C&S Companies are proud to announce that the firm received a 2015 Merit Award for the Bergholtz Creek Stream Enhancement Project at Niagara County Community College in Sanborn, NY, from the New York Upstate Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects at their award ceremony on January 29.
This project was initiated because a nearby airport impacted on-site wetlands with an important runway extension. To compensate for loss of wetland property at that location, a segment of the west branch of Bergholtz Creek was enhanced as a compensatory mitigation measure under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). The project, located at Niagara Community College, provides ecological and social benefits to the local community. C&S planned the site layout and circulation, designed plantings and signage, and designed the stream’s hydraulic improvements and the pedestrian bridge.
The existing creek section had many invasive plant species and the area around the creek was mowed turf grass, with native and non-native trees. The project lengthened the creek from 900 feet to 1,060 feet, improving the stream layout and introducing five new pools. The creek was also narrowed to establish a low flow channel. The stream modifications deter the re-growth of invasive aquatic species and provide a higher quality habitat for fish and other wildlife. A 6.24-acre area of turf grass was removed and replaced with a diversity of native ecological communities, including wetlands, meadows, and forest areas. These plant communities, all native to Niagara County, were designed to provide a buffer for the creek, filter runoff from adjacent impervious surfaces, and create varied wetland and upland habitats. A walking trail and wooden bridge over the stream provide access to the site for recreational, educational and instructional purposes. A small lawn area was retained at the northeast corner of the project site to provide a usable space where students and faculty can gather by the stream.