Location
Fair Oaks
Newton County, Indiana

Client Reference
The Nature Conservancy

Time Period
1998-1999

Project Description

CBBEL was retained to provide hydrologic analysis on The Nature Conservancy’s Fair Oaks restoration project site in Newton County, Indiana. The project involved the restoration of 5000+ acres of existing agricultural land to presettlement vegetation. The majority of the work involved the removal/plugging of laterals of an extensive drain system to restore the hydrology and hydraulics, and establish native plant communities in zones based on hydrology. CBBEL examined whether proposed modifications to the current drainage system would create hydrological conditions suitable to the establishment of target vegetation zones. This involved a qualitative rather than quantitative analysis of the site due to the lack of accurate, site specific quantitative data on shallow subsurface and surface water hydrology. CBBEL provided the client with a vegetation map depicting surface and subsurface hydrology and the vegetation zones which would be established because of the restoration activities. CBBEL also determined the impact of the project on adjacent farms through hydrologic analysis of the watershed.

Scope of Engineering & Professional Services

The following tasks were performed as part of the services provided by CBBEL staff of this project. These tasks only represent a portion of the total work performed by the project team.
 

• Hydrologic Analysis
• Agency Coordination

• Restoration Plan Coordination
• Field Reconnaissance / Investigation