American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
Kansas Clean Water State Revolving Fund

Stream and Riparian Restoration in the Upper Neosho River Basin

The Kansas Water Office has received funding from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) and the state’s Reservoir Beneficial Use Fund to address sedimentation in the Neosho River basin. An 8.3-mile reach of the Neosho River has been identified as a high priority area for streambank stabilization to reduce sedimentation. Restoration of the riparian buffer adjacent to the stream is also a goal of this project.

To view a map of the project locations, click here: Project Locations

For additional information about this project, contact:

Susan Metzger
Kansas Water Office
901 S. Kansas Avenue
Topeka, KS  66612
785-296-1007
susan.metzger@kwo.ks.gov

On October 26, 2009, the Kansas Water Office issued an invitation for Bid (IFB) for the construction of the Neosho Streambank Stabilization projects.  The IFB closed on November 30, 2009.  Eleven bid proposals were received and all were deemed responsible bidders.

Following a review of the bid proposals, the lowest responsible bidders for each of the 12 projects and each of the three components of each project (streambank protection, live stake planting, and seeding/mulching) were identified.  This process was repeated until the following construction contractor assignments were identified.

To view a summary of the bid results received click here:  Final Bid Results

Below are the construction drawings and specifications for each of the 12 project sites.

The same construction specifications, critical seeding, and willow cutting specifications apply to all sites.  These specifications are linked below:

Specifications

Click on the site # in the table below to view pre-construction photos of the stream and bank conditions.

Under the ARRA, the selected construction contract must meet the conditions of the:

·         Buy American Act

·         Prevailing Wage (Davis-Bacon)

·         Quarterly Reporting
 

John Redmond Reservoir and Upper Neosho Watershed

John Redmond Reservoir was constructed from 1959-1964 for purposes of flood control, water supply, water quality, and recreation. The reservoir is located on the Neosho River, and drains 3,000 square miles of mostly grass and cultivated land. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has identified impairments to ecosystem quality because of excessive sediment and nutrient loading into the reservoir.

Sediment transport and stability of streambanks were characterized by USGS and The Watershed Institute (TWI). USGS estimates sediment transport to John Redmond Reservoir during an approximately average year of streamflow is 1.12 million tons of sediment. TWI classified the riparian area and assessed the stability of stream channels upstream from John Redmond Reservoir. This study estimated annual erosion rates from surveys at representative channel locations, as well as characterizing “hotspots” of channel erosion based on aerial photography.

Using average streambank erosion rates estimated by TWI, an estimated 162,800 tons of sediment are transported from the 210 miles of the mainstem Cottonwood and Neosho Rivers annually. Streambank erosion from 3.5 miles of “hotspots” (#12-25) located along an 8.3 mile stretch of the Neosho River is estimated to contribute 51,800 tons per year. The Kansas Water Office is planning to implement streambank stabilization efforts in this reach to reduce sediment transport to John Redmond Reservoir.

Nonpoint Source (NPS) Project Management Plan  

One of the requirements for obtaining the KWPCRF loan is the preparation and public review of a Nonpoint Source (NPS) Project Management Plan. A draft of the plan is provided here. If you have comments or questions regarding the plan or project, contact Susan Metzger, KWO, at (785) 296-1007 or susan.metzger@kwo.ks.gov.

Monitoring Project Impacts

Through an agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Kansas Water Office and the U.S. Geological Survey will be monitoring the changes in turbidity of the Neosho River before, during, and after the streambank restoration project is completed.  The purpose of the study is to assess sedimentation, sediment quality, and upstream channel stability, as well as characterize the effect of streambank stabilization on sediment transport.

Real-time turbidity data for this project is available on the USGS website by clicking on the following sites;

Upcoming meetings where the project will be discussed:

October 2nd - 9:30 a.m., Public Hearing to provide feedback on the Nonpoint Source Project Management Plan (see link to draft above) Lyon County Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office, 3020 West 18th Avenue, Emporia, KS

October 2nd - 11:00 a.m., Pre-Bid meeting for the Invitation for Bid (IFB) for Construction of the Streambank Restoration Project.  A link to the IFB will be included on this page prior to the meeting.  Lyon County Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office, 3020 West 18th Avenue, Emporia, KS

August 24th - Neosho Headwaters WRAPS, Anderson Building on the Lyon County Fairgrounds in Emporia at 6:00 p.m.

July 15 – Neosho Basin Advisory Committee (BAC), includes a public meeting on the draft NPS Management Plant

Additional information, presentations, etc. will be updated to this site as available:

Project Fact Sheet - Stream and Riparian Restoration in the Upper Neosho River Basin

KWO Article published on June 10, 2009

PowerPoint Presentation

Project Informational Brochure

Helicopter Flight Over Project Area

Neosho River Streambank Restoration Project - Public Hearing (pdf PowerPoint)

Neosho River Streambank Restoration Project - Pre-Bid Meeting (pdf PowerPoint)

Neosho River Streambank Restoration Project - Susan Metzger, Kansas Water Office (pdf PowerPoint)

1938 Historical Aerial Photograph of the Neosho Streambank Project Location (pdf)

1957 Historical Aerial Photograph of the Neosho Streambank Project Location (pdf)

1976 Historical Aerial Photograph of the Neosho Streambank Project Location (pdf)