HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-2606B (2)
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natura l Resources
Division of Water Quality
B everly Eaves Perdue Charles Wakild, P. E. Dee Freeman
Governor Director Secretary
225 Green St., Suite 714, Fayetteville, NC 28301-50 43
Phone: 910-433-3300 \ FAX: 910-486-0707
Internet: www.ncwaterquality.org
An Equal Opportunity \ Affirmative Action Employer – 50% Recycled \ 10% Post Consumer Paper
May 29, 2012
MEMORANDUM
To: John Partin, Assistant Resident Engineer, NCDOT Div ision 8
From: Mason Herndon, NCDWQ, Fayetteville Regional Office MH
Subject: TIP No. R-2606B
Randolph County
On May 22, 2012, a site visit was conducted on the R-2606B (US 311) project in Randolph County,
following the report of sedimentation and turbidity in tributaries to a private pond downstream of the
project owned by Mr. Wyatt Farlow and your report o f sediment and turbidity coming to the project from
an adjacent development. Both of these reports wer e received on May 21, 2012. Attendees at this site
included you, Kelly Whitaker and Wes Hicks with the Randolph County Soil and Water Conservation
District Office, Wyatt Farlow (landowner), Barry Ha rrington, Roadside Environmental, and other
NCDOT staff. During the site visit, sediment loss was noted at permit sites 23A and 23B of this proje ct.
This is fill of a jurisdictional stream without aut horization and is a violation of 15A NCAC 2H .0500.
The following is documentation of what was noted du ring this site visit and corrective actions that ne ed to
be addressed:
Permit Site 23B
Station –L-380+10 to 381+00 RT , Structure 307, Drop Inlet Outlet, erosion control BMP’s were in
placed and were functioning properly. Some sedimen t deposits were noted at the outlet of the 24” pipe
and depositional bars were noted in several locatio ns along the bank of the stream down to where the
stream enters the main stem of the system, approxim ately 300 feet. The Division requests that NCDOT
remove this material immediately. A film of sedime nt continues to exist in the streambed of this syst em;
therefore, this area needs to be monitored after ea ch rain event over 0.5 inches and accumulations
removed.
Other items that need to be addressed at this site:
· No source of sediment was observed; however, the ou tfall pipe was observed to periodically gush
clear water for no apparent reason. On a prior vis it, Ms. Whitaker said she had noted turbid water
discharging from this pipe in a similar manner. Th e Division request that this pipe be
investigated to ensure that it is functioning prope rly and free of defects.
· Upon review of the permit drawing a Class B rip rap dissipater pad is proposed on the outlet of
this pipe. The Division request that this measure be installed immediately.
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May 29, 2012
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· The drop inlet protection measure in the median was in need of maintenance. Sediment
accumulations were noted to be within 8 inches of t he top of this measure. The accumulation had
been removed prior to the conclusion of this visit; however the Division requests that this area
continue to be monitored closely.
Permit Site 23A
Station 374+00 to 374+40-L , 60” pipe and 24” drop inlet outlet, substantial s ediment deposits were
noted upstream and downstream of this culvert. Dep ositions were observed to be up to 4 inches in dept h
downstream of the NCDOT project. We visited the pr oject known as Ace Avent that is upstream of the
US 311 project. Based our conversations, it is bel ieved that project has been under construction for
approximately two weeks. Heavy sedimentation was n oted in the stream and in several other locations
beyond the clearing limits and erosion control meas ures. Amy Euliss with the Winston Salem Regional
Office (WSRO) was contacted and further investigati on by WSRO was requested.
The following observations were noted on the NCDOT project and need to be addressed:
· Two springs have developed within the fill slope at this location that have substantial flow and
are creating rills in the slope. The Division has concerns that if these springs continue to flow
down the fill slope it could result in slope failur e and significant sediment loss into the stream.
The Division request that NCDOT investigate this is sue, and provide the Division with a course
of action to alleviate this concern.
· Upon review of the permit drawing a Class I rip rap dissipater pad is proposed on the outlet of
this pipe and toe protection is proposed on the bot h the inlet and outlet ends of this culvert. Per
our conversation, the rip rap toe protection and di ssipater pad is not proposed to be installed until
the sediment basins are removed. The Division is s atisfied with this proposal at this time.
However, based on the sediment observed upstream of the project, the Division recommends that
NCDOT place an erosion control measure at the outle t of the pipe to capture sediment before it
leaves the project. The Division typically does n ot condone erosion control measures within a
jurisdictional stream; however, given the unfortuna te circumstances that exist; we feel that it is
warranted in this situation.
· Based on a phone conversation with Sue Homewood wit h SWPS in the WSRO, there are
sediment deposits within two stream channels on the Ace Avant site, however at the time of her
visit, significant sediment accumulations were conf ined to a small portion of stream immediately
adjacent to the road on the project, and the remain der of the stream channels consisted of a thin
film on the stream banks and stream bed and signifi cant turbidity in the channel. Furthermore
there is no evidence that some of this sediment dow nstream of the NCDOT project is not an
accumulation of material from prior losses suffered on this project. Therefore the Division
request that NCDOT remove all material within the p roject limits and downstream to the 900 foot
limit that was cleaned out in 2010.
After our review of these NCDOT sites, Kelly Whitak er, Wes Hicks, Barry Harrington, Wyatt Farlow and
I, visited three other sites downstream of the proj ect. The first site is approximately one mile down stream
of the project at the end of Millikan Road. The se cond site we visited was the lower reach of the str eam
on the Farlow property and the last observation was at the Farlow pond which approximately 2 miles
downstream of the NCDOT project. My observations d uring this visit and a prior visit with Mr. Farlow
on June 28, 2011 are as follows:
· Millikan Road site – substantial (approximately 1.5 – 3 inches) sediment deposits on the stream
banks and turbidity was noted during my visit on Ju ne 28, 2011. Sediment accumulations and
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May 29, 2012
Page 3 of 4
turbidity was less substantial and more sporadic du ring this visit. During both visits a film of
sediment was observed on the streambed. No evidenc e of sediment or turbidity was noted on any
tributaries to the main branch of this stream which originates just upstream of the NCDOT
project.
· Just upstream of the Farlow Pond - during both visi ts, sediment deposits were noted along the
stream bank. Although the deposits were more granu lar than observed upstream, the base
material appeared to be consistent with the red cla y material found upstream. A sediment film
was noted on the streambed during both visits. Tur bidity was less prevalent during this visit than
that noted on June 28, 2011. No evidence of turbidi ty or sediment was observed in a tributary that
enters the main channel just upstream of a dam reli c on the Farlow property.
· Farlow Pond – turbidity was observed on both visits .
Based on my records and information provided to me by your office, there have been eight sediment loss
events on this project, with the major events occur ring on May 17, 2010 and June 14, 2010 due to a fou r
to five inch rain event. According to your records these two events resulted in the loss of 515 cubic yards
of material. NCDOT made a valet effort to retrieve the material lost after these and other unforeseea ble
events, and based on my observations and review of the NPDES records these losses were not the result
of negligence or lack of due diligence. However, it is in my best professional judgment that the impac ts of
these losses were far more extensive than originall y evaluated and have had a detrimental effect on th is
entire stream system below the project, including t he Farlow Pond. The Division strongly recommends
that NCDOT work with Mr. Farlow to rectify this sit uation.
After leaving the Farlow property, I conducted an i ndependent follow up review of the sediment loss si tes
that we visited on March 15, 2012 including Sites 2 7 and 28 that warranted a Notice of Violation which
was issued on March 22, 2012. My observations are as follows:
Permit Site 27
Station.-L- 445+80 to 445+90
All sediment has been removed from the stream syste m. Adequate erosion control measures have been
installed and disturbed area has been matted. No f urther actions are required at this time. Continue to
monitor the area.
Permit Site 28
Station.-L- 470+20 to 471+60
All sediment has been removed from the stream and f loodplain. No vegetative buffer was left adjacent to
the stream as suggested. The area has been matted with coir fiber matting. The cattail and juncus ro ot
matt appears to still be intact. This area needs to be monitored for vegetation reestablishment.
Supplemental riparian seeding may be required if na tural vegetation does not reestablish.
Permit Site 29
Station –RPC3- 50+40 to 51+40
The two sediment bars have been removed from stream bank and floodplain at outlet of culvert.
Floodplain has been matted with coir fiber matting. This area needs to be monitored for vegetation
reestablishment. Supplemental riparian seeding may be required if natural vegetation does not
reestablish.
Station –RPC3- 56+00
Sediment bar noted in the stream channel has been r emoved. No further action is required.
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May 29, 2012
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If you have any questions or need any additional in formation on the comments made above, please do not
hesitate to me at (910) 308-4021 or mason.herndon@n cdenr.gov. Thank you again for your time and
efforts to address these concerns.
Ec: Rueben Blakely, Division 8 Resident Engineer
John Olinger, Division 8 Construction Engineer
Vicki Davis, NCDOT Area Construction Engineer
Art King, Division 8 Environmental Officer
Ronnie Smith, US Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmingt on District Office
Barry Harrington, NCDOT Roadside Environmental, Di v. 7 & 8
Kelly Whitaker, Randolph County Soil and Water Con servation District
Belinda Henson, DWQ FRO Surface Water Protection S ection
David Wainwright, DWQ Wetlands/401 Transportation Group
Amy Euliss, DWQ WRSO Surface Water Protection Sect ion
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