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Jamestown Apartments Stream Restoration
 December 12, 2007 - In 2001, the Henrico County Board of Supervisors adopted an innovative watershed management approach to improving water quality. The Stream Assessment / Watershed Management program incorporates channel restoration, channel protection, buffer establishment, urban stormwater retrofits, and regional stormwater controls-all in combination with the stormwater controls mandated by various state and federal programs. After a decade when around 500 on-site best management practice (BMPs) were constructed-with varying degrees of success-the County recognized that its approach did little to address degraded stream systems that were outside of newly developed sites. The County's stormwater management program, while useful to new plans of development in a fast growing suburban region, offered little opportunity to address stormwater problems in existing, older developments. The Jamestown Apartments Stream Restoration Project is one example of tackling this complex problem of urban stream degradation. The stream running through this apartment complex was experiencing varying degrees of bank erosion. This erosion was not only causing water quality problems, but was dangerously close to impacting adjacent roadways and apartment buildings. The stream also had little to no vegetated buffer that was adding to the water quality problems.
Natural Stream Design techniques were chosen to tackle this complex problem. Log deflectors, live branch layering, and native plants were used to recreate a more natural stream cross section and profile. Rock and other “hard” armoring techniques were used in conjunction with natural “soft” armoring to recreate a more natural feel. The stream was graded to recreate a more sinuous flow line and the banks were graded to increase the floodplain area. This grading allowed the stream to meander its way across the property, reducing the velocity and protecting the banks and stream bottom. Step pools and cobble conveyances were used to bring parking lot runoff into the stream at a slower rate to further protect the stream. A buffer of native trees, shrubs, and groundcovers were installed to provide a natural corridor. Utilizing Natural Stream Design, the existing stream was converted from an ugly stormwater channel into a beautiful, healthy, natural stream corridor that the entire community can enjoy.
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