Assessment and Restoration of Chestnut Branch of Mantua Creek: An Educational Partnership

The Chestnut Branch of Mantua Creek is a typical stream in an agricultural watershed undergoing suburban development. The stream bisects the campus of Rowan University and collects all the storm water from the campus and surrounding community. Recent development in both Rowan University and the surrounding area has led to an increase in the amount of impervious surface, which in turn caused an increase in runoff and a decrease in the water quality of the stream. In addition, excess runoff has caused severe bank erosion in many locations along the stream corridor. The restoration project is being completed in a partnership between the Gloucester County Planning Division and the Rowan University Civil and Environmental Engineering Department. Undergraduate engineering students are taking part in the project by conducting field surveys, monitoring water quality, developing a computer model of the stream, and designing bank stabilization measures. Working with faculty and engineers from county and state agencies, students are gaining hands-on experience in all aspects of non-point source pollution control. With a grant from the National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) in Pollution Prevention, a student from Virginia Tech joined Rowan University to help in this project. Students have continually measured and analyzed stream water quality, completed a topographic survey of the area, used computer software to develop an accurate map of the stream, and conducted a hydraulic study of the drainage area. Students are currently installing instruments to measure stream flow and creating a computer model of the stream in HEC-RAS. Over the next two years, student teams will complete the site assessment and bank stabilization design. Academic-public partnerships such as this can provide valuable experiences for students, improve environmental quality, and provide a worthwhile service to the community.