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    NONPOINT SOURCE SUCCESS STORY
    SOUTH CAROLINA

    Upper-Banner

    Abstract

    Content

    Shea McCarthy (mccartsm@dhec.sc.gov)
    Nonpoint Source Coordinator
    SC DHEC

    Water Quality

    Content

    Waterbody Information
    B-280 (SCB-280)
    Other
    Urban Runoff/Stormwater, Hydromodification
    Fish, Shellfish, and Wildlife Protection and Propagation
    /
    No

    Highlights

    Content

    Project BMPs/Activities


    Best Management Practices
    BMP
    		Number InstalledUnitsComments
    Natural Channel Restoration1150LINEAR FEET 
    Raingarden/ bioretention basin8115SQUARE FEET 
    Vegetative Buffer Strips1490LINEAR FEET 
    * Record from previous version.

    Results

    Partners &
    Funding

    Content

    Partner Details

    Partner Details
    Partner TypeAgency/ProgramNotes
    FederalClean Water Act Section 319
    OtherHYATT PARK KEENAN TERRACE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
    NGOSUSTAINABLE MIDLANDS
    CityCity of Columbia

    Partners and Funding


    Funding Summary
    Funding TypeFunding
    Federal (Clean Water Act Section 319)$125,000
    Other$245,750
    * Record from previous version.

    Attachments

    Figure 1. Project area location in Columbia, South Carolina

    Figure 2. Barren and uninviting park landscape before stream daylighting.

    Figure 3. Path of storm drains in Hyatt Park before stream daylighting.

    Figure 4. Excavation of the piped Smith Branch tributary

    Figure 5. Daylighted stream in Hyatt Park after construction.

    Figure 6. Lower bioretention area after construction.

    Figure 7. Daylighted stream in Hyatt Park after construction.

    Figure 8. Riparian vegetation has replaced areas of turf grasses, attracting pollinators like this tiger swallowtail butterfly.

    Figure 9. Educational signage in the park showing benefits of stream buffers and native plantings.

    Figure 10. Community stakeholder meeting to discuss park revitalization.

    Figure 11. Children playing among the repurposed pipes that were removed in stream daylighting.

    Figure 12. The Hyatt Park redevelopment ribbon cutting ceremony.

    Figure 13. Children playing around the man-made beaver dam after construction.

    Figure 14. The project replaced a barren area with a revitalized stream ecosystem.

    Historical photo of Hyatt Park in 1897 showing riflemen posing in front of the park pavilion.

    AttachmentsD

    Success Story

    Ecological Restoration by Daylighting a Smith Branch Tributary
    https://ordspub.epa.gov/ords/grts/f?p=109:1225::::1225:P1225_SS_SEQ:2144
    View Link
    Expected format: MM/DD/YYYY
    Finalized
    3. Waters that show ecological restoration
    [ 99462918-04 (04) ]
    Publish in 2023 Format. Would like to include linked video prior to publishing (). Water quality table is not fully populating.

    Waterbody Information

     Waterbody NameWaterbody IDID SourceSizeUnitsTypeDesignated Use
    B-280SCB-280ATTAINS0MILESStream/Creek/RiverFish, Shellfish, and Wildlife Protection and Propagation

    Alert

    Waterbody Listings

    • 1 - 1
    Water Body Name: B-280, Waterbody ID: SCB-280
    EditPollutantsSource of ImpairmentYear of ListingYear DelistedListing StatusDesignated UseTMDL?TMDL YearNotes
    OtherUrban Runoff/Stormwater, Hydromodification---Fish, Shellfish, and Wildlife Protection and Propagation--Benthic Macroinvertebrates
    * Record from previous version.

    Story Sections (Written Narrative)

    Submission Edit Instructions:
    • Enter all text directly onto GRTS and add images under “Attachments.”
    • All edits to and versions of the success story should be uploaded as a Word doc to the “Attachments” section. Do not make any edits to the text directly on GRTS beyond the initial text entry.
    • The text on GRTS will only be revised after the story is finalized and published on the web.

    <p>For over a century, a tributary that once ran through Hyatt Park in downtown Columbia had been piped, and the natural ecosystem that was once an enjoyable part of the park had been lost. The Hyatt Park Revitalization project began in 2018 to restore and celebrate the stream and its natural habitat by daylighting a piped Smith Branch tributary and implementing vegetated buffers and bioretention areas. The project also included a constructed beaver dam and native plantings to further reconnect the park to a natural ecosystem. This stream daylighting and restoration is the centerpiece of the community-driven overall revitalization of Hyatt Park and serves as an educational opportunity for the highly popular park. For more information, see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0M88iODlDtM.&nbsp;</p>Please limit Abstract to less than 1000 characters
    <p>A stream running through Hyatt Park in downtown Columbia had previously been routed into an underground pipe (Figure 1). Historical photos show barren land, a line of stormwater culverts tracing the piped stream, an abandoned road, and a parking lot (Figures 2 and 3). Stormwater flowed swiftly across impervious surfaces in the park, accumulating pollutants, and conveying them to the city’s drinking water source. The now-daylighted tributary converges with Smith Branch, which is impaired for macroinvertebrates. The Smith Branch Watershed Management Plan was developed in 2017 as an addendum to a watershed assessment. This plan prioritized community engagement, educational outreach, and green infrastructure projects to address impaired waters.&nbsp;</p>
    <p>The completed stream daylighting, stream restoration, vegetated buffers, and bioretention areas serve to improve water quality and reduce the impact of urban runoff downstream by creating a more natural and efficient stream habitat. A total of 1,150 linear feet (LF) of stream was daylighted, 1,490 LF of vegetated buffers was installed, and 8,115 square feet (SF) of bioretention areas were constructed (Figure 4). The original workplan anticipated implementing restoration work on the existing stream that converges within the park. During design, and with stakeholder input, leaving the existing stream and buffer undisturbed was deemed more beneficial. This allowed additional project funds to be used to increase the length of the stream uncovered by more than double, as well as nearly doubling the area of vegetated buffer and bioretention area installed (Figures 5 to 7). Inlet and outlet structures were modified to open the stream channel and allow the stream to flow through the park. The streambanks were restored with vegetated buffers and a mix of native plants that mimic the natural surrounding area (Figure 8). Two bioretention areas were constructed as part of the new stream network, which includes native plantings. Educational signage was installed to inform park visitors about the water quality benefits of riparian buffers (Figure 9). The area also provides an outdoor learning space to be used by the community center at Hyatt Park (Figure 10).</p>
    <p>&nbsp;<br>Rather than being discarded after removal, the old piping was repurposed as educational play elements in the park (Figure 11). The City of Columbia led the project with support and volunteer labor provided by local groups, including Sustainable Midlands and the surrounding Keenan Terrace neighborhood. This project is part of a larger master plan to revitalize the park and its natural habitat, recreation areas, and community center, all of which have been spearheaded by the local community (Figure 12). Hyatt Park has been an important resource for the Keenan Terrace community, which is identified as low-income by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s EJScreen Community Report. Keenan Terrace community members were integral in the planning to restore and celebrate the historic ecosystem by daylighting the stream. The Hyatt Park Keenan Terrace Association also assisted in educational outreach, volunteer labor, and the selection of the project design. The Hyatt Park revitalization project has been featured in Landscape Architect magazine, and the stream daylighting was highlighted in a South Carolina Education Television segment. This project has also been an inspiration and demonstration site for several other stream restoration and green infrastructure efforts in the Columbia area.</p>
    <p>The stream restoration project led to reduced stormwater velocity, enhanced filtration, and habitat diversity. This revitalized park now offers a place for the local community to exercise, gather and enjoy a peaceful greenspace, and learn how natural spaces benefit the environment (Figure 13). Visual observations show clear water leaving the new stream in comparison to the murky water entering the tributary, and the stream has been shown to handle major precipitation events. The exponential growth in vegetated buffers provides natural filtration and successful control of stormwater flow, directly benefitting downstream water quality by improving and increasing upstream habitat. This project has revitalized a natural, wild habitat and welcomes new species (Figure 14). Tadpoles, frogs, birds, kingfishers, dragonfly nymphs, damselfly nymphs, and riffle beetles now inhabit this newly available ecosystem. The health of the stream is expected to improve further, and surveys of macroinvertebrates and water quality will continue.</p>

    Point(s) of Contact

     NameAgencyEmailPhone
    Shea McCarthySC DHECmccartsm@dhec.sc.gov803-898-4401

    Watershed Plans

    • 1 - 1 of 1
    EditPlan NameNotesFIle / URL 
    Smith Branch Watershed Management Plan---
    * Record from previous version.

    Project BMPs/Activities

    BMP
    		Number InstalledUnitsComments
    Natural Channel Restoration1150LINEAR FEET 
    Raingarden/ bioretention basin8115SQUARE FEET 
    Vegetative Buffer Strips1490LINEAR FEET 
    * Record from previous version.

    Partners and Funding

     Partner TypeAgency/ProgramFunding ProvidedNotes
    FederalClean Water Act Section 319$125,000.00 
    OtherHYATT PARK KEENAN TERRACE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION$0.00 
    NGOSUSTAINABLE MIDLANDS$0.00 
    CityCity of Columbia$245,750.00 
    Total   $370,750.00 
    * Record from previous version.

    Counties

    County
    RICHLAND

    Attachments

    Edit        File / URLSizeDescription/CaptionPreferred
    Highlight Image    		Uploaded ByDate UploadedFile Url Link
    URLhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0M88iODlDtM - South Carolina Education Television highlights stream daylighting and habitat restoration at Hyatt Park - SMCCARTH09/12/2023https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0M88iODlDtM
    1_Location Map.jpeg 285.3KBFigure 1. Project area location in Columbia, South CarolinaSMCCARTH09/28/2023GRTSADM.download_my_file?p_file=11515&p_page=SS
    barren.JPG 320.6KBFigure 2. Barren and uninviting park landscape before stream daylighting.SMCCARTH09/28/2023GRTSADM.download_my_file?p_file=11517&p_page=SS
    storm drains.jpg 55.9KBFigure 3. Path of storm drains in Hyatt Park before stream daylighting.SMCCARTH09/28/2023GRTSADM.download_my_file?p_file=11518&p_page=SS
    Excavation.jpeg 2,336.8KBFigure 4. Excavation of the piped Smith Branch tributarySMCCARTH09/28/2023GRTSADM.download_my_file?p_file=11520&p_page=SS
    Post-construction Lower Section.jpg 228.3KBFigure 5. Daylighted stream in Hyatt Park after construction.SMCCARTH09/28/2023GRTSADM.download_my_file?p_file=11521&p_page=SS
    Post-construction Lower Bio-retention Section.jpg 854.0KBFigure 6. Lower bioretention area after construction.SMCCARTH09/28/2023GRTSADM.download_my_file?p_file=11522&p_page=SS
    daylighting by tennis courts.jpg 9,390.1KBFigure 7. Daylighted stream in Hyatt Park after construction.SMCCARTH09/28/2023GRTSADM.download_my_file?p_file=11523&p_page=SS
    butterfly.jpg 328.3KBFigure 8. Riparian vegetation has replaced areas of turf grasses, attracting pollinators like this tiger swallowtail butterfly.SMCCARTH09/28/2023GRTSADM.download_my_file?p_file=11527&p_page=SS
    buffer sign.jpg 547.7KBFigure 9. Educational signage in the park showing benefits of stream buffers and native plantings.SMCCARTH09/28/2023GRTSADM.download_my_file?p_file=11526&p_page=SS
    Todd and group.jpg 405.3KBFigure 10. Community stakeholder meeting to discuss park revitalization.SMCCARTH09/28/2023GRTSADM.download_my_file?p_file=11519&p_page=SS
    Play pipes.jpg 6,032.3KBFigure 11. Children playing among the repurposed pipes that were removed in stream daylighting.SMCCARTH09/28/2023GRTSADM.download_my_file?p_file=11525&p_page=SS
    ribbon cutting.JPG 5,889.7KBFigure 12. The Hyatt Park redevelopment ribbon cutting ceremony.SMCCARTH09/28/2023GRTSADM.download_my_file?p_file=11514&p_page=SS
    lower weir.jpeg 3,364.0KBFigure 13. Children playing around the man-made beaver dam after construction.SMCCARTH09/28/2023GRTSADM.download_my_file?p_file=11524&p_page=SS
    aerial_beforeandafter.jpg 459.2KBFigure 14. The project replaced a barren area with a revitalized stream ecosystem.KPHILLIP01/17/2024GRTSADM.download_my_file?p_file=12332&p_page=SS

    Review Status

    Status
    Status Date
    		Submitted BySent ToCommentsSubmitted Story
    Finalized04/23/2024 03:06PMflaherty.ellie@epa.govmoss.matt@epa.gov, curtis.cynthia@epa.gov, flaherty.ellie@epa.gov, porteous.alex@epa.gov, mosberg@verizon.net, lindsley.mara@epa.gov, grant.sophia@epa.gov, mccartsm@dhec.sc.gov, kathryn.phillips@tetratech.comCongrats! This story is up on the web.
    Approved03/20/2024 11:07AMmccartsm@dhec.sc.govmoss.matt@epa.gov, curtis.cynthia@epa.gov, flaherty.ellie@epa.gov, porteous.alex@epa.gov, lindsley.mara@epa.gov, grant.sophia@epa.gov, mccartsm@dhec.sc.gov, kathryn.phillips@tetratech.comApproved. Thank you!
    Approved03/18/2024 02:21PMgrant.sophia@epa.govmoss.matt@epa.gov, curtis.cynthia@epa.gov, flaherty.ellie@epa.gov, porteous.alex@epa.gov, lindsley.mara@epa.gov, grant.sophia@epa.gov, mccartsm@dhec.sc.gov, kathryn.phillips@tetratech.comLooks good. Thanks!
    Email03/14/2024 02:50PMflaherty.ellie@epa.govmoss.matt@epa.gov, curtis.cynthia@epa.gov, flaherty.ellie@epa.gov, porteous.alex@epa.gov, lindsley.mara@epa.gov, grant.sophia@epa.gov, , kathryn.phillips@tetratech.comHi all - checking in to see whether Region 4 has had the opportunity to review the draft success story layout in GRTS? Please feel free to reach out with any questions. Thanks!
    Approved01/30/2024 10:24AMmccartsm@dhec.sc.govmoss.matt@epa.gov, curtis.cynthia@epa.gov, flaherty.ellie@epa.gov, porteous.alex@epa.gov, lindsley.mara@epa.gov, grant.sophia@epa.gov, mccartsm@dhec.sc.gov, kathryn.phillips@tetratech.com 
    Open for Review01/29/2024 04:30PMflaherty.ellie@epa.govmoss.matt@epa.gov, curtis.cynthia@epa.gov, flaherty.ellie@epa.gov, porteous.alex@epa.gov, lindsley.mara@epa.gov, grant.sophia@epa.gov, mccartsm@dhec.sc.gov, kathryn.phillips@tetratech.comHi all – The draft story layout is ready for EPA Region 4 and state review. Please click “Show Preview” at the top of the screen to view the draft story layout. For your reference, a word document with track changes is available in the Attachment section. If the draft shown in “Show Preview” looks okay, please click Approve. Monir edits can be made in the comment box. Please reach out to me directly with any questions or more significant changes. Thanks!
    Accepted by EPA HQ10/17/2023 05:46PMflaherty.ellie@epa.govmoss.matt@epa.gov, curtis.cynthia@epa.gov, flaherty.ellie@epa.gov, porteous.alex@epa.gov, lindsley.mara@epa.gov, grant.sophia@epa.gov, mccartsm@dhec.sc.gov, kathryn.phillips@tetratech.comHi Kary - This story is ready for your final review with the document I added to the attachment section. This story will be finalized in the new layout, so no need to provide a polished PDF layout. Please provide your usual content/editorial review and include any edits/comments you have as track changes. Thanks!
    Email10/16/2023 08:41AMmccartsm@dhec.sc.govmoss.matt@epa.gov, curtis.cynthia@epa.gov, flaherty.ellie@epa.gov, porteous.alex@epa.gov, lindsley.mara@epa.gov, grant.sophia@epa.gov, , kathryn.phillips@tetratech.comHi everyone, In response to Ellie's question, we do not have any additional quantitative data on this project at this time. Post-construction monitoring and evaluations are ongoing. Thank you!
    Email10/13/2023 01:30PMflaherty.ellie@epa.govmoss.matt@epa.gov, curtis.cynthia@epa.gov, flaherty.ellie@epa.gov, porteous.alex@epa.gov, lindsley.mara@epa.gov, grant.sophia@epa.gov, mccartsm@dhec.sc.gov, kathryn.phillips@tetratech.comHi all - Thank you for this story! Before we move forward I wanted to check in and see whether there is quantitative data on the stormwater velocity, enhanced filtration, and habitat diversity reported in the story. Thanks!
    Submitted to EPA HQ09/28/2023 03:37PMgrant.sophia@epa.govmoss.matt@epa.gov, curtis.cynthia@epa.gov, flaherty.ellie@epa.gov, porteous.alex@epa.gov 
    Returned to EPA Region09/28/2023 09:00AMmccartsm@dhec.sc.govlindsley.mara@epa.gov, grant.sophia@epa.govPhotos have been updated and video link is included in notes. Thanks!
    Submitted to EPA HQ09/21/2023 12:43PMgrant.sophia@epa.govmoss.matt@epa.gov, curtis.cynthia@epa.gov, flaherty.ellie@epa.gov, porteous.alex@epa.govReady for HQ review.
    Submitted to EPA Region09/20/2023 10:31AMmccartsm@dhec.sc.govlindsley.mara@epa.gov, grant.sophia@epa.govThank you!
    Returned to State09/20/2023 09:15AMgrant.sophia@epa.govmccartsm@dhec.sc.govThe proposed revised language looks great. Please update the GRTS text fields with the revised language and remember to delete B-834 from the waterbody info if it should not be listed. Also, please double check your picture headings. We are still awaiting guidance from HD on the link, but we can add a note in the comments and move forward. Let me know if you have any questions.
    Submitted to EPA Region09/12/2023 10:01AMmccartsm@dhec.sc.govlindsley.mara@epa.gov, grant.sophia@epa.govPlease see the attached updated draft (one version with track changes and one clean version) we have also included additional photos and a link to a video. Thank you!