Doing a 1980’s Retro!

Quail Valley 1 Stormwater Pond Retrofit  

Do you miss leg warmers and 80’s rock band hair? Well, this is not quite that kind of retro! The Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection kicked off construction work on the Quail Valley 1 stormwater management pond retrofit project in April 2021.  Located in the Montgomery West neighborhood in East Montgomery Village within the Great Seneca Creek watershed, this pond will receive a major renovation over the next six months.   

Quail Valley 1 Stormwater Pond Retrofit Project Construction Kickoff Meeting April 1, 2021.

The pond was originally constructed in the early 1980s (hence the reference 😊) prior to current stormwater management standards.  As a result it was determined to need major structural repairs to perform properly.  Rather than performing only those repairs needed to reestablish the original function, DEP set out to redesign the pond to improve its performance, safety and aesthetics.  The retrofit includes:

1. Converting the pond from a dry pond to a wet pond in order to improve water quality treatment of stormwater that flows into the pond.
2. Reconstructing the dam embankment to prevent water seepage through the dam and potential dam failure.
3. Replacing old deteriorated pond structures such as the riser and spillway pipe and
4. Planting 369 aquatic plants around the perimeter of the new pond, 54 trees and shrubs on side slopes and area surrounding the pond creating better habitat.  

Quail Valley 1 Stormwater Pond (pre retrofit). 

Improving water quality – one pond at a time!

The Quail Valley 1 Stormwater Pond is just one of many ponds in Montgomery County that have been transformed to improve water quality treatment, extend service life and provide a community amenity that current and future residents can enjoy.  This and many other restoration projects are part of Montgomery County’s ongoing commitment to maintaining and improving conditions in our local streams and in the Chesapeake Bay. 

These projects also assist in complying with regulatory requirements in the County’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit. 

To learn more about these restoration projects, visit the Department of Environmental Protection website.