Henrico County Stream Assessment / Watershed Management Program October 18, 2004

Gathering the Data Habitat Assessments of 440 Miles of Stream Stream Corridor Inventories of 440 Miles of Stream Annual Bioassessments

Gathering the Data: Habitat Assessments Used a variation of the habitat assessment in the Georgia Rapid Bioassessment Protocol Examined 10 parameters for high and low energy streams. Parameters include: sediment deposition bank stability streamside buffer zone width channel alteration

Gathering the Data: Habitat Assessments Habitat Scores by Number of Reaches

Gathering the Data: Stream Corridor Inventories Conditions and items within the stream corridor were inventoried These items and conditions include: Possible illicit discharges Dump sites Areas of streambank erosion Exposed sanitary sewer structures Stream obstructions

Gathering the Data: Bioassessments Use EPA’s Rapid Bioassessment Protocol Approximately 20 sites throughout the County have been assessed Bioassessments conducted at 6 sites each year

Using the Data The assessment data is used to: develop stormwater quality requirements for development projects throughout the County prioritize stream restoration projects evaluate the effects of the Stream Assessment / Watershed Management Program identify sources of impairment related to future TMDLs

Using the Data: Stormwater Quality Controls

Using the Data: Prioritizing Stream Restoration Using the assessment results and land use data, stream restoration projects were prioritized. Prioritization criteria include: Watershed build-out Upstream impacts Stream corridor inventory influences Two of these projects are currently in the design phase Jamestown Apartments – 1400 linear feet Henrico Communications Complex – 1300 linear feet

Using the Data: Prioritizing Stream Restoration More specific site evaluations of these prioritized projects are being developed to identify suitable stream impact mitigation projects. Evaluation criteria include: Length and slope Drainage area Construction access limitations Number of affected property owners Available stream corridor width Current land use within stream corridor

Using the Data: Evaluating the Program The sites of the annual bioassessments are selected to provide baseline data for upcoming stream restoration projects as well as buffer and stormwater retrofit projects. The annual bioassessments also satisfy the monitoring requirement of the County’s VPDES permit.

Using the Data: Identifying Pollutant Sources The stream corridor inventory will be used to identify potential sources of pollutants related to TMDLs Identification and correction of pollutant sources will be a key component to TMDL implementation plans