HomeMy WebLinkAboutRE_ _External_ Stormwater runoff_Erosion control measures at 105 bridge projectWanucha, Dave
From: Hining, Kevin J
Sent: Wednesday, March 8, 2023 4:12 PM
To: Walter Browning
Cc: Andy Hill; Graznak, Jenny; Wanucha, Dave
Subject: RE: [External] Stormwater runoff/Erosion control measures at 105 bridge project
Thank you, Walter— I'm going to set up a time for Andy and myself to meet on site and review the project, take photos,
etc. It will be a good opportunity for me to learn more about community related concerns with this project, and
concerns with other NCDOT projects in the area (current and future ones). I plan to have our area erosion control
specialist there as well, to help with questions, and also the project inspector. Once we get a date set, I'll be sure and
extend the invitation to you as well. I'm hoping that in this way we can funnel information through Andy (and yourself if
available), to pass along to the community. While I wish I could get more of the community onsite, it can be a
dangerous place due to active construction, and the heavy traffic levels. In short, I know our projects aren't perfect, and
we do make mistakes, but hoping to be able to relieve some of the community's concerns.
Thank you again for letting us know about the issue, and feel free to contact me anytime concerning potential
environmental issues related to NCDOT.
Kevi n
Kevin Hining
Division 11 Environmental Supervisor
North Carolina Department of Transportation
828-386-7202 cell
kihining ncdot.gov
801 Statesville Rd.
PO Box 250
North Wilkesboro, NC 28659
Email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the
North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.
From: Walter Browning <wgbrowning@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 8, 2023 1:21 PM
To: Hining, Kevin J <kjhining@ncdot.gov>
Cc: Andy Hill <Andy@mountaintrue.org>; Graznak, Jenny <jenny.graznak@ncdenr.gov>; Wanucha, Dave
<dave.wanucha@ncdenr.gov>
Subject: Re: [External] Stormwater runoff/Erosion control measures at 105 bridge project
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Kevin,
Thank you for your timely and reasoned response. We have no reason to think
other than everyone involved in the project is doing their best to protect the
environment while tackling this important and difficult project. We all want to be
aligned.
Some comments regarding this matter and the emails below from members of
the Valle Crucis Community Council:
"I would recommend that, going forward, Kevin or his delegate proactively spot
check their erosion measures during heavy rain events. The DOT should check for
issues when these erosion controls are stressed to the max, not just during
normal rainy days."
"From personal experience, I know that Kevin is an incredibly dedicated environmentalist and will be doing his
best to track this situation. I'm also happy to see Andy Hill is involved, as he is the person I would contact if I
witnessed the runoff.
Unfortunately, these quick, heavy rain events are becoming more common here, and Kevin is correct that their
mitigation efforts likely will be overwhelmed occasionally."
In short, we appreciate the attention given to this matter and trust that, in the future, care and vigilance by all
concerned continue to be the norm.
Regards,
Walter
n Tue, Mar 7, 2023 at 8:53 PM Hining, Kevin J <kihining@ncdot.gov> wrote:
Hey Andy,
I'm well and hope you are also! I'm sorry to hear about the complaints you have received, but I'm glad you contacted
me. Please do so anytime. I had not received any complaints about this project until last night - I received an email
from Mr. Browning, Cc'd on this email, concerning sediment entering the roadway and river. He stated the issue
occurred around 6:30 PM on Friday evening. I assume this is the same storm you referenced. While I emailed Mr.
Fil
Browning last night, I thought it would be good to include him on this correspondence as well, now that I have
reviewed the site — I hope that is ok. Our rainfall data suggests a sudden burst of rain Friday evening (our rain gauge at
the project showed 1.7 inches). As you and Mr. Browning noted, the storm did overwhelm some of our erosion control
measures. While short lived, it seems to have been a strong storm that produced major runoff throughout the region.
I have spent most of the day out on the HWY 105 project, and reviewed it with our project inspector, and Dave
Wanucha, our NCDWR representative. We definitely lost sediment onto the roadway, however, we have several, more
hidden, erosion control measures in place between the roadway and the river. We checked all of them and could not
determine any major sediment losses to the river. While I left that meeting thinking that our devices worked, your
email about frequent complaints gives me pause.
You mentioned a lack of erosion control devices, so I did want to speak to that. The cut/hillside removal is enlarging
every day, so it is typical that we not put many erosion control measures within the active work area, since the terrain
is changing daily. Simply put, they would likely get in the way and/or be destroyed. Instead, we have a large diversion
ditch at the top of the hillside which is intended to divert clean water from the adjacent mountainside away from our
work area. Within our work area (the active cut) we rely largely on a long diversion ditch that passes runoff through
several rock checks along the road (several are behind the concrete barrier, so difficult to see). When we get a big rain
event, like happened on Friday, runoff may cross the road, where it then flows along a silt fence on top of the riverbank
and to several "SDO's" — sediment discharge outlets. These devices are our next to last measure to treat sediment
runoff, and are composed of a hardware cloth backing with 57 stone (a smaller sized stone used to filter
sediment). Our final measure is the existing vegetated banks between the SDO's and river, to further help filter
sediment. I'll be the first to admit that our measures are not capable of catching everything. I'm not aware of any
perfect measures, but having room for a large basin would help - we just don't have room for that, at this time. Also,
I'm sure we likely lost some turbid water to the river, but looking below the SDO's, it appears that we did not lose
appreciable amounts of actual sediment - our SDO's appeared to be pretty clean on the riverside, other than a small
pile of sediment below one SDO, below the road, 10-15 ft from the river. We have instructed the contractor to
investigate and clean up/retrieve that sediment.
To speak to our current erosion control plans, we have a group of sediment and erosion control specialists that design
our plans and then send them to various regulatory agencies for review and approval. We also have a two-part system
for monitoring erosion control devices —1) the contractor has a certified specialist, and 2) NCDOT has a certified
specialist that reviews all measures weekly, and after any 1 inch or more rain event (within a 24 hr period). They have a
form they fill out and sign, which notes any issues and corrective measures. Additionally, we have a certified erosion
control specialist that does a monthly review and numerical scoring of the project. This person is not associated with
our NCDOT division, reducing bias, and actually scores various aspects of the erosion control plan and implementation,
and then provides that information to the contractor and division staff. While we have had some issues along the way,
we thought the project was doing well overall. So again, I hate to hear that you have received numerous complaints.
I wanted to provide all of this information to let you know we are actively monitoring the project, and do have
measures in place. I also want you to know that we really do care about protecting the river and keeping any sediment
from our project on site, if at all possible. But, it is a difficult project, and there is limited room to construct it due to
the tight valley and existing traffic volumes. In closing, I'm happy to meet you on site and review the project at any
time.
3
Please let me know if I can provide any additional information.
Thank you,
Kevi n
Kevin Hining
Division 11 Environmental Supervisor
North Carolina Department of Transportation
828-386-7202 cell
kihinina .ncdot.aov
801 Statesville Rd.
PO Box 250
North Wilkesboro, NC 28659
Email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the
North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.
From: Graznak, Jenny <jenny.graznak@ncdenr.gov>
Sent: Tuesday, March 7, 2023 2:15 PM
To: Andy Hill <Andy@mountaintrue.org>; Hining, Kevin J <kjhining@ncdot.gov>
Subject: RE: [External] Stormwater runoff/Erosion control measures at 105 bridge project
Thank you, Andy.
It is my understanding that Kevin and other staff are on site today checking for compliance.
I appreciate you keeping me posted, Kevin.
Jenny Graznak
Assistant Regional Supervisor, Division of Water Resources
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
Winston-Salem Regional Office
Office: (336) 776-9695 / Cell: (336) 403-7388
0enny.graznak@ncdenr.gov
FORTH CAROLINA LI /
Department of Environmental Quality
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Carolina Public Records Law and may be discloses
From: Andy Hill <Andy@mountaintrue.org>
Sent: Tuesday, March 7, 2023 12:16 PM
To: Hining, Kevin J <klhining@ncdot.gov>
Cc: Graznak, Jenny <lenny.graznak@ncdenr.gov>
Subject: [External] Stormwater runoff/Erosion control measures at 105 bridge project
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Hello Kevin,
I hope this finds you well. Reaching out today to share the concerns of property owners downstream of the
105/Broadstone Road bridge project. On Friday, March 3rd the area experienced a significant localized rain event. The
rain overwhelmed the erosion control measures causing them to fail. The failures resulted in a large amount of runoff
and increased turbidity levels reaching the Watauga River. Our office has received numerous reports and calls for
action from impacted downstream neighbors. We share their concerns about impacts to the ecosystem. I would
appreciate it if you pass our concerns along to the contractor. I think an expansion of existing erosion control measures
would be helpful. I noticed there was inadequate silt fencing along access roads and disturbed hillside. I appreciate
your help in this matter.
Have a great day,
Andy
Andy Hill
Watauga Riverkeeper I High Country Regional Director
Mountain True
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Walter G. Browning
377 Dutch Creek Road
Valle Crucis, NC 28604
936-697-0005
828-963-8358
7