East Campus Stream Restoration and Greenway Extension

“East Campus Stream Restoration and Greenway Extension”

By

Peter Hawman

Course Instructor: Dale HallDesign Advisor: Ron Sawhill

A Senior Design ProjectPresented to the School of Environmental Design

College of Environment and DesignUniversity of Georgia

in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of

Bachelor of Landscape Architecture

Athens, Georgia

Spring Semester, 2009

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank my family and friends for all their support in my academic career. Also, I would like to thank my professors at the University of Georgia for sharing their knowledge and skills in the field of landscape architecture.

East Campus Stream Restoration and Greenway Extension is a conceptual project located in Athens, Georgia at the University of Georgia. Lily Branch is a small tributary of the North Oconee River that flows through East campus and into the river. The site boundaries contain the only area where Lily Branch is day lighted, the rest of the stream is piped in storm drains. In the 1950’s and 1960’s the land around Lily Branch was used for agriculture. It was not until the 1980’s that the site became wooded. In the 1990’s, the university built the East Campus Village dormitories, the Ramsey Center, and several academic buildings. Though a stream buffer was maintained, many impervious materials were installed near the stream and the corridor became clogged with invasive plant species. This project focuses on to major design aspects. First, creating a greenway along Lily Branch to bring students into the riparian environment. The North Oconee River Greenway is planned to extend down to East Campus along the river. Joining these two greenways together will create a strong circulation pattern that will bring patrons closer to nature and potentially educate them about the importance of riparian environments within an ecosystem. The second focus of this project is the restoration of the Lily Branch stream channel and the riparian buffer around it. Reconstruction of the stream will help improve its health both biologically and chemically. Reinstituting meanders, riffles, pools, and runs will create healthy habitat for aquatic species as well as improve overall water quality. Along the banks of the newly restored stream all invasive plant species will be removed, allowing a more natural plant palate to be planted. With these two design focuses, Lily Branch will become a destination for students, faculty, and staff at the University of Georgia to enjoy the lush and beautiful riparian ecosystems found in the Piedmont of Georgia. This stream will no longer be ignored by passersby but experienced and enjoyed by all.

Executive Summary

Table of Contents Project Introduction 2

Site History 4

Site Photos 5

Project Precedents 10

Site Analysis & Inventory 13

Masterplan & Concepts 23

Stream Restoration 34

Focus Plan 42

References 50

Conclusion 51

1

Project Introduction

The purpose of this project is to demonstrate the techniques used to restore a degraded stream, while making the stream accessible and usable to the public and bring people closer to the environment through education and recreation. The stream chosen for restoration is located in East Campus of the University of Georgia in Athens, Ga. The stream is locally known as ‘stinky’ creek and formally named Lily Branch. Its inception is near the five points area of Athens. Unfortunately it has been built over and piped, dwindling it down to a small visible stretch just before it reaches the Oconee River in East Campus. Downstream of where Lily Branch becomes visible it is crossed twice, once by River Road and once by a parking lot road. The creek is funneled under these roads through rectangular culverts. The stream does not get much use by the patrons of the university because of its relative inaccessibility. The stream is in a excellent location; in an area where campus life is growing every year with the addition of new buildings and the ever increasing use of the Ramsey Center. With the close proximity of many different types of university uses, a restored creek and green space amenity would have a positive effect on a range of people and activities let alone the ecological benefit that would occur with a habitat restoration.

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl

2

Aerial View: stream highlighted

http://maps.live.com/

3

Site History

1938

1951

1960

1980

East Campus of the University of Georgia was agricultural fields up until it was developed into East Campus Village dormitories and the Ramsey Center in the mid nineties. As seen in the aerial photographs, the stream corridor has become more vegetated as the use of the land has changed from agriculture to more academic. Likewise, the land adjacent to the Oconee River has also become more vegetated. The stream was dammed up until the 1960’s or 1970’s just west of where East Campus Road crosses the creek. Today this former lake is now home to the College of Veterinary Medicine. The structure of the stream seems to not have changed much, maintaining its fairly straight course. It can be inferred that the stream must be in better health presently than it was when the land surrounding it was used for agricultural purposes. The stream must have collected a fair amount of chemicals and fertilizers, changing the chemical make up of the stream dramatically. Although today the stream does not see much in terms of fertilizer runoff, it does have a new problem to deal with. Chemicals from cars wash into the stream with every storm. The amount of impervious surfaces surrounding the stream has increased dramatically since the 1930s.

http://dbs.galib.uga.edu/gaph/html/http://dbs.galib.uga.edu/gaph/html/

http://dbs.galib.uga.edu/gaph/html/ http://dbs.galib.uga.edu/gaph/html/

4

Site Photographs

western section

middle section

eastern section

stream corridor

5

Photo 1 Photo 2

Photo 3

Photo 5

Photo 4

Photographic Description

The western section of the site surrounding the stream consists of roadways and the new Lamar Dodd School of Art. The landscape surrounding the new art building incorporates a stormwater management system much like a dry creek bed seen in photo 1. This creek bed is located on the western side of the Lamar Dodd Art building and collects the storm water and channels it into Lily Branch, photo 2. Shown in photo 3, the southern side of the art building abuts the vegetated buffer of Stinky creek. There is no stormwater management present to slow the runoff from the building as it flows into the creek.

Along River Road, the loop that circles the Ramsey Center, there is a sidewalk which takes pedestrians around the creek, but not providing any views in, photo 4. Southwest of the creek and River Road is the East Campus Dining Hall, seen in photo 5.

6

Photo 11Photo 9

Photo 8

Photo 6

Photo 10

Photo 7

Photographic Description

The middle section of the creek is mostly surrounded by parking and roads. River Road crosses over Lily Branch, photo 6. Here there are sidewalks on either side of the road and on the eastern side, there is an attractive wooden fence. The a lack of attention given to the creek as pedestrians and motorists pass over is evident. Some do not even realize there is a stream there, merely a ditch full of plants. Photo 7 shows the culvert in which the stream passes through under River Road. The culvert is divided into two rectangular channels.

The southern part of this section is comprised of a large parking lot with a fair amount of trees as seen in photo 8. The parking comes up to a grassy strip which leads to the thicket and buffer for Lily Branch. This can be seen in photo 9. The second time Lily Branch is crossed by a road happens northeast of the parking area. Here, photo 10 shows the narrow road that connects the parking lot to another parking lot, one north of the creek. This parking lot is used by the music department and also the new art building. This is seen in photo 11. 7

Photographic Description

Photo 13

Photo 14

Photo 12

Photo 16

Photo 15

This eastern section of the Lily Branch is surrounded mostly by vegetation. To the South there is a parking deck as seen in photo 12. Directly north of the of the where the parking lot road crosses there is a gated lot. This lot, pictured in photo 13, is used by the campus parking authority for towed vehicles. To the east of this parking area is a fairly open with large trees scattered throughout shown in photo 14. Much of the area on the southern side of the creek looks like photo 15, privet clogged and with medium caliper trees. Lily Branch finds its destination in the Oconee River. The river here is clogged with fallen trees as seen in photo 16.

8

Photographic Description

Photo 17 Photo 19

Photo 18

Photo 21

Photo 20Photo 23

Photo 22

The stream itself is fairly sandy with scattered small to medium sized rocks as seen in photo 21. There is little sign of aquatic plant life, thought the photographs were taken in winter months. Maintenance within the stream corridor is not evident as the stream is littered with trash, both natural and man made. Bottles, cans, and plastic bags are seen mixed in with brush piles, photo 20. In photo 22, fallen trees are washed up against the culverts, blocking water flow and giving the site an unkept feel. Where drains empty into the stream, there rip-rap to slow runoff, photo 23. Though it looks scattered and in need of repair. Erosion is seen along the sides, showing the rip-rap ineffective.

The stream corridor, as seen in these photographs, is heavily vegetated limiting the views both in and out of the site. Photo 17 shows a view to the East Campus dining hall, but this would only be visible in the winter months. Photo 18, the understory is heavy and full of privet creating an evergreen buffer and rendering the stream almost inaccessible and difficult to see. Sumac also buffers the stream, predominately on the south bank near the dining hall, shown in photo 19.

9

Project Precedents

North Oconee River Greenway

Rocky Branch Phase II Stream Restoration and Greenway Project

10

Project Precedents

North Oconee River Greenway: This concrete paved greenway trail follows the North Oconee River in Athens, Georgia. The trail is 3.5 miles and accommodates bicycles and pedestrians and connects the University of Georgia and Sandy Creek Nature Center. Along the greenway are several parks ranging from small plazas such as Aguar Plaza to large parks such as the 22 acre Dudley Park. The land that the greenway passes through is conserved greenspace adding a necessary buffer to the river.

http://www.sandycreeknaturecenter.com/uploads/new%20greenway%20map.pdf

http://www.hancockpropertiesinc.com/images/oconee-river.jpg

http://www.athensclarkecounty.com/splost/splost4/greenway/fullmap.gif11

Project Precedents

Rocky Branch Phase II Stream Restoration and Greenway Project: Located in Raleigh, NC, Rocky Branch was one of North Carolina’s most polluted urban streams in 1978. The Goals of the project were to stabilize the creek, improve habitat and water quality, and integrate the stream into NC State University’s environment. The project was completed in January of 2006. A 6000’ greenway trail was created along with the restoration of the creek. Educational signage along the trail provide information for visitors.

http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/programs/extension/wqg/sri/2006conference/presentations/doll_casestudies.pdf

12

Site Analysis & Inventory

land use soil buildings slope roads hydrology

parking watersheds sidewalks flood zones

vegetation

13

Site Analysis

Land use on and around the site can be designated into five categories. In the first area, to the southwest, is dining and athletics, where the Ramsey Center and the East Campus Dining Hall are located. Another area is the arts and music section. These are academic buildings for classes, studios, and practice rooms. The East Campus Village is located east of the Ramsey center and is used heavily as it is the only residence halls located on south campus. The rest of the area around the site is greenspace, mostly thick underbrush and medium caliper trees with sporadic large caliper hardwoods.

14

Site Analysis

Building Locations:This map shows the location of all the buildings in and surrounding the site. Most of the buildings that are close to Stinky creek are located south.

Sidewalk Locations:This map shows the location of all the sidewalks in and surrounding the site. There is little interaction between pedestrian traffic and the creek.

15

Site Analysis

Roads:This map shows the location of roads passing through and around the site. River road crosses the creek and then circles around the Ramsey Center. To the east Loop 10 passes over the Oconee River.

Parking Lot Locations:This map denotes where the parking lots are located around the site. The middle section of the creek is close to several large parking lots.

16

Site Analysis

Vegetation:Most of the vegetation in the site is located around the creek and the Oconee River. The vegetation buffering the creek consists of thick Chinese privet and other aggressive species as well as water loving hardwood trees, both native and exotic. The rest of the area is landscaped with turf, shrubs, and small trees.

Hydrology:The creek is located in the lowest spot in East Campus therefore receives all the stormwater from the surrounding areas. In several locations, the stormwater enters into swales before flowing into the creek.

17

Site Analysis

Slope:This map shows the intensity of the slope for the site. Yellow is 0-5% and increases to 15% + in red. The overall site is fairly steady slope of 0-5%. While along the creek the slope is quite steep at around 15%+.

Soil Symbol Soil NameBfs Buncome loamy sandCbA Cecil soils and alluvial landCoa Congaree soils and alluvial landCob Chewacla soils and alluvial landCYB2 Cecil sandy loamCYC2 Cecil sandy loamCZB3 Cecil sandy clay loamDhD3 Davidson clay loamMiC3 Madison sandy clay loamMiE3 Madison sandy clay loamPgC3 Pacolet sandy clay loamPgD3 Pacolet sandy clay loam

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Man-made watershed:The highlighted area in yellow depicts the stormwater watershed north and west of the site. All runoff in this area is piped into Lily Branch.

Man-made watershed:The highlighted area in yellow depicts the stormwater watershed south and west of the site. All runoff in this area is piped into Lily Branch.

19

Site Analysis

http://www.accwatersheds.com/map

http://www.accwatersheds.com/map

Site Analysis

Clarke County watersheds:This map shows the watersheds found in Clarke County, GA. The highlighted area in yellow is the North Oconee River watershed which contains Lily Branch.

North Oconee watershed:This map shows the North Oconee watershed in greater detail. The highlighted area in yellow is the North Oconee River watershed and Lily Branch is denoted in red.

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Site Analysis

Lily Branch watershed:This map shows the Lily Branch, highlighted in yellow, and its relationship to other streams and lakes in the area. The area located within the red box is the day lighted section of Lily Branch.

Flood zones:This is the flood map denoting the 100 year flood zone, dark blue, and the 500 year flood zone, light blue. The red box shows the limits of the project site.

http://www.accwatersheds.com/map

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22

Masterplan

concept 1

concept 2

concept 3

final concept

23

Concept 1

biorentention

greenway

remove crossing

boat rampoutdoor center

Oconeegreenway

vehicular bridgerestored stream

24

Concpet one addresses several planning issues with the land around the stream. The orange areas depict stormwater treatment areas. These are located adjacent to large areas of impervious surfaces such as parking lots and rooftops. Proposed in this concept is the creation of a vehicular bridge on River Road instead of a road crossing with culvert. The connection between the two parking areas surrounding the middle section of the stream will be removed. The continuation of the North Oconee Greenway is shown in green circles along the river. The greenway will pass through the proposed canoe and kayak boat ramp. The boat ramp is connected to the outdoor center via a boardwalk. The outdoor center will consist of a small outpost where students and faculty can rent canoes and kayaks to paddle on the Oconee River. The proposed greenway for Lily Branch is represented by the small brown circles.

Concept 1: description

25

Concept 2

restored stream

vehicular bridge

vehicular bridge

greenway

Oconeegreenway

boat rampoutdoor center

biorentention

26

Concpet two is similar to concept one but with a few changes. The main change is the Lily Branch greenway represented by brown circles. This layout provides more access to the greenway for students by the addition of smaller connecting paths. Also, instead of removing the connection between the parking lots in the middle section, a vehicular bridge is designed allowing access.

Concept 2: description

27

Concept 3

restored stream

reclaimed

reclaimed

vehicular bridge

greenway

Oconeegreenway

28

Concept three takes a more liberal approach to restoring the riparian environment. Here the parking lots surrounding the middle section of the stream are reclaimed to a restored forest. Intense restoration of the stream, denoted by the exaggerated meandering, is the main focus of this concept. A fairly simple greenway path takes pedestrians down to the stream and connects them to the North Oconee Greenway. No access is provided for boats to the river as the intent of this concept is to minimize the impact of humans on the restored environment. A bridge is still proposed for the River Road crossing as this is a major thoroughfare for students and faculty.

Concept 3: description

29

Masterplan

outdoor center

Oconeegreenway

greenway

vehicular bridge

boat ramp

restored stream

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Masterplan: description

The masterplan is a collaboration of the three concepts. In the final design, a vehicular bridge is placed at the River Road crossing the creek. The Lily Branch greenway is shown in brown and is predominately on the north side of the creek allowing the southeastern section to be restored and preserved. The boat ramp and the outdoor center are installed as they will draw many users to the site.

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Greenway Trails Concept one for greenway material design is concrete paving. According to the standards provided by the Georgia Department of Transportation and the National Recreation and Parks Association paths should abide by the following dimensions: 10’ minimum width by 9’ minimum vertical clearance. There are several pros to designing with concrete for the greenway trail. Concrete provides stability, being firmly built into the ground. A flush design provides safety with no obstacles for tripping. The construction is solid and will have a long life span. A concrete greenway is very handicap accessible and also easy to maintain. There are also cons to using concrete. Concrete has a large impact on the environment around it. Standard concrete is impervious and will add to runoff issues on site. It compacts the soil underneath which could be detrimental to the roots of surrounding plants.

Concept two for greenway material is a wooden boardwalk. The standard dimensions for a wooden boardwalk are 14’ minimum width for pedestrian and bicycle use and an 8’ minimum width for pedestrian use only. The height of the boardwalk above the ground is dependent on the terrain and water table of the site. There are many pros to designing a wooden boardwalk for a greenway trails. One of the biggest is the minimal impact it has on the site. Because the path is elevated and the wood has voids between the planks rain can drip down and infiltrate into the ground. This makes the boardwalk fairly pervious. It also has a minimal impact on the site because of its construction. By being elevated, the posts are the only things fixed to the ground meaning compaction of the soil is almost nonexistent. There are also cons to using a wooden boardwalks. More maintenance is required for boardwalks because the material life is shorter than others. Also, because of the height there is a bit of a safety issue with pedestrians falling off and tripping on the raised edge of the boardwalk.

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Greenway Trails: greenway examples

The above photographs are examples of boardwalk greenways and rustic iron bridges taken from Sandy Creek Nature Center Cooks Trail in Athens, Ga. Similar materials will be used in the construction of the Lily Branch greenway. The section to the right illustrates the relationship between the riparian environment and the greenway.

Boardwalk greenway trail Wood and iron bridge

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34

Stream Restoration stream corridor

pool formation

riffle formation

stream bank restoration focus plan

35

Stream Restoration Stream restoration is a complex process that requires a broad knowledge base. Having a design team that is diverse in fields of engineering, biology, ecology, hydraulics, and geomorphology will ensure that all aspects of restoration are met with the proper expertise. It should be understood that many stream restoration projects cannot always be returned to their condition prior to disturbance. Because a complete restoration is generally not feasible the objective is then to create a partial recovery of the stream to a natural and healthy state. Restoration of a stream not only involves reestablishing and improving the stream channel but also the banks and flood areas. This encompasses restoring the riparian buffer, the plants located within the stream corridor. This aspect is very important in the health of the stream as the plants adjacent to the stream provide erosion control and food and nutrients to aquatic organisms. Prior to the restoration of a stream, the current health must be measured. There are several ways of determining the health of a stream. The most common practices measure health both chemically and biologically. Once the health of the stream is determined both chemically and biologically, the proper restoration techniques may be used.Biological testing of a stream consists of identifying and counting the different species of macroinvertebrates, insects, crayfish, and snails. The more diverse the collection of macroinvertebrates is, the healthier the stream. These animals are excellent indicators of the streams health for several reasons. Because of their relatively small range within the environment, they are affected by pollution and therefore their population size can be directly correlated with the amount of pollution present.

Some species are tolerant of fluctuating water quality, while others are very sensitive and their absence can denote deterioration of water quality. Macroinvertebrates are present in all orders of streams, even those that do not sustain fish. This along with their relative ease of collection make biological testing a procedure that is effective in determining the health of the stream. Biological testing is effective in determining if a stream is healthy by the number and diversity of species, but it cannot show the cause or specific problem causing the stream to be less healthy. To get a more accurate idea of the streams quality there needs to be testing that isolates the different aspects of water chemistry. This is the second type of water quality testing, chemical testing. Within the testing of a streams’ chemistry there are several tests that can be run: temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, water clarity, nitrogen, phosphorus, chlorine, dissolved solids, and fecal coliform levels. An important note when testing chemical quality is to test for several months to get a good look at the overall chemistry of the stream.

http://www.hg-hydroponics.co.uk

http://clean-water.uwex.edu

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Stream Restoration: stream corridor manipulation

Deflectors: Deflectors are structures used to alter the flow of a stream. Depending on the design of the deflectors can change the dynamics of stream flow. Using the double deflector design helps deepen channels and recreate the meander pattern of the stream. Deepening the channel will also increase flow rate. Other designs, such as the wing deflector and single deflector, narrow the stream channel at one point increasing the flow rate. Using deflectors also aids in enhancing pools and riffles downstream.

Single Deflector Wing Deflector Double Deflector

37

Stream Restoration: pool formation

Cross vane:Stacked rock shaped in a V pointing up stream. Creates level change and excavates a pool inside the V.

Log dam:A single log laid across a stream perpendicular to the bank edges. Creates plunge pools.

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Stream Restoration: riffle formation

Boulder placement:Placement of boulders in a V shape pointing up stream or in a random pattern. Boulders break the current creating eddies which replicate riffles. Addition of gravel and cobbles around the boulders aids in riffle formation.

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Stream Restoration: stream bank and shoreline restoration

The technique and materials that will be used for reestablishment of the stream bank and shoreline are designed and created by RoLanka International Inc. located in Stockbridge, Georgia. RoLanka International is a company that develops GeoNatural materials used for restorations and improvements in both soil and water related issues. The specific products produced by RoLanka are made from coconut fiber, known as coir fiber. This material is an abundant and renewable resource. It has many advantages over the typical materials used such as jute, wood fibers, and straw. Coir is not edible to animals so its life span in the field is much longer. It is also completely biodegradable making it an optimal choice for effective restoration projects where minimal impact to the environment is desired. Also with the close proximity of RoLanka to the site, cost will be less for transportation fees.

The specific product that will be used by RoLanka is the BioD-Block fabric attached coir block system. This product has several applications including slope stabilization, landscaping, stream relocations, as well as streambank restoration. BioD-Block consists of 10ft long densely packed blocks of coir fibers. These blocks are rapped in coir fabric and staked to the ground with soil packed in on the uphill side. The blocks are lined up fitting together at female and male ends lengthways and then terraced up the bank to an appropriate height.

Coconut: fibers from the shell are harvested to create fabric for BioD-Blocks.

BioD-Block: coir block system BioD-Blocks used for bank stabilization

40

Stream Restoration: stream bank and shoreline restoration

BioD-Block Single Layer

Coir Fabric Wrapped Soil Layer

BioD-Block dimensions

Improvements in BioD-Block over Coir Fabric Wrap Systems:• Long term structural protection for the soil mass.

• No need for an inner fabric layer in many situations.

• Fabric strength in machine direction contributes to structural stability.

• Easily maintain constant layer heights during and after construction.

• Upon installation, plant roots grow in BioD-Block and embeds it to soil mass.

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Stream Restoration: stream bank and shoreline restoration

BioD-Block Stacked and plantedWinged deflector

42

Focus Plan: aerial photo

http://maps.live.com/

43

Focus Plan

44

Focus Plan

boulder riffle

winged deflector

This first section of the focus plan shows the different types of restoration practices used in the stream channel. A schematic planting plan is also shown, demonstrating the build up of plant size and height from the stream banks. Building up from low plants along the banks to the forested area with large trees and shrubs.

cross vaneNTS

BioD-block

45

Focus Plan

cross vane

W-weir

double deflector

log dam

NTS

This is the second half of the focus plan. Again, depicting the restoration practices used in the stream channel and the plantings. The brown denotes the boardwalk greenway and its relationship to the stream.

46

Focus Plan: grading plan

The grading plan shown illustrates the manipulation of earth to redirect the restored stream in a more meandering pattern. This is the first phase of the restoration construction, moving the stream channel. Once the new path of the stream is graded than further restoration processes may take place.

47

Focus Plan: erosion and sediment control plan

This erosion and sediment control plan demonstrates the sediment control during the phase of replanting the riparian buffer. After the stream channel has been altered and the restoration structures have been placed, the banks and flood area must be cleared of invasive plant species and replanted with native types. During the excavation of the invasive species and the replanting of new plants the soil will be disturbed. This requires a Type C Silt Fence along the base of the stream bank to minimize sediment entering in the stream channel.

48

Focus Plan: planting plan

The planting plan for this project involves random placement of various species of riparian plants. Mimicking the natural fauna of stream banks, plants will be placed randomly by species but ordered by height. Shorter plants, such as grasses, ferns and river canes, will be planted directly on the stream banks. Progressing away from the stream, the plant heights will increase, moving from shrubs to small trees to finally large shade trees. Spacing of plants will be close as the goal of the planting design is to recreate a forest environment. Plants must compete with each other in order to survive. This type of reforestation planting insures that the healthiest plants survive. It is slightly more expensive during the initial stages because plants are being installed that will eventually die. In the long term however, the reforested area will be much healthier resulting in less replanting in the future.

shade trees

small hardwoods

shrubs

grasses, canes, ferns

49

Focus Plan: plant species

Trees:

Boxelder (Acer negundo)Black Willow (Salix nigra)River Birch (Betula nigra)

Shrubs:

Sweetspire (Itea virginica)Winterhur Viburnum (V. nudum)Sweetshrub (Calycanthus florida)Doghobble (Leucothoe spp.)Yellowroot (Xanthorhiza simplicissima)

Perennials:

Rivercane (Arundinaria gigantea)Turtlehead (Chelone glabra)Obedient Plant (Physostegia virginiana)Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)Foam Flower (Tiarella spp.)Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)Ferns: Lady, New York, Netted Chain, Cinnamon, Royal, Sensitive and Christmas

http://www.globalreleaf.org/images/TreeSalePics/river_birch_1.jpg

http://web.duke.edu/~cwcook/trees/argi3434.jpg

http://www.nps.gov/plants/pubs/chesapeake/img/Shrubs/Itea-virginica-USFWS-BES.jpg

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Referenced materials

ACC Online

Georgia Adopt-A-Stream Biological & Chemical Stream Monitoring

Stream Corridor Restoration: Principles, Processes, and Practices

Stream Restoration: A Natural Channel Design Handbook

NC Stream Restoration Institute

RoLanka International, Inc.

University of Georgia University Architects for Facilities Planning

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Conclusion

This project demonstrated the feasibility of restoring Lily Branch and creating a greenway in East Campus at the University of Georgia. Site analysis and inventory was performed to understand the landscape not only in the site boundaries but also in the surrounding areas. Analysis such as slope, hydrology, and watersheds helped determine the importance of the Lily Branch’s stormwater abilities. Looking at impervious surfaces surrounding the site such as parking lots, sidewalk, roads, and buildings helped in determining the uses of the site and patrons’ interactions with it. Once analysis of the site was completed, conceptual designs were drawn to determine the potential for the site. Three concepts were developed and combining these yielded a masterplan for the project. The masterplan depicts the overall uses for the site, changes that are to be made, and the location of the proposed Lily Branch greenway. The next step was to determine a focus area and become more specific in the design intentions. The area chosen was a section of Lily Branch to be restored using stream restoration techniques. Through research, several stream channel structures were determined to be used in improving the stream health. Combined with the stream channel restoration, a basic plant palate was created to re-vegetate the riparian buffer along the stream to help recreate an entire riparian ecosystem in the middle of East Campus.