Little Queenstown Creek

Waterway Improvements

RAUCH inc. provided engineering, design, environmental services, construction inspection, and construction management services for waterway improvements for the Town of Queenstown funded by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

The improvements included a one-mile-long living shoreline with a kayak launch adjacent to the Town’s wastewater treatment plant. In addition to protecting the shoreline, the project is providing nutrient pollution reductions in support of the state’s Watershed Improvement Plan (WIP) goals. The living shoreline is a “mud sill design” bordered by cabled logs with a jute blanket to secure native salt marsh species. This application served to dissipate wave action along the westerly 800-foot fetch and act as a sieve to increase reduction of silt and sediment deposits in the water column thereby abating pollutants from stormwater runoff. The project has also greatly improved habitat. Before and after pictures are included at right showing vegetative maturity.

Other project components included bulkhead and landing improvements, with replacement of bulkheads, pilings and decking of the Town’s docks. Dock work consisted of replacing the cap board, decking benches, slip sighs, and ladders. The scope of work also included removal of 662 cubic yards of sediment and dredge material from around existing piers, slips, and pilings, and pier and bulkhead repairs.

The project was performed in accordance with local, state, and federal requirements including U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, and the Maryland Department of the Environment.