Broad Rock Creek, located in Richmond’s Southside, is a 3.84 square mile tributary to the James River, which is part of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed and was being considered for redevelopment, remediation and/or restoration for environmental crediting. The project site was a highly eroded stream corridor with significant growth of invasive vegetation and existing aged infrastructure.
Site assessments and feasibility analysis included consideration of natural channel and floodplain design alternatives, culvert removal and stabilization with rock cascades, bioengineering, and the creation of off-channel wetland pockets and deep pools within the newly established riparian corridor. The conceptual design was envisioned to result in improved beneficial functions of the floodplain and result in a no rise condition at the project boundaries.
Project Role
BCE partnered with New Bay, LLC to complete preliminary evaluations of bank erodibility hazard index (BEHI) and near bank stress (NBS) in the existing stream channel, as well as a BANCS analysis. These values were utilized to quantify projected erosion rates for specific banks along the restoration reach. Bank lengths and bank heights were measured in the field and the United States Fish and Wildlife service bank erosion rate curves were utilized. BCE summarized the assessment, identified design constraints, and provided a conceptual restoration plan in a summary report for the client’s consideration in future planning.
BCE offers assessments for highly degraded and disrupted banks and streams utilizing BEHI and the BANCS analysis model.
Photo of bank erosion upon site assessment
