A local developer from Lanham donated $243,500 Monday toward repairing the Paint Branch stream in College Park, which is causing erosion in nearby land.
The Paint Branch stream flows behind buildings on Route 1 south. Some businesses located in front of the stream have experienced damage to the back side of their property, including land that has eroded and fences that have collapsed.
Developer Ken Michael donated the money to the Anacostia Watershed Society, which will use the money for stream repairs such as using rocks in the center of the stream to reduce the width of the flow of water, which would channel the flow and end erosion of the land, said Sen. John Giannetti, who introduced a bill in 2005 to restore the stream.
Giannetti said $1.5 million is needed for the project and he hopes to get the university to donate $250,000 to the project. So far, Giannetti has secured $214,000 in state funds for the project, according to a news release from his office.
Since the campus creek flows into the stream, Giannetti said he would be willing to include the creek in the project.
Erosion problems with the creek may cause developers to hesitate to move forward with projects because of concern over the potential loss of land due to erosion, Giannetti said.
“There’s a lot of development on Route 1,” he said, “and it also benefits the university.”
Compiled by staff writer Sharahn D. Boykin
