Introduction

The Boonsboro School site is a one acre wetland creation located in the Upper Potomac River - A​ntietam Creek (02-14-05-02) watershed of Washington County.     

Construction

In Spring 2000, the Maryland Department of the Environment, in conjunction with the Washington County Soil Conservation District and the school, converted a Dry Stormwater Management Pond into an emergent wetland basin surrounded by scrub-shrub fringe.            

Pre-construction conditions

During Construction

During construction

Planting

Status

In 2007, MDE conducted intensive site monitoring which included installing IRIS tubes, evaluating the soil, monitoring hydrology multiple times during the spring growing season, monitoring transects, and scoring the site.  The installed IRIS tubes and the hydrological observations found sufficient hydrology to satisfy the wetland hydrology requirement.  During the multiple spring growing season visits, the soils were either saturated or inundated 1-2”.  Soils were not yet hydric, but it is expected that given the current hydrology, they will become hydric soon.  Vegetation is dominated by cattail, with smaller amounts of more desirable herbaceous and shrub (e.g. willow and alder) wetland species.  The conclusions from the observational transects also found that the site was a wetland.  Using the newly developed Mitigation Site Scoring Method, even with the high amounts of cattail, MDE gave this site the high score of 97/100.  This site provides many valuable wetland functions, including filtering sediment/pollutants, recharging groundwater, and providing habitat. 

Boonsboro wetland mitigation in 2006

Pickeral Weed

New York Iron Weed

It also provides educational opportunities through the school curriculum. 

Since this site is located on school property, access is restricted.  Click on this link to view an aerial photo and location information.