Who is the Gunpowder Valley Conservancy?
The Gunpowder Valley Conservancy(GVC) is a non-profit organization,which mobilizes people and resources to care for the lands, waters and character of the Gunpowder Watershed.Its emphasis is on land preservation,restoration, stream cleanups and education.
The GVC serves as a bridge connecting citizens with programs and information that can help them become better stewards of the natural and historical resources in our watershed.
About the Project
The purpose of the project is to preserve Jennifer Branch by assisting residents within the Jennifer Branch watershed, (Carney and Cub Hill residents), to beautify their yards while simultaneously improving the health of Jennifer Branch and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay.
Residents, community organizations and businesses are being offered educational information through this literature about the Jennifer Branch watershed, the problems it faces, and the practical and simple solutions, especially for residents, that will help to restore Jennifer Branch to a more naturally functioning and balanced stream and riparian (stream bank) system that will measurably improve the water quality of the Jennifer Branch.
Watershed:
- Jennifer Branch is a tributary (see vocabulary section) of the Lower Gunpowder Falls, which is a tributary of the Gunpowder River, which flows in the Chesapeake Bay.
- The Jennifer Branch watershed is 2.21 square miles (1,415 acres)
- Jennifer Branch is an urban watershed that drains portions of Carney, Cub Hill and Parkville.
- Land Use – 71% residential, 2% commercial; 26% forest and 1% farm
- Jennifer Branch watershed is 38% impervious surface - rooftops, roads, parking lots, etc. These impervious surface areas prevent rain and snow from draining into the ground, increasing storm water runoff.
The Problems Surrounding Jennifer Branch
Much of the development, particularly the home building, in Jennifer Branch happened before storm water was regulated, beginning with the Clean Water Act of 1972.
When development occurs without anything to control storm water there is an increase in storm water runoff entering the neighboring streams. As this water travels over roads, roofs, lawns, and driveways it gathers sediments (dirt, sand, etc.) and harmful pollutants (oil, fertilizer, etc.). In the natural condition, which is forest, this water would soak into the ground without picking up these harmful substances. Because of these impervious surfaces, Jennifer Branch receives more water and pollution than the stream can handle.
Upstream portions of Jennifer Branch also have deeply eroded channels and are confined by infrastructure (sewer lines), private structures (garages or houses), artificial fill (Gabion Baskets, see below), and homemade retaining walls.
The eroded banks add sediment to the water. When the water slows down after a storm this excess sediment is deposited in the downstream portions of Jennifer Branch. This leads to more erosion and other water quality issues (such as suffocating fish) down stream in Jennifer Branch. When it’s very rainy, the sediment will make its way to the Gunpowder River and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay where it settles, degrading fish and crab habitat.
County infrastructure, including sanitary sewer lines, manholes and storm drains can clog or be blocked from too much sediments and trash. This can lead to costly sewer main breaks and other flooding.
Jennifer Branch has lost much of this forested zone (Zone of Influence) and a vegetated stream bank (Riparian Zone) contributing to the degradation of the in stream water quality.
Species known as Non-native Species to Maryland, including plant and animal life, are able to invade ecosystems especially when they become heavily impacted by development. In Jennifer Branch, non-native species can be found because of the loss of the biodiversity in the different zones.
A loss of native species contributed to the decline in biodiversity which is essential to the health of an ecosystem or in this case Jennifer Branch.
As a landowner in the Jennifer Branch Watershed you may be faced with problems such as...
- Erosion of your sloped yard or stream banks on your property
- Excessive runoff from your roof or driveway
- Flooding of lower parts of your property from excess storm water
- Non-native species in your yard.
Download the entire Jennifer Branch Spring Factsheet
