ANNAPOLIS, MD (August 7, 2002) – The Maryland Board of Public Works approved today a grant of $275,000 for Montgomery County to proceed with its project to retrofit a pond located in the City of Gaithersburg.

“The beneficial impacts of this proposed project are improved downstream water quality and quantity controls that will be provided,” said Governor Parris N. Glendening.

The project to upgrade the existing pond at Christman Park, located off of West Deer Park Drive in Gaithersburg, consists of the design and construction of improvements to the pond’s existing hydraulic control structures, creation of a wetland forebay, providing a submerged safety bench around the perimeter of the pond, landscaping to enhance the facility and any other feasible items that will improve water quality to the maximum extent possible.

A primary goal of the project is to provide stormwater management and runoff control from about 100 acres in the area, which is primarily residential. The project will improve stormwater management and reduce non-point source pollution – including nutrients and sediment – discharging into Muddy Branch, a tributary to the Potomac River, according to Gaithersburg City Manager David. B. Humpton.

“The City of Gaithersburg is very pleased to receive a state grant for retrofitting the existing pond at Christman Park,” Humpton said. “The need to replace undersized storm drain pipes below the pond and other complications led to higher costs than originally anticipated. The state has always been supportive of the city’s pond retrofit program. On this project, their decision to increase the amount of the grant to help offset increased construction costs made the difference that allowed us to move forward with the Christman Pond project.

“The state’s response to our needs demonstrated what a tremendous asset their grant program is for city and county governments,” Humpton added. The funds will come from the Maryland Department of the Environment’s Water Quality Infrastructure Program.

The total cost of the project is $423,000 of which $148,000 is the local share being paid by Montgomery County. Construction is expected to begin this month with a completion date sometime in November.

###​