1. Section 206: Aquatic Ecosystem RestorationBig Escambia Creek, Escambia Counties, Alabama and FloridaPresented By:Charles Owens Project Management

2. Aquatic Ecosystem RestorationSection 206WRDA 1996, as amended • Objective: restore degraded aquatic ecosystems • A Restoration Project is adopted for construction only after investigation shows that the restoration will improve the environment, is in the public interest, and is cost-effective.  • Each project is limited to a Federal cost of not more than $5 million.  This Federal limitation includes all project-related costs for feasibility studies, planning, engineering, construction, supervision, and administration.

3. Northern Portion of Big Escambia Creek Pre-Construction CSX Railroad N AL FL Fannie Road 4 Escambia River

5. N CSX Railroad AL FL Fannie Road 4 Southern Portion of Big Escambia Creek Pre-Construction Looking West Looking East Escambia River

6. Gravel Mining Operation

9. Big Escambia Creek RestorationProject Restored Channel Bank Log Vane Logjam #1 Original Channel Root Wad Logjam #2 Restored Channel Original Channel Root Wad Footer Existing Channel Restored Channel Cross- Vane Key: Primary Diversion Structure Log Vane Secondary Diversion Structure Restored Creek Channel

10. Northern Portion of the Restoration Project Braided Channels as a result of the Logjam Restored Existing Channel Northernmost Logjam CSX Railroad Bridge Original Channel

11. Southern Portion of the Restoration Project Fannie Road Bridge Restored Channel Primary Diversion Structure Existing Channel

13. A view of the Southern Portion of the Project located south of the Primary Diversion Structure looking northward Again south of the Diversion Structure but now looking southward Notice minimal removal of trees adjacent to the channel

14. Three J-Hooks Structures located in one of the Big Escambia Creek Bends Root Wads are forced into the ground in order to stabilize logs running parallel and perpendicular to the creeks’ bank • Cables are used to reinforce stability of the structures at the Middle and Bank Rootwad/Log Connection • Geotextile fabric is placed in the upper portion

15. Trees have been driven into the creek bottom leaving the exposed rootwad • In addition to these structures, Rootwad Clusters have been placed within the creek’s pools to increase aquatic habitat • Cross veins have been utilized to also divert flow

16. Additional Root mass further south along the channel Eastern Bank with Root mass • Adaptive Management Process: • The project team and contractor discussed Minor Channel Re-Alignment due an Existing Natural Eastern Bank of Extensive Roots Intertwined within it; thus, providing natural bank stability • Natural Bank is more stable than that of the Man-made Bank

17. Restoration of Big Escambia Creek promoted Additional Point Sand Bars to occur within the channel

18. Project Benefits • Restoration of Ecological Conditions Along the Lower Four Mile Reach of Big Escambia Creek Watershed. • Reduction of Flood Damages at Flomaton, Alabama and Century, Florida.

19. Project Completion • The Project was completed in August 2005. • The project was damaged by Hurricanes Ivan, Dennis and Katrina. • Emergency Funding Requested to Restore Hurricane Damaged Areas.