69. Beltsville Agricultural Research Center



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Introduction

This project includes a 9.8 acres forested nontidal wetland restoration/creation, 0.8 acres enhancement of farmed wetland to forested nontidal wetland, 2.5 acres forested wetland buffer restoration, and 330 linear feet stream restoration.  The site is located in the Anacostia River watershed (02140205) of Prince George's County, on Beltsville Agricultural Research Center land. 


Construction

The Maryland Department of the Environment, in conjunction with the Chesapeake Bay Trust, the contractor and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, restored this wetland through grading and planting in spring 2018.  The site was previously drained row crops that had historically been used for agricultural research.​ Construction included plugging/filling these ditches and grading areas to provide habitat diversity (e.g., areas that will hold water longer).  As it is adjacent to State Highway Administration and Prince George's County wetland mitigation projects, it is part of a larger wetland/stream complex. ​​ This site is protected in perpetuity through an agreement with U.S. Department of Agriculture.​​​



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Pre-construction - site was agriculture with drainage ditches

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During construction

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Fence was installed and maintained around perimeter of site to exclude deer

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​Site in 2022