Arthur Horne Wetland Restoration

Description

National Wetlands Inventory shows that Arthur Horne Park is a 13-acre Freshwater Forested/Shrub Wetland present in the Arthur Horne Park Watershed. There are 4.5 acres of Freshwater Forested/Shrub Wetland and 5.7 acres of Estuarine and Marine Wetland downstream. The drainage from this wetland flows northward through pipes for approximately 900 feet then daylights into an open channel north of Waddell Road near Southside Park. The channel flows westward for approximately 1,600 feet to its outfall into Battery Creek near the SCDHEC water quality shellfish monitoring station #15-28. The wetland will discharge into Battery Creek at water quality monitoring station 15-28 which is identified as 303d Impaired Water for shellfish caused by fecal coliform bacteria contamination. This project is expected to reduce bacteria contamination in this impaired water.The project should promote positive drainage by clearing a path for the water to easily travel from the inlet to the outfall. The preliminary design shows a pond constructed on the Southeast side of the property to aid in water retention, treat stormwater runoff and promote native wildlife use. We aim to restore the park into the beautiful, healthy wetland it was prior to being damaged in Hurricane Matthew. Along with the wetland restoration, we would like to add a boardwalk that circles part of the site to promote nature walks, birding, and wildlife viewing to create a recreational amenity that the community can enjoy. Educational signage will be thoughtfully placed along the boardwalk to highlight and explain stormwater features.The park’s wetland will be impacted by clearing of vegetation and deepening during construction. Over the long term the wetland will remain a wetland, natural vegetation, and accumulation of debris will be managed to maintain storage capacity. The downstream wetlands should benefit from improved water quality from reduction in transported pollutants. Permitting and mitiga