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Fee Fee Creek Watershed Vegetative Bank
Fee Fee Creek drains 14.6 square miles, of which approximately half lie within the city of Maryland Heights. The Fee Fee Creek watershed, and in particular the Midland Branch, has been an area of significant growth in business, commercial and light industrial developments over the past few decades. This commercial growth has been accompanied by a significant growth in planned residential areas. Due to the development, the characteristics of the watershed have become predominately urban with the attendant increase in runoff and subsequent creek erosion. The water quality concerns of this watershed are primarily associated with an increased sediment load associated with erosion. The area of concern regarding nonpoint pollution of and from Fee Fee Creek is silt and debris which washes into the lower reaches, caused by erosion at several locations along the creek and its tributaries.
Critical areas of the watershed are those where major bank failures have occurred or are imminent from overbank flow and in-channel undercutting. The project site typifies the most severe of these areas, many of which are identified in the sponsor's storm water management database. The proposed plan of bank stabilization, which is to use bioengineering techniques to reduce the urban pollutant load near its source, will help restore many of the original characteristics of this watershed.
The urban development has contributed to an increase in the runoff due to the significant increase in the amount of impervious areas such as roofs and parking lots, etc. This urban runoff increase has caused an increase in the amount of erosion and, therefore, suspended solids in the watershed. Implementation of appropriate bank stabilization through the use of bioengineering techniques will provide a means to control the erosion process and significantly reduce nonpoint pollution.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The project will consist of stabilizing the stream banks in combination with debris removal. The goal of the project is to improve the water quality of urban runoff and to document the improvements through a planned monitoring and reporting procedure. To accomplish this, best management practices for erosion control and bank stabilization will be used in developing this project. In keeping with the City's objective of minimizing the use of "structural" solutions, various soil bioengineering techniques will be investigated and appropriate techniques used to fit individual situations.
OBJECTIVES
1.Reduce the receiving stream's sediment load through control near the source
2.Develop control systems to help restore and maintain some of the watershed's original characteristics to prevent future degradation of water quality
3.Provide a natural demonstration tool for classes and informal visits of residents as a learning tool related to plants, wildlife, and the environment in general and with respect to recognizing potential losses of channel banks in particular
To accomplish these objectives, the project activities are:
1.Stabilize stream banks through the restoration of riparian buffer strips
2.Enhanced permanent vegetative cover, and therefore, habitat
3.Monitor and document streambank and water quality changes
4.Evaluate alternative bioengineering techniques for use throughout the Fee Fee Creek watershed
Soil bioengineering techniques that will be considered/evaluated include the following:
1. Blanketing/Mattressing Composite Revetment
2. Live Staking
3. Branch Packing Gabions Tree Revetment
4. Brush Layering Live Fascines (Wattling Bundles) Vegetative Cover
PRODUCTS
1.Design Deliverables
Geotechnical characteristics near Midland Creek report
Geomorphology report of Midland Creek
Design memorandum documenting criteria, parameters, and methodology of repair and restoration systems
Photo documentation of construction techniques
Monitoring reports of installed systems
An engineer's field book and one-day workshop on the site for designers, reviewers and regulators
Workshop and field practicum on bioengineering techniques for City staff
2.Monitoring
Water quality monitoring with site characterization and analysis at 4-5 sites
Water quality monitoring reports
3.Education and Community Activities
Formation of stream team
Citizens' Water Quality Handbook
Public displays to document stream activities
Documentation of community activities (e.g., trash counts, quarterly monitoring, storm stenciling events, citizen watershed
addresses, tributary naming contest and logo adoption, scouting collaboration, neighborhood events)
Creation of Web site
4.Restoration of stream banks along Midland Creek
5.Quarterly reports will be completed by the City and will report progress, results and project needs to the MDNR.
SPONSOR
City of Maryland Heights
COOPERATING AGENCY
Stream Teams
CONTACT
City of Maryland Heights
212 Millwell Drive
Maryland Heights, Mo. 63043
Bryan Pearl, P.E. 314-291-6550
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