Wetland and Waterways Impacts and Mitigation
Wetland and waterway impacts were studied as a part of the Categorical Exclusion environmental studies for the project. The following impacts and mitigation were identified.
Streams, Rivers & Waterways |
Presence |
Impacts |
Intermittent (Streams only) |
Present |
Yes |
Perennial |
Present |
Yes |
Wild Trout Streams |
Not Present |
No |
Stocked Trout Streams |
Present |
Yes |
Federal Wild & Scenic Rivers & Streams |
Not Present |
No |
State Scenic Rivers & Streams |
Not Present |
No |
Coast Guard Navigable Waterways |
Not Present |
No |
Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission Water Trail |
Not Present |
No |
Recreational Boating Waterway |
Present |
Yes |
Maiden Creek and its tributaries, the unnamed tributary to Furnace Creek, and other channels were identified in the immediate project area. These streams were identified by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) Chapter 93 Water Quality Standards as having water uses protected for Trout Stocked Fishes and Migratory Fishes. Five hundred ninety-five linear feet of streams would be permanently impacted due to the widening of the bridge and culvert extensions. There will also be 311 linear feet of temporary stream impacts during construction.
Stream restoration to Channel 2 will be completed to mitigate temporary and permanent impacts that will occur during construction.
Maiden Creek is designated as a stocked trout stream, therefore, construction within the stream will be prohibited from February 15 to June 1.
Maiden Creek is not a designated water trail or a United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) navigable watercourse; however Maiden Creek is designated as a recreationally navigable stream by the Keystone Canoeing Guidebook (Gertler, 2004). An Aids to Navigation (ATON) plan will be in place during construction to assist boaters in navigating through the bridge area during construction.
Wetlands |
Presence |
Impacts |
Open Water |
Not Present |
No |
Vegetated Emergent |
Present |
Yes |
Vegetated Scrub Shrub |
Present |
Yes |
Vegetated Forested |
Present |
Yes |
Exceptional Value |
Not Present |
No |
There will be permanent impacts to three wetland areas as a result of the placement of fill and pier locations. The total acreage of these impacts is 0.35 acres. There will also be 0.503 acres of temporary wetland impacts during construction for access and staging.
Mitigation for permanent wetland impacts will be determined in final design in consultation with PA DEP and USACE and in accordance with current regulations. Orange protective fencing will be placed at the limits of work for wetland areas and some areas will require temporary wooden matting during construction activities to avoid permanent impacts.