Removal of Drift Material from Drainage Structures Drift material is defined as organic debris, primarily large tree limbs, that are carried by a stream and accumulate at the upstream side of bridges and culverts, impeding navigation and threatening the integrity of the drainage structure. If removal of drift material is required on the project, the following conditions are intended as a minimum to protect aquatic resources during drift removal activities executed by GDOT personnel or contractors. 1. All Project personnel shall be advised of the potential presence of federally and state protected species. These species are protected under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, the Georgia Endangered Wildlife Act of 1973 and the Georgia Wildflower Preservation Act of 1973. There are civil and criminal penalties for harming, harassing, or killing these species. 2. Drift removal shall be accomplished by attaching lift cables or ropes to the drift and hoisting the materials out of the stream from the top of the bridge deck or road surface. Any modifications to this method or any other methods for removal shall be submitted to, and will require prior written approval from the District 6 Maintenance Department Accumulated drift material shall not be dragged across the streambed. 3. Mechanized equipment shall not be allowed to rest upon or contact the streambed. Boats shall be allowed into the stream for the purpose of accessing accumulated drift, provided that water depth is adequate to ensure the watercraft would not contact the streambed. 4. If vegetation clearing is required to accomplish drift removal (e.g. to provide access for boats), mechanized clearing shall not be used within 200 feet of stream banks. Vegetation clearing by hand is permissible. 5. Drift material shall be disposed of outside the project right of way and placed in either a permitted solid waste facility or a permitted inert waste landfill. Refer to Subsection 201.3.05.E.3.b of the Standard Specification and Supplements thereto for additional information. 6. In the event any incident occurs that may cause, or has caused, harm to an aquatic species, the District 6 Maintenance Department shall immediately be notified by providing a description of the incident and photos of the harmed aquatic species. All activities on or near the structure shall cease, except traffic control and erosion control activities, pending consultation by the Department with other Agencies, and, if applicable, the lead federal agency.
