Lake Frank Tributary Restoration and Outfall Stabilization

Join Montgomery Parks staff for a site walk on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, from 3:00 – 4:30 PM to learn about the upcoming Lake Frank Tributary Restoration and Outfall Stabilization Project. 

March 13, 2026 from 3:00 – 4:30 PM

Rock Creek Regional Park (14802 Lake Terrace, Rockville, MD)

 

Montgomery Parks is preparing to construct a stream restoration and outfall stabilization project along portions of the Lake Frank tributary and two outfalls to Rock Creek. The project site is located in Rock Creek Regional Park, north of Norbeck Road and west of Lake Terrace. The project design will provide stabilization of the bed and banks with grading and installation of stone structures in the channel. Montgomery Parks has worked closely with our arboriculture and natural resources teams to minimize the removal of vegetation, especially trees, as part of this project. There will be selective removal of existing vegetation to meet the goals of the project and prevent further tree loss from the channel erosion. Once construction is complete, Montgomery Parks will plant a robust and diverse mix of native trees, shrubs, herbaceous plugs, and seed to improve the plant diversity of the riparian area and floodplain.

 

Construction is expected to occur from spring 2026 through fall 2026, but that schedule is subject to change. There will be selective removal of approximately 27 trees prior to April 1st to comply with the Northern Long-eared bat time of year restriction. For safety, as well as expediting the construction schedule, the entire construction area and portions of the Lakeside and Lakeside - Norbeck Road trails will be closed to park patrons for the duration of construction. At the conclusion of construction, the trail will be reopened to the public.

 

• Stabilize eroding outfalls to reduce sediment entering Rock Creek
• Protect storm drain and trail infrastructure
• Halt tree loss along the channels
• Improve water quality by preventing erosion
• Enhance stream habitat 

This work supports compliance with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit issued by Montgomery County by the Maryland Department of the Environment and helps reduce pollutants loads below the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL). For more information, visit the project page: https://montgomeryparks.org/projects/directory/lake-frank-tributary-stream-restoration-and-outfall-stabilization-project/

 

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Montgomery Parks, encourages and supports the participation of individuals with disabilities. Please contact the Program Access Office to request a disability modification at (301) 495-2581 or ProgramAccess@MontgomeryParks.org

 

To participate in the site walk on March 11th click here.