Easygrants ID: 18695 NFWF/Legacy Grant Project ID: 0603.09.018695
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Easygrants ID: 18695 National Fish and Wildlife Foundation NFWF/Legacy Grant Project ID: 0603.09.018695 Chesapeake Bay Small Watershed Grants 2009 - Submit Final Programmatic Report (Activities) Grantee Organization: Trout Unlimited, Inc. Project Title: Thornton River Dam Removal (VA) Project Period 09/01/2009 - 12/31/2010 Award Amount $72,933.00 Matching Contributions $18,460.00 Project Location Description (from Proposal) The project site is approximately 1 km downstream of the confluence of the North Fork and South Fork of the Thornton River on the main stem Thornton River, in Sperryville, VA. Project Summary (from Proposal) Removed an aging four foot high, 80 foot long dam on the Thornton River that blocks fish migration. Project allowed four species of diadromous fish that formerly migrated into the Rappahannock watershed to access 93 kilometers of high quality upstream habitat. Summary of Accomplishments Trout Unlimited has met all objectives stated for the Thornton River Dam Removal Project. In December 2009, the dam was removed from the Thornton River by contractors using heavy equipment. The old dam material was buried offsite in the floodplain and incorporated into the two constructed floodplains that were made. Two large rock vanes using quarry stone were constructed as designed spanning the river channel and both active floodplains. Woody debris was incorporated into the rock vanes, which were tied into the floodplain elevation. The old mill raceway located between the dam and the old Fletcher’s Mill was blocked with large rock and material to eliminate the threat of a channel avulsion. A constructed wetland was created on the east margin on the upstream constructed floodplain. All disturbed areas were seeded and mulched, and live willow stakes were incorporated into the rock vane structures. In May 2010, TU staff organized a native tree and shrub planting throughout the project reach with project partners Earth Sangha, a native plants group based in Arlington, Virginia, the Piedmont Environmental Council, RappFLOW (Friends and Lovers of the Rappahannock Watershed), the Rapidan Chapter of Trout Unlimited, and the Turkey Mountain Flyfishing Club. 52 volunteers participated in the planting of 230 native trees ands shrubs cultivated by Earth Sangha’s native plant nursery, and installation of deer fencing to protect saplings. Lessons Learned Follow-up inspection of the area upstream of the project site is required to document return of migratory fish. Professional and volunteer partners (e.g. National Park Service, Turkey Mountain Flyfishing Club) can assist with this. Routine inspection and maintenance of new plantings is required to ensure their success, particularly in an active floodplain. Conservation Activities Removal of 4' high, 80' dam on Thortnon River Progress Measures Linear feet of upstream channel opened to fish passage Value at Grant Completion 306240 Conservation Activities Riparian buffer planting Progress Measures # of participants/volunteers in project Value at Grant Completion 52 Conservation Activities Removal of dam; riparian buffer planting Progress Measures # of landowners targeted by program Value at Grant Completion 1 Conservation Activities Riparian buffer planting Progress Measures Linear feet of riparian buffer restored with at least a 35-foot buffer Value at Grant Completion 1350 Conservation Activities Post-dam removal stabilization and live stake planting Progress Measures Linear feet of streambank/shoreline stabilized Value at Grant Completion 200 THORNTON RIVER DAM REMOVAL AT FLETCHER’S MILL, SPERRYVILLE, VA NOVEMBER, DECEMBER 2009. Fletcher’s Mill Dam at Thornton River, March 2009 Looking downstream at old mill race on right bank. Removal of 4’ high dam begins, November 2009 Some of rock used to build vanes to stabilize channel. Contractors moving island upstream of dam to rebuild floodplain benches on both sides of constructed channel. THORNTON RIVER DAM REMOVAL AT FLETCHER’S MILL, SPERRYVILLE, VA NOVEMBER, DECEMBER 2009. Building upper cross vane with rock and logs and reconstructing floodplains where island and 2 channels were. A view across Thornton River at former dam location Looking downstream over lower cross vane, Dec. 2009 A view upstream at the completed rock vane and pool, and then downstream at the former dam site, Dec. 2009. The project has successfully removed barriers for resident fish and migratory fish traveling from the Chesapeake Bay via the Rappahannock and Hazel Rivers downstream to more than 18 miles of main stem rivers and over 30 miles of tributaries upstream, the majority of which are located in Shenandoah National Park. Thornton River, Rappahannock County Mill Dam Removal / Fish Passage Final 100% Restoration Design FREDERICK, EIBERT & S ASSOCIATES, INC. CIVIL ENGINEERS ■ SURVEYORS ■ LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS Thornton River Dam Removal / Fish Passage Final 100% Restoration Design Plan Prepared by Environmental Services, Inc. Environmental Services, Inc. has prepared a final restoration design that includes: 1. an cover sheet with a location map of project and title blocks identifying participants, 2. a topographic survey of existing conditions 3. a plan and profile for proposed structures, 4. plan details and existing cross sections. The final design is provided for review by all stakeholders. Review comments will be considered and, where appropriate, incorporated into the final design. I. INTRODUCTION Trout Unlimited (TU) and National Fish & Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and with the endorsement of Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF), have partnered to implement a dam removal fish passage project on Thornton River near Sperryville, Virginia. Site II. PROJECT BACKGROUND Thornton River located in Rappahannock County and is a tributary to the Hazel River. Thornton River originates in the highlands of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the Shenandoah National Park and has a 32 square mile drainage area. It drops from the highlands and flows south/east through the Thornton Gap down to the town of Sperryville. The dam is located approximately 1 ¼ miles downstream of Sperryville and about 0.6 miles downstream on the confluence with the North Fork. III. EXISTING CONDITIONS The dam, which spans the entire channel and a side channel, is both reducing the slope of the stream and limiting the natural mobility of gravel and cobble downstream. There is a mid-channel bar, which accumulates debris during high flows. Also, with a width/depth ratio of 33, sediment deposits are evident behind the dam. The widening of the stream is causing bank erosion on both the right and left bank. Downstream of the dam, scouring has occurred which is causing more of an elevation change and prohibits fish from migrating up stream. Removing the dam will allow the gravel and cobble currently behind the dam to mobilize during high flow events and be redistributed appropriately downstream to rebuild riffles and provide habitat. Existing dam is a low head dam that is preventing fish from migrating upstream III. DESIGN OBJECTIVES The following are the project objectives: • The fish passage design should follow the natural channel design methodology. • The fish passage structures should allow passage for American eel, trout and forage fish species. • The fish passage structures should pool water at the upstream end of the structures to provide fish habitat • Maintain stream flow across all structures during low flow conditions IV. RESTORATION APPROACH OBJECTIVES Assessment of the existing condition has revealed that the reach immediately above the dam is in an unstable form. Adjustment of the channel dimension and profile is proposed by installing two step pool structures above the dam in order to restore the channel to a stable form. Once the dam is removed, step pool structure #2 will be installed at a set elevation near the invert of the dam to utilize the existing scour pool. Dimensions of this structure will be adjusted during construction in order to meet stream channel features. Dam removal will be performed while flow continues down stream to maintain the aquatic habitat. Once dam structure is removed, construction of in-stream structures may proceed. The materials from the removal of the dam will be used for upstream backfill behind the vane arms, side channel and scoured areas. Concrete from the top section of the spillway will be broken into cobble sized material. This material will be used for fill below finished grade of structures and in existing side channel. If reinforcement wire or rebar is embedded in concrete, the separated metal would be removed from site by the contractor. Fish Passage: Removing the dam would restore upstream access to 18 miles of American eel nursery habitat. At this time there is no known river flow blockage from this point downstream to the month of the Rappahannock River at the Chesapeake Bay. Additional, by removing the dam it would provide passage and habitat for additional forage fish species. V. SUMMARY The Thornton River Mill Dam project will meet the requirements of the USACE – Norfolk District and both the Virginia Marine Resources Commission Habitat Management Division and Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries for fish passage, which will enhance fish habitat and migration. L. Preston Bryant, Jr. Joseph H. Maroon Secretary of Natural Resources Director 217 Governor Street Richmond, Virginia 23219-2010 (804) 786-7951 FAX (804) 371-2674 August 12, 2009 Nathaniel Gillespie Trout Unlimited 1300 N. 17th Street, Suite 500 Arlington,