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2016 07 21 River Road NHESP Reponse.pdfAnEqualO pportunityEmployerM /F/V/H July21,2016 01.017265.00 M assachusettsN aturalHeritageandEndangeredS peciesP rogram M A DivisionofFisheriesandW ildlife O neR abbitHillR oad W estborough,M A 01581 Attn:M r.DavidP aulson R E: N HES P T rackingN o.14-33893(DEP W etlandsFileN o.246-0694) R iverR oadR etainingW allImprovements;N orthampton,M A DearM r.P aulson: O nbehalfofourClient,theCity ofN orthamptonDP W ,GZA ispleased toprovidethisre- sponsetoN HES P ’sreview commentletterdatedJune14,2016,inreferencetotheR iverR oad R etainingW allImprovementsM ES A R eview filedwithyourofficeon5/16/2016. N HES P ’s letterstatedthatadditionalinformationwasrequiredfortheDivisiontocompleteitsreview. Detailedbelow istheinformationrequestedandenclosedareupdateddrawingsthatinclude applicablechangesandclarifications.T heresponsesbelow repeateachcommentfrom the Division’sJune14,2016letter,withourresponsesinboldtype. 1.T heP rojectproposes±1,000 linearfeetofbank/retainingwallstabilization.T heexisting stonewallisapproximately ±950 linearfeet.Based ontheinformationprovided,this impliesthat50 linearfeetwillbeaddedtothewall.T hisisnotclearlydepictedonthe plansornarrative.P leaseprovidearevisednarrativeandplan. R ES P O N S E: T heexistingstonemasonrywallisapproximately950 feetinlength,allof whichwillberemoved. S omeofthestonemasonry currently functionsasatraffic barrier— thisfunctionwillbereplacedwithanew guardrailfollowingwallremoval. W heretheexistingstonemasonryperformsasoil-orroad-retainingfunction,itwillbe replacedwithanew cementconcreteretainingwallthatwillbe512 feetinlength. T hus,thenew wallwillbeover400 feetshorterthantheexisting.T hetotalbankim- pactof1,000 LFisreflectiveofthetotalareaofdisturbancealongthebank,some associatedwithclearingandminorgradingbeyondthelimitoftheexistingstonewall toallow foraccessandconstructionworktotakeplace. 2.S tream andHabitatR estorationareasareidentifiedontheplan;however,detailsabout therestoration,includingaplantingplan,arenotprovided.P leasesubmitinformation ontheproposed stream and habitatrestoration.P leasenotethatallseeds/seedlings shouldbenativeto*County,perT heVascularP lantsofM assachusetts:A CountyCheck- list,FirstR evision(Dow Cullina,Connolly,S orrie& Somers,2011),whichisavailablefrom theM assachusettsstatearchiveat: http://archives.lib.state.ma.us/bitstream/handle/2452/120973/ocn747431427.pdf?sequence=1. July21,2016 N HES P T rackingN o.14-33893 R iverR oadR etainingW allImprovements; N orthampton,M A P age| 2 Proactive b yDe sign R ES P O N S E: Habitatrestorationareasontheplansarenow calledoutmoreclearly,andaplantingtableispro- videdfortheareasofupland(R iverfrontArea)re-planting.In-stream “LandU nderW ater” and“Bank” restoration willconsistofreplacementofthegranularstream bottom andbanksubstrates,in-kindwithon-sitematerial. R estorationoftheBankareasattheupstream endoftheP rojectentailsreplacementofexistingsand,gravel, cobbles,andboulders,asthisbankareaislargelyun-vegetatedandconsistsofanopencobblebar— seephoto below. R e-plantingwilloccurwithinA “S pecialP lantingZone”,asmallareaofclearingandgradingontheupstream end ofthewallrepair(~2,900SF),wheretreeswillbecleared(cutflushwiththegroundsurface)forstagingandaccess totheriver. Atthedownstream endoftheproject,thedrawingshavebeenrevisedtoclarifythatonlyasmallareaoftreesat theverytopofthebankwillberemovedinthislocationtofacilitatewallremovalandreplacementwithguard rail.Ingeneral,habitatswillbereplacedin-kind,withexistingstream substratesreplacedwithinin-stream areas andnativevegetationreplacedinareasofgradingandvegetationremoval. 3.T heprojectplansproposetheuseofonsite/existingrip-rapandboulderstoprotecttheretainingwall.T henarrative statesthatthematerialwillcomefrom thefrontoftheexistingwallandthestream channel.P leaseprovideaddi- tionalinformationonthisaspectoftheproject.S pecifically,pleaseclarifyifmachinesbeworkingintheriverbeyond theproposedcofferdam anddewateredarea.Additionally,pleaseprovideclarificationontheamountmaterialthat willberemovedfrom thestream channelinordertoarmortheretainingwall. July21,2016 N HES P T rackingN o.14-33893 R iverR oadR etainingW allImprovements; N orthampton,M A P age| 3 Proactive b yDe sign R ES P O N S E: Exceptspecificallywithinthetwoareaswhere temporarycofferdamswillbeemployed,machineswillnot beoperatinginareasbelow themean annuallow water lineshownonthedrawings. Inmany areas,theexisting banksoftheriverconsistofcobbles,boulders,andriprap placedagainsttheexistingwall.T hesematerialswillbere- movedtoallow forremovaloftheexistingstonemasonry andwillbereplacedinthesameorsimilarpositionsand locationsafterconstructionofthenew retainingwall.M a- terialwillnotberemovedfrom thestream channelinorder toarmortheretainingwall.S eephotototherightofatyp- icalsection ofthe existing wall,showing the existing riprap/boulder/cobbleslopebelow thewall. 4.T heDivisionrecognizesthattheproposalwishestolimitthe extentofoffsitematerialthatisbeingusedtoarmorthere- tainingwall.T heDivisionrequestsanalternativesanalysisto lookatotherstabilizationtechniques(besidesriprap)that canbeincorporatedintotheprojectplans,includingbutnot limitedtotheuseofboulderdeflectors,floodplainbenches, logjams,root wads,bioengineering,and otherstrategies thatincorporategeofluvialprinciplesandresultinmorenat- uralstream bankcharacteristics. R ES P O N S E: AlthoughnotspecificallydiscussedintheN o- tice ofIntentapplication,naturaland/orbioengineering measureswereconsideredinearlierscreeningofalterna- tives. T he “S tream R estoration Design” handbook (P art 654 ofthe N ationalEngineering Handbook [N aturalR e- sourcesConservation S ervice— U S DA]) recommendsan earlydeterminationofprojectconstraints,whichtogether withthegoalsandobjectivescanaffecttheselectionofal- ternatives. Constraintslimitthepossibleactionsforstream restorationorstabilization. Asistypicalforurban locationsandinthecaseofthisreachoftheM illR iveralongR iverR oad,theconstraintsareprimarilyanthropo- genicandincludethefollowing: Historicaldevelopment,criticalinfrastructure(W illiamsburgsewerinterceptor),andpreservationofthe landareasimmediatelyoutsideofthetopofbank,whichlimitschannelplanform Low toleranceofriskofprojectfailure Economicfactors(relatedtothelow toleranceofrisk,above). T heCity hasobtainedaFEM A/M EM A HazardM itigationgrantthatwillpayforupto75% ofthecostsofimprovement.Fundsareavailablefor ashortperiodoftime,andthereisnoexpectationofcostsharingiftheinitialimprovementsarenot successful. July21,2016 N HES P T rackingN o.14-33893 R iverR oadR etainingW allImprovements; N orthampton,M A P age| 4 Proactive b yDe sign Additionally,anevaluationofrisk,consequences,anduncertaintycanhelpdesignersandstake-holdersevaluate alternatives.T hefollowingexcerptisfrom Chapter2 ofP art654: Inruralsettings,theriskfactorisnormallysomewhatlowerthaninanurbansetting.Ifthestream restoration project fails, the consequences are often much greater in a heavily developed area than in an undeveloped area. At the same time, a rural setting can have a high risk factor when infrastructure, such as roads, bridges and buildings, is involved. Generally, themore risk involved in a potential failure, the more caution should be taken in the recommendation and design. This risk assessment should always be considered and discussed with the landowner so that all par- ties are aware of the level of risk taken. In a low-risk location where only moderate damage may occur, many landowners are willing to accept possible damage that would need some repair, ra- therthanacceptsubstantialcostincreasestolowerthepotentialdamage. Astheripariancorridor matures,awell-designedstreamrestorationprojectbecomesmorestableovertime. Thegreatest risk of damage normally occurs in the period immediately after installation. More often than not, as a result of increased infrastructure, as well as compromised ecosystem health, the risks of action or inaction tend to be higher in a developed watershed than in a rural watershed. Therisksassociatedwithanyoneparticularprojectvarybasedonthescopeand scale ofthesubjectstreamreachandwatershed. Althoughtherisksassociatedwithstreamrestoration are often interrelated, they can be related to the objectives for the social and biological commu- nities. InthisreachoftheM illR iver,theCityofN orthamptonhasalow toleranceforrisk. Continuedwallandslope instabilityinthiscriticallocationisunacceptable,asitwouldthreatenpublichealthandsafetyandthepotential disruptionofsignificantinfrastructure(ruralcollectorroadwayandinter-municipalsewerinterceptor). Associ- atedriskaversionrelatestothecostofdesign,permitting,andconstructionofthewallimprovementmeasures, andalsothecalendartimethattheseactivitiesconsume. T heCity hasanexpectationandfiscalneedforan effective,low-riskwallimprovementproject. Giventheknownrisksanduncertaintiesassociatedwiththeestablishmentofeffectivenaturaland/orbioengi- neeringmeasures,thesealternativeswerescreenedfrom thelistofdesirable,minimal-riskoptions.Inmostareas wheretheexistingstonemasonrywallisveryclosetothetopoftheriverbank,theslopeiscurrentlyprotected withexistingriprapandcobblesandboulders(seephotoabove).Intheseareas,thesamematerialswillbeused toprotecttheslopeafterwallremovalandreplacement. Inareaswheretheexistingwalldoesnothavestone (ripraporcobble/boulder)slopeprotectionbelow,onlyathinbankofnew riprap/cobbles/boulderswillbein- stalledandgenerallywithinthefootprintoftheexistingwall. T hereisasmallareaabout85-90 feetinlength wheretheexistingbankisverysteep(almostvertical)andincludesanunstablesectionofexistingwallthatwill beremoved. Inthissmallarea,thesteepbankwillbemademorestableby theadditionofnew riprap/cob- bles/boulders.Becausetheexistingroadissoclosetothetopofbank,layingtheslopebacktoinducestabilityis notaviableoption. July21,2016 N HES P T rackingN o.14-33893 R iverR oadR etainingW allImprovements; N orthampton,M A P age| 5 Proactive b yDe sign S houldyou haveanyquestionsregardingtheseresponses,pleasecontacttheundersignedatyourconvenienceat1-413- 726-2100. Verytrulyyours, GZA S tevenR iberdy,M S ,P W S ,CW B,CE M atthew A.T aylor,P .E. S eniorEcologist AssociateP rincipal T homasE.Jenkins,P .E. P rincipal-in-Charge Attachments: U pdatedP rojectDrawings P lansfortheR iverR oadR etainingW allImprovementP roject;GZA,R ev.2,July19,2016: No.Title 1 Cover Sheet EX-1 Existing Topographic Plan of Land (1 of 2) EX-2 Existing Topographic Plan of Land (2 of 2) 2 Existing Conditions Plan No. 1 3 Existing Conditions Plan No. 2 4 Overall Site Plan 5 Sediment & Erosion Control Plan 6 Wetland Permitting Plan 7 Retaining Wall Plan & Profile Sta 0+00 –4+25 8 Retaining Wall Plan & Profile Sta 4+00 –9+18 9 Sections 10 Retaining Wall Details 11 Details N ew EnglandW etlandP lantsS eedM ixLists(2 pages) cc: M r.DavidVeleta– N orthamptonDP W N orthamptonConservationCommission M ADEP -W ER O GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc. Engineers and Scientists 249 Vanderbilt Avenue Norwood, MA 02062 PHONE (781) 278-3700 AS NOTED GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc. Engineers and Scientists www.gza.com PROJECT NO.DATE:REVISION NO. DESIGNED BY: PROJ MGR: DRAWN BY: REVIEWED BY:CHECKED BY: SCALE: PREPARED BY:PREPARED FOR: COVER SHEET DRAWING MAY 2016 172065.00 1 CITY OF NORTHAMPTON DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS EDM CHECKED BY: RIVER ROAD RETAINING WALL IMPROVEMENTS NORTHAMPTON, MASSACHUSETTS MAT MAT CITY OF NORTHAMPTON DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS NLR TEJ HAZARD MITIGATION GRANT PROGRAM (HMGP) "A Federal, State, and Local Partnership through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)" HMGP GRANT NUMBER 1813-32 Commonwealth of Massachusetts CHARLIE BAKER, GOVERNOR Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency KURT N. SCHWARTZ, DIRECTOR Department of Conservation and Recreation LEO ROY, COMMISSIONER EX-1 EX-2 - MT NLR TEJ MT GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc. Engineers and Scientists www.gza.com PROJECT NO.DATE:REVISION NO. DESIGNED BY: PROJ MGR: DRAWN BY: REVIEWED BY:CHECKED BY: SCALE: PREPARED BY:PREPARED FOR: CITY OF NORTHAMPTON 125 LOCUST STREET NORTHAMPTON, MA N GRAPHIC SCALE 0 10 20 40 SCALE IN FEET RIVER ROAD RETAINING WALL IMPROVEMENTS NORTHAMPTON, MA EXISTING CONDITIONS & DEMOLITION PLAN No. 1 DRAWING MAY 2016 172065.00 2EDM1"=20' ” G Z A G e o E n v i r o n m e n t a l , I n c . E n g i n e e r s a n d S c i e n t i s t s w w w . g z a . c o m P R O J E C T N O . D A T E : R E V I S I O N N O . D E S I G N E D B Y : P R O J M G R : D R A W N B Y : R E V I E W E D B Y : C H E C K E D B Y : S C A L E : P R E P A R E D B Y : P R E P A R E D F O R : R I V E R R O A D R E T A I N I N G W A L L I M P R O V E M E N T S N O R T H A M P T O N , M A E X I S T I N G C O N D I T I O N S & D E M O L I T I O N P L A N N o . 2 D R A W I N G M A Y 2 0 1 6 1 7 2 0 6 5 . 0 0 - 3 M T N L R T E J E D M M T 1 " = 2 0 ' N G R A P H I C S C A L E 0 1 0 2 0 4 0 S C A L E I N F E E T C I T Y O F N O R T H A M P T O N 1 2 5 L O C U S T S T R E E T N O R T H A M P T O N , M A ” 15-00172065.00 DRAWING 4 NLR NLR MAT EDM TEJ AS NOTED GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc. Engineers and Scientists www.gza.com PROJECT NO.DATE:REVISION NO. DESIGNED BY: PROJ MGR: DRAWN BY: REVIEWED BY:CHECKED BY: SCALE: PREPARED BY:PREPARED FOR: RIVER ROAD RETAINING WALL IMPROVEMENTS OVERALL SITE PLAN - PROPOSED CONDITIONS CITY OF NORTHAMPTON N 0 15 30 60 SCALE IN FEET MAY 2016 GRAPHIC SCALE “ ” MAY 2016 172065.00 REV NO 5EDMAS NOTED GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc. Engineers and Scientists www.gza.com PROJECT NO.DATE:REVISION NO. DESIGNED BY: PROJ MGR: DRAWN BY: REVIEWED BY:CHECKED BY: SCALE: PREPARED BY:PREPARED FOR: RIVER ROAD RETAINING WALL IMPROVEMENTS NORTHAMPTON, MA SEDIMENT & EROSION CONTROL PLAN DRAWING N GRAPHIC SCALE 0 15 30 60 SCALE IN FEET CITY OF NORTHAMPTON 125 LOCUST STREET NORTHAMPTON, MA MT NLR TEJ MT REV NO MT NLR DN MT GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc. Engineers and Scientists www.gza.com PROJECT NO.DATE:REVISION NO. DESIGNED BY: PROJ MGR: DRAWN BY: REVIEWED BY:CHECKED BY: SCALE: PREPARED BY:PREPARED FOR: CITY OF NORTHAMPTON 125 LOCUST STREET NORTHAMPTON, MA N RIVER ROAD RETAINING WALL IMPROVEMENTS NORTHAMPTON, MA WETLAND PERMITTING PLAN DRAWING MAY 2016 172065.00 6EDMAS NOTED N N 0 10 20 40 SCALE IN FEET GRAPHIC SCALE N . 172065.00 DRAWING 7 NLR NLR MAT EDM TEJ AS NOTED GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc. Engineers and Scientists www.gza.com PROJECT NO.DATE:REVISION NO. DESIGNED BY: PROJ MGR: DRAWN BY: REVIEWED BY:CHECKED BY: SCALE: PREPARED BY:PREPARED FOR: RIVER ROAD RETAINING WALL IMPROVEMENTS RETAINING WALL PLAN AND PROFILE STA.0+00 - 4+25 CITY OF NORTHAMPTON N 0 10 20 40 SCALE IN FEET MAY 2016 0 0 5 10 20 VERTICAL SCALE IN FEET 10 20 40 HORIZONTAL SCALE IN FEET GRAPHIC SCALE ” 172065.00 DRAWING 8 NLR NLR MAT EDM TEJ AS NOTED GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc. Engineers and Scientists www.gza.com PROJECT NO.DATE:REVISION NO. DESIGNED BY: PROJ MGR: DRAWN BY: REVIEWED BY:CHECKED BY: SCALE: PREPARED BY:PREPARED FOR: RIVER ROAD RETAINING WALL IMPROVEMENTS CITY OF NORTHAMPTON MASSACHUSETTS MAY 2016 N 0 0 5 10 20 VERTICAL SCALE IN FEET 10 20 40 HORIZONTAL SCALE IN FEET RETAINING WALL PLAN AND PROFILE STA.4+00 - 9+18 0 10 20 40 SCALE IN FEET GRAPHIC SCALE ” 172065.00 DRAWING 9 NLR NLR MAT EDM TEJ AS NOTED GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc. Engineers and Scientists www.gza.com PROJECT NO.DATE:REVISION NO. DESIGNED BY: PROJ MGR: DRAWN BY: REVIEWED BY:CHECKED BY: SCALE: PREPARED BY:PREPARED FOR: RIVER ROAD RETAINING WALL IMPROVEMENTS SECTIONS CITY OF NORTHAMPTON MASSACHUSETTS MAY 2016 SECTION (STA 1+44) 0 0 2.5 5 10 VERTICAL SCALE IN FEET 2.5 5 10 HORIZONTAL SCALE IN FEET SECTION (STA 5+64) SECTION (STA 2+50) SECTION (STA 8+52) MAY 2016 172065.00 REV NO 10EDMAS NOTED GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc. Engineers and Scientists www.gza.com PROJECT NO.DATE:REVISION NO. DESIGNED BY: PROJ MGR: DRAWN BY: REVIEWED BY:CHECKED BY: SCALE: PREPARED BY:PREPARED FOR: RIVER ROAD RETAINING WALL IMPROVEMENTS NORTHAMPTON, MA RETAINING WALL DETAILS DRAWING CITY OF NORTHAMPTON 125 LOCUST STREET NORTHAMPTON, MA MT NLR TEJ MT MAY 2016 172065.00 REV NO 11EDMAS NOTED GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc. Engineers and Scientists www.gza.com PROJECT NO.DATE:REVISION NO. DESIGNED BY: PROJ MGR: DRAWN BY: REVIEWED BY:CHECKED BY: SCALE: PREPARED BY:PREPARED FOR: DRAWING CITY OF NORTHAMPTON 125 LOCUST STREET NORTHAMPTON, MA MT NLR TEJ MT ” RIVER ROAD RETAINING WALL IMPROVEMENTS NORTHAMPTON, MA RETAINING WALL DETAILS NEW ENGLAND WETLAND PLANTS, inc ______________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 820 West Street Phone: 413.548.8000 Amherst, MA 01002 Fax: 413.549.4000 email: info@newp.com web address: www.newp.com New England Conservation/Wildlife Mix Botanical Name Common Name Ind. Elymus virginicus Virginia Wild Rye FACW- Schizachyrium scoparium Little Bluestem FACU Festuca rubra Creeping Red Fescue FACU Andropogon gerardii Big Bluestem FAC Chamaecrista fasciculata Partridge Pea FACU Panicum clandestinum Deer Tongue FAC+ Panicum virgatum Switch Grass FAC Sorghastrum nutans Indian Grass UPL Helenium autumnale Common Sneezeweed FACW+ Heliopsis helianthoides Ox Eye Sunflower UPL Verbena hastata Blue Vervain FACW Asclepias syriaca Common Milkweed FACU- Aster umbellatus Flat Topped/Umbrella Aster FACW Eupatorium purpureum Purple Joe Pye Weed FAC Solidago juncea Early Goldenrod Zizia aurea Golden Alexanders FAC The New England Conservation/Wildlife Mix provides a permanent cover of grasses, wildflowers and legumes to provide both good erosion control and wildlife habitat value. This mix is designed to be a no maintenance seeding, and it is appropriate to cut and fill slopes, detention basin slopes, and disturbed areas adjacent to commercial and residential projects. Always apply on clean bare soil. The mix may be applied by hydro-seeding, by mechanical spreader, or on small sites it can be spread by hand. Lightly rake, or roll to ensure proper seed to soil contact. Best results are obtained with a Spring seeding. Late Spring through early Summer seeding will benefit with a light mulching of weed-free straw to conserve moisture. If conditions are drier than usual, watering will be required. Late Fall and Winter dormant seeding require an increase in the seeding rate. Fertilization is not required unless the soils are particularly infertile. Preparation of a clean weed free soil surface is necessary for optimal results. New England Wetland Plants, Inc. may modify seed mixes at any time depending upon seed availability. The design criteria and ecological function of the mix will remain unchanged. Price is $/bulk pound. FOB warehouse, plus S&H and applicable taxes. Price per lb. $36.50 Min. quantity: 2 lbs. Total $73.00 Apply: 25 lbs/acre 1lb/1750 sq ft Minimum quantity: 2 lbs NEW ENGLAND WETLAND PLANTS, inc ______________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 820 West Street, Amherst, MA 01002 phone: 413-548-8000 fax: 413-549-4000 email: info@newp.com web address: www.newp.com New England Erosion Control/Restoration Mix For Dry Sites (00324) Botanical Name Common Name Ind. Festuca rubra Creeping Red Fescue FACU Elymus canadensis Canada Wild Rye FACU+ Lolium multiflorum Annual Ryegrass Lolium perenne Perrenial Ryegrass Bouteloua gracilis Blue Grama Schizachyrium scoparium Little Bluestem FACU Sorghastrum nutans Indian Grass UPL Agrostis scabra Rough Bentgrass/Ticklegrass FAC Agrostis perennans Upland Bentgrass FACU The New England Erosion Control/Restoration Mix For Dry Sites provides an appropriate selection of native and naturalized grasses to ensure that dry and recently disturbed sites will be quickly revegetated and the soil surface stabilized. It is an appropriate seed mix for road cuts, pipelines, steeper slopes, and areas requiring quick cover during the ecological restoration process. The mix may be applied by hydro-seeding, by mechanical spreader, or on small sites it can be spread by hand. Lightly rake, or roll to ensure proper soil-seed contact. Best results are obtained with a Spring or late Summer seeding. Late Spring through Mid-Summer seeding will benefit from a light mulching of weed-free straw to conserve moisture. If conditions are drier than usual, watering will be required. Fertilization is not required unless the soils are particularly infertile. Preparation of a clean weed free seed bed is necessary for optimal results. New England Wetland Plants, Inc. may modify seed mixes at any time depending upon seed availability. The design criteria and ecological function of the mix will remain unchanged. Price is $/bulk pound, FOB warehouse, plus S&H and applicable taxes. Price per lb. $15.00 Req. quantity: 5 lbs. Total $75.00 Apply: 35 lbs/acre 1 lb/1250 sq ft Minimum quantity: 5 lbs