(July 1, 2009) – Last week, the Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA), in partnership with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), began a $279,000 project to restore a 100 acre coastal flood plain forest to its natural condition on Rayfield Ditch, a tributary to the Pocomoke River.  Wetlands were drained to facilitate years of timber harvesting on the property.  The project is approximately seven miles south of Snow Hill in Worcester County on property donated to DNR by Chesapeake Forest Prodcuts.  The project should be completed by the end of the summer, weather permitting.

SHA will use existing timber that is located on the property to make log vanes and log drops in Rayfield Ditch.  Log vanes and drops duplicate natural log jams created by fallen timber or beavers and allow water to enter the stream’s floodplain, which will restore the historical and natural characteristics of the wetland.  Over time, log vanes and drops will allow natural stream sediment and silt to collect and become a permanent water diversion in the stream.

Allowing the water to reach the stream’s floodplain and creating the wetland at Rayfield Ditch will improve the region’s groundwater, as well as provide an enormous benefit to the area’s ecosystem by trapping debris and filtering water from active agriculture fields located upstream, hence improving water quality to Bachelor’s Branch and the Pocomoke River.  Additionally, the restored floodplain and wetland will provide enhanced habitat to native Maryland species, such as the Great Blue Heron and tree frogs.

A portion of the funding to restore Rayfield Ditch’s natural hydrology is made possible from the Federal Highway Administration’s Transportation Enhancement Program (TEP).  TEP grants are non-traditional, community-based transportation-related projects. The governor determines which projects qualify for funding based on need and potential benefit to the public. 

DNR is constructing the project.  Those who have questions about wetland restoration throughout the State may call SHA’s Office of Environmental Design toll-free at 1-800-446-5962.  Work underway along Rayfield Ditch adds to SHA’s goal of creating at least 200 acres of new wetland and restoring five miles of streams by June 2011.  The project is a part of Governor Martin O’Malley’s Smart, Green and Growing Initiative. 
 
Introduced by Governor Martin O’Malley in October 2008, Maryland’s Smart, Green & Growing initiative was created to strengthen the state’s leadership role in fostering smarter, more sustainable growth and inspire action among all Marylanders to achieve a more sustainable future. The Initiative brings together state agencies, local governments, businesses and citizens to create more livable communities, improve transportation options, reduce the state’s carbon footprint, support resource based industry, invest in green technologies, preserve valuable resource lands and restore the health of the Chesapeake Bay.
      
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