Naval Facilities Engineering Command Grant: Restoring Fish Passages at Naval Support Facility Indian Head

Program Purpose and Plan

Objective. The primary objective of this Agreement is to provide fish passages at NSFIH where the upstream movement of fish is currently inhibited by instream blockages, which include elevated and/or collapsed culverts. The Cooperator shall survey the instream blockages and provide a design for constructing fish passages that will have the least impact to the stream and surrounding environment. The existing stream shall be restored to natural conditions where culverts are removed. Two locations have been identified by the NSFIH Natural Resources Office, which include an elevated culvert at building 743 and a collapsed culvert at building 1033. The elevated culvert (48 inch diameter) at building 743 shall be removed and the surrounding bank will be graded and stabilized to restore the stream to natural conditions. Stabilization will include the installation of biodegradable coir matting and native trees, shrubs and grasses. Approximately 1,000 cubic yards of soil and approximately 40 feet of existing steel railroad tracks will need to be removed to complete the project. The collapsed culvert (30 inch diameter) at building 1033 shall be restored to conditions prior to collapsing, including mending a new culvert to the existing culvert at the point at which the existing culvert is structurally sound (approximately 20 feet of new culvert will be required) and installation of a headwall. The surrounding area shall be graded and stabilized with biodegradable coir matting and native grasses to restore the stream to its natural contour and approximately 30 feet of existing steel railroad tracks shall be removed. The total disturbance at building 1033 is approximately 667 cubic yards. The project designs will need Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) approval for sediment and erosion control and stormwater management prior to beginning work if earth disturbance is to exceed 5,000 square feet or 100 cubic yards. A MDE non-tidal wetland permit will also be required for both projects.

Environmental Setting. NSFIH, approximately 3,500 acres, consists of Mainside, Stump Neck Annex, Bullitt Neck and several islands. NSFIH lies on a low-elevation peninsula in the Potomac River Basin and is nearly surrounded by the Potomac River and Mattawoman and Chicamuxen creeks. The topography of gently rolling terrain is marked by numerous drainage swales, streams, non-tidal and tidal wetlands and steep slopes (in excess of 15 percent) along bordering rivers and creeks. Approximately 1,600 acres of pine, pine-

Due to explosive operations at NSFIH, specific areas will require clearance before work can begin. The NSFIH Natural Resources Office (NRO) shall coordinate access to these areas on a weekly basis. The Cooperator will be responsible for checking in with the NSFIH NRO before beginning work each day.