The Soque Watershed - Considerations for Habersham County (7.20.15)
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Transcript of The Soque Watershed - Considerations for Habersham County (7.20.15)
The Soque Watershed
.
Considerations for Habersham County
Clarkesville
Demorest
Cornelia
Batesville
The Soque Watershed Considerations for Habersham County
Land Use Determines Water Quality
SubwatershedArea
(mi2)Forest
%Agriculture
%Urban
%Headwaters 17.3 90.9 5.4 3.1Raper Creek 9.6 91.2 4.2 3.7Shoal Creek 9.8 82.9 5.9 6.5Deep Creek 30.2 57.5 23.6 11.3Beaverdam Creek 14.6 59.7 23.7 7.5Hazel Creek 31.9 46.8 24.5 7.9Yellobank Creek 6.7 48.3 28.9 7.9Total Watershed 159.8 64.3 18.3 9.6
Rapid Stream Degradation occurs at 10% imperviousness and above.
In the years ahead it is our urbanizing landscape we are most concerned with.
Control Stream Impacted Stream
Photos taken within 20 minutes of each otherJune 17, 2013
The Soque Watershed Considerations for Habersham County
How can we avoid the fate of other urbanized and impacted watersheds?
Stream impacts downstream from Judicial Center
Sustainable Practices for a CLEANER SOQUESustainability means - mimic nature’s processes
Recommendation #1 – Treat the Land like a sponge
Fairview constructed 2008
6 acres
2 – 5 years after construction very little permanent vegetation
June 2010
• Without vegetation and good soils the landscape behaves like a brick
• Runoff carries sediment• Stormwater scours gullies and
streambanks
June 2010
• Without vegetation and good soils the landscape behaves like a brick
• Runoff carries sediment• Stormwater scours gullies and
streambanks
August 2013November 2013June 2015Mulch • Stops erosion• rebuilds soils• provides nutrients • slows water• Allows water to infiltrate
replenishing groundwater
Mulch
Trees
Restoration of the Landscape requires• Liming • Mulching• Trees
Lime
Other Recommendations• Allow grasses to grow deep • Don’t overmow • Save and Re-spread Topsoil• Disturb less acres
Aquatic Center
Aquatic Center
Erosion is an eyesore
Restoration improves the aesthetic and beauty of our county. Literally makes us look green.
Behind Ball Fields
Erosion is an eyesore
Restoration improves the aesthetic and beauty of our county. Literally makes us look green.
Behind Ball Fields
Sustainable Practices for a CLEANER SOQUERecommendation #2 – Make all public construction
projects models of SUSTAINABILITY
Pocket WetlandVegetation filters pollutants
Curbless BioSwaleEnhanced soils allow infiltration
Green Site Design
Grassed SwaleSlows water down. Sediments fall out.
EnhancedSwaleVegetation and soils allow water to infiltrate and filters pollutants
Green Stormwater interpretive sign
Erosion and Sediment Control BMPs still rarely implemented.
• Responsibility should be on PROJECT OWNERS.
• Establish very clear and WRITTEN expectations.
• UNDERSTAND how BMPs work.
How to keep projects from polluting?
No silt fenceNo BMP
Green Site Design – construction phase
Development of Green Papers will help to describe environmental BMPs to:
• PROJECT OWNERS• Contractors and Sub-Contractors
• Makes recommendations on how to PREVENT environmental impacts through better planning, communication and establishment of clear expectations.
• Clear checklists to insure that specific activities are completed.
How to keep projects from polluting?
No silt fenceNo BMP
Green Site Design – construction phase
Topsoils conserved at Judicial Center were not re-spread over the site. Explicit expectations must be included in the plans and monitored by the project owner.
Why Green Trails Matter?
• If the public is cut off from natural resources they will cease to care for them.
• Habersham County is not the destination it could be. The unique character of our natural resources coupled with the unique characteristics of our many towns could be that attraction.
• Only time that every single municipality put in requests that all helped to build towards a single goal.
Recommendation #3Continue to Expand
Green Trails
Why Green Trails Matter?
• Unifies and co-markets the municipalities.
• Draws tourists here for shopping, or to spend the whole weekend, or week.
• Protects natural corridors for wildlife and water.
• Creates Recreation which reduces obesity, improves quality of life.
• Defines our community around our natural resources.
What it accomplishes
Recommendation #1 – Treat the Land like a sponge
Recommendation #2 – Make all public construction projects models of SUSTAINABILITY
Recommendation #3 - Continue to Expand Green Trails
SUMMARY
THANK YOU!