Tinker’s Creek Stream Restoration

Princeton Hydro and GV-Petro Joint Venture restored 41,000 linear feet of urban stream using nature-based design techniques within a highly urbanized watershed. Construction was completed in 2021, making this project the largest stream restoration in Maryland to date. Princeton Hydro continues to monitor the site and provide adaptive management ecological restoration services.

Prince George’s County borders the eastern portion of Washington, D.C and is the second-most populous county in Maryland. Working with Prince George’s County Department of the Environment and coordinating with the Maryland-National Capital Parks and Planning Commission, this full-delivery project is designed to meet the County’s Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) and its Municipal Separate Stormwater System (MS4) and TMDL requirements. This stream restoration project was identified as a priority due to the significant levels of channel incision and the severity of erosion and its impacts on surrounding neighborhoods. Additionally, the project’s proximity to the headwater reaches located on Joint Base Andrews, and the ability to improve water quality and wildlife habitat, made this project a high priority. It was an opportunity to provide a safe, sustainable stream valley in the community.

The design for the stream and all of the tributaries within the restoration area restored these channels to a naturally stable form. During the preliminary assessment of onsite conditions, the stream and tributaries within the restoration area were classified using geomorphic assessments and hydrologic and hydraulic analysis. Once the stream types and conditions were identified, a series of restoration approaches such as floodplain creation; bank stabilization using natural materials and plantings; re-alignment of straightened stream channels to have a more natural sinuosity; regenerative stormwater conveyance; and natural material grade control structures were used to reduce channel flow velocities and shear stress for flows greater than bankfull; reduce bank erosion and maintain bank stability; treat and attenuate stormwater flows; stabilize outfalls and the receiving stream channels; and stabilize vertically unstable channels. The project area contained various subsurface utilities, including sanitary sewer, along the entire reach, and fiber-optics and natural gas lines across the corridor.

The stream restoration project improves hydraulics, geomorphology, physicochemical, and biological stream functions through bank stabilization. It increases floodplain connectivity, improves bedform diversity, restores riparian buffers, and protects public subsurface utilities. In addition to water quality benefits, this project preserves and enhances the forested floodplain and provides ecological uplift throughout the entire stream corridor. Princeton Hydro led the site investigation, engineering design, and provided construction oversight of all critical structures such as grade controls, headwater step-pool grade controls, headwater valley RSC step-pools, bank stabilization structures, and stormwater outfalls.

Click here to learn more about the project and see more before and after photos.