The Brandywine restoration project restored over 3,600 linear feet of C4 stream type in the lower watershed. The Brandywine site is the second demonstration under the Batavia Kill Stream Corridor Management Pilot Project.

Eroded streambank at upper project area. GCSWCD monitoring of a cross section in this area measured annual lateral migration rates of 12' to 20' per year.

The Brandywine project was typical of many reaches in the lower watershed where the stream channel is undergoing active adjustments in its meander patterns.  As expected, the stream was experiencing severe erosion at the top and bottom of the project reach, with excessive sediment deposits in the middle of the reach. 

The GCSWCD monitored two cross sections on this stream section and observed a 2 year loss of streambank soil totaling 39,703 cu.ft. on the upper meander and 44,024 cu.ft. on the lower meander.  Monitoring did not indicate any problems with aggradation or degradation.  There were however several indicators that significant planform adjustments had been occurring in this area for some time.

At the lower project reach, the streambank seen on the right in this photo has rapidly migrating with significant areas of erosion.

As seen in this photo, active adjustments to the streams planform has been on-going for an extended period of time.  Note the old abandoned channel at the top/center of this photo.

The design process for the Brandywine site was very similar to the Maier Farm site.  Project site obstacles included, limited belt width available due to the presence of a farm field, an access roadway, and a wetland area, and the lack of a good C4 reference reach. The project also required a strategy to address the West Settlement Creek, a major tributary which entered the stream in the middle of the reach.  The following design dimensions were used on the project.

The vegetation shown above is Knotweed.   Extensive colonies on the Brandywine site have been a major contributor to stream instability.

While the streambank near the excavator appears stable, the vegetated bank seen in this photo had recently fallen into the stream.  GCSWCD measurements from 1997 to 1999 indicated soil losses from this bank exceeding 44,000 cu.ft. in just two years.