Gauging the Effectiveness of Stream Restoration Monitoring Industry Protocols
Tim Schueler
Hazen and Sawyer
Raleigh, NC
Authors: Schueler, Timothy; Hoffman, Kinsey; Perkins, Zachary; Davies, Justin.
Pocosham Creek is located in southwestern Richmond, Virginia. In 2019, the City of Richmond restored over a mile of Pocosham Creek utilizing natural channel design methods. Federal and state permitting requires five years (2020 to 2024) of monitoring but does not specify success criteria for measured parameters. This presentation discusses the approach and results of Pocosham Creek post-construction monitoring, plus an analysis of regulatory monitoring methods—which procedures most effectively represent the true stream condition.
Monitoring included the following: 5,500 linear feet of stream profile and BANCS work, five cross-sections, seven particle counts, eight sets of bank pins, structure analysis of 68 grade controls, and herbaceous and woody vegetation plots (ten each). Local rainfall records were tracked for each monitoring period. Where possible, industry guidelines were used to determine if individual parameters (e.g., entrenchment ratio) were functional, functioning at risk, or not functional per EPA 843-K-12-006, A Function-based Framework for Stream Assessment & Restoration Projects (Harman, et al). This “stop light” system framework defined stream parameter success as follows: functional (green), at-risk (yellow), and non-functional (red).
EPA and other documents spelled out ranges for functionality for some parameters. However, many parameters, such as annual comparisons of riffle depth or bankfull area had no known standard to establish stoplight “color.” Hazen used professional judgment to create standards. An interactive Power BI dashboard was created to analyze results and represent the spatial relationship between results and monitoring locations.
Results of monitoring will be discussed, including time trends and the effect of precipitation during individual monitoring periods. Opinion on which physical and vegetative monitoring methods are the most time-efficient will be discussed as well as which methods best demonstrate quantitative rather than qualitative results. A recommendation of the most effective physical and vegetative methods that could be employed on similar urban Piedmont stream restoration projects will be given.
About Tim Schueler
Tim Schueler is a professional engineer with 36 years of stream restoration engineering experience, having evaluated, designed, permitted, constructed and/or monitored over 23 miles of stream restoration nationally. He specializes in the restoration of heavily degraded urban streams with limited site area access. Three-quarters of Tim’s 90 constructed stream projects have 10+ years of post-construction service life, with 18 being in service for 20+ years. His projects have won regional and national awards.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-schueler-2869ba54/