Baltimore County, 20 acres of existing forest on 3 MDTA properties that will be protected with a restrictive covenant, and future reforestation of approximately 7 acres. Critical Area Commission Banking ③ 491 trees and 1,836 shrubs have been planted for various projects within the Chesapeake Bay critical area. ③ The MDTA is working with the Critical Area Commission to provide ecological uplift within MDTA-managed and surrounding land to promote a more biodiverse environment than previously approved tree mitigation. Willoughby Beach Compensatory Mitigation This mitigation site in Edgewood, Maryland, was planted in FY 2024, and staff have been regularly monitoring and maintaining the site throughout FY 2025 and FY 2026. Contractors maintained the site through regular mowing, watering, weeding, and mulching. Willoughby Beach is one of the MDTA’s most successful mitigation sites, with only 100 out of 1,482 plants (about 6.7%) have been replaced since June 2025. Days Cove TMDL and Reforestation Site This mitigation site in Baltimore County was planted in FY 2024 to compensate for impacts associated with the nearby ETL-200 project. Staff have been regularly surveying the site throughout FY 2025 and FY 2026, and it has been maintained through regular mowing, watering, weeding, and mulching. Staff have adjusted the management of the site to adapt to changing conditions and needs; multiple rounds of mechanical and chemical treatment to limit the spread of common reed have been initiated, and staff have strategically selected replacement plantings to choose species with the highest rates of survivability.
and porcelain berry (Ampelopsis brevipedunculata) in September and October 2024. Poison ivy and other invasive vining species growing along the fencelines were removed and chemically treated multiple times throughout FY 2025. The contractor chemically treated and mechanically removed common reed growing throughout the site in February and May 2025, and 0.54 acres of floodplains and wetlands were then revegetated with wetland meadow seed in June 2025. Planting Accomplishments During FY 2025, the MDTA had 43 active projects, varying from highway construction to stream restoration. These projects resulted in the planting of 1,959 trees, 1,914 shrubs, and 13,921 herbaceous materials. Reforestation projects accounted for 1,233 trees, whereas roadside tree projects accounted for 170 trees and 7 shrubs. Project Natural Resource Impact Mitigation The MDTA performs mitigation for unavoidable impacts within the project limits or on the MDTA ROW wherever possible; however, in some cases off-site mitigation must be executed. The MDTA works with State and federal agencies to achieve appropriate and adequate mitigation for impacts. Below are several examples of the MDTA’s compensatory mitigation work. I-95 Express Toll Lanes Northbound Extension Through its I-95 Express Toll Lanes Northbound Extension project, the MDTA completed the following activities: ③ 22 acres of wetland restoration, enhancement, and preservation. ③ 13,000 linear feet of streams restored. ③ 6 noise walls constructed – 2 under construction, 4 planned. ③ 72 acres of planted or protected trees, including 20 acres planted within the Express Toll Lanes project limits, 25 acres of reforestation in
Governor Harry W. Nice / Senator Thomas “Mac” Middleton Bridge (US 301)
Water Although Maryland has relatively abundant water supplies, it is still critical to maintain and protect all water resources. Protecting water from contamination not only maintains water quality for drinking, wildlife, and recreational use but can also reduce water treatment costs. Management of Water Sources The MDTA is committed to managing stormwater and has initiated efforts to reduce stormwater runoff and pollution into the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, including developing a Geographic Information System (GIS) database and mapping system of the stormwater drainage network; building and maintaining stormwater management facilities to treat, retain, and promote infiltration; developing facility pollution prevention plans; installing silt fence on construction sites; taking precautions to prevent fuel leaks; and controlling and limiting pesticide application. Off-site Compensatory Stormwater Management – Restoration of a Tributary to Gilbert Swamp Run (Nice Bridge Bowling Property) The Nice/Middleton Bridge Replacement Project incurred impacts in the Lower Potomac Watershed where the MDTA offset those impacts through off-site mitigation at a site located on a private
parcel in Charles County. The MDTA required approximately 1,100 linear feet of stream restoration to meet Stormwater Management and Critical Area requirements established by the Maryland Department of Environment and the Critical Area Commission. The goals of the project included protecting drainage infrastructure via long-term stream/floodplain stability, reducing sediment and nutrient pollution from streambank erosion to improve surface water quality, and improving aquatic and terrestrial habitats. The project restored 3,026 linear feet of the existing unnamed tributary and created approximately three acres of wetlands, finishing construction in March 2024 and planting by May 2024. A total of 222 trees and 1,233 shrubs were planted on-site to meet reforestation goals. Little Northeast Creek Mitigation Site The Little Northeast Creek Mitigation site is located in the Northeast River catchment area within the Chester-Sassafras Watershed in Cecil County, Maryland. The 2.9-acre site provides off-site compensatory mitigation for unavoidable impacts to non-tidal wetlands and waterways associated with the Belvidere Road Interchange project. The mitigation site converted 1.6 acres of agricultural lands/reed canary grass monoculture to palustrine forested wetlands, enhanced 0.47 acres of existing wetlands and 0.83 acres of wetland buffer, and stabilized 700 linear feet of stream utilizing beaver
27
Governance, Risk, and Impact Report
28
Governance, Risk, and Impact Report
Made with FlippingBook Digital Proposal Creator