Project Highlights

S&ME was retained to provide stream and wetland permitting (401/404 and Georgia Stream Buffer Variance) and stream mitigation design for the Greene County Regional Airport expansion project.  The improvements will impact 1,130 feet of stream and 0.69 acres of wetlands.  S&ME conducted the initial wetlands delineation and stream assessment at the airport site, and assisted Greene County with identifying suitable mitigation sites.  The stream mitigation includes the restoration of 1,400 feet of stream within an existing 1.5 acre man-made pond bed.  S&ME conducted longitudinal profiles, cross-sectional surveys, Wolman pebble counts, and sediment sampling of the downstream reference reaches to generate a stream design, incorporating bioengineering and natural channel design principles. The design includes breaching the existing dam, and establishing the two stream channels to tie in with the existing up gradient and down gradient sections of stream.  Design elements include the establishment of a several meandering riffle/pool channels in an excavated floodplain as well as live staking and rock J-hook structures.

Once the design was complete, S&ME prepared the Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan and bid documents/specifications and assisted the County with coordination with the Georgia Department of Transportation regarding Federal Highway Administration funding.  We also prepared bid documents and bid evaluation.

Construction at the stream mitigation site began in September 2009. During the construction, S&ME provided construction observation and contract management services for the client. While the stream channel was under construction, several sections were re-aligned to take advantage of existing site conditions identified during the construction grading. The revised alignments provided a savings in the construction costs of the project. The project is currently under construction, and completion of the project is anticipated in February or March 2010.