GC 3258

STREAM BANK STABILIZATION CERTIFICATION
GENERAL CERTIFICATION FOR BANK STABILIZATION PROJECTS
INCLUDING PROJECTS ELIGIBLE FOR CORPS OF ENGINEERS
NATIONWIDE PERMIT NUMBER 13 AND REGIONAL PERMIT 197800080
This General Certification is issued in conformity with the requirements of Section 401, Public Laws 92-
500 and 95-217 of the United States and subject to the North Carolina Division of Water Quality
Regulations in 1 SA NCAC 2H .0500 and 15A NCAC 2B. 0200 for the discharge of fill material to waters
as described in 33 CFR 330 Appendix A (B) (13) of the Corps of Engineers regulations (i.e. Nationwide
Permit Number 13}and Regional Permit 197800080. The category of activities shall include any activity
for bank stabilization as long as impacts to waters or significant wetlands are minimized. This Certification
replaces Water Quality Certification (WQC) No. 1272 issued November 10,1978; WQC Number 1663
issued on September 8, 1983; and WQC No. 2665 issued on 21 January 1992; and WQC No. 3102 issued
on February 11, 1997. This WQC is rescinded when the Corps of Engineers reauthorize Nationwide
Permits 13 or Regional Permit 197800080 or when deemed appropriate by the Director of the Division of
Water Quality (DWQ).
The State of North Carolina certifies that the specified category of activity will not violate applicable
portions of Sections 301, 302, 303, 306 and 307 of the Public Laws 92-500 and 95-217 if conducted in
accordance with the conditions set forth.
Conditions of Certification
1. Stream bank stabilization methods with greater than or equal to a total of 500 linear feet (152.5
meters) of impact which do not utilize hard structures (including but not limited to all
varieties of rip rap and gabion baskets except as noted in condition number 6 do not require
written approval from the Division. The applicant is required to notify the Division in
writing with three copies of project specifications before the impact occurs. If the Division
determines that the project utilizes hard structures for stream bank stabilization, then the
Division shall notify the applicant in writing within 30 days of receipt of the notification to
require application and payment of the appropriate fee. If no notification is sent from DWQ within
30 days of receipt of the notification, the project may proceed provided that the project complies
with all other conditions of this General Certification. Projects which propose greater than
or equal to 500 linear feet (152.5 meters) of hard structures require written concurrence;
2. Proposed bank stabilization less than a total of 500 feet (152.5 meters) in length does not require
written application to and approval from the Division of Water Quality as long as all other
conditions of this Certification are met except as noted below.
3. Methods of bank stabilization that avoid or minimize the use of hard structures (such as
bioengineering) are preferred rather than installation of hard structures. Information about these
methods is attached;
4. Appropriate sediment and erosion control practices which equal or exceed those outlined in the
most recent version of the "North Carolina Erosion and Sediment Control Planning and
Design Manual" or "North Carolina Surface Mining Manual" whichever is more appropriate
(available from the Division of Land Resources at the DENR Regional and Central Offices)
shall be designed, installed and maintained properly to assure compliance with the appropriate
turbidity water quality standard (50 NTUs in streams and rivers not designated as trout waters
by DWQ; 25 NTUs in all saltwater classes and all lakes and reservoirs; 10 NTUs in DWQ-
classifiedtrout waters);
5. All sediment and erosion control measures placed in wetlands or waters shall be removed and the
natural grade restored after the Division of Land Resources or delegated local program has
released the project;

6. Except as provided in condition number 2, riprap shall not be installed in the streambed unless
required for velocity control and approved by the Division of Land Resources and the
Division of Water Quality. All riprap approved to be installed shall be of such a size so as not to
be able to be carried off by wave or current action and consist of clean rock or masonry
material free of debris or toxic pollutants. However rock veins, wing deflectors, weirs and similar
structures which direct flow from the stream bank toward the thalweg (deepest point of the
stream cross section) of the channel are acceptable.;
7. Measures shall be taken to prevent live or fresh concrete from coming into contact with waters of
the state until the concrete has hardened;
8. If an environmental document is required, this Certification is not valid until a Finding of No
Significant Impactor Record of Decision is issued by the State Clearinghouse;
9. Additional site-specific conditions may be added to projects which require written concurrence
under this Certification in order to ensure compliance with all applicable water quality and
effluent standards;
lo. Concurrence from DWQ that this Certification applies to an individual project shall expire three
years from the date of the cover letter from DWQ or the notification is sent to DWQ.
Non-compliance with or violation of the conditions herein set forth by a specific project shall result in
revocation of this Certification for the project and may also result in criminal and/or civil penalties.
The Director of the North Carolina Division of Water Quality may require submission of a formal
application for individual Certification for any project in this category of activity, if it is determined that the
project is likely to have a significant adverse effect upon water quality or degrade the waters so that
existing uses of the wetland or downstream waters are precluded.
Public hearings may be held for specific applications or group of applications prior to a Certification
decision if deemed in the public's best interest by the Director of the North Carolina Division of Water
Quality.
Effective date: November 22, 1999
DIVISION OF WATER QUALITY
By
~I M
Kerr T. Stevens
Director
WQC # 3258

BIOENGINEERING METHODS
(attachment to General Certification for Streambank Stabilization - NWP 13)
Alternatives to full use of hard structures:
Root wads along with 20 to 30 feet of tree trunk from hardwood trees have been used by the N.C. Wildlife
Resources Commission in various projects for stabilization in rural areas and by other applicants in urban
areas. Root wads are installed into the eroding bank and anchored by rocks or rebar. By the time the root
wads rot out, native vegetation is replaced. Tag alder, dogwood, buttonbush and willows are frequently
used as plantings among the root wads. Shorter tree trunk lengths are acceptable if additional anchoring
measures are used. Root wads should be placed at the bankfull stage. Rootwads can often be used
successfully in areas where velocities exceed 6 fps.
Brush layering consists of laying willow cuttings (several feet in length) horizontally, with the branch tips
toward the stream and rooting end away from the stream. Soil is piled on top of the cuttings and several
more layers are installed. When installed during a dormant period (winter or fall}, growth should occur the
following spring. Dormant cuttings may be inserted in the banks or in spaces in between the synthetic
product (if used) for bank stability. Black willow and tag alder are good species to use for bioengineering
since they root easily and grow well in the eastern U.S.
Riprap may be used on a very limited basis when necessary to protect the outer toe of meanders. When
utilized, riprap should be placed on the outside curves from the toe to bankfull height. Bankfull is
considered to be the corresponding stage at the incipient point of flooding. It is often associated with an
average return interval of about 1.5 years. Bankfull can sometimes be detected by one or more of the
following features -1) lack of point bars, 2) significant breaks in slope, 3) changes in vegetation, 4}height
of the highest scour line, and 5) (more rarely) top of bank.
Lunkers are another stabilization device which are elongated bench-like structures that are open on three
sides allowing water to flow through them, while also providing fish habitat. They can be made of
recyclable material (plastic) or of oak.
Vegetative plantings:
Bioengineering methods in conjunction with native plantings can be used to produce aesthetically pleasing,
biologically diverse streams. The use of native vegetation is desirable since native species are non-invasive
and they reduce velocity, protect banks from scour and have root systems that create bank support.
Vegetation also contributes organic matter and provides shade to protect aquatic life. Shading helps
reduce water temperatures and enables higher levels of dissolved oxygen to be held in water.
In addition to establishing bank vegetation for shading, plantings should be placed on the erosional side (or
outside curve) of streams where velocity is greatest. Vegetative plantings dissipate erosive forces and hold
sediment in place. Plants most effective for bank stabilization have deep roots, low growth forms, dense
branching patterns and are resilient under pressure such as flooding. It is desirable to have at least a 50 foot
width of bank vegetation where feasible.
When replanting of banks is required, generally there should initially be the linear equivalent of 400 trees
per acre or as specified in the planting plan - i.e., on 10 foot centers with a 50 foot wide wooded buffer.
Survival after five years shall be for a total of 320 stems or its equivalent. Trees planted should be large
enough (several feet in height) to ensure that they won't be scoured away during adverse weather. In
deeply incised streams where the stream"s downcutting has lowered the local water table, upland species
should be planted.