Bay View Sewer Interceptor and Stream Restoration: Asset Protection Using a Holistic Watershed Approach
Jennifer Zebley
Rummel, Klepper, & Kahl (RK&K)
Wilmington, DE
Rebecca Oaks
Rummel, Klepper, & Kahl (RK&K)
Baltimore, MD
Authors: Rebecca Oaks, Jennifer Zebley
The Cecil County Department of Public Works (DPW) identified the restoration of Unnamed Tributary to Stony Run (UT-Stony Run) as a project to stabilize infrastructure associated with the Bay View Interceptor sewer line, provide ecological enhancement, support the requirements of the NPDES MS4 permit, and help meet pollutant load reductions associated with the Chesapeake Bay TMDL. The Bay View Interceptor project is located within the Piedmont physiographic province of Maryland. The project area encompassed approximately 2,150 linear feet of stream. The stream valley through the project reach was moderately degraded, deeply incised, and had been manipulated by anthropogenic changes in the watershed and specifically within the project area. These impacts included residential development, floodplain encroachment by utility corridors, and the valley wide impoundment. A sewer main parallels the stream valley and crosses the mainstem in one location where an exposed sewer pipe was observed during several field visits. The design proposed a small baseflow channel with a floodplain bench on either side, utilizing the maximum width available given the site constraints in order to maintain or decrease water surface elevations. The one-dimensional (1D) HEC-RAS existing conditions model indicated areas of instability within the project reach with shear stresses over 4 pounds per square foot (psf) in some areas. The HEC-RAS proposed conditions model shows stabilization design either reduces shear stresses or provides measures to protect against erosive forces. A function-based assessment and assessment parameters were established for the recommended design approach that considered hydrology, hydraulics, geomorphology, water quality and ecology. The existing stream is located adjacent to a future housing development so part of the design included future resiliency planning for that housing development. RK&K was able to use our urban stream restoration knowledge to predict how the stream would react to these land-use changes and design a proposed stream restoration that is resilient for a changing landscape. Construction of the Bay View Sewer Interceptor Stream Restoration was completed in August 2023.
About Jennifer Zebley
Coming SooJenn Zebley, EIT is an engineer at RK&K in the environmental, water resources department with 4 years of experience. She has a Bachelor of Engineering in Environmental Engineering and a Master of Civil Engineering from the University of Delaware. Jenn has helped design several stream restoration projects, as well as other stormwater management projects, at RK&K.
About Rebecca Oaks
Rebecca Oaks, PE is an Project Engineer at RK&K in the environmental, water resources department with 8 years of experience. She has a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering from the University of Buffalo and a Master’s of Science in Environmental Engineering from Johns Hopkins University. Rebecca is the stream restoration lead for the Baltimore Environmental Water Resources Department. She is passionate about stream restoration and connecting urban residents with their local waterways and environment.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccaoaks/