Restoration Ecology Case Study

Ethan CoxKyle Rodgers

The River Scars are beside the baseball field, across from the club fields, beside the practice football field, and near the indoor track.

Currently stormwater from several parking lots drains into unattractive ponds with limited ecological integrity

This area could be transformed into a wetland ◦ Ecologically valuable habitat for wildlife species ◦ Functional stormwater treatment site

Historically, this area was a part of the Seneca River.

When Lake Hartwell was created, the river was cut off, leaving these pieces of the rivers as oxbows.

Our proposed solution to convert these river scars to a lake/wetland system for the treatment of stormwater from parking lots

We would also create a boardwalk across the length of the wetland for education and community involvement

Wetland cell

Oxbow Lake

Underground pipe

Outflow

The reference site is a wetland on Clemson University’s property that is located adjacent to Dyke Road and Fort Rutledge.

This is an emergent freshwater wetland.

• Provide treatment of stormwater runoff from surrounding parking lots– Stormwater is currently piped directly into the ponds from the parking

lots – Improve water quality– Increase University’s commitment to sustainability

 • Create wetland habitat to compensate for losses elsewhere in

watershed– Wetland conversion leading to a major decline in amount of wetland

habitat present • Engage the public and educate the community on the

importance of wetlands– Create boardwalk with information panels 

• Create educational benefits for Clemson University– Provide outdoor classroom for students

DescriptionCost

Physical RestorationDraining Water, Planting Vegetation, Investing in Soil,

etc.

$100,000 per acre for 19 acres19 x $100,000 = $1,900,000

Boardwalk, Educational Platforms, Informational Signage

$100,000

Miscellaneous Legal and Permitting Fees $200,000

Total Costs $2,200,000