GRAEF-USA Inc.

Kerry Americas Stream Relocation

Kerry Americas wanted to build an 118,000 square foot office and research laboratory facility on a 130-acre site in the City of Beloit. Springbrook Creek, a State navigable stream, crossed through the site, which was primarily agricultural usage with some wetlands. GRAEF was retained to prepare the civil engineering plans for the project, and to prepare a Chapter 30 permit application for relocation of the stream, grading, two detention basins, and two pedestrian bridges over the stream. GRAEF also prepared documentation for a Conditional Letter of Map Revision (CLOMR) for modifications to the floodplain, and to show that there would be no impact to wetlands on the site.

Springbrook Creek had previously been straightened to facilitate agricultural use of the site and was in a degraded state, with steep, eroding banks, flanked by Box Elder trees. GRAEF worked closely with the DNR to develop a two-stage permitting process that allowed the contractor to begin work on the building pad before the permit for the stream relocation could be issued.

The stream relocation design involved a meandering alignment, gently sloped banks and several riffle/pool complexes that replicated the original stream. The formerly agricultural area around the stream was regraded and lowered to create a microtopography with wetland and upland areas, to act as a floodplain storage area and riparian habitat.

A hydraulic model of proposed conditions was prepared, using a recently completed model of the stream that was developed from the DNR’s Floodplain Map Modernization Program. The model showed that the relocated stream did not raise flood elevations upstream or downstream of the project area. Calculations were also prepared to show that the regraded site would provide flood storage that was equivalent to the storage available under existing conditions.

GRAEF prepared an Environmental Assessment for the project, as required for the stream relocation Chapter 30 permit. The EA involved the evaluation of impacts to fish, habitat, threatened and endangered species, historical and cultural resources, and other factors. The two-phased permit process was successful at getting the project approved so that construction could proceed and the project completed per the owner’s desired schedule.
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LOCATION Beloit, WI

FACTS Services Provided: Stream Relocation, Permitting, Hydraulic Modeling, Environmental Impact Assessment, Site/Civil Engineering, Stormwater Management