2010 Annual Report - Maryland State Highway Administration
2010 Annual Report - Maryland State Highway Administration
2010 Annual Report - Maryland State Highway Administration
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Acres of Wetland<br />
Miles of Stream<br />
VII<br />
Environmental Compliance and Stewardship<br />
chestnut trees have a rapid growth rate and within a few years, will help offset<br />
carbon dioxide, thought to be partly responsible for climate change. Trunks on<br />
mature chestnut trees average four feet in diameter and can grow up to 100<br />
feet tall. The trees provide a food source for people and livestock as well as<br />
shelter for wildlife. SHA and ACF volunteers will closely monitor the newly<br />
planted saplings for any indication of blight and ACF will maintain the trees.<br />
This partnership to re-establish the American chestnut exemplifies SHA’s<br />
commitment to the natural environment.<br />
180<br />
160<br />
140<br />
Wetland and Stream Restoration<br />
6<br />
5<br />
Wetland and Stream Restoration<br />
SHA proactively restores streams and wetlands as part of its environmental<br />
stewardship efforts to support Smart, Green and Growing. The projects are<br />
subject to funding availability; because of severe budget constraints in FY <strong>2010</strong>,<br />
no wetland stewardship acreage was contributed.<br />
SHA was able to restore 300 linear feet (0.056 mile) of streams along a tributary<br />
of Tuscarora Creek in Frederick County, which helped improve water quality<br />
from highway runoff as well as provide a vital habitat for native wildlife. The<br />
project was designed to restore a stream channel after removal of dislodged<br />
concrete flume between MD 180 and US 15/US 340 interchange in Frederick<br />
County. The objective was to stabilize the stream banks and bed with natural<br />
channel design techniques and to reconnect the floodplain with the stream<br />
channel, which reduced the sediment coming from the river bank and<br />
contributed to improved water quality from this stream that leads into the<br />
Potomac River. It reduced stream damage and bank loss within the SHA ROW,<br />
improved unsafe conditions for adjacent property owners, visually and<br />
functionally enhanced the natural environment and improved stream habitat.<br />
120<br />
4<br />
100<br />
3<br />
80<br />
60<br />
2<br />
40<br />
1<br />
20<br />
0<br />
0<br />
2007 2008 2009 <strong>2010</strong><br />
Fiscal Year<br />
Acres of Wetland Miles of Stream<br />
Construction work on the Tuscarora Creek project.<br />
Wildflower Program<br />
<strong>Highway</strong> beautification involves improving the appearance of the SHA highway<br />
network through landscaping, community planting, and wildflower and<br />
reforesting programs. Through its partnership planting program, SHA works<br />
with communities, local governments and others to implement projects along<br />
state highways to enhance entrances to towns and neighborhoods. As a result<br />
of funding issues, the partnership planting program was suspended between<br />
January and June <strong>2010</strong>. However, tree planting and wildflower meadow<br />
establishment went well despite adverse weather conditions. More than<br />
25,000 trees and 128 acres of wildflower meadows were planted; the<br />
wildflower planting exceeded SHA’s goal to seed 125 acres of wildflowers<br />
annually.<br />
After construction of the Tuscarora Creek project.<br />
64<br />
STATE HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION | FY <strong>2010</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong>