This flood mitigation project, located along Glenhaven Drive and Dennis Avenue in Wheaton, will excavate and expand the stream channel upstream of the Wheaton Regional Pond and modify the pond's riser structure. This project will be constructed in parallel with the Department of Transportation's (DOT) Dennis Avenue bridge replacement. The two projects will modify the current 100-year floodplain boundary just upstream of the pond. The post-project 100-year floodplain will not include the residential properties located in the current 100-year floodplain.

The riser modification and channel design began in FY18 with the riser repair construction expected to start in FY27 and conclude in FY28. The excavation of the channel will occur in coordination with DOT's culvert replacement in FY26.

An engineering analysis by the Department of Environmental Protection indicates that the effect of the riser structure associated with the Wheaton Regional Pond, the Dennis Avenue Culvert, and an undersized stream channel along Glenhaven Drive, cumulatively, will cause flooding of roads and private property upstream of the pond during a 100-year storm event. Flooding of adjacent roads and private property has already occurred in 2006 and 2010.

In FY26, the funding source was updated to remove Water Quality Protection Bonds and State Aid and replace it with a low-interest loan from the Maryland Department of Emergency Management. In addition, a fund switch moved $179,000 in previously expended WQP Bonds to Current Revenue; Water Quality Protection. In FY25, $989,000 in Current Revenue: Water Quality Protection replaced that amount of Water Quality Bonds. In FY24, State Aid increased $96,000 to reflect a State grant for tree planting, with an offsetting reduction in Water Quality Protection Bonds.

The County Executive asserts that this project conforms to the requirement of relevant local plans, as required by the Maryland Economic Growth, Resource Protection and Planning Act.

Department of Transportation, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Maryland Emergency Management Agency, Dennis Ave Bridge M-0194 Replacement (No. 501701)