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Environmental Guidelines

Guidelines for Environmental Management of Development in Montgomery County, July 2021

Note: This document provides guidance to staff, applicants, and residents regarding appropriate techniques to protect natural resources during the development review process.

The Planning Board approved updates to the Guidelines for Environmental Management of Development in Montgomery County (2000) (Environmental Guidelines). The current version adds specific environmental protection guidelines for land development located in the portion of the Ten Mile Creek watershed within the 10 Mile Creek Master Plan Amendment and the County’s recently created 10 Mile Creek Special Protection Area (which covers a portion of the Ten Mile Creek watershed) and provides technical updates to reflect changes approved at the County and State level since the last revision of the Guidelines in 2000. The figures have been redrafted and the document has been redesigned. See the link below.

View the Guidelines for Environmental Management of Development in Montgomery County (2021).

Details of Publication

Background

I. Purpose

II. Introduction

III. Natural Resources Inventory

  1. Streams and Floodplains
  2. Stream Buffers
  3. Topography
  4. Wetlands
  5. Forests and Trees
  6. Unsafe and Unsuitable Land
  7. Danger Reach/Dam Break
  8. Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Species and Species in Need of Conservation

IV. Guidelines for Development

  1. Stream Valley Protection
  2. Wetland and Floodplain Protection
  3. Forest and Tree Conservation
  4. Unsafe and Unsuitable Land Protection
  5. Danger Reach/Dam Break
  6. Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Species and Species in Need of Conservation
  7. Site Imperviousness Considerations

V. Special Protection Areas

  1. Goals and Objectives for Special Protection Areas
  2. Special Protection Area Stream and Wetland Buffers
  3. Expanded and Accelerated Forest Conservation Opportunities
  4. Imperviousness Limitations

VI. Implementation

  1. Development Agreements
  2. Conservation Easements
  3. Waivers to Base Zone Standards and Specifications for Environmental Reasons
  4. Exceptions to the Guidelines

VII. The Patuxent River Watershed  Primary Management Area (PMA)

  1. Background and Purpose
  2. Introduction: The Patuxent River
  3. The Patuxent River Policy Plan
  4. The Montgomery County Primary Management Area (PMA)
  5. Septic Field Requirements within the PMA

VIII. The Ten Mile Creek Watershed

  1. Introduction: Ten Mile Creek
  2. The 10 Mile Creek Area Limited Amendment to the Clarksburg Master Plan and Hyattstown Special Study Area
  3. The 10 Mile Creek Special Protection Area (SPA)
  4. Environmental Buffers
  5. Forest Protection

Appendix A

State Designated Water Use-Class List and Map for Montgomery County Streams

Appendix B

Stream Order Determination

Appendix C

Erodible Soils List

Appendix D

State Patuxent River Policy Plan Recommendations

Appendix E

Stream Types

Glossary of Terms

References

Table 1
Recommended Minimum Stream Buffer Widths

Table 2
Recommended Buffers for Wetlands, Springs, and Seeps Outside SPAs

Table 3
Recommended Buffers for Wetlands, Springs, and Seeps in Special Protection Areas

Table 4
Criteria for Determining Primary Management Area Applicability

Table 5
Recommended Environmentally Sensitive Land Features to be Included in the Stream Buffer Area

Table 6
Possible Best Management Practices (BMPs)

Figure 1
Natural Resources Inventory

Figure 2
Stream Buffer Determination for a Use-Class I Stream Using Steep Slopes<

Figure 3
Hypothetical Subdivision with Stream Buffer for a Use-Class I Stream

Figure 4
Illustration of Stream Buffers in a Use-Class III Watershed with Wetlands

Figure 5
Illustration of Stream Buffers in a Use-Class IV Watershed with Wetlands and Floodplain

Figure 6
Sample Calculation of Impervious Areas

Figure 7
Special Protection Areas in Montgomery County

Figure 8
Illustrations of Stream Buffers in a Special Protection Area Use-Class III Watershed with Wetlands

Figure 9
Upper Patuxent River Basin and Hawlings River Subbasin

Figure 10
Illustration of the Patuxent River Primary Management Area

Figure 11
Ten Mile Creek Watershed Regulated Areas

Figure 12
State Water Use-Class Designations for Montgomery County

Figure 13
Stream Order Determination

Environmental Guidelines cover - aerial photo of forests