommends prioritizing full implementation of high and low priority projects during the County’s MS4 permit cycle through 2015. The Plan next targets implementation of other identified potential projects. ESD is emphasized on both public and private property, with private property implementation being linked to Rainscapes Program success. Finally, outreach and stream restoration are targeted for pollutant load reduction but not impervious cover credit. In future permit cycles, the Plan targets the remainder of the other identified potential projects in the watershed along with ESD and riparian reforestation for impervious cover and pollutant load reduction. Stream restoration is a significant strategy pursued for load reduction benefits. The bacterial load reduction does not meet MS4 permit area WLA. However, the remaining bacterial load is believed to be associated with urban wildlife sources. Unless intense urban wildlife management practices are implemented, this remaining load reduction will not be possible.
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