RK&K is proud to have been a part of the transformative Minebank Stream Restoration and Water Quality Improvement Project for the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) Office of Highway Development District 4, which was recently awarded an Environmental Excellence Award from MDOT.
The project incorporated the restoration of a 1,490-foot reach of Minebank Run and two unnamed tributaries in Baltimore County, MD to meet stream and wetland mitigation requirements.
“The project repaired severe erosion along the I-695 beltway outer loop embankment caused by an adjacent stream channel and failing storm drain systems,” said Department of Transportation Jim F. Ports. “Its completion was essential to protecting the infrastructure adjacent to the residential townhomes and addressing community safety concerns.”
RK&K was responsible for the overall project management, the stream design, erosion and sediment design, natural resources evaluation/permitting, geotechnical analysis, and structural design, along with preparing construction documents and conducting public outreach. This work was led by RK&K’s Water Resources-Transportation Group in Baltimore, with support from the Natural Resources, Geotechnical, Structures, and Construction teams.
The comprehensive design approach integrated the stream restoration with sanitary sewer relocation, outfall stabilization, slope repair, and stormwater facility construction. Through state-of-the-art 2D hydrodynamic modeling, RK&K created an integrated stream and riparian wetland floodplain complex that resulted in a resilient and sustainable channel, significant sediment reduction, and the creation of stream and wetland credits.
The Environmental Excellence Awards recognizes notable achievements in environmental compliance and sustainable practices across MDOT. The Minebank Stream Restoration took home the Sustainability award because of its use of innovative design strategies, science, and latest technology to achieve multiple environmental goals within one contract.
“The Minebank Stream Restoration and Water Quality Improvement Project is a great example of creative integration of transportation infrastructure, safety and resiliency improvements, and ecological restoration and environmental enhancement of natural resources within our communities,” said Ports.
Watch the award announcement below:
