Beaver Creek Hydrology, LLC. Project Partners: Vulcan Materials: - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Beaver Creek Hydrology, LLC.

Project Partners: Vulcan Materials: boulders and gravel

National Recognition  On the 2012 TEN WATERS TO WATCH list by National Fish Habitat Partnership  America’s Great Outdoors Rivers Initiative: Harpeth River – project for Tennessee. Identifies projects that are models to conserve key rivers, expand outdoor opportunities, and support jobs. Announced May 21, 2012. One per state and D.C.

One of new Harpeth River Blueway accesses near Franklin dam project

Why remove the low-head dam?  River segment is on 303(d) list: impaired by Siltation and Habitat Alteration and low dissolved oxygen (2 TMDLs)  There are other approaches for withdrawing water that will not affect river dynamics, water quality and aquatic life  Required as part of upgrade of Summer 2007 before state water water intake in city of Franklin’s withdrawal permit was set for city water withdrawal permit of Franklin’s drinking water plant.  Primary In-Stream Impact: Low Head Dam  6.2 feet high, 66 feet across  Creates aquatic habitat loss  Creates downstream bank instability  Creates upstream sedimentation issues  Fish passage barrier  Very low dissolved oxygen in pool Winter high flow season below structure violates water quality standards

Restoration Goals & Objectives FUNDED BY: SARP – NFHAP – USFWS Aquatic Habitat Restoration Program - Total Award $350,000 Primary Goals  Increase Fish Habitats and Remove Fish Passage Barriers  Improve Channel Stability  Improve Recreational Activities- Harpeth River BLUEWAY Primary Objectives  Remove Low Head Dam ($200,000 for Fish Passage)  Reconnect 36 miles upstream (meet southeast aquatic habitat plan) – Harpeth will be one of few completely unobstructed, free-flowing rivers in TN  Restore freshwater passage and habitats (physical)  Increase dissolved oxygen level (chemical) (help meet Franklin’s stormwater permit requirements)  Install “Natural” In -Stream Habitats ($150,000 for Habitat Restoration)  Natural channel design methodology  stabilize vertical stream banks and prevent erosion  create riffle/run/pool/glide habitats for native species  meet southeast aquatic habitat plan  Address impairments listed by State  Improve this TWRA winter trout stocking site

Restoration Design Elements  Dam Removal - By TDEC  Toe wood structure  No Blasting Involved  Boulder clusters  Double-invert boulder cross vane  Log cross vanes  Log and boulder step-pools  Bankfull benching  Native vegetation

Double Invert Boulder Cross Vane Flow riffle The structure will: • establish grade control, • reduce bank erosion, • create a stable channel, • maintain channel capacity, • maintain sediment transport run Bankfull bench Bankfull bench capacity, and competence • Set water surface elevation for pool water withdrawal pumps at level tied to the state permit. (Rosgen, 2006, Cross-vane, J-hook and W-weir structures, Wildland Hydrology.) glide riffle

Upstream Pool Control, Mill Creek , Endangered Crawfish Habitats in Nolensville, Tennessee (after one Restoration of Mill Creek , Nolensville, growing season) Tennessee (after one growing season) Restoration of Murfrees Fork of the A Winter Trout Stocking Reach in West Harpeth River , Williamson Clear Creek , Golden, Colorado (after County, TN (during construction) one growing season)

Intake Structure  Engineering Analysis was performed on pump configuration  City water withdrawal will not change

Bankfull Bench  The bankfull benches allow easy access trails and points along water’s edge for recreation during low flows.  The project reach is entrenched.  Entrenchment occurs when bank heights exceed the normal high water (bankfull) heights  The bankfull benches additionally increase flood capacity  Bankfull bench reduces stresses on the banks – reducing erosion

Toe Wood Structure The toe wood placement enhances fish habitats and food chains, stabilizes streambanks, maintains a low width/depth ratio, eliminates the need for toe rock… is cost effective with lower risk than other bank stabilization techniques (Rosgen 2010).

Boulder Clusters The purpose of boulder clusters is to promote spatial variation in flow velocity to induce scour pools and to provide fish cover. The spatial configuration is an adaptation of clusters shown in NRCS’s Stream Habitat Improvement Handbook (1992).

Log Cross Vanes Three log cross vanes are shown along the channel of the southern tributary. These structures are placed to control bed and bank erosion in the tributary.

Project Budget Construction Total $ 578,720 Admin/Design/Management $ 229,400 Monitoring/Maintenance for 5-years $ 57,206 Estimated Total Project Cost $ 865,326 Compare to M&E intake upgrade and $ 1,160,000 modified dam replacement (Alt. 2) USFW Grant Funds $ 350,000 Total in-kind needed $ 515,326 TDEC in-kind $ 189,000 Possible Further in-kind $ 33,860 City of Franklin cost $ 292,466 Compare to M&E cost to just remove lowhead dam (Alt. 5) $ 280,000

Advantages of Collaboration  City of Franklin- project at 1/3 cost  TDEC- the regulating entity actually conducting part of the project, big benefit to the city who has a permit specifically the lowhead dam removal.  Project is a POSITIVE image enhancer to TDEC and Franklin. Also viewed as Voluntary versus Required.  Project shows state, federal, local governments and private sector with conservation organization working together. This helps balance image that these entities are usually only at odds with each other.  USFWS and TWRA – federal and state wildlife agencies and partnerships are getting project that is high profile and helps implement wildlife recovery plans  USFWS- might get a ESA candidate species agreement from Franklin  Without collaboration , project would likely not have the restoration improvements, would have been done under regulatory pressure, would have cost the city full price. AND would very likely not have used innovative Natural Channel Design so there would still have been a structure in the river blocking fish passage .

Value and need of Partnerships  Complex efforts like watershed plan implementation will not happen entirely without partnerships that include trusted entities by the public  Partnerships that include governments, NGOs, academia, private entities can really leverage each others strengths – reduce costs, make projects happen with less contention, bring more private landowners and public support into the efforts  TRUST among leadership in partners is ESSENTIAL – need key people in partnership who already know each other. Can help build trust among other partners- ie permittee and agency  Partnerships enable entities to take on roles on behalf of all. Ie- NGO might be better to facilitate discussions among regulated and regulator to keep things informal or in be the applicant for certain funds on behalf of partnership.

Value and need of Partnerships  Promote INNOVATION which then can become more integrated into normal business and regulatory practices  Overcome inertia and/or outright hostility toward new approaches or ones that are out there but just not very common.  TRAINING on the innovation is important.  Help demonstrate complete costs and benefits – beyond the view from one entity