S.R 3001, Section 01B Franklin Street over Swabia Creek Lehigh County, Pennsylvania

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1 S.R 3001, Section 01B Franklin Street over Swabia Creek Lehigh County, Pennsylvania Prepared by: Sheladia Associates, Inc. November, 2000 Submitted to Submitted to: Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Engineering District 5-0 Allentown, PA

2 WETLAND IDENTIFICATION AND DELINEATION REPORT S.R. 3001, SECTION 01B FRANKLIN STREET OVER SWABIA CREEK LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA PREPARED BY SHELADIA ASSOCIATES, INC. NOVEMBER, 2000 SUBMITTED TO: PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING DISTRICT 5-0 ALLENTOWN, PA

3 WETLAND IDENTIFICATION AND DELINEATION REPORT S.R B OVER SWABIA CREEK LEHIGH COUNTY TABLE OF CONTENTS A. PROJECT DESCRIPTION... 1 B. STUDY AREA DESCRIPTION... 1 C. METHODOLOGY... 1 D. RESULTS... 2 E. SUMMARY... 4 F. REFERENCES... 5 QUALIFICATIONS OF PREPARER... 6 Appendix A Figures 1. Location Map 2. Study Area Map 3. Soil Map 4. NWI Map Appendix B Appendix C Color Photos Data Sheets

4 S.R. 3001, Section 01B Lehigh County A. PROJECT DESCRIPTION The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has proposed the replacement of the bridge carrying S.R (Franklin Street) over Swabia Creek in the Borough of Alburtis, Lehigh County (Figure 1). The existing structure is a single span concrete encased steel I-beam with a length of 5.2 meters (17 feet) and a width of 6.1 meters (20 feet). The proposed construction will allow replacement of the existing deficient and functionally obsolete structure, with a new structure on the existing alignment approximately 6.1 meters (20 feet) in length and 9.8 meters (32 feet) wide. Traffic will be detoured during construction. A temporary crossing adjacent to the bridge will not be used. This replacement will eliminate the need for extensive maintenance in the future and potential bridge closing. B. STUDY AREA DESCRIPTION The study area extends approximately 50 meters (164 feet) along S.R and 15 meters (50 feet) wide, upstream and downstream of the bridge. Franklin Street travels north and south while Swabia Creek flows west to east through the project area. (Figure 2 and photos 1,3,7) The channel is cobble and gravel with some sandy areas. On the day of the field view, flow depth vaired from 2 inches to 1 foot. The earth and rock banks are about meters (3 to 6 feet) high, moderate to steeply sloped and vegetated with brush, ground cover and small to mature trees. Swabia Creek, which is a tributary to Little Lehigh Creek, has a Chapter 93 classification of HQ-CWF. It is not classified as a wild trout stream by the PA Fish and Boat Commission and has no status or nomination to the PA Wild and Scenic Rivers system. It is listed in PennDOTs Design Manual 2, Chapter 10, as a stockable trout stream. The soils underlying the study area have a 0-3% slope and are in the Murrill Soil Association (Figure 3). This soil association is characterized by deep soils of the lower slopes of South Mountain. Within the Murrill Association, a combination of Atkins silt loam and Philo silt loam exist in the project area. Only Atkins silt loam is included on the Lehigh County Hydric Soils list. Atkins soils are described as having slow permeability, moderate soil productivity, medium water holding capacity, and when present a water table of 0-1 foot. Philo soils are described as having slow permeability, moderate soil productivity, high water holding capacity, and when present a water table of 2-3 feet. Photos of the project area are included in Appendix B and are cross-referenced on Figure 2. C. METHODOLOGY Preliminary investigation of the project site included a review of topographic mapping, the National Wetland Inventory (NWI) map (Figure 4), and the Soil Survey of Lehigh County, Pennsylvania (USDA, SCS, 1986; Figure 3) to identify areas likely to have some or all of the three wetland parameters: hydric soils, hydrophytic vegetation, and wetland hydrology. Following the background research, the site was investigated in the field. Wetland identification and delineation on the site was conducted in accordance with the 1987 Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual, Technical Report Y (U.S. Department of the Army Waterways Experiment Station). The Routine Onsite Determination Method was used because of the small study area; field information was recorded on Data Form 1 (see Appendix C) and on sketches of the project area. The boundaries of the wetland area were flagged and surveyed, as shown on Figure 2. Wetlands were classified in accordance with the US Fish and Wildlife Service's Classification of Wetlands and Deepwater Habitats of the United States. Soils were sampled to a depth of at least 10" using a Page 1

5 S.R. 3001, Section 01B Lehigh County shovel or soil probe, and identified using field indicators (color, moisture, odor, texture) and the Soil Survey. Soil colors were described using the Munsell Soil Color Charts. Plant species were identified using various field guides, and plant indicator status was determined using the USFWS' 1988 National List of Plant Species that Occur in Wetlands: Northeast (Region 1). Wetlands were assigned a qualitative value according to the importance of functions they perform for the surrounding environment based on best professional judgement of the field biologists and the Federal Highway Administration's A Method for Wetland Functional Assessment. Specific functions were assigned based on observations during field investigations. An overall value of high, medium, or low was assigned to each wetland based on the specific functions identified. D. RESULTS The field examination was conducted on August 15, The weather was warm (30EC/86EF), humid, and sunny. A brief narrative description of each community is presented below, information is also included on the field data sheets presented in Appendix C. The delineation boundary presented on Figure 2 was developed after the field survey of the project area. Despite their proximity to the stream, three of the four communities examined did not meet all three criteria to be delineated as wetlands (i.e. hydrophytic vegetation, wetland hydrology, and hydric soils). Community 1 Upland/ Wetland (Northeast quadrant) Community 1 is the bank and adjoining overbank area on the northeastern side of the bridge. (See photo 3) Adjacent and parallel to the road embankment on the eastside of the road is a drainage ditch approximately 1.2 meters (4 feet) wide across the top and.5 meters (1.5 feet) wide at the bottom that contains hydrophytic vegetation. Approximately five feet beyond the drainage ditch the topography rises into a mound formation that runs parallel to the road. Directly on the other side of the mound crest (about 1 foot below) is where the wetland area begins to develop. Community 1 includes both upland and wetland areas. A. Upland The mound runs parallel to the road, extending from the northern most part of the bridge for about 170 feet where it flattens out into a maintained grassy lawn. Within the mounded stretch of land the dominant species are summer grape (Vitis aestivalis), Sumac (Rhus copallinum), and pokeweed (Phytolacca americana) with spotted touch-me-not (Impatiens capensis) and multiflora rose (Rosa multifloria) interspersed. (Reference Photo 2 & right side of Photo 3) More than 50% of the dominant vegetative species have an indicator status of Facultative-Upland (FACU), and the community therefore does not meet the criteria for hydrophytic vegetation (which requires that more than 50% of the dominant species have a status of Facultative (FAC) or wetter). The topography is about.45 meters (1.5 feet) above the adjacent wetlands/floodplain. There was no visible evidence of prolonged flooding or saturation. Soil samples revealed a profile of unmottled crumbly, black, debris containing roots and twigs, to a depth of about 15 cm (6 in). The soil profile from cm (6-14 in) was a crumbly, moist silt including pebbles and gravel, 2.5Y4/3 in color, with no mottles. Soils appear to be fairly well drained; no saturation was observed within 35 cm (14 in) of the surface on any sample. There are no positive field indicators (e.g. low chroma, mottling, streaking, odors, concretions) to suggest hydric conditions. Page 2

6 S.R. 3001, Section 01B Lehigh County Due to the lack of hydrophytic vegetation, hydrology, and wetland soil, his area does not contain jurisdictional wetlands. B. Wetland The wetland area was delineated based on a clear topographic break and change in dominant vegetation. (See photo 4) The dominant plant species consist of spotted touch-me-not (Impatiens capensis), goldenrod sp., broadleaf cattail (Typha latifolia), and silky dogwood (Cornus amomum). More than 50% of the dominant species have an indicator status of Facultative (FAC) or wetter, and the community therefore meets the criteria for hydrophytic vegetation. The topography is mostly level with a few scattered humps and depressions, and this portion of the wetland floodplain is about 1meter (3 feet) above the streambed; signs of intermittent flooding were observed (drainage patterns and debris). Soils samples revealed a profile of unmottled, black organic debris containing roots and twigs, to a depth of about 2.54 cm (1 in). The soil profile from cm (1-5 in) is a saturated silty soil, with some organic content, 10YR2/1 in color, with no mottles. At cm (5-14 in) the soil is silt, 2.5YR5/2 in color, with 10YR3/6 colored mottles. Saturation was observed within 30.1 cm (12 in) of the surface. The existing soil profile, hydrology, and hydrophytic vegetation qualify this area to be considered a wetland. The wetland area continues to the east beyond the area of potential impact. Review of Classification of Wetlands and Deepwater Habitats of the United States (Cowardin,et.al.) was used in defining the classification of the wetland as a Palustrine Emergent Wetland (PEM). This small wetland area does not have a large diversity of habitat types or vegetative species, and is not unique in the surrounding landscape. Therefore it has little or no function for aquatic diversity/abundance, wildlife diversity and abundance, groundwater discharge, recreation, or uniqueness/heritage. Since it is located adjacent to Swabia Creek in a suburban area, and in a slightly depressed floodplain with no defined outlet it could function for nutrient removal/transformation, sediment toxicant retention, sediment stabilization, flood flow alteration, groundwater recharge, and production export. These nutrients, if removed from the water column and sediment during the growing season, would effectively reduce possible agal blooms that would affect the oxygen content of this High Quality Cold Water Fish stream (HQ-CWF). However, because of its small size and low diversity an overall low qualitative value was assigned to the wetland regarding the functional importance provide for the surrounding environment. Community 2 - (Northwest quadrant) The second area considered was on the north bank of Swabia creek and on the western side of the bridge. Mowed grass, a pond, and a few trees along with a house comprise this residential parcel of land. The pond is located in the northwestern most corner of this area approximately 30.5 meters (100 feet) from the edge of the roadway and outside of the area of potential impact. This pond is classified by the National Wetland Inventory mapping system as a Palustrine, Open Water (unknown bottom) Intermittently Exposed/Permanent, Diked/Impoundment (POWZh). There was no evidence of hydrology or wetland vegetation in the potential area of impact and no soil sample was taken. This area does not contain jurisdictional wetlands other than the pond. (See photos 5 & 6) Page 3

7 S.R. 3001, Section 01B Lehigh County Community 3 - (Southwest quadrant) The third area considered was the southwest quadrant that lies south of Swabia creek and west of the bridge. A mowed grassy field along with a sand mound-septic system utilized by Amity and JJ Machine Corporation (Custom machining and machinery building) is located in this southwest quadrant. There was no evidence of hydrology or wetland vegetation in the potential area of impact and no soil sample was taken. This area does not contain jurisdictional wetlands. (See photo 7) Community 4 - (Southeast quadrant) This last area investigated is located on the southside of Swabia creek and to the east of the bridge structure. There is a mound/ditch complex similar to that which was described for the northeast quadrant. It runs parallel to the road, extending from the southern most part of the bridge for about 150 feet where it flattens out into a corn field. (See photos 8) The corner of the field closest to the bridge was inundated with water on the day of delineation. In addition, this corner of the cropfield exhibited corn with significantly stunted growth as compared to the remainder of the field s production. No soil sample was taken due to the dominance of a cultivated species and disturbed soils. E. SUMMARY Despite its proximity and location on the floodplain, only area B in Community 1 meets all three criteria (hydrophytic vegetation, hydric soils, and wetland hydrology) for delineation as jurisdictional wetlands. Potential impacts to the general project area have been minimized by keeping the alignment of the replacement bridge and roadway as close to the existing alignment as possible. Despite the widening of the approach roadways to meet design criteria and raising of the profile to accommodate the bridge and superelevation, preliminary roadway plans indicate that Community 1B (wetland) will not be permanently affected by the proposed bridge replacement project. F. REFERENCES Cowardin, L.M., V. Carter, F.C. Golet, and E.T. LaRoe CLASSIFICATION OF WETLAND AND DEEPWATER HABITATS OF THE UNITED STATES. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, D.C. Publ. No. FWS/OBS-79/31. Kollmorgen Corporation MUNSELL SOIL COLOR CHARTS. Macbeth Division of Kollmorgen Corporation, Baltimore, MD. Page 4

8 S.R. 3001, Section 01B Lehigh County U.S.D.A. Soil Conservation Service HYDRIC SOILS OF THE UNITED STATES. Washington, DC. Knobel, E FIELD GUIDE TO THE GRASSES, SEDGES, AND RUSHES OF THE UNITED STATES. Dover Publications, Inc., New York, NY. Little, E.L THE AUDUBON SOCIETY FIELD GUIDE TO NORTH AMERICAN TREES, EASTERN REGION. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., New York, NY. Marble, Anne D., 1990 A GUIDE TO WETLAND FUNTIONAL DESIGN. Technical Information Service, VA. Newcomb, L NEWCOMB'S WILDFLOWER GUIDE. Little, Brown and Co., Boston, MA. Peterson, R.T. and M. McKenny A FIELD GUIDE TO WILDFLOWERS OF NORTHEASTERN AND NORTHCENTRAL NORTH AMERICA. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, MA. Petrides, G.A A FIELD GUIDE TO TREES AND SHRUBS. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, MA. Reed, P.E., Jr NATIONAL LIST OF PLANT SPECIES THAT OCCUR IN WETLANDS: NATIONAL SUMMARY. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, DC. Biol. Rpt. 88(24). Page 5

9 QUALIFICATIONS OF PREPARER RACHEL M. FINKENBINDER B.S. Environmental Science and Ecology, 2000; relevant courses include Ecology, Vertebrate Zoology, Plant Ecology and Systemactics, Environmental Science and Studies, Microbiology, Limnology, Environmental Toxicology, Hydrology. 3-day Training Seminar on 1989 Federal Manual, May 1999; conducted by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 2-day Training Seminar on the Identification of Freshwater Wetland Sedges, Grasses, and Rushes conducted by the Institute for Wetland & Environmental Education and Research. 2 years' experience performing delineations using 1987 Corps, 1988 EPA, and 1989 Joint Federal Methods in PA, IL, MD, NJ, and DE Page 6

10 APPENDIX A Figures

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15 APPENDIX B Color Photographs

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20 APPENDIX C Data Sheets

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