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Section 206: Section 206: Aquatic Ecosystem RestorationAquatic Ecosystem Restoration

Big Escambia Creek, Big Escambia Creek, Escambia Counties, Escambia Counties, Alabama and FloridaAlabama and Florida

Presented By:Presented By:Charles Owens Charles Owens

Project Management Project Management

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Aquatic Ecosystem RestorationSection 206

WRDA 1996, as amendedObjective: restore degraded aquatic ecosystems

A Restoration Project is adopted for construction only after investigation shows that the restoration will improve the environment, is in the public interest, and is cost-effective. 

Each project is limited to a Federal cost of not more than $5 million.  This Federal limitation includes all project-related costs for feasibility studies, planning, engineering, construction, supervision, and administration.

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EscambiaEscambia RiverRiver

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ALAL

FLFL

CSX Railroad

Northern Portion of Big Escambia CreekNorthern Portion of Big Escambia Creek Pre-ConstructionPre-Construction

NN

Fannie Road

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Looking West

EscambiaEscambia RiverRiver

Southern Portion of Big Escambia CreekSouthern Portion of Big Escambia Creek Pre-ConstructionPre-Construction

Looking East

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ALAL

FLFL

CSX Railroad

Fannie Road

NN

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Gravel Mining OperationGravel Mining Operation

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Restored ChannelExisting Channel

Restored Channel

Logjam #1

Original Channel

Restored Channel

Logjam #2

Original Channel

Big Escambia Creek Big Escambia Creek

RestorationRestoration ProjectProject

Primary Diversion StructureSecondary Diversion

StructureRestored Creek Channel

Key:

Bank Log Vane

Cross- Vane

Log Vane

Root Wad

Root Wad Footer

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Restored Existing Restored Existing ChannelChannel

Northernmost Northernmost LogjamLogjam

Braided Channels as a Braided Channels as a result of the Logjamresult of the Logjam

CSX Railroad CSX Railroad BridgeBridge

Original ChannelOriginal Channel

Northern Portion of the Restoration Northern Portion of the Restoration ProjectProject

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Primary Primary Diversion Diversion StructureStructure

Restored ChannelRestored Channel

Fannie Road BridgeFannie Road Bridge

Existing ChannelExisting Channel

Southern Portion of the Restoration ProjectSouthern Portion of the Restoration Project

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A view of the Southern Portion of the Project located south of the Primary Diversion Structure looking northward

Again south of the Diversion Structure but now looking southward

Notice minimal removal of trees adjacent to the channel

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Three J-Hooks Structures Three J-Hooks Structures located in one of the Big located in one of the Big

Escambia Creek Bends Escambia Creek Bends Root Wads are forced into the ground in Root Wads are forced into the ground in order to stabilize logs running parallel order to stabilize logs running parallel and perpendicular to the creeks’ bankand perpendicular to the creeks’ bank

• Cables are used to reinforce stability of the Cables are used to reinforce stability of the structures at the Middle and Bank Rootwad/Log structures at the Middle and Bank Rootwad/Log ConnectionConnection

• Geotextile fabric is placed in the upper portion Geotextile fabric is placed in the upper portion

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• In addition to these In addition to these structures, Rootwad Clusters structures, Rootwad Clusters have been placed within the have been placed within the creek’s pools to increase creek’s pools to increase aquatic habitataquatic habitat

• Cross veins have been Cross veins have been utilized to also divert flowutilized to also divert flow

Trees have been driven into Trees have been driven into the creek bottom leaving the creek bottom leaving the exposed rootwadthe exposed rootwad

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Adaptive Management Process: Adaptive Management Process: • The project team and contractor discussed Minor Channel The project team and contractor discussed Minor Channel Re-Alignment due an Existing Natural Eastern Bank of Re-Alignment due an Existing Natural Eastern Bank of Extensive Roots Intertwined within it; thus, providing natural Extensive Roots Intertwined within it; thus, providing natural bank stabilitybank stability

• Natural Bank is more stable than that of the Man-made Bank Natural Bank is more stable than that of the Man-made Bank

Eastern Bank Eastern Bank with Root with Root

massmass

Additional Root Additional Root mass further mass further south along the south along the channelchannel

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Restoration of Big Escambia Creek Restoration of Big Escambia Creek promoted Additional Point Sand Bars promoted Additional Point Sand Bars

to occur within the channelto occur within the channel

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Project Benefits

Restoration of Ecological Conditions Along the Lower Four Mile Reach of Big Escambia Creek Watershed.

Reduction of Flood Damages at Flomaton, Alabama and Century, Florida.

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Project Completion

The Project was completed in August 2005.

The project was damaged by Hurricanes Ivan, Dennis and Katrina.

– Emergency Funding Requested to Restore Hurricane Damaged Areas.