Flowing through nearly 438 acres of Montgomery County, Maryland lies Watts Branch Stream Valley Park. This park protects the Watts Branch. It is a tributary of the Potomac River. The park is dedicated to environmental preservation. It remains undeveloped for active recreation.
The story of Watts Branch begins long before it was a park. The stream itself starts in Rockville. It flows southwest for 11.2 miles. Finally, it meets the Potomac near Swains Lock. Its watershed spans approximately 22 square miles.
M-NCPPC started acquiring the land for Watts Branch Stream Valley Park in 1967. They acquired an initial 29 acres. The most recent acquisition occurred in 1996. This park protects Watts Branch. It also acts as a riparian buffer zone. This helps minimize stream bank erosion. It filters pollutants from stormwater runoff.
Watts Branch has a number of tributaries. These include Fallsmead, Horizon Hill and Cold Spring. Others are Fallsreach and Kilgour Branch. Research Blvd., Lakewood, Valley Dr., Piney Branch, and Sandy Branch also feed into it.
The Watts Branch watershed has seen much development. Rockville’s population more than doubled between 1960 and 2010. This development has degraded water quality. Stormwater pollution has affected the stream. Montgomery County and Rockville have undertaken extensive studies and planning. They have also implemented stream restoration projects.
In 1994, the county designated part of the Piney Branch sub-watershed. It became a Special Protection Area. This was to preserve water quality. However, after intensive land development, scientists found limited effect. Water quality declined where development occurred.
Luna Leopold lived in this watershed. He was a pioneer in fluvial geomorphology. He studied how water shapes the landscape. Beginning in 1953, he recorded changes in a Watts Branch tributary. It transitioned from agriculture to residential. Over three decades, overbank flows increased. Stream beds widened. The composition of materials transported by the stream changed.
Watts Branch faced challenges like erosion and flooding. These carried away trees used as markers. Sewer manholes became benchmarks for observing stream channel movement.
A total Watts Branch watershed remediation project could become a national model. It could demonstrate what can be done in a deteriorating urban watershed.
Today Watts Branch Stream Valley Park stands as a testament. It shows the ongoing efforts to balance development and environmental protection. It reminds us of the importance of preserving these natural spaces for future generations.