EVN report 2 PDF

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Report 2...

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Alyssa Heller ENV 201 Report #2 Background Fuller Hollow creek borders the east side of Binghamton University’s campus. Throughout the years’ alterations were made to the creek to urbanize the land. The creek was physically moved west and straightened which created many effects downstream. There is large evidence of erosion along the banks and widening of the straightened portion. This has not only affected university property, but also residential estates. Attempts have been made to combat the damages, including supporting banks with rip-rap and filling in channels to extend or retrieve properties. Although these provide some temporary relief, the recent floods in the southern tier in 2006 and 2011 have caused extensive deposition along majority of the creek. Methods With attempts fix the problems caused by the modifications to the watershed change the amount of discharge that the creek produces. Discharge is defined as the product of the channel’s width, depth and velocity. When any of those three variables are artificially inhibited, the others will react and over time, significant biological changes can occur. Time scale of these changes varies based on the system. Questions Throughout the channel, changes like serious erosion have caused pipes to become exposed. Many of these pipes have attempts at coverage or are broken. The purposes of these pipes are unknown, and they occur at the beginning (near point B) the middle, and end of hike. There is a large amount of rip-rap (Large rocks) to combat this continued erosion. The erosion is most likely caused by the re-routing of the creeks water discharge; the path of the channel is no longer natural. Serious erosion occurs at the bends in the creek, due to increased friction of the flow water and the bank. Increased discharge can escalation erosion that causes land to recede into residential and University property. Obviously, there are consequences to the town of vestal. This includes, reduced property value, expensive damage to homes and water routing issues. According the evidence and comments heard from neighbors, these problems are not being handled as they should. The town is not considering the severity of the issue and attempts to fix these issues are only being solved my temporary resolutions. The best options to fix Fuller Hollow Creek are unfortunately costly and extensive. Despite developed land, the creek should flow as nature intended, without artificial constraints. This will most likely require modifications to campus and homes, involving underground or above ground water routes in the path the creek wants to go. There is need for clear, throughout plans to create such a concept. Without some permanent modification, erosion will continue and cause more significant damage. Homes will be destroyed, pipes will be

contaminated, and more funds will need to be aliquoted to repair the damages rather than solve the overarching problem. Pipes (exposed) Pipes (broken) Rip-Rap Significant Erosion...