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Fairfax County DPWES Crook Branch Stream Restoration Meeting
1. A Fairfax County, VA, publication
Department of Public Works and Environmental Services
Working for You!
February 1, 2016
Community Meeting
Mantua Elementary School Cafeteria
Crook Branch at Mantua Elementary School
Stream Restoration Project
Accotink Creek Watershed Plan Implementation
2. Crook Branch Stream Restoration
DPWES Stormwater Planning Division
Meeting Outline
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• Fairfax County Stormwater Management and Program
Drivers
• Accotink Creek Watershed Management Plan
• Crook Branch Stream Restoration – Project Scope
• Stream Restoration Approaches
• Crook Branch – Historical and Existing Conditions
• Design Approach
• Illustrative/Example Projects
• Next Steps
• Q&A
3. Crook Branch Stream Restoration
DPWES Stormwater Planning Division
Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services
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Department of Public Works and
Environmental Services
Land
Development
Services
Capital
Facilities
Solid Waste Stormwater
Stormwater Planning
Division
Maintenance and
Stormwater
Management Division
Wastewater
4. Crook Branch Stream Restoration
DPWES Stormwater Planning Division
Fairfax County Stormwater Management Major Program Areas
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• Inspection and maintenance of conveyance systems (pipes and
appertunces)
• Inspection, maintenance, and rehabilitation of stormwater
management facilities
• Dam Safety
• FEMA/NFIP/CRS programs
• Emergency and Flood Response
• Watershed planning and monitoring
• Design and implementation of capital improvement projects ,
including stream restoration and water quality projects
5. Crook Branch Stream Restoration
DPWES Stormwater Planning Division
Stormwater Infrastructure
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• Conveyance System
– 1,600 miles pipe and
constructed channel
– 43,000 structures
– 6,800 outfalls
• Management Facilities
– 1,540 County Maintained
– 3,720 Privately Maintained
• State Regulated Dams
6. Crook Branch Stream Restoration
DPWES Stormwater Planning Division
Program Drivers and Project Types
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• Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)
• Other (local streams) TMDLs
• MS4 permit
• Major project types
Stream and outfall restorations
Stormwater Pond retrofits
Site retrofits using Green Infrastructure
• List of projects is developed from watershed plans, and
referral from a variety of sources including the
maintenance division and citizen complaints
7. Crook Branch Stream Restoration
DPWES Stormwater Planning Division
Countywide Watershed Planning
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“Healthy Watersheds, Healthy
Communities”
• 30 Designated
Watersheds
• All 15 watershed plans
have been adopted by
Fairfax County
8. Crook Branch Stream Restoration
DPWES Stormwater Planning Division
Accotink Creek Watershed Management Plan
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http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpwes/watersheds/accotinkcreek.htm
9. Crook Branch Stream Restoration
DPWES Stormwater Planning Division
Accotink Creek Watershed Management Plan
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http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpwes/stormwater/projects/project_list.htm
10. Crook Branch Stream Restoration
DPWES Stormwater Planning Division
Accotink Creek Watershed Management Plan
Wakefield Run Stream Restoration
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11. Crook Branch Stream Restoration
DPWES Stormwater Planning Division
Accotink Creek Watershed Management Plan
Brookfield Pond Repair and Retrofit
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12. Crook Branch Stream Restoration
DPWES Stormwater Planning Division
Accotink Creek Watershed Management Plan
Brookfield Pond Repair and Retrofit
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13. Crook Branch Stream Restoration
DPWES Stormwater Planning Division
Accotink Creek Watershed Management Plan
Mantua Elementary School Stormwater Retrofit (proposed)
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19. Crook Branch Stream Restoration
DPWES Stormwater Planning Division
Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc.
Natural & Cultural Resources consulting firm
• Founded in 1991
• Consulted on 5,000+ project sites
encompassing 200,000+ acres
• 100+ staff
Expertise
• Geographic Information Systems
• Environmental Science
• Archeology
• Surveying
• Regulatory and Permit Compliance
• Environmental Engineering
• Landscape Design
• Ecosystem Restoration
Acquisition by The Davey Tree Expert Company:
• Expertise in tree protection, assessment, and analysis
• Largest employee-owned service company in U.S.
• Founded in 1880
Locations:
• Gainesville, VA
• Roanoke, VA
• Odenton, MD
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Virginia’s First LEED®
Gold-Certified Office
Crook Branch Restoration Project Team
– Brian Chromey, P.E.
– Mike Marsala, P.E., C.F.M.
– Aaron Estep, E.I.T.
– Matt MacFarland, E.I.T.
20. Crook Branch Stream Restoration
DPWES Stormwater Planning Division
Why Restore Streams?
• Eroding bed and banks are threatening private property and
creating sediment pollution
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21. Crook Branch Stream Restoration
DPWES Stormwater Planning Division
Why Restore Streams?
• Erosion results in poor water
quality; high levels of:
– Total Suspended Solids (TSS)
– Total Nitrogen (TN)
– Total Phosphorous (TP)
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• The Environmental Protection
Agency Chesapeake Bay
TMDL Plan Requires Fairfax
County pollutant reductions
Poor water quality Good water quality
22. Crook Branch Stream Restoration
DPWES Stormwater Planning Division
General Approach
• What caused the current
erosion problems?
• What can be done to fix the
erosion and prevent future
issues?
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23. DPWES Stormwater Planning Division
Crook Branch Stream Restoration
The Urban Watershed Problem
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Source: The Federal Interagency Stream Restoration Working Group
24. Crook Branch Stream Restoration
DPWES Stormwater Planning Division
Overall Goals
• Reconnect to the existing floodplain to:
– Slow velocities
– Increase evapotranspiration
– Remove pollutants (TP, TN, and TSS)
– Improve riparian habitat
– Restore groundwater levels
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Before restoration After restoration
26. Crook Branch Stream Restoration
DPWES Stormwater Planning Division
Design Methodology for Urban Streams
• Natural Channel Evolution
– Evolutionary process considers the channel’s incision, bank stability, and
sedimentation load (aggrading or degrading)
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Severe Poor Marginal Suboptimal Optimal
Severe Channel Condition
South Lakes High School
Optimal Channel Condition
Ellanor Lawrence Park
27. Crook Branch Stream Restoration
DPWES Stormwater Planning Division
Urban Stream – Design Realities
1. Significantly more flow than rural streams.
2. Significantly more “bankfull” events than in rural watersheds.
3. Given site constraints, reinforcement is necessary.
– Rock structures – using native diabase rock
– Reinforced bed
– Heavy planting densities – native vegetation only
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Wolftrap Creek (after 2 years)Rabbit Branch (after 7 months)
30. Crook Branch Stream Restoration
DPWES Stormwater Planning Division
Restoration Approaches
Priority 1 Restoration – Raise stream to reconnect with floodplain.
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Fewer trees removed
Width of disturbance
Balanced cut and fill volumes
result in less waste
Before After
31. Crook Branch Stream Restoration
DPWES Stormwater Planning Division
Restoration Approaches
Priority 2 Restoration – Excavate floodplain at lower elevation.
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Width of disturbance
Large cut volumes result in waste material
Many trees removed
Priority 3 Restoration –
Confined stream valleys.
46. Crook Branch Stream Restoration
DPWES Stormwater Planning Division
Plan Development Process
• Project Introduction Meeting (Today)
• Data Collection (Partially Completed)
• Stream Restoration Design Process*
– Pre-Concept Plan Development (± 3 months)
– 35% Design Plan Development (± 5 months)
– 65% Design Plan Development (± 3 months)
– Final Design Plan Development (± 8 months)
– Pre-Construction Review (± 2 months)
• Construction (± 9 months)
*Community meeting to follow County review of pre-concept design.
Additional meetings scheduled as we progress toward final design.
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47. Crook Branch Stream Restoration
DPWES Stormwater Planning Division
Data Collection
• Obtain topography
• Survey, locate, and tag trees (>12” dbh)
• Survey channel profile and cross-
sections
• Existing streambed sediment sampling
• Obtain County GIS utility information
• Obtain County floodplain information
• Perform wetland delineations and
obtain Jurisdictional Determinations
(JD’s) from U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers
• Obtain geotechnical soil borings
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48. Crook Branch Stream Restoration
DPWES Stormwater Planning Division
Community Involvement In Plan Development
Objective – Partnership between Fairfax County staff and the
residents of Mantua and Ridgelea Hills
• Establish community representative(s) to coordinate with
County staff as the project progresses
• Community involvement at all levels of the plan development
process (Concept, Preliminary, Final Design, and Construction)
– Plan review, discussion, and feedback
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49. Crook Branch Stream Restoration
DPWES Stormwater Planning Division
Stream Restoration Design Process
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THEDESIGNPROCESS
Determine Bankfull Width
and Bankfull Area to convey
current flows.
Apply Bankfull Width to
reference ranges of
sinuosity and meander radii.
Layout initial design
alignment (minimize impact
to infrastructure and trees)
Revise restoration design
and access
(based on citizen input)
Final Design
Citizen Meeting
Citizen Meeting
50. Crook Branch Stream Restoration
DPWES Stormwater Planning Division
Stream Restoration Design Process
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Tree impact considerations
Ecological / Habitat Value
• Size / Diameter
• Higher - Climax species: Oaks, Hickory, Holly (mast
producers, long-lived).
• Lower – Early successional species: Maples, Poplar
(fast-growing, short-lived).
Existing Condition
• Undercut by stream, high proportion of exposed
roots, short life expectancy
• Dead, dying, diseased, or damaged trees that pose a human safety hazard
• Impacting or pending impact to infrastructure (utilities, roads, trails, etc.)
Proposed Condition
• Drip line heavily impacted during restoration, minimal chance of survival, AND
• Human safety hazard to trails, houses, bridges, etc.
51. Crook Branch Stream Restoration
DPWES Stormwater Planning Division
Stream Restoration Design Process
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Short term impact for long term benefit
• Cleared trees “recycled” as in-stream habitat, grade control, wood-chip
trails, habitat “brush” piles, firewood
• Restoration raises the water table, (raises stream bed) which increases
stream access to floodplain and nutrient delivery to roots.
• Healthier ecosystem will develop with the density and species variety
of replacement plantings
– Mosquito population control via predator habitat
– Dense streambank planting will provide shade, reduce water
temperatures, increase oxygenation, increase fish survivability
– Dragonfly larva molting access via heavily planted streambank with
shallower slope
• Canopy loss will close as remaining trees adjust and react to increased
sunlight, growing to fill in openings
Fewer trees cut = lower restoration cost
• Tree-climbing removal method vs. traditional forestry timbering
(minimize impacts to neighboring trees) is expensive.
Lower water table
Higher water table
Incised stream
Restored (raised) stream
52. Crook Branch Stream Restoration
DPWES Stormwater Planning Division
Examples – Snakeden Reach 2
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Pre-Construction Construction
Post-Construction 5 Months After Construction
53. Crook Branch Stream Restoration
DPWES Stormwater Planning Division
Examples – Rabbit Branch
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Pre-Construction Construction
Post-Construction 8 Months After Construction
54. Pre-Construction Construction
Post Construction After plant establishmentPost-Construction
Crook Branch Stream Restoration
DPWES Stormwater Planning Division
Examples – Big Rocky Run Tributary
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55. Crook Branch Stream Restoration
DPWES Stormwater Planning Division
Planting – Trees & Shrubs
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Split into 2 planting zones:
- Riparian
- 1 gallon containers (planted at 640 plants/acre)
- both trees & shrubs
- Streamside
- live stakes/tubelings (planted 1ft o.c.)
- shrubs (planted 3 ft o.c.)
Tree Species: Pin Oak, Willow Oak, White Oak, Swamp White
Oak, Northern Red Oak, Sweet Gum, Black Gum, River Birch,
Sycamore, Red Maple, Box Elder, and Black Willow.
Shrub Species: Silky Dogwood, Southern Arrowwood,
American Holly, Service-Berry, Black-Haw, Eastern Redbud,
Elderberry, Flowering Dogwood, and Brookside Alder,
Hazelnut, Northern Spicebush, Black-Haw, Winterberry.
Eastern Redbud
56. Crook Branch Stream Restoration
DPWES Stormwater Planning Division
Planting – Riparian Seed Mix
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• Typical Tree Species
• Musclewood
• Black Gum
• American Sycamore
• Red Maple
• Eastern Redbud
• Flowering Dogwood
• Typical Forbs
• Oxeye Sunflower
• Joe-Pye Weed
• Grass Leaved Goldenrod
• PLUS 24 additional species!
• Typical Shrub Species
• Witch Hazel
• Winterberry
• Southern Arrow Wood
• Northern Spicebush
• Canadian Serviceberry
• Black Chokeberry
• Black-Haw
• Typical Grass Species
• Squarrose Sedge
• Riverbank Wild Rye
• Foxtail Millet
• PLUS 8 additional species!
• Applied at a rate of 125 lbs/acre
• Custom mix
• Consists of native species found in a healthy, diverse NOVA ecosystem:
57. Crook Branch Stream Restoration
DPWES Stormwater Planning Division
Greater Biodiversity
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• Mature forest continues to
provide habitat for raptors,
woodpeckers, bats and deer
• Recently planted areas provide
habitat for small mammals, song
birds, fox and deer
• All species benefit from the “edge
effect”
• Restored stream allows detrital
input to be processed, thus
increasing stream health and
function
Orchard Oriole
Red-shouldered Hawk
Cottontail Rabbit
58. Crook Branch Stream Restoration
DPWES Stormwater Planning Division
Conclusion
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1. The “Crook Branch” tributary of the
Accotink Creek Watershed is severely
degraded due to urbanization – a
situation made worse by inadequate
stormwater management.
2. Fully restored streams will provide long-
term stability, improved aesthetics, &
greater open space usability.
3. Short-term construction disturbance will
provide long-term societal and ecological
benefits to a heavily used, urban stream
valley network.
59. Crook Branch Stream Restoration
DPWES Stormwater Planning Division
Next Steps
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• Complete pre-concept design
• Continue to work to acquire easements on Reach 1
• Community Meeting to present pre-concept design
• Solicit community representation
• Authorize design contract with WSSI
– Final Concept Plan
– Final Design and Construction Documents
• Hold additional community meetings/stream walks as design
progresses
• Complete design and preparation of construction documents
• Project bidding and construction