Sand Wand Operation Small Stream
By etuckerhalm 0 Comments

Glen Alpine, NC Bank Erosion Sediment Restoration

Streamside traveled to Glen Alpine, NC in Spring of 2018 upon request for spill response using the Sand Wand™ and Bedload Sediment Collector from client and contractor for sediment removal from bank erosion.  Streamside Stream Team provided project management, training on equipment operations, and oversight on project coordination and production throughout the 3600 linear foot stretch of stream.

Streamside provided the Sand Wand™ equipment for the Prime contractors operators to use for the sediment removal.  Also, the sediment was very coarse and this was a mountainous stream with a 3-5% elevation drop over 100ft in some areas, so the Bedload Collector was used upstream of a culvert where a temporary road was installed for land-use access.  The Bedload Sediment Collector was installed upstream of the culvert to prevent sediment from migrating into the culvert or any further downstream of the culvert.

The Sand Wand™ was used in the upstream stretch of the restoration directly connected to a Vacuum Truck to provide the selective removal of the Sand Wand™ for operational efficiency, as well as using the Vacuum Truck as primary suction and containment of the sediment.  Using this method, the crews were able to efficiently operate the Sand Wand™ up to 700 ft.

Downstream of the culvert there was no accessibility for equipment or a vacuum truck so Streamside with contractors were able to mobilize a smaller Sand Wand™ system with an ATV and trailer through the wooded landscape to access heavy deposits of sediment to be removed.  Streamside used its DropBox Filter (a wedge-wire screened mobile dewatering box) to dewater and drop the sediment in manageable piles to be spread across the upland of the property.  With obstacles along the entire 3600ft stretch, Streamside used its experience and knowledge of sediment removal to overcome issues to include minimal to no flow of water, accessibility, and long-distance pumping to efficiently and effectively complete the project to minimize the client cost.

North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) was the regulatory agency overseeing the sediment removal on the project.

Gallery

Streamside Sand Wand™ Operation

Image 1 of 9

By etuckerhalm 0 Comments

Contaminated Stream Restoration – Swift Run Creek

Streamside was contracted by GAI Consultants, Inc. for the removal of bentonite that spilled into the creek during a drilling project near Elkton, Virginia. Bentonite is used as a lubricant in the drilling process and also helps to provide a seal around the pipeline. The depth of the creek varied from six to thirty inches. In the shallow areas, temporary sand bag dams were utilized along with the two-inch Sand Wand System. The three-inch Sand Wand was used in areas with a greater depth and when obstacles such as rocks were not present. The Sand Wand process consistently removed all of the bentonite and sand from the interstitial areas, while at the same time controlling the turbidity or re-suspension of the bentonite.

The details

The project began in early January in subfreezing conditions, starting at the uppermost section of the affected area, closest to the spot of initial contamination. This was evident by severe deposits of bentonite up to 16” in depth. The property owners limited the access to the stream, so all transport of equipment and piping to the site was through the creek bed. The project did not cause any bank disturbance, environmental footprint or evidence of the effort. The discharge consisted of bentonite and water slurry and was pumped some 700 feet using two booster pumps to a 7000-gallon tanker truck supplied by GAI. The trucks were typically filled in approximately 30 to 40 minutes, at that time the truck would leave the site to dispose of the bentonite in a local farm pond, which helped to seal any possible leaks. Two trucks running per crew was the ideal allowing each crew time to move their system to the next affected downstream reach and commence cleaning, with minimal downtime waiting on a truck.

In conclusion

Nearly five thousand feet of Swift Run Creek had been affected by the spill, and was successfully restored and completely free of any bentonite at the end of the project. The Sand Wand technology was effective at selectively removing the bentonite clay from surface deposits, and also selectively flushed and removed harmful subsurface clay deposits, leaving a cleanwashed native cobble and gravel substrate. The Virginia Department of Fish and Game gave the final OK on the cleanup, and our crews withdrew from the project site in mid-March.

VIEW ARTICLE