ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2007
UT to Adams Creek Mitigation Site
Cabarrus County
TIP No. R-2533B (Site 24)
Prepared By:
Natural Environment Unit & Roadside Environmental Unit
North Carolina Department of Transportation
May 2007
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SUMMARY........................................................................................................................1
1.0 INTRODUCTION:.................................................................................................2
.1 Project Description ...................................................................................2
.2 Purpose .....................................................................................................2
.3 Project History...........................................................................................2
2.0 STREAM ASSESSMENT: ..................................................................................5
.1 Success Criteria .......................................................................................5
.2 Stream Description...................................................................................5
.2.1 Post Construction Conditions .................................................................5
.2.2 Monitoring Conditions..............................................................................5
.3 Results of Stream Monitoring ................................................................6
.3.1 Site Data ....................................................................................................6
3.0 VEGETATION.......................................................................................................7
.1 Description of Species.............................................................................7
.2 Results of Vegetation Monitoring ...........................................................7
.3 Conclusions...............................................................................................7
4.0 OVERALL CONCLUSIONS/RECOMMENDATIONS .....................................7
5.0 REFERENCES: ...................................................................................................8
FIGURES
Figure 1 – Vicinity Map ...................................................................................................3
Figure 2 – Site #24 Map .................................................................................................4
TABLES
Table 1 – Site #24 Morphological Summary ...............................................................6
APPENDICES
Appendix A – Cross Sections
Appendix B – Site Photographs
1
SUMMARY
The following report summarizes the stream monitoring activities that have
occurred during the Year 2007 at the UT to Adams Creek Stream Mitigation Site
(permitted Site #24) in Cabarrus County. The North Carolina Department of
Transportation (NCDOT) completed this project in March 2005. This report
provides the monitoring results for the first formal year of monitoring (Year 2007).
The Year 2007 monitoring period was the first of five scheduled years of
monitoring on the UT to Adams Creek mitigation site (See Success Criteria
Section 2.1).
Based on the overall conclusions of monitoring at permitted Site #24 for UT to
Adams Creek, it has met the required monitoring protocols for the first formal
year of monitoring. The channel throughout the relocated stream site is stable at
this time. The stream bank and buffer area have minimal planted vegetation
surviving for the first formal year of monitoring. Replanting will take place in
2008. The North Carolina Department of Transportation will continue stream
monitoring at the UT to Adams Creek mitigation site for 2008.
2
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Project Description
The following report summarizes the stream monitoring activities that have
occurred during the Year 2007 at the UT to Adams Creek Stream Mitigation Site.
Site # 24 is located on NC 49 in Cabarrus County at Sta. 177+50 to Sta. 178+90
–L1- LT. (Figure 1). The UT to Adams Creek Site was constructed to provide
mitigation for stream impacts associated with Transportation Improvement
Program (TIP) number R-2533B in Cabarrus County.
The mitigation site provided approximately 525 linear feet of stream restoration.
Construction was completed during March 2005 by the North Carolina
Department of Transportation (NCDOT). Stream restoration involved restoring
sinuosity to the stream, sloping the adjacent streambanks to promote stability,
and widening the floodplain to allow for major flood events. It also included the
installation of coir fiber matting and live stakes along the streambank and
bareroot seedlings in the buffer area.
1.2 Purpose
In order for a mitigation site to be considered successful, the site must meet the
success criteria. This report details the monitoring in 2007 at the UT to Adams
Creek mitigation site. Hydrologic monitoring was not required for this site.
1.3 Project History
March 2005 Construction Completed
March 2007 Stream Channel Monitoring (1 year)
3
Figure 1. Vicinity Map
4
Figure 2. Site #24 Map
5
2.0 STREAM ASSESSMENT
2.1 Success Criteria
The following surveys were conducted in support of the monitoring assessment
and in accordance with the regulatory permits obtained for this project:
Stream Geomorphological Assessment
¨ The stream shall be monitored for a duration of five years from the end of
construction (channel modifications and vegetation planted)
¨ The data shall be collected and submitted to the US Army Corps of
Engineers and N.C. Division of Water Quality no later than January 1st
each year for five years after construction
¨ At Site #24, 525 linear feet of stream channel will be relocated. A
permanent cross section shall be established in a meander and at an
inflection point along the channel.
¨ In order to evaluate the stability of the new channel, the channel cross
section at each permanent station identified above shall be measured on a
yearly basis for five years and width:depth ratio compared to the as-built
cross section
2.2 Stream Description
2.2.1 Post-Construction Conditions
The restoration of UT to Adams Creek Site #24 involved restoring sinuosity to the
streams, sloping the adjacent streambanks to promote stability, and widening the
floodplain to allow for major flood events. It also included the installation of coir
fiber matting and live stakes along the streambank and bareroot seedlings in the
buffer area throughout the entire reach.
2.2.2 Monitoring Conditions
The objective of the UT to Adams Creek Site #24 stream restoration was to build
an E4/E5 stream as identified in Rosgen’s Applied River Morphology. A total of
two cross sections (one in a riffle and one in a pool) were surveyed. For this
report, only cross sections containing riffles were used in the comparison of
channel morphology presented below in Table 1 (Site #24).
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Table 1. Abbreviated Morphological Summary (UT Adams Creek Site #24)
Variable
Proposed 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Riffle Cross-
Section #1
Drainage Area (mi2) 0.14 0.14
Bankfull Width (ft) 8.0 8.2
Bankfull Mean Depth
(ft) 1.7 0.7
Width/Depth Ratio 4.7 12.1
Bankfull Cross
Sectional Area (ft2) 13.5 5.5
Maximum Bankfull
Depth (ft) 2.0 1.3
Width of Floodprone
Area (ft) 24.0 36.6
Entrenchment Ratio 3.0 4.5
* Riffle values are used for classification purposes, pool values are shown in Appendix A.
2.3 Results of the Stream Assessment
2.3.1 Site Data
The assessment included the survey of two cross sections at Site #24.
Longitudinal profile monitoring was not required per the permit conditions and
therefore was not completed. All of the cross sections were established during
the 2007 monitoring year. Cross section locations were determined based on
choosing segments that were representative of the entire reach. The cross
sections are shown in Appendix A.
Site #24 Cross-Sections:
¨ Cross-Section #1: UT to Adams Creek Site #24, midpoint of riffle
¨ Cross-Section #2: UT to Adams Creek Site #24, midpoint of pool
Based on comparisons of design cross section data and Year 2007 monitoring
data, all of the cross sections appear stable with little or no active bank erosion.
Graphs of the cross sections are presented in Appendix A. Future survey data
will vary depending on actual location of rod placement and alignment, however,
this information should remain similar in appearance. Pebble counts were not
required per the permit conditions and therefore were not completed.
7
3.0 VEGETATION: UT to ADAMS CREEK
3.1 Description of Species
The following tree species were planted on the stream bank:
Salix nigra, Black Willow
Cornus amomum, Silky Dogwood
Alnus serrulata, Tag Alder
The following tree species were planted in the buffer area:
Liriodendron tulipifera, Yellow Poplar
Platanus occidentalis, Sycamore
Quercus nigra, Water Oak
Faxinus pennsylvanica, Green Ash
3.2 Results of Vegetation Monitoring
Streambank & Buffer Vegetation: The stream had minimal planted vegetation
throughout which included black willow, silky dogwood, and various herbaceous
species. The stream bank and buffer area will be replanted in winter of 2008. In
accordance with the permit conditions, only visual monitoring of the stream and
buffer vegetation is required, therefore no vegetation plots were set at this site.
3.3 Conclusions
There were no vegetation monitoring plots established throughout the buffer
planting area. After the first year of monitoring, the UT to Adams Creek
mitigation site shows by visual observation that the tree species planted in the
streambank and buffer areas are surviving in low numbers. NCDOT
recommends replanting and continuing the visual vegetation monitoring of this
site.
4.0 OVERALL CONCLUSIONS/RECOMMENDATIONS
The UT to Adams Creek mitigation site has met the required monitoring protocols
for the first formal year of monitoring. The channel throughout the relocated
stream site is stable at this time. The stream bank and buffer area have minimal
planted vegetation surviving for the first formal year of monitoring. Replanting
will take place in 2008. NCDOT will continue monitoring the UT to Adams Creek
mitigation site in 2008.
8
5.0 REFERENCES
North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), November 19, 2001.
Permit for R-2533A and R-2533B (Action ID.199702364).
North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), November 26,2001.
Permit for R-2533A and R-2533B (DWQ Project No. 011274).
Rosgen, D.L, 1996. Applied River Morphology. Wildland Hydrology, Pagosa
Springs, Colorado.
US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), 2003. Stream Mitigation Guidelines.
Prepared with cooperation from the US Environmental Protection Agency,
NC Wildlife Resources Commission, and the NC Division of Water Quality.
APPENDIX A
CROSS SECTIONS
Site #24: Cross-Section #1 (Riffle) Abbreviated Morphological Summary
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Bankfull Cross Sectional Area
(ft2) 5.5
Maximum Bankfull Depth (ft) 1.3
Width of the Floodprone Area
(ft) 36.6
Bankfull Mean Depth (ft) 0.7
Width/Depth Ratio 12.1
Entrenchment Ratio 4.5
Bankfull Width (ft) 8.2
Site #24: Cross-Section #2 (Pool) Abbreviated Morphological Summary*
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Bankfull Cross Sectional Area (ft2) 6.0
Maximum Bankfull Depth (ft) 1.4
Bankfull Mean Depth (ft) 1.0
Bankfull Width (ft) 6.2
* According to the Rosgen Classification of Natural Rivers floodprone width, entrenchement ratio,
and width depth ratio are not measured in pool, glide, or run features.
APPENDIX B
SITE PHOTOGRAPHS
Cross Section #3 at Station 4+95.6
Cross Section #7 at Station 17+75.6
UT to Adams Creek Site #24
Photo Point #1 (Upstream) Photo Point #1 (Downstream)
Photo Point #2 (Upstream) Photo Point #2 (Downstream)
Photo Point #3 (Upstream) Photo Point #3 (Downstream)
March 2007