For the first time in 50 years, fish can swim upstream at the Long Branch crossing of Piney Branch Road.
WHEATON, Md. – Montgomery Parks and the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) Purple Line completed a new fish passage project at a stream underpass of Piney Branch Road in the Long Branch community, helping to restore habitat for migratory fish and supporting local aquatic communities. The work was funded as a Purple Line mitigation project and involved installing a new baseflow culvert with specialized “fins” to increase flow depth for fish to swim through.
Fish species that will benefit from this project include the Eastern blacknose dace, creek chub, and white sucker. With additional water quality investments in the watershed, like the recently completed outfall restoration in the upper reaches of the watershed at Indian Spring Terrace Local Park, there is great potential for increasing fish biodiversity along this stretch of Long Branch.
The fish passage culvert project completed by Maryland Transit Solutions, the Purple Line’s design-builder, is part of the Purple Line light rail project’s mitigation efforts. The habitat restoration project supports Montgomery Parks’ ongoing water quality efforts, including promoting the health of the Chesapeake Bay. Long Branch is a major tributary to Sligo Creek, which is a part of the Anacostia Watershed.
“This stream restoration project represents more than just an environmental responsibility—it reflects our community’s deep connection to this stream and our shared commitment to preserving it for future generations,” said Ray Biggs, II senior project director, MTA Purple Line. “We’re proud to be part of a collaborative effort that brings lasting ecological, recreational, and educational value to the area.”
Additional efforts on this project included raising the stream bed and providing channel stability to support improvements to instream habitat and aquatic biodiversity. A healthy ecosystem will sustain a stable fish community and their specialized food sources, even in a highly urbanized watershed such as this.
About Montgomery Parks
Montgomery Parks manages more than 37,000 acres of parkland, consisting of 415 parks. Montgomery Parks is focused on promoting physical activity, social connectivity, and environmental stewardship, especially in diverse and urbanizing areas, with an emphasis on teens, working-age adults, and seniors. Montgomery Parks is a department of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), a bi-county agency established in 1927 to steward public land. M-NCPPC has been nationally recognized for its high-quality parks and recreation services and is regarded as a national model by other parks systems. MontgomeryParks.org
Accessibility
Montgomery Parks, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, encourages and supports the participation of individuals with disabilities. Please contact the Program Access Office at 301-495-2581 (Voice/TTY), MD Relay 7-1-1 or 800-552-7724 or ProgramAccess@MontgomeryParks.org to request a disability modification. Visit Montgomery Parks Accessibility for more information.
###