Lower North Fork Nancy Creek Streambank Restoration - Construction Phase

BACKGROUND/SUMMARY:

In 2016, the City of Brookhaven completed the Nancy Creek Watershed Improvement Plan (WIP), which focuses on watershed-based issues in upper portions of the Nancy Creek Watershed.  The WIP was deemed necessary because Nancy Creek and Bubbling Creek, a Nancy Creek tributary located in Brookhaven, are both considered to be water quality impaired by the State of Georgia and the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  Fecal coliform bacteria counts are consistently too high and macroinvertebrate biota and fish biota values are consistently too low to meet the water quality standards set by the State for Nancy Creek.  The WIP was commissioned to evaluate watershed conditions on a regional scale and to identify and prioritize projects focused on improving water quality in Nancy Creek, and more specifically, in Murphey Candler Lake, located on North Fork Nancy Creek. 

The headwaters of N Fork Nancy Creek are located north of Murphey Candler Lake in Dunwoody and pass under I-285 in two branches which come together just north of Murphey Candler Park between Brawley Circle and Long Branch Court.  From the confluence of these two branches, North Fork Nancy Creek runs south to Murphey Candler Lake.  The lake discharges under W Nancy Creek Drive and cascades down the spillway to form the lower reach of N Fork Nancy Creek.  It continues south for approximately 800 feet to its confluence with Nancy Creek. 

The WIP identified a number of projects in and around Murphey Candler Lake designed to improve water quality and habitat.  A number of these projects have been implemented and include dredging and shoreline stabilization in Murphey Candler Lake, construction of a trash rack in N Fork Nancy Creek above the lake, and two stream restoration projects, one above the lake and one below the lake.  The lower project, which provides stream, bank, and habitat restoration through structural and non-structural management practices, is the focus of this project. 

Section 319(h) of the United States Clean Water Act provides grant funding to States through EPA to help communities improve water quality.  Annually, the State of Georgia awards 319(h) Cost-Share Grants to communities on a competitive basis.  In 2017, the State awarded the City of Brookhaven a 319(h) Cost Share Grant for stream restoration of the lower portion of N Fork Nancy Creek.  The total cost is to be shared between the State and the City of Brookhaven on a 50/50.

A team of stream restoration specialists from Freese and Nichols, a professional engineering services firm, designed and permitting the project through the State and Corps of Engineers.  The project Scope includes in-stream structures (rock and boulder), grading/excavation, invasive vegetation removal, soil/bank stabilization measures with natural and living materials, and in/on-bank plantings of native species vegetation.

The project design was completed in 2019 with permitting and construction bidding occurring in 2020.  The project was advertised in accordance with the City’s Purchasing Policy.  Ed Castro Landscaping, Inc. was the lowest responsive bidder.

The proposed scope includes the following construction activities spread over an 800-foot length of North Fork Nancy Creek below the Murphey Candler Lake Spillway:

   1. In-creek installation of:

• Stacked rock wall
• Rock toe with and without a footer
• Boulder clusters
• Rock cross vanes
• Rock cascades
• 3-step and 5-stem rock n’ rollers
• Step plunge pool

     2. In-bank installation of:

• Soil layer lifts
• Bare root seedlings
• Live stakes
• Coir fabric matting
• Sod and mulch

     3. Invasive species removal.
     4. Miscellaneous erosion control, dewatering, and ancillary activities.

Supporting Documents: