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City Stormwater Projects
The water that runs off from hard surfaces like rooftops, driveways and parking lots is called stormwater runoff and carries a variety of pollutants into local streams. Much of Bowie was built by Levitt and Sons in the 1960s before important environmental regulations such as the Clean Water Act were in place. Bowie, along with dozens of communities across the state, is now required to take steps to improve the quality of water that will eventually flow to the Chesapeake Bay.
The City is actively engaged in several projects related to these requirements. The work will take at least five years, and as each project begins and ends, this page will be updated. You may read the stormwater retrofit assessment here. For additional information on any of the projects below or anything related to stormwater, streams, or water pollution, please contact the City's Watershed Manager, Tiffany Wright (by email or at 301-809-3043).
Woodhaven Lane Pond Improvements
In early 2019, a consultant began designing improvements to the Levitt-era pond on Woodhaven Lane, about 250 feet south of Whitehall Drive. The changes will include tree clearing, enlarging and excavating the pond footprint, and replacing the fence. Construction is expected to begin by August 2019 and should wrap up by December.
A stakeholders meeting was held on Wednesday, June 26, 2019. Slides from the presentation given at the meeting can be downloaded below. The engineering drawings for the project are also available below.
Spangler Lane Pond Improvements
Update June 2019 - trees have been cleared and construction crews are working on excavation and enlargement of the pond. The project is progressing on schedule and as expected.
A consultant is creating designs for renovating the pond on Spangler Lane (between Shelter and Starlight Lanes). Trees will be removed so that the existing pond can be enlarged. The pond will have a permanent pool of water that will help pollutants fall out of the water. Construction should begin in late spring 2019. This project is similar, though smaller, to the pond retrofit completed on Midwood Lane in spring 2018. A stakeholders meeting was held on Wednesday, July 25, 2018. Slides from the presentation and a summary of the meeting can be downloaded below.
- Presentation slides from the stakeholders meeting
- Status Report for Council summarizing the stakeholders meeting
Kenhill Center Bioretention
In the spring of 2019, five small stormwater treatment areas were installed along the back of the parking lot and along the side of the southern entrance from Kenhill Drive. These treatment areas are bioretention cells and rain gardens. Educational signage will be provided by the end of 2019 and will explain how the stormwater treatment works in these smaller, on-site facilities.
A stakeholders meeting was held on Wednesday, June 7, 2017. Slides from the presentation and a summary of the meeting can be downloaded below.
Midwood Lane Pond Improvements
The City’s first stormwater pond upgrade to meet these requirements was completed in the spring of 2018. The project on Midwood Lane adjacent to Belair Swim & Racquet Club included excavating the existing pond to provide a permanent pool of water. This helps pollutants that flow into the pond to settle to the bottom before the water is discharged to the Millstream Branch stream. The footprint of the pond was enlarged, and a new fence was installed around the pond. Below are links to before and after photos as well as a panoramic shot of the completed pond.