Kings Eye
This project restored approximately 4,800 linear feet of the mainstem of Piney Run in Baltimore County, along with 9.5 acres of riparian forest buffer and 3.7 acres of floodplain wetlands, combined with other habitat restoration elements.
​The project was funded by grants awarded to The Land Preservation Trust (LPT). Design and permitting was funded by a grant from Baltimore County, and construction was funded by grants from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund. Working under an existing Memorandum of Agreement with LPT, Watershed Environmental LLC served as the lead on all aspects of the design, permitting and implementation of this project. In collaboration with team partners Confluence Consulting (design engineering) and 3DX River Restoration (construction), Watershed Environmental completed this project in April 2023.​
This project was funded completely or in part by Maryland's Chesapeake & Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund. For more information, visit http://dnr.maryland.gov/ccs/Pages/funding/trust-fund.aspx
Before
The reach of Piney Run on the Kings Eye property had been heavily impacted by historic agricultural practices on-site and within the watershed, as well as significant development and increased imperviousness in the stream's headwaters. As a result, the stream within the project reach was highly incised with high bed and bank shear. Most banks on outside meanders were vertical and actively eroding, contributing large volumes of sediment to the system. Just prior to the initiation of this project, a storm event in late fall of 2019 resulted in eroding bank migration of 6-10 feet on unstable outside meanders.
After
The stream restoration solely utilized wood imported to the site for stabilization structures while maximizing retention of existing trees along the stream corridor, resulting in both a high level of channel stability and dramatic increase in in-stream habitat. During construction, trout and other fish were re-located outside of the work area. Live-staking and planting of trees and shrubs using native riparian species were installed along unforested sections of the restored channel to provide long- term stability and increased shading of the cold-water resource. Adjacent to the channel, floodplain wetlands were constructed and planted. Only months after construction completion, MD DNR Fisheries staff observed brown trout spawning within the restored stream reach, and in subsequent years river otter and beaver have been observed within the restored reach. The project has successfully withstood numerous significant storm/flood events since construction with no loss of stability or function. Additionally, the landowner has established the Kings Eye Environmental Center on the property dedicated to promoting environmental education, share best practices, and foster professional development opportunities for students and educators.
