🚀 go-pugleaf

Tiny Human Ferret wrote:

> ableamison@my-deja.com wrote:
> >
> > In article <38DFEF1A.B1AF7F34@clark.net>,
> > klaatu@clark.net wrote:
> > > ableamison@my-deja.com wrote and I fixed their hideous formatting:
> > > >
> > > > In article <38DC034D.E7431F5F@clark.net>,
> > > > klaatu@clark.net wrote:
> > >
> > > <snips re Anacostia watersheds>
> > >
> > > > > What you should know about these headwaters is that they are not so much
> > > > > originated in run-off, but in groundwater springs. Run-off certainly
> > > > > contributes... but not all that much. The ground is not very absorbent in
> > > > > most seasons; the ground is sufficiently saturated so as to spring forth and
> > > > > form those headwaters' source. Almost all of the runoff cascading into the
> > > > > NW Branch of the Anacostia is already about the same as you'd get if you
> > > > > covered that entire part of the county in concrete, due to the saturation of
> > > > > the extant terrains.
> > > >
> > > > Then how did the ground get saturated in the first place?
> > >
> > > A combination of near-surface impermeable igneous rock shield-layer, and
> > > overlay of barely permeable clays, with a fairly thin layer of arable fines,
> > > sands and humus -- all combined with our very moist and rainy Maryland
> > > climate result in the saturation of the ground.
> > >
> > > Really, you should get some idea of the geology before you start making
> > > silly claims.
> >
> > What silly claims?
>
> That development would grossly increase flooding in the NW Anacostia
> headwaters.
>
> >
> > Are these "near-surface impermeable igneous rock shield-layer,
> > and overlay of barely permeable clays, with a fairly thin layer of
> > arable fines, sands and humus -- all combined with our very moist and
> > rainy Maryland climate" in the Anacostia watershed, or not? Would
> > development cover them with impermeable surfaces, or not?
>
> All of the described geology is there. Development is not remotely scheduled
> to cover them with impermeable surfaces. The area is zoned agricultural, and
> the only rezoning possible would be for residential on one or more acres of
> property. Such potential development by law requires impact studies and
> stormwater runoff ponds. Probably the net effect would be _less_ flooding
> and less sediment input in the upper NW branch of the Anacostia
>
> >
> > Big words don't mean much if they don't answer the question, professor.
>
> Consider the question answered. And don't call me professor, I don't even
> have a college degree. I do however read and have been known to consult a
> dictionary, and more importantly learn from those around me, whose knowledge
> I respect, even if I do not agree, after application of critical reasoning
> and my own researches, with their opinions.
>
> >
> > >
> > > And also, Montgomery County law, and probably PG County (or even Maryland
> > > State law) certainly requires construction of run-off catchments intended to
> > > impound floodwaters created by new concrete emplacement, and in fact a
> > > movement is afoot to require retrofitting for such catchments where
> > > practicable, as an effort to return the native trout to such watersheds as
> > > lower Rock Creek, and the lower Anacostia.
> >
> > I'm aware of these, and they're certainly progress, especially
> > bio-retention. Since you know so much, can you prove that these would
> > mitigate all or most of the runoff problem?
>
> I am not sure what you consider "proof" but I can direct you to some
> interesting resources.
>
> http://www.co.mo.md.us/services/dep/DEP/Indicators/watershed.htm is the
> Montgomery County Maryland Watershed Quality Control page, which has lots of
> informaiton under it, including a lot of maps.
>
> http://www.mde.state.md.us/environment/flood/index.html is Maryland's Flood
> Hazard Mitigation Program.
>
> http://www.mde.state.md.us/environment/sm_grwth/index.html is Maryland's
> "Smart Growth" page.
>
> http://www.mde.state.md.us/wqstandards/index.html is Maryland's Water
> Quality Standards page.
>
> http://www.mde.state.md.us/environment/wma/stormwatermanual/mdswmanual.html
> links to the PDF version of the Maryland Stormwater Design Manual.
>
> Most of the answers to your questions ought to be available in there
> somewhere.
>
> See also http://www.dnr.state.md.us/streams/index.html -- Maryland
> Department of Natural Resources Streams page.
>
> >
> > >The Anacostia near the area
> > > you're discussing (far NW branch) is in fact one of the better trout streams
> > > in Maryland. And never better than right after a nice heavy rain, even in
> > > the parts surrounded by fairly-recent construction.
> >
> > What does "better" mean here? And are the trout stocked?
>
> "Better" means that you can actually catch fish in it.
>
> As far as I know, all bodies of water in the State are stocked appropritely.
> Search under http://www.dnr.state.md.us/ to learn more.
>

Actually, Paint Branch is one of the only naturally recurring
trout populations in MD.

Of course, that's in a state that has no natural freshwater lakes, none.

> > >
> > > I think that pretty much lays the matter to rest.
> >
> > Go take a swim in the Anacostia. I dare you.
>
> I would have no problems with swimming in in anywhere north of Wheaton,
> which is the section under discussion. It's just not deep enough.

What about the Paint Branch Swimming Hole? Deep enough to dive into.

-BER