ENCLOSURE D
Project Impacts
9.A.(1-8). Describe the impact on national, state, or local park, forest, or recreation areas;
natural, wild, or wilderness areas; national, state, or local historical sites;
national natural landmarks, national wildlife refuges; archaeological
landmarks; state game lands; federal, state, local, or private plant or wildlife
sanctuaries.
There are no national or state parks, forests, or recreational areas within the project area. One
local nature and recreation area, Peace Valley Park, is located 0.8 miles from the S.R. 4001
bridge over the unnamed tributary to the North Branch Neshaminy Creek. The park is open to
the public and provides recreation opportunities such as hiking, boating, fishing, ice skating,
picnicking, observation of birds, and a nature center. Improvements to the bridge and roadway
approaches will not alter the recreational value of Peace Valley Park due to its distance from the
project area. In addition, the proposed replacement will occur in a wooded area, which will
buffer visual and auditory disturbances. The proposed construction area is downstream from the
recreation area. To minimize any downstream effects of the construction, an Erosion and
Sediment Pollution Control (E&S) Plan will be approved and implemented prior to any work in
and near the waterway. There are no natural, wild, or wilderness areas within the study area.
There are no historic sites within the study area. There are no national natural landmarks or
wildlife refuges within the study area. There are no archaeological landmarks within the study
area. There are no state game lands or plant and wildlife sanctuaries located within the project
area.
9.A.(9). Describe the impact on areas identified as prime farmland.
The project area consists of Bowman silt loam soils. The Bucks County Conservation District
does not list this soil as Prime Farmland or Statewide Important Farmland. A hayfield was
observed beyond the study area in the northwest quadrant, but the bridge replacement and
roadway realignment will not impact this agricultural area.
9.B.(1).(a-b). Discuss the environmental impacts on aquatic habitat including: food chain
production, nesting, spawning, rearing, resting, migration, feeding, escape
cover, etc.
The existing aquatic habitat of the unnamed tributary to the North Branch Neshaminy Creek is
typical of a small perennial waterway in a suburban and rural setting. The primary energy
source for food chain production in the stream is from an influx of organic material from leaf litter
and in-stream, benthic algae production. In-stream cover for fish, other than the root wads
overhanging at cut banks, is moderate, mostly consisting of large cobbles and small boulders.
There is little woody debris in the stream, though a large debris pile is trapped on the upstream
side of the bridge, to the side of the wetted channel. The large gravel and cobbles prevalent in
the riffles appear to provide good benthic macroinvertebrate habitat. The open tree canopy
cover, from upstream of the road crossing to 200 feet downstream, results in abundant (but not
unsightly or excessive) benthic/attached algae on the stream bed cobbles and gravel.
Numerous fish were seen, especially in the deep (>2 feet) pool immediately downstream of the
bridge and another pool approximately 100-150 feet downstream of the road. The stream also
supports trout and migratory fish.
Project activities will occur in the stream and on the primary and secondary floodplains but will
not disturb the wetland located within the project area. The unnamed tributary to the North
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S.R. 4001 Section 62M New Galena Road
New Britain Township, Bucks County, PA
Branch Neshaminy Creek will be diverted during the construction of a box culvert, which will
improve current flow conditions. The widened bridge will block sunlight to a small portion of the
streambed and bank directly below the bridge, which is already partially shaded by the existing
bridge crossing. The project will use appropriate Erosion and Sediment (E&S) control
procedures to prevent sediment and contamination from reaching the waterway. Any vegetation
or sedimentation change will be minor and temporary. Therefore, no permanent negative effect
on aquatic habitat is anticipated from construction activities.
9.B.(2). Discuss the environmental impacts on water quality and streamflow, including:
natural drainage patterns, flushing characteristics, current patterns,
groundwater discharge for baseflow, natural recharge area for ground and
surface waters, and storm and floodwater storage and control.
The roadway will be widened along the approaches from 19 feet to 28 feet. The new bridge will
be slightly wider and therefore will shade a slightly wider portion of the waterway. A box culvert
will also be installed, opening the stream channel and improving stream hydraulics by passing
larger storm flows. The stream will be temporarily diverted to construct the box culvert. An
Erosion and Sediment Pollution Control (E&S) Plan will be approved and implemented prior to
any work in and near the waterway to minimize disturbance and restore the streambed to its
natural condition. The bridge replacement will not alter the existing drainage patterns, currents,
water discharge, storm and floodwater storage, or natural recharge area around the unnamed
tributary to the North Branch Neshaminy Creek. System flushing will be facilitated by the new
bridge installation. Stormwater will not be redirected and will remain available to natural
recharge and storage areas along the waterway.
9.B.(3). Discuss the environmental impacts on water quality, including: prevention of
pollution, sedimentation control and patterns, salinity distribution, and natural
water filtration.
An Erosion and Sediment Pollution Control (E&S) Plan has been developed to protect the
waterway from these factors during construction activities. This plan includes the use of silt
fences, erosion control matting and mulch blankets, filter bags, rock filters, straw bales, filter
fabric, and hay and straw mulch within the project area. No construction will occur near the
wetland. Changes in sedimentation patterns may be made due to the construction of the box
culvert, but these changes will facilitate flow rather than impede it. The construction of the
bridge may have minor temporary impacts on water quality. Any impacts to the waterway will
also be temporary. The streambed and banks, beyond the permanent impacts due to widening,
will not be permanently altered by this project. No changes in salinity distribution, pollution
levels, or water filtration are anticipated.
9.B.(4). Discuss the environmental impacts on recreation, including: game species, nongame species, fishing, hiking, observation of wildlife, etc.
The upstream section of the project area is not used for recreation. Less than one mile away is
Peace Valley Park, a recreational area owned and operated by Bucks County Parks and
Recreation. None of the park is located within the study area, and its waters will not be affected
by the project. Activities such as fishing and wildlife observation will not be negatively impacted
by this project. There may be temporary noise disturbance during construction. No hunting or
trapping is permitted in Peace Valley Park. Game and non-game species may be temporarily
disturbed during construction activities, but no permanent negative impacts to wildlife are
anticipated.
9.B.(5). Discuss the environmental impacts on upstream and downstream property.
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S.R. 4001 Section 62M New Galena Road
New Britain Township, Bucks County, PA
Land adjacent to the existing bridge will be permanently impacted due to replacement and
widening of the bridge. Residential property and private woodlands are the predominant lands
upstream of the project area. A hay field is located adjacent to the northwest quadrant riparian
buffer of the unnamed tributary to the North Branch Neshaminy Creek. A private residence is
located in the northwest corner of this parcel. This parcel does not contain Prime Farmland,
Soils of State importance or an Agricultural Security Area. The land uses upstream and
downstream of the project area include deciduous forest, residential land, agriculture, and
mowed grass and shrubs, with deciduous woodlands. The overall land use of property upstream
and downstream of the bridge will not be altered as a result of this project. Replacement of the
existing wooden bridge with a concrete box culvert and new bridge deck should improve stream
hydraulics and reduce flooding during storm events.
9.B.(6). Discuss the environmental impacts on other environmental factors.
The study area is located in a rural and residential area of New Britain Township, Bucks County.
Field reconnaissance identified no potential environmental impacts within or adjacent to the
project area. The project will have no adverse effect on one wetland, two Waters of the US, and
Peace Valley Park. Placement of the concrete box culvert will permanently impact benthic
invertebrate habitat but will improve stream hydraulics and minimize flooding at the bridge. A
Phase I Bog Turtle investigation found the one wetland to be unsuitable habitat for bog turtles.
No other threatened or endangered species were found to exist in the area. No permanent
negative impacts to cultural resources and land use are anticipated as a result of this project.
No other environmental factors were identified within the project area.
9.C. Identify all environmental impacts on other adjacent land and water resources
associated with the construction, modification, or operation of the dam, reservoir,
water obstruction, or encroachment in the project area.
There are no other environmental impacts anticipated on adjacent land or water resources
associated with this project. The replacement of the existing bridge along the existing alignment
will slightly increase the shading along the waterway, but this will have no long-term effects on
the unnamed tributary to North Branch Neshaminy Creek. The placement of the box culvert in
the stream channel will require a temporary stream diversion, but the improvement will lessen
the existing impedance of storm flows. An Erosion and Sediment Pollution Control (E&S) Plan
will be approved and implemented prior to any work in and near the waterway to minimize
disturbance and restore the streambed to its natural condition.
9.D. Identify and evaluate the potential cumulative environmental impacts of this project
and other existing projects like it, and the impacts that may result through
numerous piecemeal changes to the resource.
This project will not cause any substantial permanent cumulative environmental impacts and will
minimize flooding. Proper sediment and erosion control measures will be utilized to minimize
disturbance during placement of the culvert and construction of the roadway approaches. No
other existing bridge replacement projects are occurring along the unnamed tributary to North
Branch Neshaminy Creek.
9.E. Identify and describe all other dams, water obstructions, or encroachments which
may or will be needed, in addition to those described in this Application, to fulfill the
purpose of the current project.
All construction will be in the streambed or within the primary and secondary floodplains. A box
culvert is being built to improve safety of the road and reduce flooding at the existing bridge.
The stream will be diverted around the project area during construction, but normal flow patterns
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S.R. 4001 Section 62M New Galena Road
New Britain Township, Bucks County, PA
will be restored once the project is complete. Sand bags, concrete barrier cofferdam, rock filters,
sediment filter bags, and silt fence will be utilized in the diversion of the channel. Planted areas
will be tilled and flattened prior to seeding. Erosion control mulch blankets, mulch netting, and
weed barrier mats will be utilized. No additional dams, water obstructions or encroachments will
be needed to replace the New Galena Road (S.R. 4001) bridge.
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S.R. 4001 Section 62M New Galena Road
New Britain Township, Bucks County, PA