Upper Rock Creek Special Protection Area Environmental Review
Intercounty Connector
As part of its evaluation of the design of the ICC, the Planning Board this month will review the proposed environmental and water resource protection measures for the section of highway that crosses through the Upper Rock Creek Special Protection Area (SPA). The board will advise the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) as they move through the permitting approval process.
On February 21, the board will hold a public hearing on the protection plan, which applies to about 1 mile between Muncaster Mill Road and the North Branch of Rock Creek. The review also will cover areas from the watershed that drains into the SPA. Read the staff report.
SPA Review Documents
NOTE: We are in the processing of posting files. Some files are large and may take several minutes to download. To review a hard copy, visit the Montgomery County Planning Department, 8787 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring or call Steve Federline, 301-495-4550.
Concept Plan Summary
Describes stormwater management - a system of infiltration in the roadway median and a series of storage cells along the roadway. The stormwater management plan, called “Plan B,” refines the original concept.
- Concept drainage plan B map (pdf, 14.46MB)*
- Concept drainage plan B description (pdf, 2.12MB)*
Montgomery County Special Protection Areas and the ICC
Highlights measures by state and federal agencies proposed to provide extraordinary water quality treatment in both the Upper Rock Creek and Upper Paint Branch Special Protection Areas. View summary* and appendices
Mandatory Referral Package for Upper Rock Creek SPA
Summarizes the State Highway Administration commitments for the Upper Rock Creek SPA.
View summary* and appendices
Final Stormwater Management Report
Technical analysis of the proposed stormwater management design, demonstrating both water quantity treatment and water quality treatment requirements. View summary (pdf, 25.71MB)*.
Roadway Design Plans
Shows how the stormwater management relates to the other elements of roadway design. The plans incorporate measures designed to reduce impacts to environmental resources. View summary (pdf, 34.31MB)*.
Planning Department Staff Report, Recommendations
Planning Department, the Parks Department, and the Department of Permitting Services staff have reviewed the SHA’s roadway plans over the past three months. The result of that review are in the staff’s recommendations to the Planning Board.
Previous Planning Board Reviews
The Planning Board and county agencies, together with state and federal agencies, have developed a local review process for environmental protection in Special Protection Areas during ICC roadway design. The review process is highlighted in the following documents:
- Chairman’s Mandatory Referral Correspondence (pdf, 3.6MB)*
Comment #6 relates to the SPA - Status Report #4 (pdf, 5.58MB)*
- Status Report #5 (pdf, 870KB)*
- Status Report #11 (pdf, 1.30MB)*
- Status Report #12 (pdf, 178KB)*
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