1-Attachment C Specifications.pdf

Texas - EWP 1 December 2025

BRAZORIA COUNTY EWP

CONSTRUCTION SPECIFICATION

WATERWAY DEBRIS REMOVAL

1. SCOPE

The work will consist of the cleanup and removal of storm-generated debris from the streambank and shoreline along Oyster Creek and Bastrop Bayou. Debris removal includes but not limited to trees, logs, brush, tops, blockages, rubbish, and other debris identified by Brazoria County that was deposited in and adjacent to Oyster Creek and Bastrop Bayou as a result of Hurricane Beryl. The debris removal detail for generalized work is shown in the Construction Plan Drawings.

2. ACCESS

Access points are shown on plans and the contractor can recommend alternative routes and access points to the County to review and approve.

3. LIMITS OF WORK

The limits of the work area for debris removal shall not exceed those shown in the Hurricane Beryl Construction Plan Drawings unless approved by Brazoria County. Work performed outside these limits will not be eligible for payment. The limits of the work areas within Oyster Creek and Bastrop Bayou may also be referred to by the NRCS Damage Survey Report number: DSR 48-14-24-5118-002.

4. DEBRIS REMOVAL

Debris shall be removed by methods including, but not limited to, sawing, cabling, winching, lifting, or dragging. Excavation or alteration of any streambank or shoreline is not permitted.

The following guidelines will be used to determine which trees, stumps, brush, rubbish to remove. The County will make the final determination on questionable items.

a. All downed trees, brush, limbs, root mass, tops, vines, and other washed-in woody vegetative materials lying completely or partially within the stream banks shall be removed.

b. Undermined or storm damaged trees within or outside the banks which are still standing but likely to fall into the stream shall be removed.

c. Downed and hazardous leaning trees shall be cut off as near to the ground surface as conventional tools or field conditions will permit.

d. Stumps shall be left in place unless directed by the County.

e. All building materials, manufactured items, and other loose foreign debris lying completely or partially within the designated areas shall be removed.

Water level in the channel may fluctuate up and down due to rainfall events. The extent of debris removal in the channel cross section is not changed by the fluctuation in the water level. Excavation of soil/sediment deposited as a result of the Hurricane shall not be

ATTACHMENT C

Texas - EWP 2 December 2025 performed unless approved by the County.

Trees that are not leaning, have a strong root structure, and pose no threat to the channel will be left as they are, provided the contractor does not need to remove the tree for access purposes. Naturally leaning trees with apparently undamaged root systems and other natural, undamaged vegetation shall remain in its natural condition and not be removed.

Trees shall be felled in such a manner as to avoid damage to trees left standing or existing structures and with due regard for the safety of persons and property.

Removal of standing trees outside of stream banks is limited to the cutting of severely damaged trees leaning across the channel and other trees as needed to gain access for equipment to points of channel blockage.

The approval of the County or designated County representative shall be obtained prior to cutting any "healthy" tree for equipment access.

Unless otherwise approved, access for mechanized equipment shall be limited to one side of the channel. Access to the channel shall generally be perpendicular to the channel with precautions taken to protect mast producing and stream canopy trees.

Dead trees that provide den habitat and are determined to pose no hazard to the channel shall be protected. Disturbance of the channel bottom and banks, and equipment access areas shall be held to the minimum necessary to allow the construction equipment to remove the debris.

Heavy equipment working on wet soil conditions must operate from mats or use other measures as approved by the County to minimize rutting, soil disturbance or alteration of the streambanks and shorelines.

5. DISPOSAL

All foreign debris such as building materials and manufactured items found within the limits of the debris cleanup area shall be hauled to the approved off-site disposal facility/area(s) designated by the County or alternative sites that are obtained by the Contractor and approved by the County. Unless otherwise specifically approved by the County and receiving landfill, all debris will have to be separated by debris type prior to placement in the landfill.

Natural woody and other vegetative debris shall be hauled to the approved designated disposal facility/area(s). Reduction of vegetative debris may be required prior to final disposition.

Alternate methods of disposal proposed by the Contractor must be approved by Brazoria County.

Debris shall not be placed in tributaries, side ditches, floodplains nor other defined water entrances to the watercourse being cleaned.

Also, when one side of the channel is through improved areas and the other side is woods, it is not permissible to dispose of the stream debris from the improved side on the side that is in woods (to avoid haul-off) unless prior approval is granted from the County. Nor is it permissible to place debris on the property of others, to "pile up" debris, or to move debris upstream or downstream in improved areas to dispose of debris in wooded areas to avoid hauling off-site unless otherwise approved by the County.

Debris shall not be placed on nature or hiking trails, sewer line, highway, or railroad rights-of-way, or any other improved area. Debris shall not be placed in tributaries or side ditches.

The debris shall be placed in such a manner to prevent potential movement of the materials

Texas - EWP 3 December 2025 back into the floodway by subsequent high water flows prior to removal. The Contractor shall leave openings in temporary debris piles to allow lateral flow to the stream.

Where petroleum or gas tanks, pesticide containers or other hazardous materials are found within the limits of debris cleanup, the contractor shall note the location of the tank, container, or material and notify the County. The contractor shall avoid disturbance or damage to the tank, container, or materials while performing debris removal.

6. ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

Activity is restricted to the approved limits within Oyster Creek and Bastrop Bayou in Brazoria County, TX.

Turbidity must be monitored and controlled. Prior to initiating any of the work covered under this Opinion, the Permittee shall install turbidity curtains as described below. In some instances, the use of turbidity curtains may be waived by the USACE project manager if the project is deemed too minimal to generate turbidity (e.g., certain ATON installation, scientific survey device placement, marine debris removal) or if the current is too strong for the curtains to stay in place. Turbidity curtains specifications:

a) Install floating turbidity barriers with weighted skirts that extend to within 1 ft of the bottom around all work areas that are in, or adjacent to, surface waters.

b) Use these turbidity barriers throughout construction to control erosion and siltation and ensure that turbidity levels within the project area do not exceed background conditions.

c) Position turbidity barriers in a way that does not block species’ entry to or exit from designated critical habitat.

d) Monitor and maintain turbidity barriers in place until the authorized work has been completed and the water quality in the project area has returned to background conditions.

Where the use of heavy equipment is allowed, equipment shall operate adjacent to the stream and not within the stream unless prior approval is granted by the County. Crossing a stream with equipment to gain access to the opposite bank is only allowed with the specific approval of the County.

Equipment shall be maintained to prevent fuel, oil, and lubricant spills. Refueling, repairs, and lubrication will be performed at safe distances from the stream. Should fuel leaks, oil leaks or hydraulic pipe rupture occur during construction, the Contractor's operators shall immediately remove the equipment to a safe area and take prompt action to minimize damage and safeguard the site. The Contractor shall immediately report the spill or discharge to the County.

The Contractor shall provide tanks or barrels to be used for off-site disposal of chemical pollutants such as drained lubricating or transmission oils, greases, etc. produced as a by-product of this work. Washing, fueling, or servicing of equipment shall be avoided where spillage or wash water can enter the watercourse.

7. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

The Contractor shall submit to the County for review and approval prior to construction, a

Texas - EWP 4 December 2025 construction schedule showing the sequence of all work by reaches to be performed.

The Contractor shall exercise care while working in the areas of existing lawns, roads, structures, utilities, railroads, other improvements and cropland. The Contractor shall be responsible for the prompt repair or replacement of any such improvements damaged by his/her operations.

The Contractor is responsible for restoration of access routes/staging areas to pre-construction conditions.

Fences which must be removed for access shall be removed with the minimum damage practical and reinstalled as near to the original condition as possible immediately after construction access is no longer needed at the site. The Contractor shall coordinate with the County prior to removing fences for access.

Disturbance of the stream banks and the stream bottom will be held to the minimum necessary to remove the debris and avoid alteration of the natural channel flow.

8. EQUIPMENT

Hydraulic excavators, if used, shall be low ground pressure (LGP) machines and be equipped with a stationary or mechanical thumb attachment or have a grapple. The use of rubber-tired skidders will not be allowed without prior written approval of the County. When the use of skidders is allowed, they shall be equipped with low ground pressure, high flotation tires.

Each work site shall have two-way communication capabilities. This requirement shall be met with cellular phones or two-way battery-operated radios. Radios shall have a broadcast capability of a minimum of 5 watts.