by Patricia Davies
Last Friday a small group of neighbors, escorted by Marlene Berlin, set off to explore the almost-completed Broad Branch stream restoration project.
Marjorie Rachlin and I had not visited the area before, so we were curious to see the work that had been done, and fortunate to have such a knowledgeable and enthusiastic guide! Ellen Malcolm had participated in the earlier tour given by the project’s head, Steve Saari from the District Department of the Environment, but was interested in seeing what progress had been made since that time. For a detailed explanation of the Broad Branch stream restoration project, please see Marlene Berlin’s write up for the Forest Hills Connection dated May 5th.
Ellen Malcolm, Marjorie Rachlin and Ellen’s dog Kendrick inspect the newly created stream bed.
I was rather surprised when Marlene said that the project was almost finished, because to an obsessive compulsive tidy person like me, there seemed to still be an awful lot of tree branches and other debris around, as well as pools of dirty standing water. However, when Marlene explained about bioretention, and I could see for myself the clear water already flowing in and out of the pools of water, it all seemed to make sense.
I was impressed by the huge amount of work that had been carried out, including the planting of hundreds of trees and shrubs. In fact there was someone planting trees while we were there – on the July 4 holiday! We also enjoyed sitting in the shade of the trees for a while, on very comfortable tree trunk benches, watching the birds and the beautiful dragonflies which are already very busy eating the mosquitos!
So don’t delay – head down to Broad Branch Stream and check it out very soon. If you hurry you might just catch a last glimpse of the ducklings before they are fully grown and leave Mama Duck to live independently!
Ducklings video by Marlene Berlin
Broad Branch Stream video and all photographs by Patricia Davies
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David Bardin says
Dragonflies and ducklings! How delightful.
Thanks!
David Bardin says
Enticing article, Pat
Who would have guessed?
Thank you!
Paul says
When will DPW install the pipes under Linnean Avenue — the pipes that have been stacked for weeks at the corner of Linnean and Broad Branch?
The area east of Linnean Avenue was regularly mowed (by DPW?) in the years before the daylighting project. Now with all the closely-planted trees and bushes who is going to maintain the property and keep the inevitable, rank weed growth at bay?
Marlene Berlin says
From Steve Saari, who heads up this project for DDOE:
Unfortunately I don’t yet have a solid answer on the install date of the pipes. They (the main contractor) are still having trouble finding a contractor to move the water pipe in the roadway that will allow for the culvert to be installed. We are now looking at a redesign that will allow for multiple smaller pipes so that the water line does not need to be moved, but I don’t have a final answer on that.
As for the rest of the questions, the area was previously mowed by DDOT (they own that land). They will continue to be responsible for the maintenance of that area once the project is complete. We are planting the open area to create a forested area like what is found below and above that area. It will go through a period of being scrubby as the trees grow. This is an inevitable part of the process.