Showing Its Age
A dock upgrade for accessible waterway recreation
By Brenda Iraola and Francis (Dingwe) Kang
The Patuxent River is considered one of the most beautiful sites in Prince George’s County in Maryland. The Patuxent River Watershed Act of 1961 recognized the river as a valuable natural resource worthy of protection. Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (MNCPPC) established a Patuxent River Park in 1962, comprising more than 7,800 acres of riverside parkland to protect the land’s natural resources and preserve its scenic character. The park offers a variety of amenities and outdoor activities:
Photo: Francis (Ding We) Kang
A visitor center
Boat ramps
Canoe and kayak rentals
Campsites
A pavilion
Trails
Historic sites
Fishing
Hunting
Bird watching
An observation tower with an accessible elevator.
In 1968, the Patuxent River was designated one of Maryland’s Scenic Rivers and is part of a vital ecosystem with a wide variety of plants and animals. Jug Bay Natural Area is the headquarters for the park. Programs for educators and the public include environmental and historical education programs, guided canoe and kayak trips, and pontoon boat tours.
Birds Flock To The Area
The Patuxent River at Jug Bay also has been designated an “Important Birding Area” by the National Audubon Society. “During most of the year, these marshes are filled with birds. The marshes hold one of the largest stands of native wild rice on the East Coast; the wild rice is an important food for birds migrating through the area in the fall and offers nesting habitat for many species.” (https://birdersguidemddc.org/site/patuxent-river-park-mount-calvert-historical-archaeological-park)
Photo: W. Bierbaum
Over 300 bird species have been observed at Jug Bay. Specialty birds can be seen, such as the bald eagle, osprey, great egret, great blue heron, red-tailed hawk, barred owl, and belted kingfisher, as well as many other year-round birds, including the Canada goose, wood duck, mallard, double-crested Cormorant, red-bellied woodpecker, downy woodpecker, hairy woodpecker, northern flicker, pileated woodpecker, Carolina chickadee, tufted titmouse, white-breasted nuthatch, Carolina wren, eastern towhee, American goldfinch, and bluebirds.
Selby’s Landing Renovation
Selby’s Landing in Jug Bay is one of three public boat-launch facilities along the Patuxent River in the county. It is also one of only six public boat ramps on the 115-mile river, the longest river that flows entirely within Maryland and leads to the Chesapeake Bay. The waterway habitat at Selby’s Landing includes tidal marshes and non-tidal wetlands. In 2016, the MNCPPC issued 476 annual boat-ramp permits, and 13,832 vehicles visited the launch site. More than 20 years old, this popular boat landing and fishing facility had deteriorated to the point where a total renovation was necessary, due to the high recreational use.
Photo: Francis (Ding We) Kang
In 2017, the MNCPPC project team formed a partnership with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (MD-DNR) to address the boat-ramp issues. The team recognized the need for accessible boat landings to reach the waterway trail along the river—the most important freshwater tidal estuary in the Chesapeake Bay region. The project’s landscape architect and park-facility director worked cooperatively with federal, state, and local agencies, and conservation organizations to ensure the river remains one of the state’s premier river greenways. MNCPPC partnered with various state agencies to generate creative ideas to fund the project. Grants covered almost 100 percent of the cost to demolish the old concrete ramp and dock, raise the new dock one foot to accommodate for sea-level rise, and rebuild an accessible boat launch with a wider ramp and longer timber dock.
Final project costs for the accessible dock renovations were the following:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Federal Sport Fish Restoration Fund: $265,136.25
Maryland Department of Natural Resources Waterway Improvement Fund: $88,378.75
MNCPPC (provided engineer and design funding): $31,140.00
Total Project Cost: $384,655.00
The new concrete boat ramp and fishing-pier extension allows anglers and boaters to use the facility simultaneously without interfering with one another. The project had to be constructed during the non-spawning fish season, which required a lot of sensitive schedule coordination in combination with only 6 months for actual work due to waterfowl nesting.
Here is a look at the renovated boat-launch and fishing-pier design facts:
Renovated ramp: It is 61 feet long and 15 feet wide with a 14-percent slope, and made of concrete materials and new flank walls.
Dock: Constructed of lumber, it is 69 feet long and 6 feet wide, with a 20-foot “L” extension, which includes a new 10-foot extension, designated for pier fishing.
Fishing pier: It includes a bench with a solar-charging station for phones, tablets, and/or other electronics (promoting MNCPPC Parks Department’s commitment to conservation and clean energy).
Brenda J. Iraola, ASLA, PLA, CPSI, COAA, NRPA, MRPA, is a Landscape Architecture Supervisor for the Park Planning & Development Division of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. Reach her at brenda.iraola@pgparks.com.
Francis (Dingwe) Kang, PLA, is a Project Manager and Landscape Architect for the Park Planning & Development Division of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. Reach him at francis.kang@pgparks.com.
Project Team
Francis (Dingwe) Kang, PLA
M-NCPPC Project Manager
Landscape Architect, Park Planning & DevelopmentBrenda Iraola, PLA, ASLA
M-NCPPC Design and Construction Manager
Landscape Architect Supervisor, Park Planning & DevelopmentThomas Baden, Facility Director, Patuxent River Park
M-NCPPC, Natural and Historical ResourcesBrian Stewart and Edward Hurdle
M-NCPPC Construction, Park Planning & DevelopmentDissen & John
General Contractor