Butterfly Branch 5 Years Later – Daylighting a Stream in Downtown Spartanburg Growing Pains
Liz DiNatale, PE & Michael Ellison
WK Dickson
Raleigh, NC
Butterfly Branch was a thing of urban stream restoration dreams. Back in 2017, a nearly 2,000 foot section of stream that had been piped since the 1950s was daylit near downtown Spartanburg. The urban imprint of abandoned homes and city streets inundated too often by flooding, were erased, and, in its place, a sinuous stream with boulder structures, brushy toe, bug bags and willows was installed. The stream was flanked by several stormwater ponds planted with a variety of wetland species, a lovely greenway that mimics the sinuosity of the new stream and includes an outdoor classroom. The shining star was a pedestrian footbridge that spanned a triple crossvane structure. The project was constructed within budget, caught the growing season perfectly and saw immediate success; the ecosystem was enriched. A year later, all developed according to plan. The wetland plants were taking root, the willows were sprouting, and the temporary seed had done its job. However, five years in, challenges emerge - a crossvane is piping, invasive Mimosa Trees and kudzu have invaded the vegetation plots, and the willows are reshaping the stream channel. What have we learned from monitoring this creek for 5 years? What were the successes and what can we improve?
About Liz DiNatale, PE
Liz is a senior stormwater engineer with WK Dickson and has over 14 years of experience in water resources and related engineering projects. Liz’s focus has primarily been in natural stream hydraulics throughout her career. She’s been on teams developing the HEC-RAS models for FEMA maps, completed dozens of bridge replacement studies for the NCDOT, performed stream restoration construction administration, participated in watershed master planning, and designed urban stream restorations. Liz spent 2.5 years as a construction project manager and managed the construction of thousands of linear feet of stream. Liz is licensed in 3 states and has attended all 4 levels of Rosgen’s courses.
About Michael Ellison
Michael Ellison is a program manager with WK Dickson and has over 30 years of experience in ecosystem analysis and restoration. He provides natural systems design and regulatory compliance services to landowners, nonprofits, and government agencies. Michael has completed over 300 projects to analyze and restore streams, wetlands, forests, and prairies across thirty states.
Michael served as the Director of the NC Division of Mitigation Services and was the delegated trustee authority for all Natural Resource Damage litigation in North Carolina. As Executive Director of the Louisiana CPRA, he received gubernatorial appointments to the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Board, the Council on Watershed Management and the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Coastal Protection, Restoration and Conservation. He provided oversight and direction for the utilization of funds from the BP Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage settlement, Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act and the RESTORE Act.