Florissant, Missouri
Clients:
G.J. Grewe, Inc. &
Pickett, Ray & Silver, Inc.
This commercial development project designed by the civil engineering firm of Pickett, Ray & Silver, Inc. on behalf of G.J. Grewe, Inc. involved initial biological assessment and delineation of jurisdictional wetland and streams by Terra Technologies. The approximate 6-acre parcel was assessed at the inception of the project and one intermittent stream channel, a tributary to Cold Water Creek, was found to bisect the parcel. The jurisdictional assessment also concluded that no jurisdictional wetlands were present within the boundaries of the proposed development area.
After determining the permitting needs of the project, design alternatives surrounding the jurisdictional stream were discussed. Rather than incurring the cost and ensuing challenges with an enclosed channel approach, Terra Technologies recommended the stream relocation and restoration option which was subsequently accepted by the client and engineer.
A total of 680 linear feet of channel would be required to be successfully relocated and restored, under both the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MNDR) permitting authority, in order to facilitate proposed commercial development of the subject site. Terra Technologies prepared all environmental permits and supporting documentation, including a detailed mitigation and ecological restoration plan, for review and approval by the permitting authorities. Terra Technologies recognized the unique configuration of the urban stream setting, a substantially degraded channel and associated riparian corridor, and requested a waiver of the disturbance threshold for Nationwide Permits. These efforts were successful and a waiver was granted allowing the project permitting to proceed under preconstruction notice and the Nationwide Permit program rather than as an Individual Permit application, thus saving substantial time and project resources.
Subsequently, the mitigation and ecological enhancement design plan developed for the relocated channel section was approved by both the USACE and MDNR. It is anticipated that stream channel relocation and riparian corridor restoration will be completed in 2005 with the start of development activities.
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