Long Leaf Creek: Stream Restoration

Project Manager: Rick Scaffidi
Client: City of Wilmington, North Carolina Storm Water Service
Completion Date: May 1999
Original Contract Amount: $448,215
Project Duration: November 1998 to May 1999

The Storm Water Service division of the City of Wilmington, North Carolina contracted Environmental Quality Resources, LLC to restore approximately 1,340 linear feet of perennial streambank. Kimley-Horn and Associates, LLC, in conjunction with Robbin B. Sotir & Associates, engineered plans to permanently stabilize the stream banks using state of the art soft bioengineering and hard engineering methods.

EQR’s construction involved slope stabilization using a geo-grid wrapped stone toe with brush layering between a layered geo-grid shelf. The day after completion, a 12-inch rainstorm did not affect any of the newly constructed areas of the stream. The finished restoration project provided a stable stream system during storm events, permanent sediment and erosion control, and overall protection of water quality and stream habitat.

The work included grade control, stream diversion, locally harvesting and installing over 100,000, 6- to 12-foot long branch cuttings, laying out and pinning the geo-grid, forming each of the geo-grid cells, testing and modifying the select fill, and installing all slope stabilization techniques. Soil bioengineering techniques for the project included live stakes, joint plantings, fascines and vegetated geo-grid.

The major challenge was coordination between the prime contractor and EQR on all the concurrent and sequential activities. The prime contractor was responsible for all earthwork, foundation work and OSHA shoring, while EQR managed setup, directed and managed the sediment and erosion control, and soil bioengineering techniques. The close proximity of the limit of disturbance line to the top of the bank (15 feet), two small staging areas, and inadequate for stockpiling the volumes of soil excavated increased the difficulty and importance of coordinating the work.

In addition, the plans specified the use of indigenous plant material to be locally harvested. EQR identified and harvested plants from four adjacent counties. The large quantities of harvested plant material required storage in refrigerated trucks for up to three months while the construction areas were prepared for planting.

EQR had to adjust the soil chemistry to slow nutrient release rates and maximize plant nutrient uptake to insure plant establishment and soil stabilization. EQR received an “Appreciation for Excellent Service” award from the City of Wilmington as well as the IECA’s Erosion Control Contactor of the Year honor.

Gunpowder Falls at Cromwell Bridge Road: Bank Stabilization

Project Manager: Joe Humbertson
Client: Baltimore County DEPRM
Project Completed: July 6, 2009
Original Contract Amount: $1,471,911.09
Contract Duration: September 2, 2008 to July 6, 2009

The Baltimore County Department of Environmental Protection and Resource Management contracted Environmental Quality Resources, LLC to restore approximately 1,200 linear feet of the Gunpowder Falls and 850 linear feet of Satyr Hill Branch.

Restoration work included extensive channel re-alignments, installation of stone grade control structures, stone placement for streambank toe and slope protection, streambank stabilization with soil stabilization matting, live stake installation, permanent seeding, and installation of streambank riparian plantings.