Newport Bay partnership outlines Hudson Branch stream restoration in Berlin; construction planned this winter

Jessica McIntosh, a coordinator with Maryland Coastal Bays, said Tuesday evening that the Newport Bay Partnership will begin a design and public-permitting process for a restoration on Hudson Branch aimed at improving water quality and habitat.

"We're going to be receiving $2,000,000 per year for 5 years," McIntosh said, describing the Full Watershed Act funding the partnership received in 2024. She told the audience that the money will support multiple projects across the Newport Bay watershed, including stormwater work, a septic‑to‑sewer conversion and the Hudson Branch stream restoration.

Steven, an engineer from EA Engineering, walked through the concept design and field assessments. He said the work focuses on recreating a more natural channel (the presentation shows a 6‑foot channel), creating an in‑stream floodplain to slow and deposit sediment, and installing log structures and pools to provide fish habitat. "There are 12 specimen trees" identified during the field survey, he said, and added that two of those trees on the downstream side are slated to be removed while most large trees will be avoided by design.

Engineers described the project footprint as a multi‑thousand‑foot reach of Hudson Branch: McIntosh referred to a "2,000 foot section" in the overview, and the engineering graphic later cited approximately "2,500 linear feet" for the reach under discussion. Organizers said designs are at the preliminary/60% stage and measurements may be refined before final permitting.

On timing and access, Steven said the team hopes to construct during winter to avoid in‑stream restrictions for fish breeding in spring. Active construction was estimated at "probably in the 60 to 90 day time period," with Ball Ranch Road identified as the primary construction access and typical earth‑work truck traffic expected.

Speakers detailed standard erosion‑and‑sediment controls, site‑cleaning stipulations and dust suppression measures to limit construction impacts. McIntosh said certified letters were sent to all property owners within 200 feet of the proposed work and that the town is the contact point for questions and written comments.

Permitting will proceed via a joint permit application that involves state environmental review and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Steven said. The project team emphasized they aim to minimize impacts to healthy forest stands and use on‑site material where possible, for example reusing felled large branches to build log habitat structures.

Residents asked about flood risks, property values and post‑construction appearance. On flood frequency, Steven said specific storm‑event elevations were not calculated in the meeting but indicated that overtopping at the local channel scale typically occurs near 1‑year events and that the team will provide more precise storm‑event information in written follow‑up. McIntosh said the partnership will compile meeting comments and provide written responses.

Next steps: the team will refine the 60% design, complete permitting, and respond in writing to questions submitted at the meeting. Officials said there will be additional public engagement opportunities as the partnership moves toward implementation.