Coastal Resiliency Along Neshaminy Creek for Creating, Enhancing - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Coastal Resiliency Along Neshaminy Creek for Creating, Enhancing and Preserving Former Wetlands at Abandoned and Degraded Jack’s Marina

Presented by: Sachin Apte, P.E. Louis Berger Co-Authors: Peg McBrien, P.E. Louis Berger Lisa Magee, PRPA

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Jack’s Marina Compensatory Wetland Mitigation

Aerial View of Site

• Wetland, Open Water and Sensitive

Species Mitigation for Southport Marine Terminal Project

• Philadelphia Regional Port Authority

is primary client

• Protection and enhancement of

Pennsylvania’s coastal resources and fostering sustainable development

• Louis Berger and AP Construction

Design-Build Team

• Permits from US Army Corps of

Engineers, PADEP, PADCNR, Bucks County Cons. District and PA Fish & Boat Commission

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Abandoned and Degraded Jack’s Marina Site

• 35 acre site purchased by

PRPA for compensatory wetland mitigation

• Much of site formerly

dredged/filled for recreational marina

• Existing freshwater tidal

wetlands contain invasive species

• Shoreline stabilization

required for coastal resiliency

• Unsafe public access

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Louis Berger Preliminary Field Investigations

Prior to actual construction

• Baseline design studies

for habitat restoration

• Detailed soil analyses for

material disposal offsite

• Plant and wildlife surveys
• Wetland delineation and

bio-benchmark survey

• Topographic, bathymetric

surveys verification

• Permitting requirements

for state, federal and local agencies for compliance

• Construction plan sets

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Design/Build Team- Task Force

• ut to work

Initial Clearing of Site

• Re-establishment of 11.52

acres of tidal freshwater wetland and mudflat

• Enhancement of 13.65

acres of tidal wetland by removal of invasive species and debris

• Establishment of 3.29

acres of SAV within former boat basins

• Creation of 0.45 acres of

red belly turtle nesting habitat (PA threatened species)

• Creation of 4.26 acres of

upland buffer.

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Soil Erosion & Sediment Control Measures

Bucks County E&S Permit

• Isolate and protect

existing wetlands with super silt fence

• Stabilized construction

entrance for material disposal traffic at site

• Silt fence around

perimeter of site boundary

• Installation of

temporary sheet pile and turbidity barriers for water control during dredging

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Rescuing Fish & Red Belly Turtles from Basins

PAFBC Permit Compliance

• Threatened Species -

Red Belly Turtles

• Fish relocated from the

work area during dewatering

• Extra care taken for

native bird species relocation during construction

• Other wildlife carefully

kept away from entering construction site.

LOCATION: CLIENT: 8

• Excavation and grading of

the south basin.

• PADEP site visit to
• versee construction

progress at project site

• Surveyor for collecting as-

built grades information

South Basin Construction

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Refurbished public access trail

Reintroduction of public access

• Former trail to fishing

pier refurbished

• Fishing pier completely

reconstructed

• Ease of access for

nearby residents and fishing enthusiasts

• Walkway provides

access for emergency vehicles with turnaround area

• Walkway provides

expansive views of restored & enhanced wetlands

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Rebuilt fishing pier platform

Enhancing the waterfront

• Existing fishing pier

structure rebuilt

• Structural analysis

performed to develop cost effective pier design

• ADA compliant path

and pier access

• Low maintenance

metal fence provided around fishing pier

• Provides views of

south basin, turtle nesting habitat and wetland

LOCATION: CLIENT: 11

• Excavation and Grading
• f the upland slope.
• North basin grading to

create more open water

• Minimal dewatering for

north basin to excavate perimeter grades

Upland Slope Construction

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Installation of E&S measures & turtle basking structures

Taking care of wildlife

• Enhancing turtle

habitat in deepened and widened south basin

• Excavation around

south basin slope tor reconnecting restored and existing wetlands

• Wildlife returning to

project site during construction

• Upland slope erosion

control matting and seeding operation

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Planting Intertidal wetland & scrub shrub vegetation

Creation of new wetlands

• Spatterdock planted

from elevation 0 to 2

• Pickerelweed,

Sweetflag, Taperleaf water horehound and duck potato from elevation 2.0 to 3.5

• Black willow, smooth

alder and buttonbush from elevation 3.5 to 4.0

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Excavation of waste/disposal

Piece of history uncovered

• Newspapers dating as

back to 1947

• Debris varying from

railroad ties, tires, trash, mattresses, old concrete pipes etc.

• Depth and volume of

excavated material required mechanical

• nsite separation
• Special screening

equipment bought

• nsite to separate

material for proper

• ffsite .

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Permitting Agencies site visit to monitor compliance

Project found to be compliant

• USACOE, PADEP And

PRPA site visits to monitor progress

• Recommendations were

kindly provided by the permitting agencies to stay within permit compliance

• Agency representatives

walked entire site within keen interest in latest updates to schedules

• Coordination meetings to

tackle key issues during construction progress

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State Endangered Species special attention

Specially design habitats

• Sand brought in for red

belly turtle nesting habitat

• Special attention given

for in-water zones for endangered species

• Rip-rap stone protection

for nesting mounds

• Osprey nest platform

installation

• Submerged aquatic

vegetation transplanted from Southport impact site to Jack’s Marina mitigation site

LOCATION: CLIENT: 17

• Interpretive signage

designed by sub consultant to be installed this spring on fishing pier

• Warning sign of shallow
• bstructions at south basin

for boaters

Interpretive & Warning Signs

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Site status before winter 2014

Site construction complete

• All excavation/disposal

and slope stabilization complete

• Erosion control

measures in place before winter season

• Keeping fingers

crossed for site to withstand harsh winter season

• Remaining planting

and slope stabilization to be completed in spring 2015

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Spring 2015 site visit-Monitoring

Site restoration complete

• 3 to 5 years of

performance monitoring as per permit compliance requirements

• Adaptive management

goals to be met

• Achieve waterfront

development goals

• Site will be transferred to

Neshaminy Creek State park system

Questions?