StonyRun.html

Lower Stream's Turn for Restoration

D.P. Munro

July 10, 2009

Plat Oners all know and love Stony Run. A dog walker's paradise, the stream separates Plat 1 from Blythewood and, north of Wyndhurst Avenue, Tuxedo Park from Embla Park.

After the abandonment of the Baltimore segment of the Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad in June 1958, the stream — which in a number of places abutted the railbed — was in good measure left to its own devices, causing quite severe erosion in places.

The upper (north of Wyndhurst Avenue) and middle (Wyndhurst to Evergreen) sections of the stream were reengineered in 2006 as part of a controversial $10 million restoration. The result, though somewhat artificial looking (see photo at right), is a stream that now appears to boast far more aquatic life than it previously did.

In June 2009, the city announced that the lower part of the stream, below Cold Spring Lane, would now be restored (contract ER #4010). The area of restoration will be Cold Spring Lane southward to the University Parkway bridge. Though many may not know it, the lower reaches of this area are in fact adjacent to Plats 5, County and City. (Can't recall the difference? Click here.) This area was unattractively buttressed with wire-mesh gabions many years ago. These will be replaced by riprap, as at the upper and middle stream restorations.

Two overviews of the project may be had by clicking the PDF icons below.For the truly hardy, at the bottom of this page is a series of links to a detailing of what is intended for each tree along the restoration route.

Click for project summary by Kirsten Day,

President, Friends of Stony Run.

Click for city stream restoration overview.

A prominent feature of Plat 1 right from the get-go, Stony Run is immediately obvious in this detail from G.M. Hopkins' 1877 pre-Roland Park map of Baltimore County. The stream at that time formed the eastern boundary of the eastern tract of the Capron estate, which, together with what is referred to here as the Kile property, went on to become the bulk of Plat 1. (Capron's western tract become Plat 2.) The railroad shown is the Baltimore & Delta Railway, later the Maryland & Pennsylvania Railroad. Click map to enlarge. Source: G.M. Hopkins. 1877. Atlas of Baltimore County, Maryland. Philadelphia, Pa.: G.M. Hopkins. _____ Home Sustainability Portal	Lower Stream's Turn for Restoration D.P. Munro July 10, 2009 Plat Oners all know and love Stony Run. A dog walker's paradise, the stream separates Plat 1 from Blythewood and, north of Wyndhurst Avenue, Tuxedo Park from Embla Park. After the abandonment of the Baltimore segment of the Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad in June 1958, the stream — which in a number of places abutted the railbed — was in good measure left to its own devices, causing quite severe erosion in places. The upper (north of Wyndhurst Avenue) and middle (Wyndhurst to Evergreen) sections of the stream were reengineered in 2006 as part of a controversial $10 million restoration. The result, though somewhat artificial looking (see photo at right), is a stream that now appears to boast far more aquatic life than it previously did. In June 2009, the city announced that the lower part of the stream, below Cold Spring Lane, would now be restored (contract ER #4010). The area of restoration will be Cold Spring Lane southward to the University Parkway bridge. Though many may not know it, the lower reaches of this area are in fact adjacent to Plats 5, County and City. (Can't recall the difference? Click here.) This area was unattractively buttressed with wire-mesh gabions many years ago. These will be replaced by riprap, as at the upper and middle stream restorations. Two overviews of the project may be had by clicking the PDF icons below.For the truly hardy, at the bottom of this page is a series of links to a detailing of what is intended for each tree along the restoration route. Click for project summary by Kirsten Day, President, Friends of Stony Run. Click for city stream restoration overview.	Middle Stony Run, Fall 2008 (photo: D.P. Munro). Click to enlarge.
		While the proposed restoration may not bring back the pre-development wonders of the Stony Run of old...
		...it may well compare favorably with the current, gabion-encased version (photo: D.P. Munro).
Tree Plans 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Stony Run:

A Plat 1 Delight

Lower Stream's Turn for Restoration