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Ecological Restoration Project

The Magness farm is a 160-acre dairy farm located in Maryland, owned by two major farmers. The Maryland State Highway Administration took upon itself, as its Environmental Stewardship Project, to restore the Magness Farm Wetland Restoration in Harford County, Maryland. The site had numerous problems, including a 1000 foot erosion gulley and a largest surface ditch that developed several flaws. This farm had undergone decades of environmental degradation, to such an extent that a large portion of the farm had never been productive. In addition, erosion by local citizens has caused thousands of tons of sediment to go into a nearby creek known as Deer Creek, where a population of trouts lived. The degradation caused by this approach had led to numerous health problems for amphibians who were deprived of a habitat. In addition, the nearby waters were being contaminated from chemicals by highway runoff. In order to increase pasture and, several pipes were added to the field for drainage purposes, and an open ditch was dug to control mosquitoes. This ditch facilitated the transfer of harmful nutrients and sediments to the Deer Creek tributary.

Deer Creek is an extremely vital body of water to the people of Harford County, Maryland, as it serves as the largest watershed in the county. It also contains much wildlife, fish, and vegetation, and is even home to several endangered species. Ultimately, it is a tributary to the much larger Chesapeake Bay.

The Maryland State Highway Administration made several improvements to this farm that led to the successful ecological restoration of the area. According to Governor of Maryland, Martin O’Malley, “The planting of more than 1,600 trees and restoration of wetlands will help provide a natural filter to reduce the impact of contaminated water due to highway runoff. This effort also will allow the Magness Farm property to continue to thrive as an active dairy farm while protecting the headwaters of Deer Creek, one of many tributaries vital to the Chesapeake Bay watershed.”

Second, the Administration incorporated cattle guards to keep cattle away from wetlands so that the newly created wetlands and forested uplands are not harmed.

Third, the Administration also took several measures to reduce the drainage of the Magness Farm. The excavated ditch was filled to raise the channel, and rock weirs were placed to control channel incision. New technology, such as bentonite fabric plugs were used to slow preferential groundwater flow, and several drains and spring development structures were removed as well.

The ultimate goals of the restoration are long-lasting and have great impact. The Administration seeks to achieve the safe and non-erosive conveyance of surface water. Additional goals are to restore forested wetland and vernal pool habitats. Next, it would like to prove water quality benefits for sediments and nutrients, and restore wetland hydrology by holding water on the landscape.

The Magness Farm Wetland Restoration has been widely applauded as an exemplary ecological restoration. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Western Shore Tributary Team, and Harford County’s Departments of Public Works and Planning have all conducted visits to the site, and the restoration has been published under the annual newsmagazine of Harford County.

The project was a success financially as well. The total cost of design, construction, and oversight of the project was $559,000, while the benefits of the project, including 7.5 acres of wetland restoration, 1100 LF of stream restoration, 66,000 cf of water storage and treatment, and intangible factors such as habitat value, groundwater restoration, and aesthetic value, and valued at a total of $1,420,000. This yields a cost to benefit ratio of 1:2.5.









Bibliography

Berg, Joe. "Restoration on the Magness Farm." //Maryland Association of Floodplain and Stormwater Managers//. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Jan. 2012. .

Edgar, Valerie, and Sandra Dobson. "STATE HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION COMPLETES WETLAND RESTORATION PROJECT IN HARFORD COUNTY." //Maryland Department of Transportation Homepage//. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Jan. 2012. .

Lewis, Deborah. "Enviro News." //Harford County MD//. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Jan. 2012. .

"Magness Farm Wetland Restoration." //Bio Habitats//. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Jan. 2012. .

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