Bluffs Parkway Stream
Restoration Project

Ecological Solutions, Inc. was contracted by the City of Canton to provide a stream restoration design for a tributary to the Etowah River. The stream restoration reach is located within the floodplain of the Etowah River. The reach consists of a severely degraded channel that has been impacted from past agricultural practices (i.e., channelization), as well as undetained storm flows from upstream development.

Stream restoration design included rerouting approximately 800 linear feet of existing stream channel into a 1,200-linear foot constructed channel containing a meandering, riffle/pool morphology. Design criteria for stream restoration were determined by implementing a Rosgen-based methodology.

 
 

Design criteria were verified by ISE engineers who employed hydrologic models to determine the design channel’s capacity to effectively convey storm flows and sediments loads under three alternative hydrologic regimes: 1) existing storm flows; 2) existing storm flows with detention; and, 3) predicted storm flows after planned developments within the watershed are completed without detention. The design also includes stabilizing stream banks along approximately 300 linear feet of channel using bioengineering techniques and restoring approximately 5.5 acres of adjacent wetlands and riparian habitat

The Bluffs Parkway Stream Restoration project has been designed to compliment an adjacent amphitheater, which was designed by ISE as part of the City’s greenway initiative. To reduce costs associated with stream restoration, Ecological Solutions assisted ISE in finding innovative ways to dispose of excess fill materials onsite. This included using excess fill to construct greenway features such as walking trails and unique landscaped hills. Ecological Solutions also collaborated with ISE to define planting areas located between the stream restoration reach and the greenway amphitheater.

 

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© 2006 Ecological Solutions, Inc.