2015 WORKSHOP Wednesday Field Sites

Transcription

1 2015 WORKSHOP Wednesday Field Sites 1. George Road: Butler County: Active D&G site: The bus will stop on a hill where several crosspipes have been added and an infiltration basin has been installed at the bottom of a hill where options were limited. The group will also look at several other planned aspects of the site from the bus. 2. Textor School Road: Butler County: Active + planned D&G site: 2 stops: One site was completed in 2013 and included road fill, crosspipes, and through the bank pipes. The other end of the badly eroded road is currently under contract. 3. Poverty Point Road: Lawrence County: Active paved site: A paved road project where drainage improvements have just been completed and the surface is slated for milling and DSA placement. 4. Brenneman Road: Mercer County: Completed D&G site: A just-completed site that illustrates the classic entrenched road scenario where the road has been filled 2-3 feet and multiple new crosspipes have been installed. 5. Moraine State Park: Lunch outside at pavilion. Included in the lunch stop will be a talk about the State Park s Environmental history and a DSA sampling demonstration/discussion. You will have ~75 minutes to eat lunch, catch some scheduled talks, and explore the area. See last section in this handout for details. Note these projects are not CDGRS demonstrations, rather they are all DGLVR Program projects funded by their respective Conservation Districts. We extend our thanks to Butler, Lawrence, and Mercer Conservation Districts for allowing us to be involved in project implementation and for their willingness to share these sites with everyone.

2 George Road Butler County: Active D&G site George Road in Forward Township is a 2015 Dirt and Gravel Funded site for the Butler Conservation District. Problems: Drainage is inadequate on much of the road (lack of drainage outlets, long ditch runs), causing ditch erosion and several washouts of varying degrees. The site is impacting several small tributary streams, and landowner issues make traditional ESM practices difficult to implement in some places. Project: The project involves: - Installation of three new crosspipes with headwalls and endwalls - Use of a small storm sewer system to an infiltration basin at the bottom of a hill where landowner constraints prevent drainage dispersal - Installation of a through the bank pipe - New headwalls built on an existing 4 stream pipe. - Fill material over the stream pipe to reduce the severity of a very steep intersection. - Additional pipes and asphalt apron at steep intersection. Hill Stop: The main part of this project is a ~900 steep hill that previously only had one crosspipe and drained into a small channel at the bottom of the hill. Three additional pipes were installed on this section of road to disperse drainage. While these pipes effectively handled drainage in the middle section of the hill, a landowner s house and yard prevented additional crosspipes from being used towards the bottom of the hill. With much of the drainage from above now cut off with the addition of crosspipes, a small storm sewer system was installed on the bottom 300 of the hill to drain into a small infiltration basin. The top inlet of the storm sewer was left open (ungrated) in the ditchline to prevent clogging. Because of this, the two drop inlets included in the sewer line should see minimal flow. While it may not be the ideal solution, it was the only one that would fit into the tight situation with significant landowner constraints. Before During During Where over 500 of ditch previously drained into the stream channel, now about 300 of ditch drains into this infiltration basin. Landowner constraints limited both the ability to install additional crosspipes and the size of this infiltration basin.

3 George Road Butler County: Active D&G site Before After Pipes and headwalls Uphill from the infiltration basin, three new pipes were installed to reduce flow lengths. Before At the far end of George road, there is another stream crossing with steep hills on both sides where all four ditches drain to the crossing. The plan here calls for: - An additional crosspipe - A through the bank pipe - Fill material over the crossing to lessen the approach grade - An asphalt apron at the intersection to prevent tire spinning at stop sign This part of the project has been delayed until the logging operation (shown below) is completed. Before

4 Textor School Road 1/3 Butler County: completed and planned site Textor School Road in Jackson township will have two stops: 1) A D&G project completed by the District in ) A proposed 2016 D&G project STOP 1, 2013 completed site This part of Textor school road was completed in 2013 at a cost of $73,000 with $21,000 of in-kind contributions from Jackson township. The project involved over 2,000 tons of road fill, several additional crosspipes, and through the bank pipes. The existing road was entrenched in places and had almost no outlets for drainage. Driving Surface Aggregate was placed on the road in 2013, and has since been treated with a stabilizer by the township. Crosspipe inlet Through the bank pipe inlet Drainage features installed on Textor School Road in after road fill in stream Crosspipe & gradebreak Crosspipe & gradebreak Greadbreaks were installed over several crosspipes to provide pipe cover and ensure water does not run down the wheel tracks of the steep road. Much of the road drainage is now disconnected from the stream at the bottom of the hill.

5 Textor School Road 2/3 Butler County: completed and planned site 2015 D&G Application: Stop 2, Proposed Site $34,776 grant request $18,174 In-kind Drainage: Well over 1,000 feet of ditch flows unbroken down this section of steep road, causing significant erosion of the ditch, bank, and road surface. Excessive runoff is directed into a wet headwater area on steep terrain. In addition, the current drop inlet is prone to frequent clogging that threatens further washouts and flooding downslope on a regular basis. Fortunately, multiple opportunities exist to outlet this water at several points up the slope. A total of 5 crosspipes are currently planned for installation above the French Mattress to reduce erosion and encourage infiltration. Top of hill Bottom of hill Existing drop inlet Drop inlet Shallow bedrock makes choosing pipe location challenging, and necessitates some road fill. Further down the ditchline, erosion becomes significant in the ditch and across the road surface. The first pipie in over 1,000 feet is a drop inlet that frequently clogs due to the high runoff volume. French Mattress: While the site looks dry now, this small section of the road has given the township trouble for years. A glance uphill at the topography will show a large bowl that collects both surface and subsurface water at the roadway. A significant amount of water comes to the road which creates icing issues in the winter and rutting issues in the spring. Since the water was coming to the road through multiple springs and seeps, not a concentrated flow, it was decided to utilize a French Mattress to pass the water under the road. The French Mattress will collect water from various sources at various locations. The mattress will also provide an ideal porous road base to support and elevate the final road and keep it dry. The newly proposed crosspipe will keep ditch water out of the mattress. Before: looking downhill Proposed French Mattress location.

6 Textor School Road 3/3 Stop 2, Proposed Site Butler County: completed and planned site 2015 D&G Application: $34,776 grant request $18,174 In-kind Existing drop inlet & pipe Proposed new crosspipe French Mattress Project Site

7 Poverty Point Road 1/2 Lawrence County: Drainage improvement and unpaving Poverty Point Road in Wilmington Township is a 2015 funded site for the Lawrence CD. The District is using D&G funds to improve drainage and convert the existing paved LVR back to a gravel surface. Before Before: Failing asphalt surface, entrenched road, eroded ditches to stream. Problems: Stormwater was trapped in the road corridor, compromising the road surface and causing long contiguous runs of flow and badly eroded ditches and outlets. The existing piecrust tar and chip surface lacks any kind of base and is badly deteriorated along much of the road. Springs and seeps along the roadway create perpetual problems in the winter and spring. The roadway, although not heavily traveled, is featured as a part of Lawrence County s Tourist Promotion Agency s places to visit to patronize local producers and craftsman. The one-room schoolhouse on the site is in active use. Project: The project involves: - Completed: - Replacement of 15, 18 and 36 culverts - Installation of three additional 15 culverts - Headwall and endwall construction. - Installation of over 500 of underdrain - Several new turnouts - Pending: - Milling of existing asphalt surface (3,100 ) - Addition of geogrid - Addition of base material - Placement of Driving Surface Aggregate Traffic: A Level 1 (2 hour manual count) was completed by the township on 4/22/ vehicles were counted, leading to an ADT estimate of 252 cars per day Grant Application: $96,554 grant request $34,911 In-kind Newly installed crosspipe

8 Poverty Point Road 2/2 Lawrence County: Drainage improvement and unpaving During underdrain installation During crosspipe installation Drainage: Existing drainage on Poverty Point Road consisted of two ditches that drained directly to the stream at the bridge. Because the road is surrounded by fields and at a low point in the topography, drainage dispersal options were limited. Over 500 feet of underdrain and 3 new crosspipes were installed on the section of road near the schoolhouse. Off Right-of-Way work: The existing farm lane pipe consisted of several different types and sizes of pipe butted together. The pipe ends were being eroded by the road ditch and the pipe was clogged to the point of overtopping the lane and road. The compromised pipe was replaced and work was done to the road ditch and farm lane to improve the crossing area. Conversion of Paved Roads to Unpaved The change in surface to unpaved is at the Township s request. With significant horse traffic, they are hoping that the DSA will be easier to maintain over the long term. The conversion of a paved road back to unpaved is an eligible expense using either Dirt and Gravel or Low Volume Road funding. In this case, Lawrence County used D&G funds. This project will NOT involve Full Depth Reclamation. The plan is to break up the existing thin layer of asphalt, combine it with base aggregate and shape the road, place a layer of geogrid, followed by Driving Surface Aggregate. Like the decision of what funds to use, the decision of whether or not to fund unpaving projects is also at the discretion of each Conservation District. It may be counterintuitive to some people for the Program to unpave a road, since it would likely generate more sediment. Consider, however, that the township was going to unpave this road with or without Program funds, so making it a Program project affords the opportunity to incorporate ESM practices. Before During Pipe replacement under farm lane near bridge

9 Brenneman Road 1/2 Mercer County: completed D&G site Brenneman Road in Wilmington Township is a 2015 funded site for the Mercer Conservation District. Problems: Brenneman Road presents a classic entrenched road situation where the entire road is lower than the surrounding terrain, trapping water and dumping it into the small stream at the bottom of the hill. The lowered elevation of the road made outlets or crosspipes virtually impossible. Project: While it may see expensive at first, in many situations road fill material represents the best investment of Program funds. 2,900 tons of 2A material was used to fill this section of entrenched road, up to 4 feet in elevation in some places. The fill material eliminated much of the downlope (pasture side) ditch, and allowed the installation of several crosspipes to drain the upslope (cornfield side) ditch. Landowner cooperation was important here to allow these new pipes to be outletted into the pasture. A sufficient number of pipes were installed to insure that the flow out of any one pipe would not be enough to cause erosion in the pasture. Before Note road elevation compared to fencepost After road fill Note road elevation compared to fencepost No pipes, ditches and road drain to stream One off several new pipes Road Fill: While it is often difficult to see in images, especially with vegetation, Brenneman Road was filled an average of 2-3 feet to eliminate the ditch on the right, and provide cover for pipes. While it may see expensive at first, in many situations filling an entrenched road represents the best investment of Program funds and the only long term solution to drainage issues. This is especially true in areas where cheap fill material such as hard shale may exists.

10 Brenneman Road 1/2 During After Mercer County: completed D&G site During New Pipes: The addition of road fill allowed several crosspipes to be placed on the hill Road. There were no existing pipes on the entrenched road. It is important to import enough fill so that the outlet of the pipe can be placed on natural ground elevation, eliminating the need for any outlet trench. Headwalls and endwalls were constructed on all pipes. During New Stream Pipe: The stream pipe replacement was completed by the township and was not funded by the Program as it did not meet the stream crossing replacement policy criteria. The other side: Be sure to look at the other side of the stream crossing (towards the barn and house), as it remains an entrenched road and is indicative of how the site looked before the project. The other half of the road will likely be a future application by the township.

11 Moraine State Park Butler County Lunch Gift shop Moraine SP Talk restrooms DSA Sampling Demo Lunch will be at a pavilion at Moraine State Park. You will have approximately 75 minutes at the stop to eat lunch, hear a talk or two, and explore the area. Some things to do: - Lunch: boxed sandwiches and soup available at large pavilion. Feel free to take lunch on a walk to the lake or to one of the talks described below. - DSA Sampling Demo: CDGRS staff will hold a mock quarry visit to demonstrate DSA sampling techniques. Demos will last ~ 10 minutes and questions are welcome. - Talks at three times: 11:10am, 11:35am, 11:50am - Moraine SP Talk: DCNR park staff will present some information on the environmental success story that has turned an abandoned oil field in to one of the nicest state parks in Western PA. Talks will last ~10 minutes. - Talks at two times: 11:10am, 11:50am - Gift Shop: Small gift shop closes at noon. - North County Scenic Trail: Feeling cramped up from the bus trip? Grab a box lunch and take a stroll on a bit of the North County Scenic Trail. - Lake: A boat launch, handicapped fishing access, and several informal trails provide room to explore and stretch your legs. - ALL BUSSES LEAVE AT 12:15

12 Moraine State Park Butler County Glacial History: At least four continental glaciers reached their greatest extent just north of Moraine State Park. These huge ice sheets, sometimes over a mile thick, transported stones and soil in, within, beneath and in front of them, reshaping the land. When the glaciers retreated, they left behind the accumulated debris, which is called a moraine. Deposits of gravel, sand and clay found throughout the area are evidence of the glaciers and their moraines. During one or more of the ice advances, a continental glacier dammed area creeks making three glacial lakes. To the north, north flowing Slippery Rock Creek filled giant Lake Edmund. To the southeast, extinct McConnells Run filled tiny Lake Prouty. In the middle, north flowing Muddy Creek filled the mediumsized Lake Watts. The glacier dammed Lake Prouty on the edge of the drainage divide. Eventually Lake Prouty spilled over and rushed to the south, initiating the erosion Slippery Rock Creek Gorge. Lakes Watts and Edmund drained into the gorge, eroding it deeper and making Slippery Rock Creek flow south. Areas of the 400- foot deep Slippery Rock Gorge may be seen at nearby McConnells Mill State Park. The glacier created a landscape of rolling hills topped with hardwood trees and swamps in the valley bottoms. Muddy Creek Oil Field (~1900) overlaying modern aerial image. Human History: American Indians found the land excellent for hunting grounds. In the 1800s, farmers cleared the forests and drained the swamps. Sand and gravel deposited by the glaciers were mined and sold. Limestone and clay were mined to make ceramics. Local shale was used to make bricks. The discovery of bituminous coal ushered in a boom time for the region. Seven coal beds were deep-mined and later the land was strip-mined. In the late 1800s wells were drilled to extract oil and gas. When the wells dried up, they were abandoned and left unsealed. The Western Allegheny Railroad was built to transport these extracted minerals to Pittsburgh. The railroad ran the full length of the Muddy Creek Valley and through the Village of Isle, where the PA 528 bridge is today. Abandoned in 1939, the old railroad grade is still visible west of the dam and in the Muddy Creek finger of Lake Arthur. Much of the park area lost its topsoil and many streams were polluted with abandoned mine drainage. The land remained largely unoccupied. In 1926 Frank W. Preston of England moved to the town of Meridian and opened a glass research lab. A leader in glass research, Dr. Preston was also an amateur geologist and naturalist. On a trip to the Muddy Creek Valley, he noticed that the hills had a unique shape and attributed it to the glacial periods. Preston studied the land for decades and named many of the landforms after Edmund Watts Arthur, a prominent Pittsburgh attorney and naturalist. With the support of friends, Preston formed the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy to purchase land to recreate the glacial landscape and preserve open space. Muddy Creek was dammed to create modern Lake Arthur as a smaller version of glacial Lake Watts. The former Pennsylvania departments of Forests and Waters, and Mines and Mineral Industries helped to reclaim the abused land. Workers sealed deep mines, back-filled and graded strip mines, plugged 422 gas and oil wells, fertilized the soil, and planted thousands of trees, shrubs, grasses and clovers. The dam was completed by November of 1968 and in 1970 Lake Arthur reached its full level. Moraine State Park was dedicated on May 23, Lake Arthur reminds us that our use of natural resources to meet human needs requires decisions that affect the quality of the environment -