Implementing Prioritized Projects from a Watershed Plan on Picadome Golf Course, Lexington, Kentucky
Bradley M. Anderson, PE, CPESC, LEED AP
RES
Louisville, Kentucky
Authors: Bradley M. Anderson, PE, CPESC, LEED AP – Redwing Ecological Services, Inc.
Stephanie Blain, PE, LEED AP – Palmer Engineering, Inc.
The Wolf Run watershed encompasses approximately 10.2 square miles in Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky. A Watershed Plan was developed by Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government (LFUCG) through funding procured from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency §319(h) grant program, the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection, and the Kentucky Division of Water. The Wolf Run Watershed Plan identified 128 Best Management Practices for reducing non-point source pollutant loading, and 61 were high-priority projects to improve water quality and habitat within this mostly urban, karst-influenced watershed. Two of these high priority projects were the restoration of Vaughn’s Branch and Big Elm Tributary within the LFUCG owned and operated Picadome Golf Course.
Due to increased peak flows associated with urban development and riparian management typical of golf courses, segments of these streams were actively eroding and unstable. Monitoring data showed that Vaughn’s Branch had high levels of non-point source pollution and in-stream aquatic habitat was poor. Additionally, Big Elm Tributary drains to a sinkhole within the site with a limited outflow conveyance capacity, so when the sinkhole reached capacity, it resulted in an undesirable diversion of floodwaters across golf course features.
This project focused on reducing streambank erosion, improving aquatic habitat, remediating a sinkhole to reduce flooding and erosion, providing a native riparian buffer, improving water quality treatment, and providing public education. Despite the challenges and constraints of working within an urban golf course, stream restoration was implemented along 900 feet of Vaughn’s Branch and 540 feet of Big Elm Tributary that improved stream stability, in-stream functions, and habitat diversity. Wetland areas were constructed to intercept and treat stormwater along Vaughn’s Branch. Trash and debris were removed from the sinkhole to reduce overland flooding and erosion.
The stream restoration, wetland creation, and sinkhole remediation have been successful in furthering the goals of the Wolf Run Watershed Plan. The project is stable, provides improved water quality treatment functions, and allows for public education. Golf course employees have recognized that the restored areas require less maintenance, remain stable, and are aesthetically appealing.
About Bradley M. Anderson, PE, CPESC, LEED AP
Brad is an Engineering Manager at Resources Environmental Solutions (RES), formerly Redwing Ecological Services. He has a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering with an emphasis on Environmental Engineering from Purdue University. Brad joined Redwing in 2006 to develop an engineering group with the group’s primary focus being stream and wetland restoration and mitigation design, hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, and stormwater management. Brad’s experience includes design and management of over 67 stream mitigation/restoration design projects in Kentucky, Indiana and Tennessee, totaling more than 253,000 linear feet of stream channel, of which over 93,000 feet have been successfully constructed. He is happily married to his wife, Jennifer, and has three children. Outside of the office, Brad enjoys being outdoors and watching Purdue basketball and football.