20080889 Ver 1_Staff Comments_20080911

Re: Steeles Mill Dam Removal - Minutes of Sept. 4, 2008 On-site Me...
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Subject: Re: Steeles Mill Dam Removal - Minutes of Sept. 4, 2008 On-site Meeting
From: "Kevin Tweedy" <[e-mail]>
Date: Thu, 11 Sep 2008 13:09:42 -0400
To: <[e-mail]>, <[e-mail]>,
<[e-mail]>
CC: "Jessica rohrbach" <[e-mail]>
Emily, Eric, and Ian-
There was discussion at our meeting last week that NWP 27 was not the appropriate
permit for the dam removal work. I have looked through the list of NWP's and am
having trouble finding one that works better. I've found information on the Web
indicating that a NWP 27 has been used before for dam removal. If not a NWP 27, do
you all have suggestions of which NWP and WQC this should be filed under?
-Kevin
Kevin Tweedy, PE
Senior Engineer
Office Manager - Cary NC
Michael Baker Engineering, Inc.
8000 Regency Parkway, Suite 200
Cary, NC 27518
Ph: [phone]
Cell: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
I I I Kevin Tweedy 9/8/2008 1:30 PM »> III
Project - Steeles Mill Dam Removal Project
Subject - Summary of Meeting Held On-site on Sept. 4, 2008 at 10:00AM
Participants - Emily Burton - USACE; Ian McMillan - NCDWQ; Eric Kulz - NCDWQ;
Shari Bryant - NCWRC; Jeff Bruton - NCDWR; Mike Wicker - USFWS; Monty Crump - City
of Rockingham; John Massey - City of Rockingham; Kevin Tweedy - Baker Engineering
The meeting began with a brief history of the project provided by Kevin Tweedy and
Jeff Bruton. Everyone then walked up to the dam and stood along the right abutment
to view the dam and the creek upstream and downstream. Discussed the plans for the
removal, that include for the dam structure to be completely removed, but the
abutment walls on either side of the dam will remain after demolition. Rock
material removed from the dam will be used to provide additional toe protection
along the abutments. Discussed the fact that the sluice gate of the dam has been
open for at least 7 years, so there is no current backwater from the dam.
The group walked approximately 150 feet upstream of the dam to gain a better.
Upstream of the dam, the creek is free-flowing and appears to be mostly stable with
dense herbaceous vegetation on the stream banks. Therefore, the group agreed that
sediment release is not expected to be a concern for the removal of the dam.
The group walked down the proposed construction access to the point where
construction equipment will cross the creek channel to access the dam. Kevin Tweedy
described the proposed access plans. Construction equipment will cross the channel
at a perpendicular angle to access a mid-channel bar on the opposite side of the
creek. The equipment will then move upstream on the bar material to get to the dam
- this approach should minimize disturbance to the stream bed. In areas where the
stream bed may be disturbed through construction, Mike Wicker agreed that USFWS
would do a survey for mussels prior to equipment being brough in, and if species
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Re: Steeles Mill Dam Removal - Minutes of Sept. 4, 2008 On-site Me...
were found, they would be relocated to another stream reach away from disturbance.
Shari Bryant indicated that she and/or members of her staff may be interested in
participating in this work.
Shari Bryant and Mike Wicker also indicated that NCWRC and USFWS would like to see
the demolition work occur during the period from October 15 through March 15.
Kevin Tweedy said that this time period would be fine, pending approval of all
necessary permits. Kevin also indicated that the USACE 404 permit for the work may
take the most time, due to coordination that is required with SHPO. Emily Burton
said that she would contact SHPO and determine the necessary steps that would be
required to get SHPO concurrence, and attempt to move this process through in time
to meet the Oct-March demolition time frame. Emily asked about past public
involvement regarding the proposed dam removal, and Monty Crump indicated that the
plan had been discussed numerous times with the community over the past few years,
and that public opinion of the project had always been favorable.
Action Items:
- Baker Engineering to notify USFWS (Mike Wicker) and NCWRC (Shari Bryant) at
least one month prior to the planned start of demolition activities, so that mussel
relocations can occur prior to disturbance.
- Baker Engineering to resubmit permit forms for 401 Certification with NCDWQ.
Submittal will only be for dam removal portion of the project, and remove mention
of stream restoration.
- USACE (Emily Burton) to contact SHPO and discuss items necessary to move the
project forward.
- Baker Engineering to notify this group periodically of project status.
Please let me know if anyone has any corrections/additions that should be included
with this project update and minutes.
Sincerely,
Kevin Tweedy
Kevin Tweedy, PE
Senior Engineer
Office Manager - Cary NC
Michael Baker Engineering, Inc.
8000 Regency Parkway, Suite 200
Cary, NC 27518
Ph: [phone]
Cell: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
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