IECA Photo Gallery
Dallas Field Tours
Click on a thumbnail to view a larger size. These photos were taken from field tours at the 36th conference & expo, Dallas, Texas.
| This tour was held on Thursday, February 24, 2005 guided by Randy Alexander | ||||
 The
North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA) is in the process of constructing
the President
George Bush Turnpike Segment IV, a 379 million-dollar project,
connecting two major interstate highways in the north Dallas area.
Get a first hand view of what it took to combine responsible environmental
resource management with a major construction project. This enormous
project is located in a unique and complex construction environment.
The tollway is being built along side the Elm Fork of the Trinity
River, is in an expansive floodplain, travels through wetlands and
known endangered species habitat, and goes through three landfills.
In order to deal with these factors, the Environmental Excellence
Team (EET) was created by the NTTA. The EET is made up of a group
of specialists from various consulting firms and agencies in the areas
of SW3P, wetland mitigation, cultural resources, landfills and hazardous
materials, and endangered species. Learn how the EET dealt with key
storm water pollution prevention issues associated with the proximity
of the Elm Fork of the Trinity River. Not only is the river a source
of drinking water for the area, but it also has a sensitive ecosystem.
Join us on this 4 hour trip where we'll gain an overview of the project
and spend some time in the field looking at several particular storm
water challenges and solutions for this project. |
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| Contractor beginning excavation of Hydraulic Mitigation Area | Contractor installing sediment fence along channelized
stream. |
Sediment curtain employed at Trinity River | EET discussing mitigation tree planting with contractor's employees | |
| This tour was held on February 24, 2005 | ||||
| Furneaux Creek Channel Restoration.
Increased runoff from urbanization combined with steep gradients caused
severe erosion in a 1.4 mile stretch of Furneaux Creek in a green
belt area of Carrollton, Texas. The erosion exposed several large
sanitary sewer crossings and removed significant portions of the embankment
which destroyed the tree-lined creek and existing ecological system. With high public interest, the city and consulting engineer conducted public meetings for input and designed the project with sensitivity to restore the original environment. The project relocated one of the 36” sewers outside of the creek and used a variety of methods to control erosion and restore the green belt’s ecological system. A series of concrete drop structures, some of which were rock-faced, were installed to lower velocities and recreate wetlands. In other areas, gabions, rock riprap or, in some cases, a low height masonry wall were used to stabilize the embankments and protect the toe of slopes from scour. A series of benches were created to be re-vegetated with native grasses, shrubs and trees. The tour is a “work in progress” and will show completed work along with current construction. |
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