Little Bennett Regional Park

Technical Description:

• Span: 16 ft
• Rise: 7 ft
• Length: 16 ft

During the construction of the Little Bennett Golf Course located in Clarksburg, Maryland, a sediment spill wiped out the native Fantail Darter fish. The golf course is located within Little Bennett Regional Park, one of several Washington area county parks which is managed by the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission.

Montgomery County protects its streams by designating a watershed area as a Special Protection Area (SPA). Little Bennett is located in one of the county’s three SPA areas. With no signs of the fish returning after the contamination, a clear-span structure was selected to replace existing pipes in hopes of encouraging the return of the fish.

This CON/SPAN structure was installed with minimal disturbance to the area. According to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, following the installation of the CON/SPAN stream crossing, the species returned within four weeks. Step pools were created to accommodate the 12- inch elevation drop that had been created over the years by the previous pipe crossing. Trout were then stocked in the stream.

Technical Description:

• Span: 16 ft
• Rise: 7 ft
• Length: 16 ft