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HomeMy Public PortalAbout704699  Updated 1/13/2014  MSD Homeowner’s Guide – Stream Stabilization Construction Page 1 Homeowner’s Guide To Stream Stabilization Construction Before, During & After MSD is planning a construction project involving a stream near your property. This document has been created to help you to understand what to expect before, during and after construction, as well as what you can do to help the long term success of the project and the water quality in your stream. Before Construction After MSD has made the decision to move forward on a project, there is often two to three years’ worth of work done before construction equipment breaks ground on a stream stabilization project. Surveyors, engineers, and scientists are usually the first on the scene to map the area and investigate the stream. This may include areas that are substantially upstream or downstream of the actual construction site. Since streams act as a system and are constantly changing, what’s happening upstream or downstream may affect what’s happening at the project site. Once the problem is fully understood, then a solution is designed and preliminary plans drawn. These plans are used to communicate with your municipality and other agencies such as the United States Corps of Engineers and the Department of Natural Resources, in order to apply for permits necessary for stream construction. You may be contacted by an engineer or invited to attend a meeting about the project. Please try to attend or contact MSD to discuss any questions you might have or any particular needs such as pets in your yard or a sprinkler system. If your property will be affected by the construction, MSD may talk to you about temporary construction easements to get equipment to the stream or to have enough room to build the project. If there is a new sewer involved, MSD may request a permanent easement for the purpose of maintaining the sewer pipe. Once the project design and construction plans are complete, the project will go out to bid and a qualified construction contractor will be selected. If your property is adjacent to the construction, the contractor will notify you, usually in writing, a week or two before they begin work. During Construction The construction process is rarely pleasant for those living nearby. MSD and contractors will do what they can to minimize disruptions to those affected by construction, but the reality is that the ground will be dug up, piles of soil and rock and other materials will be present, vegetation will be removed, and equipment will be parked at the site. An MSD Inspector will be assigned to the project and is your main resource for any questions or concerns that come up during construction. Depending on the size and complexity of the project, and other scheduling factors such as spring or fall planting windows, construction can take six to twelve months from start to finish. However, portions of the project may be complete within a few months. Talk to the MSD Inspector to get more details about the part of the project near your home.   Updated 1/13/2014  MSD Homeowner’s Guide – Stream Stabilization Construction Page 2 Trees are always a concern during construction. Especially with a project along a stream, there is usually no way to do the construction without sacrificing some trees. The contractor will be required to protect trees that are not planned to be removed. This may include putting fencing around them to keep equipment out, trimming limbs so they are out of the way of the equipment moving through, and “root pruning” to cut back roots that may be disturbed during the digging process. The tree does much better having clean cuts along roots and branches than if they are ripped by equipment. Stream stabilization projects are each unique, so the process will depend on the features to be installed in the project. Typically, projects involve the following construction processes: 1. The contractor will clear enough space to be able to construct the project. This involves heavy equipment removing trees, shrubs, and vegetation. 2. Heavy equipment may be brought in to dig or “excavate” the ground in order to build features that go below the surface. For example, the contractor may excavate a trench in order to install a pipe, or excavate at the bottom or “toe” of the creek bank in order to install rock. 3. Each of the project features will be built and excavated areas will be filled to rebuild the ground surface. 4. Restoration of planted areas. a. Areas along the top of a stream bank are usually replanted with native vegetation that will help hold the bank and grow into a natural buffer. Generally, the contractor will put down seed then install an erosion control blanket. If called for in the plans, small plants or trees will be planted. b. If “livestakes” are used in the project, the contractor will drive them into the ground or between rocks, or bundle them like with brush mattresses. Don’t be dismayed by what looks like a bunch of sticks. These are live trees and shrubs that are dormant (like they are asleep) when they are installed, but they will sprout in the spring and eventually grow into full- sized shrubs and trees! c. Yard areas used for accessing the stream are usually replanted with sod. Common ground areas are usually replanted with grass seed and covered with straw. 5. Restoration of pavement is usually the last step as the contractor works back from the creek. Any driveways, sidewalks, and streets damaged during construction will be restored. Figure 1 - Construction Access with Tree Protection Fence (photo courtesy of Intuition & Logic) Figure 2 - Bank stabilization during construction (photo courtesy of Intuition & Logic)   MSD Hom After Once the evidence see erosio and rock sticking o summer, the erosio sprouting summer w years afte should be of shrubs grow mo smaller th faster it w importan lots or ya create a s and prov Here are then 1 ye Post C Dependin of time, b just as th maintena During th property Figure 4 - B meowner’s Guid Constr e area is plan of plants. A on control b . Livestakes out of the gr grasses shou on control bl g from the liv will show m er constructi e well establ s and grasses ore slowly. A he tree is wh will grow. T nt role in hold ards before it screen for ne ide shade an photos of th ear later (pho Constru ng on the pro but ultimatel hey always h ance once the hat critical e owners in o Bank stabilizatio de – Stream St ruction nted, there m At the surfac lanket with s will look li round, like in uld be sprou lanket and le vestakes. Th more growth, ion, the nativ lished with a s. Trees will As a general hen it is insta The plants no ding the ban t flows into eighboring p nd habitat for he bank stabi otos courtesy uction M oject, the con ly the proper ave. Most n ey get establ stablishmen rder to give on summer after tabilization Con may be little ce, you may small plants ike twigs n Figure 3. B uting through eaves will be he following and by three ve vegetation a thick growt l of course rule, the alled, the ot only play nk in place, b the stream. property own r land and aq ilization proj y of Intuition Mainten ntractor may rty owner wi native plants lished, which t period, how the stream s construction nstruction By h e g e n th an but they also Other benef ners, slow th quatic anima ject above d n & Logic). nance y come back ill need to m put along th h usually tak wever, they stabilization Figure 3 – through ro Figure 5 o help to clea fits of vegeta e water dow als. during the su k to water pla maintain any he stream ba kes one to th could benefi project the b – After planting ock - Bank stabiliza U an rainwater ation are to p wn to help pre ummer after c anted areas f plantings on ank will requ hree years fo fit from a litt best chance seed under blan ation one year lat Updated 1/13/ P from parkin provide or re event erosio construction for a short pe n their prope uire little or most plant le help from of thriving. nket and livestake ter /2014  Page 3 ng e- on, n and eriod erty ts. m the es   Updated 1/13/2014  MSD Homeowner’s Guide – Stream Stabilization Construction Page 4 The following are some things the property owner can do, and avoid, to help give the stream stabilization project the best chance of thriving: DO contact the MSD Inspector if you feel there is an issue with the quality of materials or workmanship of what is or was constructed, as this is under warrantee for the first year. DO water sod and trees in your yard as you would normally. DO water native planting areas during prolonged dry periods, especially during the first growing season, to enhance plant health and appearance. DO think about water pollution. The fact is that rainwater that falls on your property will either flow directly to the stream or to a street or yard inlet, where it flows, untreated, into the stream. So, anything on the ground in your yard or on your street has the potential to cause water pollution – causing health hazards and reducing the ability of the stream to support aquatic life. Common sources of water pollution include over fertilizing yards, yard waste dumped in the stream or inlets, pet waste left on the ground and soap used for washing cars. See MSD’s website http://www.stlmsd.com/educationoutreach/phase2/Residential for more information about these and other sources of water pollution and what you can do to help the water quality in the St. Louis area (and all points downstream).   DO keep an eye out for invasive plant species that could quickly overrun the young natives. Information about how to identify and control invasive plants can be found at the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) webpage http://mdc.mo.gov/your-property/problem-plants- and-animals/invasive-plants. DO consider the benefits to your property and community that a healthy stream corridor can bring. If you would like to take a more active role in managing the natural areas along the stream, the Missouri Department of Conservation has information at: http://mdc.mo.gov/your- property or contact the St. Louis Regional Office at 636-441-4554. You could also join or create a stream team to get more involved in stream health and conservation. Find information at: http://www.mostreamteam.org/ DO NOT dump anything on stream banks. Yard waste such as grass clippings and branches, broken concrete, tires, and other waste materials are sometimes dumped on banks because landowners mistakenly think it will help reduce erosion. In reality, these practices make the erosion worse by killing plants whose roots can hold the soil. Rainwater will run under the material washing soil out as it moves through. Often the damage is not noticed until after large holes are washed out and the dumped material falls into the hole. DO NOT put fertilizer on native planting areas. It is not necessary, leads to weed growth, and harms water quality in the stream. DO NOT use herbicides such as Roundup to remove large sections of vegetation. Careful spot use to get rid of invasive plants might be warranted. See above for information on how to identify and control invasive plants. DO NOT mow native planting areas or cut down shrubs and trees. See the link above or discuss with your local MDC conservationist if you would like to take a more active role in managing the native plantings along the stream.