This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Hillside Greenhill Stream Restoration Update: Part One

The final two phases are being completed concurrently.

Begun in October, 2011, the Greenhill/Hillside Road Stream Renovation project is now in its final two phases. According to McDonnell Landscaping, Inc.'s foreman Robert Thayer, they expect to complete replacing a pedestrian bridge with a much longer one and building two sets of streambed stair steps by the end of January.

The removal of the bridge began on Monday, Dec. 19, 2011, as Thayer dug into the bridge's asphalt with a backhoe, then built a temporary bridge and mulched path detour while the old bridge is closed for removal and replacement. The pedestrian path from the Hillside Underpass to the bridge was moved slightly to make room for the widened stream bank, and a new path paved, closing out phase one, Thayer stated.

He also mentioned that after the bridge is removed and a concrete crew builds an abutment for the new bridge, he will begin work on the first set of steps—digging 4 feet down to construct a seven-step staircase in the streambed by the bridge. These steps will then be covered with limestone rocks with the first truckload already on site. Thayer will anchor those steps to the new bridge abutment.

Find out what's happening in Greenbeltwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“The staircase is difficult work because nature doesn’t build quarried limestone to order,” said Thayer.

“The pieces are not uniform so we have to figure out how to stack the stones, some of which weigh about 1,500 pounds each, to get the right fit and required slope - they will be stacked three wide and two deep,” he continued.  The placement will be handled carefully to insure that the stair surface will look like it is all one stone, allowing the stream to flow down the stepped streambed and have its flow speed and erosive force softened, he said.

Find out what's happening in Greenbeltwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The eroded hill down to the stream from Hillside, which contributed much of the soil and pollutants to Greenbelt Lake, was covered with a jute mat and planted with a mix of temporary and permanent winter grass seed mix, and is just starting to green up. Additionally, the stream banks were covered with biodegradable coconut fiber, which plants can also grow through.

During a site visit, Thayer pointed to white flags that mark where trees and shrubs and other vegetation will be planted.  "They tell us that if we can't plant by the end of December, we'll have to wait for March," Thayer said.

As of Dec. 27, they have planted more than three dozen trees and shrubs, including tulip poplar trees on the stream banks and near the new storm drain on Hillside Road.

Look for part two of this story on Thursday.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from Greenbelt