The six-month landscape warranty inspection was performed in late September. The horticulturists found that some trees and shrubs were in need of replacement. Cicadas had attacked a number of oak seedlings. Deer had dined on other tree species and some of the shrubs.

In early October, the ailing trees and shrubs were replaced with sycamores, northern red oaks, tuliptrees and witchhazel. Invasive species on the tree cages were removed. In addition, the contractor brought top soil and additional grass seed to cover the areas that haven’t been revegetating.

The Fall/Winter edition of the inGaithersburg magazine includes an article about this project. A copy of the article can be found in the Documents section of this page. 

The new channel and structures in Whetstone Run were stable in a post-Hurricane Ida inspection. A 6-month warranty inspection of the plantings is scheduled for the fall. The planning process for new park amenities is underway. An article about this project will be published soon in the Fall issue of inGaithersburg Magazine.

Photo: Wetland grasses are filling in quite nicely in the newly created floodplain. These plants will take up excess nutrients that formerly flowed downstream to Great Seneca Creek, the Potomac River, and the Chesapeake Bay.

Trees, shrubs, grasses, and “plugs” of a variety of wetland species were planted in April and have been establishing since then.  A few volunteer willow trees and cattails have been spotted in the reconstructed floodplain. There doesn’t appear to be cicada damage on the newly planted trees.

The majority of the park is open now.  Areas where the new vegetation is still establishing are surrounded by orange construction fencing and remain closed.

Wetlands areas along Whetstone Run have been planted with species that thrive in the wet environment of a connected floodplain.

The grading for Whetstone Run’s new stream channel and floodplain was completed in March. The landscaping is scheduled to begin on April 10.  The park will continue to be closed until the vegetation is established. The plans for park amenities that fit with the new stream configuration are in their early stages.

Photo: The geese are enjoying the restored stream channel. If you’re missing a bike, please contact Public Works and we’ll have someone fetch it for you.

Despite the poor weather in February, the in-stream work was completed. A new channel for Whetstone Run conveys its flow from Watkins Mill Road downstream to the PEPCo property. After rainfall events, the stream leaves its banks and covers the newly created floodplain. The final touches on the floodplain grading will be completed in March. Replanting the project area with native trees, shrubs, grasses and wetland plants is scheduled for April.

Photo: The degradable matting in the floodplain areas will hold the soil in place until the landscaping is established.

The wet weather at the holidays slowed progress on the final two phases of the project. Grading is now expected to continue into early February. Site clean-up will precede the landscaping scheduled for April.

 
New wetland areas are forming near the banks of Whetstone Run.

Work on Whetstone Run’s Phases 4 & 5 continued simultaneously in December. The work was slowed, however, due to the weather and the holidays. Rain & snowfall events along with low temperatures means that the construction schedule will be extended.  Replanting continues to be scheduled for mid-April.

Photo: Geofabric & boulders being placed to protect the restored bank channel.

The grading work continues to be on schedule with work in two phases of Whetstone Run underway simultaneously. The reconfigured channels in Whetstone Run are full on days with no wet-weather flow. After rainfall events, the channel overflows into the floodplain. The floodplain will soon be converted into wetlands. Some of the trees taken down on the site are being reused as toe-wood extending from the banks of the new channel. Until trees regenerate in the floodplain, aquatic life will be able to stay out of the mid-day sun underneath the submerged toe-wood.

Photo: Toe-wood visible beneath Whetstone Run’s water surface.

Construction of the restoration in Watkins Mill Run is complete both upstream and downstream of the pond. The lowest segment of Whetstone Run, near the PEPCo property, is also complete. In early October, work on the longest segment of Whetstone Run was started. The new floodplain areas in this phase are already starting to retain stream flow after rainfall events. The design intends for these floodplains to become wetlands. Once all the grading work is completed in early 2021, replanting the project areas with native trees, shrubs and wetland grasses will occur when the weather warms in April.

Photo: Phase 1.

Construction is underway in Watkins Mill Run (Phases 1 and 3) of the project. The grading work in these phases is expected to be complete by the end of September. The work on the most downstream reach of Whetsone Run (Phase 2) will be completed soon, too. Crews will move to begin grading in Phase 4, a section of Whetstone Run, in early October. The project remains on schedule with grading to be completed in early January.