DEP Project #: L-24441-24-A-N/L-24441-TF-B-N
Date: Tuesday, 05-18-10 Time: 7:30-1:30 PM Report: 26
Observed by: Steve Roberge, PE Company/Agency: SJR Engineering Inc.
Weather Conditions: 50, Sun
General Contractor: Reed & Reed Civil Site Contractor: Sargent
Clearing Contractor: DGD Trucking/JML Trucking & Excavating
Contacts onsite: no one
Date of Last Inspection: 01-14-10
Estimated # of days since last rainfall over ½": more than a week
Photographs taken: 59 see attachment
The purpose of the site visit was to determine and document the effectiveness of the erosion control program being implemented at the project site and to insure the methods being used are being maintained. This is a comprehensive review of the "after winter shutdown period" with regard to erosion control. It was requested by Rob Gardiner to document the erosion control activities at the site have been made and are working properly. The site walk noted no significant erosion events and has weathered the winter shutdown period without apparent incidence.
No work was being done at this time. No contractor's are onsite. Work is expected to startup again in September.
The following items were inspected:
1. Silt Fencing: No evidence of silt fence overloading or significant sediment trapped behind the fence. Several sections of the fence need to be re-stapled to posts throughout the project. This is probably caused by snow and wind conditions, animals, and snowmobiles.
2. Stabilized Entrance: The Contractor has stone at the entrance to the project to minimize any tracking of soils. The area remains clean of soils and stone on the paved road.
3. Stockpile Area: Onsite stockpiles consist of ledge/rock piles with the exception of one sand stockpile. No cover is necessary at this location.
4. Mulching: Sargent, Reed and Reed, and JML Construction covered sections of exposed soils with a heavy hay mulch application for winter shutdown. I did not notice any of these areas that have experienced an erosion event.
5. Erosion Control Mix: The water bar outlets have erosion control mix or crushed stone installed to collect sediment. The erosion control mix at the outlet end of the water bars capture significant amounts of sediment in the grubbed areas of the crane access road. The Met Tower access road needs to have a few of the water bar outlets cleaned of sediment from last years work along the access road.
6. Dust Control: Not needed at this time.
7. Hay Bales: Hay bales have been installed in conjunction with silt fence in the areas near resources and along the downslope side of construction for the access road. This meets the requirements for double barriers protecting resources during winter conditions.
8. Stone Check Dam: The existing gravel access road has water bars with check dams being located in the ditch lines. The ditching along the upslope side of construction has stone check dams. The Contractor has all ditching lined with riprap along the construction access road and completed portion of the Mine Notch Road from Tower 22 to Tower 16/17 pad sites. Several of the check dams near the intersection of the logging road and construction access road need to be maintained and cleaned of sediment.
9. Culverts/Riprap: IF&W has not permitted an extension to the time window for installing culverts within streams. Other culverts have been installed within drainage paths as called out on the plans from Tower 22 to the Tower 16 pad site. All of the culverts have riprap inlet/outlet protection. Some of the larger culverts have a stone level spreader at the outlet end to disperse the water over a larger buffer area. The steam culverts are the only remaining pipe to be installed (to be completed in next construction season time window) within the disturbed construction area.
10. Level Spreader: Level spreaders have been constructed in several locations along the construction access road. Two remaining spreaders will be installed next construction season along the construction access road.
11. Water Bars: The existing logging road has a few wheel ruts contributing to erosion along the road and should be graded out with new drivable water bars installed. Additional drivable water bars with stabilized outlets (stone and/or erosion control mix check dams) should be installed along the steeper portions of the construction access road station 76+00. Many additional water bars/barriers are located along the steeper sections of the crane access road which divert the road water into stabilized areas or riprap lined ditching.
The Met Tower access road has been closed out (restored) for the full length of the road. The Contractor had installed many water bar diversions with outlet protection. Several of the outlets were not cleaned of sediment prior to winter onset and should be cleaned out ASAP. Also, a vehicle(s) have breeched several of the water bars causing short circuiting of the bars. These areas also must be repaired ASAP.
12. Catch Basins/Stormdrain system: All culverts (except in streams) have been installed along the construction access road and from pads 16 through 22 and have been riprapped. A few of the plunge pools at the outlet ends need to be cleaned of sediment.
13. Ditches/Swales: The construction and crane access roads are being managed with proper erosion control devices including water bar diversion and check dams being located in the ditch lines.
14. Groundwater seeps/Hidden Channels: I have not noticed areas where groundwater seeps or hidden channels are evident at this time. The installed rock sandwiches and ledge fill is allowing the flows to pass under the road without notice.
15. Cut/Fill Slope Protection: The Contractor had applied a hay mulch, rock riprap or hay blanket cover over disturbed soils throughout much of the active working project. Skidder trails have brush and/or corduroy placement in locations of steep slopes to minimize erosion at other locations. The Contractor had devised a system of water bars, bypass culverts/ditches, and sediment containment areas to limit erosion and sedimentation along disturbed soils. Construction of the crane access road from tower 16 through to tower 22 has a rock base as well as the section of the road between 16 + 17 tower pads. The Construction access road is completed with the exception of four permanent stream culverts.
16. Vegetative Cover: Not applicable at this time.
17. Stream/Wetland Crossings: Bridging streams and matting wetlands are the only acceptable means for crossing at this time. IF&W has not extended the stream culvert placement window for this project. All in-stream work must be conducted between July 15 and September 30. All streams in the project construction windows are running clear. Streams flowing across the existing logging road at the base of the mountain were running clear. There is no evidence of sedimentation occurring.
18. Spill Prevention: No evidence of any spills has been noted during this visit.
19. Winter Construction: The Contractor had completed preparing the project for a winter shutdown effective January 16, 2010. The collector line clearing/skidding operation is re-scheduled for a next winter timeframe.
20. General nature of project: The project erosion control activities are effective and will continue to be effective in the future. Minor tweeks and maintenance to the installed erosion control devices are necessary for any construction project after a winter shutdown.
21. Areas currently under construction/disturbance: No construction expected until September 2010.
22. Estimate total area under construction/disturbance: All areas have been stabilized. No construction activities are occurring at the present time.
23. Comments: The erosion control program is effective. No evidence of erosion or sedimentation has been observed during this site inspection.