Glenmore Nutrient Mitigation Bank Restores A Portion Of Bren’s Run In Virginia
Davey Mitigation restored nearly 3,400 linear feet of Bren’s Run on a farm in Loudoun County, Virginia, stabilizing the stream and re-establishing habitats for native plants and animals.
Bren’s Run at Glenmore Nutrient Mitigation Bank is located on a 249-acre residential development in Loudoun County, VA. Before restoration, the site was a farm with a stream that had steep banks, 3 to 5 feet incised and undercut, with loose, eroding soil, which had caused channel abandonment and tortuous meanders in some locations.
The Challenge
After years of cattle grazing and other agricultural practices, Bren’s Run, a part of the Glenmore Nutrient Mitigation Bank, had degraded over time. Overgrown invasive vegetation, severe erosion, channel manipulation, and sedimentation all impacted the riparian habitat, instream habitat, and the stream's function. The challenge was not only to restore the stream but also to integrate the mitigation area with the surrounding development, which had transitioned from farmland to single-family home lots due to the sale of areas outside the floodplain to a residential developer.
Davey Mitigation was called to help restore the stream and the riparian buffer, which also resulted in the generation of nutrient mitigation banking credits in the process.
The Solution
In 2023, Davey Mitigation contracted with Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc. (WSSI), a Davey company, and KBS Earthworks, Inc. to restore 3,400 linear feet of Bren’s Run. Natural Channel Design (NCD) features were implemented to stabilize the stream bed and bank. As an example, the design incorporated rock sills, in-stream habitat log sills, toe logs, and modified cross-vanes. Approximately 7,000 trees were planted in addition to the dispersal of native seed mixes to help re-establish native vegetation in the riparian buffer.
The restoration was completed in the spring of 2024, and WSSI is currently monitoring and maintaining the stream’s ongoing progress.
The Results
Since restoration work was completed, Bren’s Run has become the focal point of the surrounding new residential development. The stream is now stable, and a recent assessment indicated it is operating at 99 percent efficiency. The restoration also created nutrient mitigation banking credits to meet post-construction runoff requirements under the Virginia Stormwater General Permit Program.
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