FOLLOW-UP EVALUATION OF MITIGATION MEASURES FOR HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION, STATE ROUTE 29, HAMILTON COUNTY, TENNESSEE

A 105-ha section of the floodplain of North Chickamauga Creek in Hamilton County, Tennessee was purchased by the Tennessee Department of Transportation in the late 1970s to mitigate for habitat loss associated with the construction of Tennessee State Route 29. Additional mitigation measures included planting herbaceous and woody vegetation throughout the area and construction of riffle areas and an artificial meander in the creek, three borrow pits of different sizes and designs, and earthen mounds to enhance survival of small animals during flood events. Studies were conducted during the early 1980s to evaluate the effectiveness of mitigation measures and to determine what plants and animals were present on the area. This study was conducted between 1994 and 1996 to determine what changes have occurred since the previous study and to further evaluate mitigation measures. North Chickamauga Creek was impacted by sediment during construction of the highway. This sediment still covered riffles and other potential substrate for benthic organisms during this study, although this did not affect water quality. Consequently, diversity and abundance of benthic macroinvertebrates and fish were lower than in similar streams without sedimentation problems. Sport fish were moderately abundant in lower stretches of the creek, probably because of low angling pressure and abundant habitat in the form of fallen logs and overhanging banks. Effects on water quality were probably stabilized by 1982-83 and only normal, seasonal fluctuations were observed in this study. Terrestrial portions of the mitigation site supported a high diversity of plants and animals, primarily because of diverse shrubs or saplings. Two forested areas were present on the site, but both had been selectively harvested before purchase, and the trees were mostly small and of a composition that provided few resources to wildlife. Although mammals and birds were common and diverse throughout the area, several expected species were absent or rare, perhaps a reflection of the successional stage age of the site, its relatively small size, or its close proximity to the highway. Primary differences between this study and the previous study reflected successional changes in plant communities and associated animals that use them. Specific recommendations concerning mitigation measures are presented.

• Record URL:
  https://ntlrepository.blob.core.windows.net/lib/20000/20100/20158/PB98113244.pdf
• 
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Date on cover: September 1997.
• Corporate Authors:

  Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville

  Biology Department
  Cookeville, TN  United States  38505

  Tennessee Department of Transportation

  James K. Polk State Office Building, 505 Deaderick Street
  Nashville, TN  United States  37243

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Combs, D L
  • Cook, S B
  • Ensor, G K
  • Perry, H S
  • Roberts, T H
• Publication Date: 1996-7-31

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 201 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Birds; Earth; Environmental impacts; Fishes; Flood plains; General surface features of the earth; Habitat (Ecology); Mammals; Measures of effectiveness; Pits; Recommendations; Road construction; Sedimentation; Streams; Traffic mitigation; Vegetation; Water quality; Wildlife
• Uncontrolled Terms: Borrow pits; Effectiveness
• Geographic Terms: Hamilton County (Tennessee)
• Old TRIS Terms: Earth mounds
• Subject Areas: Design; Environment; Highways; Research;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00745695
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: TN-RES1042, Final Report
• Contract Numbers: CUT066
• Files: NTL, TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Feb 12 1998 12:00AM