RESTORING ENVIRONMENTALLY DAMAGED LANDS
FOR PUBLIC USE AND CONSERVATION
by
Richard J. Dolesh
Chief of Interpretation and Conservation
The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission
6707 Green Landing Road
Upper Marlboro, Maryland 20772-7616
ABSTRACT
The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) has
completed over a dozen restoration projects on environmentally damaged lands
in
Prince George's County, Maryland, utilizing non-traditional funding sources
and
innovative methods. The majority of projects involved the reclamation of
abandoned
sand and gravel mines, and included the recreation or creation of freshwater
non-
tidal wetlands. Among the techniques used in the restoration or recreation
of
wetland areas are site assessment and evaluation of existing natural features
prior
to restoration, through hydrology and soil studies, and the use of a self-operated
native wetland plant nursery. Most projects utilized volunteers during and
after
construction, and all projects had public use and wildlife habitat improvement
as a
goal.
INTRODUCTION
The Maryland-National Capital Park-and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) is
responsible for parks, recreation, and planning in Prince George's County,
Maryland,
a rapidly urbanizing county of metropolitan Washington, D.C. Rich sand and
gravel
deposits located throughout the county have been extensively mined for more
than
two hundred years. Historically, there were very few controls on the surface
mining
of sand and gravel, and until recently, sites were often left in a scarred
and degraded
condition from mining operations. Marginal or mined out sites were often
abandoned
with little or no attempt at reclamation.
For many reasons, the M-NCPPC acquired a large number of these abandoned
mine
sites as park property. Most often they were acquired because they were located
in or near stream valleys and river floodplains and, thus were included in
stream
valley and river park land acquisition programs.


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