McIntyre Creek Stream Restoration Assessment, Design, Construction Administration, and Monitoring

Client: North Carolina Ecosystem Enhancement Program

Location: Mecklenburg County, North Carolina

Services: Environmental planning and design

KCI is providing professional assessment, design and construction management services per SCO procedures to facilitate the restoration of approximately 5,358 linear feet of McIntyre Creek located within Hornets Nest Park in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.
The goals and objectives of the McIntyre Creek Stream Restoration Project are:

Restore a stable channel morphology that is capable of moving the flows and sediment provided by its watershed;
Improve water quality and reduce land and riparian vegetation loss resulting from lateral erosion and bed degradation;
Improve aquatic habitat with bed variability and the use of in-stream structures;
Stabilize tributaries draining into McIntyre Creek
Provide educational opportunities (to be directed through Mecklenburg County); and,
Improve natural aesthetics in a park setting.

The restoration was based on a Priority Level 1 approach. The design proposed the construction of a new meandering channel on the floodplain of McIntyre Creek (currently a terrace within the flood prone area of the existing channel). The re-establishment of a riffle-pool sequence and appropriate pool spacing with respect to the channel pattern was addressed in the profiling of the design channel. In-stream structures have also been incorporated to reduce the burden of energy dissipation on the channel geometry. Cross-Vanes, J-Hook Vanes (J-Vanes), and J-Vane/Log Combination Structures will be used to stabilize the restored channel.

A linear depression (oxbow) was developed in the existing channel belt width connected to the restored channel by a low gradient drainage feature above the design bankfull stage to improve flood storage and aquatic habitat in the floodplain.

Native woody and herbaceous species will be used to establish fifty (50) foot wide riparian buffers on both sides of the restored reach.

McIntyre Creek Stream Restoration Assessment, Design, Construction Administration, and Monitoring

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