Environmental Overview
Natural Environment
The Waldorf area is located within the Lower Potomac and Middle Potomac watersheds in Southern Maryland. The majority of streams in the study area are classified as Use 1 streams, which means that they are in the 100-year floodplain and managed in such a way as to achieve water quality that supports water contact recreation and the protection of aquatic life. Major streams include:
- Zekiah Swamp
- Mattawoman Creek
- Timothy Branch
- Burch Branch
- Piney Branch
- Pages Swamp
- Kerrick Swamp
- Port Tobacco Creek
Wetlands of Special State Concern in the study area include the Cat Pond wetland system west of US 301 and numerous wetland systems to the east along Mattawoman Creek and the Zekiah Swamp mainstream and its tributaries - Jordan Swamp, Piney Branch, and Kerrick Swamp. They are regulated by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) for the water quality benefits they provide and as important fish and wildlife habitat. The Mattawoman Creek is an important spawning area for white perch and herring, which are anadromous fish (breeding upstream, similar to salmon) from tidal portions of the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay.
There are also large areas of contiguous forest cover that could support Forest Interior Dwelling Species (FIDS). These plants and animals depend on large mature hardwood or mixed forest areas such as those in the project area for suitable nesting, cover, and food sources.
The US Fish and Wildlife Service (US FWS) and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) have noted the potential presence of several Federal and State threatened and endangered plant, insect and fish species in the study area. Valuable and unique wildlife habitats capable of supporting these approximately 23 species are known to exist within the study area. Detailed field studies will be conducted to determine the actual presence of any threatened and endangered species during the next project phase.
Permits will be required from the US Army Corps of Engineers (US ACOE) and the MDE to help manage potential water and wetland impacts associated with the construction of any new roadways. Therefore, stormwater management and sediment erosion control plans will be prepared and implemented in accordance with MDE regulations.
