ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2011
UT to Irish Buffalo Creek Mitigation Site
Cabarrus County
TIP No. R-2533B (Site 12)
Prepared By:
Natural Environment Unit & Roadside Environmental Unit
North Carolina Department of Transportation
September 2011
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SUMMARY ........................................................................................................... 1
1.0 INTRODUCTION: ....................................................................................... 2
.1 Project Description .......................................................................... 2
.2 Purpose .......................................................................................... 2
.3 Project History ................................................................................. 2
.4 Debit Ledger .................................................................................... 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 – Site Location Map ............................................................................... 3
Figure 2 – Site #12 Map ....................................................................................... 4
TABLES
Table 1 – Site #12 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 2011 at the UT to Irish Buffalo Creek Stream Mitigation
Site (permitted Site #12) in Cabarrus County. The North Carolina Department of
Transportation (NCDOT) completed construction in March 2005. This report
provides the monitoring results for the fourth formal year of monitoring (Year
2011). The Year 2011 monitoring period is the fourth of five scheduled years of
monitoring on the UT to Irish Buffalo Creek Mitigation Site (See Success Criteria
Section 2.1).
Based on the overall conclusions of monitoring at permitted Site #12 for UT to
Irish Buffalo Creek, it has met the required monitoring protocols for the fourth
formal year of monitoring. The channel throughout the relocated stream is stable
at this time. The streambank and buffer areas have planted vegetation surviving
for the fourth year of monitoring.
NCDOT proposes to discontinue stream monitoring at the UT to Irish Buffalo
Creek Mitigation Site.
2
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Project Description
The following report summarizes the stream monitoring activities that have
occurred during the Year 2011 at the UT to Irish Buffalo Creek Stream Mitigation
Site. Site # 12 is located on NC 49 in Cabarrus County at Sta. 11+040 to Sta.
11+230 –L1- RT. (Figure 1). The UT to Irish Buffalo 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 563 linear feet of stream restoration.
Construction was completed during March 2005 by the NCDOT. Stream
restoration involved the installation of cross vanes, 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 2011 at the UT to Irish
Buffalo Creek Mitigation Site. Hydrologic monitoring was not required for this
site.
1.3 Project History
March 2005 Construction Completed
March 2008 Replanted Site
September 2008 Stream Channel Monitoring (1 year)
October 2009 Stream Channel Monitoring (2 year)
October 2010 Stream Channel Monitoring (3 year)
September 2011 Stream Channel Monitoring (4 year)
1.4 Debit Ledger
The entire UT to Irish Buffalo Creek (Site #12) stream mitigation site was used
for the R-2533B project to compensate for unavoidable stream impacts.
3
Figure 1. Site Location Map
4
Figure 2. Site #12 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 #12, 563 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 Irish Buffalo Creek Site #12 involved installation of cross
vanes, coir fiber matting and live stakes along the streambank, and bareroot
seedlings in the buffer area.
2.2.2 Monitoring Conditions
The objective of the UT to Irish Buffalo Creek Site #12 stream restoration was to
build an E4b 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 #12).
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Table 1. Abbreviated Morphological Summary (UT Irish Buffalo Site #12)
Variable
Proposed 2008 2009 2010 2011
Riffle
Cross-
Section #1
Riffle
Cross-
Section #1
Riffle
Cross-
Section #1
Riffle
Cross-
Section #1
Drainage Area (mi2) 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1
Bankfull Width (ft) 5.4 5.6 6 6 5.58
Bankfull Mean Depth
(ft) 1.2 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.4
Width/Depth Ratio 4.5 11.1 12 12 13.95
Bankfull Cross
Sectional Area (ft2) 5.0 2.8 3 3 2.21
Maximum Bankfull
Depth (ft)
1.5 1.09 1.1 1.1 1.1
Width of Floodprone
Area (ft) 18.0 17.1 17.1 17.1 16.87
Entrenchment Ratio 3.3 3.1 2.9 2.9 3.03
* 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 #12.
Longitudinal profile monitoring was not required per the permit conditions and
therefore was not completed. All of the cross sections were established during
the 2008 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 #12 Cross-Sections:
¨ Cross-Section #1: UT Irish Buffalo Creek Site #12, midpoint of riffle
¨ Cross-Section #2: UT Irish Buffalo Creek Site #12, midpoint of pool
Based on comparisons of all four years of 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.
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3.0 VEGETATION: UT to IRISH BUFFALO 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 was vegetated throughout with
black willow, silky dogwood, tulip poplar, sycamore, green ash, water oak,
winged elm, cottonwood, and various herbaceous species. 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 fourth year of monitoring, the UT Irish Buffalo Creek
Mitigation Site shows by visual observation that the tree species planted in the
streambank and buffer areas are surviving. NCDOT proposes to discontinue
visual vegetation monitoring of this site.
4.0 OVERALL CONCLUSIONS/RECOMMENDATIONS
The UT to Irish Buffalo Creek Mitigation Site has met the required monitoring
protocols for the fourth formal year of monitoring. The channel throughout the
relocated stream is stable at this time. The streambank and buffer have
vegetation surviving for the fourth formal year of monitoring.
NCDOT proposes to discontinue monitoring the UT to Irish Buffalo Creek
Mitigation Site.
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 #12: Cross-Section #1 (Riffle) Abbreviated Morphological Summary
2008 2009 2010 2011
Bankfull Cross Sectional Area (ft2) 2.8 3 3.17 2.21
Maximum Bankfull Depth (ft) 1.1 1.1 1.19 1.1
Width of the Floodprone Area (ft) 17.1 17.1 17.54 16.87
Bankfull Mean Depth (ft) 0.5 0.5 0.55 0.4
Width/Depth Ratio 11.1 12 10.4 13.95
Entrenchment Ratio 3.1 2.9 3.07 3.03
Bankfull Width (ft) 5.6 6 5.72 5.58
Site #12: Cross-Section #2 (Pool) Abbreviated Morphological Summary*
2008 2009 2010 2011
Bankfull Cross Sectional Area (ft2) 2.8 3.9 3.69 3.12
Maximum Bankfull Depth (ft) 1.3 1.3 1.2 1.09
Bankfull Mean Depth (ft) 0.7 0.8 0.67 0.59
Bankfull Width (ft) 4.9 4.9 5.54 5.27
* 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 Irish Buffalo Creek Site #12
Photo Point #1 (Upstream) Photo Point #1 (Downstream)
Photo Point #2 (Upstream) Photo Point #2 (Downstream)
Overview Photo (Upstream) Overview Photo (Downstream)
September 2011