Stream Crossing Procedures

 The following is a summary of requirements for residential crossings over state’s waters with a bridge or culvert:

Culvert Crossing

1.  A Georgia Registered civil engineering or surveying consultant shall prepare a design with plans for the culvert crossing with all applicable calculations for the 100 year storm including erosion control measures for the stream crossing (pipe size, lengths, type, slope, etc).
2. Note that the design is subject to a plan review fee. 
3. A Georgia Registered civil engineering or surveying consultant shall prepare a preconstruction notification (PCN) for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and obtain associated approval.
4. The consultant will need to notify the GA EPD regarding the crossing
5. We recommend obtaining at least 3 bids on the, plans, hydrology study (calculations), and PCN preparation/approval from a civil engineering or surveying consultant.
6. You may apply for a building and driveway permit; however, note that you can’t disturb the creek buffers until the USACE PCN is complete. 
7. Once the USACE PCN is complete/approved, an erosion permit will be required for the actual stream crossing, this covers the engineering costs to inspect the installation.

Bridge Crossing

1. If you plan to build a bridge, a civil engineering consultant will need to determine the 100 year elevation of the creek; the bridge decking will need to above that elevation, with the travel lane 1’ above the 100 year BFE.  You may use the Cherokee County Floodplain Elevation if desired
2. A structural design on the bridge prepared by a Georgia Registered civil engineering consultant.
3. Erosion control design is also required.
4.  Note that the design is subject to a plan review fee.  Once the design is submitted and approved, an erosion permit will be required for the actual stream crossing, this covers the engineering costs to inspect the installation.  
5. We recommend obtaining at least 3 bids on the, plans, hydrology study, & structural design/calculations from a civil engineering consultant.
   
   

Note: If the pipe is not in states’s waters, the pipe size should be submitted to the Engineering Department for review and approval.  The 25 year event may be utilized for the sizing.  An erosion permit will be required for the installation.  Questions should be forwarded to either of the following

Ben Morgan, PE, CFM
Cherokee County Engineering
1130 Bluffs Parkway
Canton, GA 30114
Direct: 678-493-6074
Fax:  678-493-6088
[email protected]

Andrea Yager
Cherokee County Engineering
1130 Bluffs Parkway
Canton, GA 30114
Direct: 678-493-6060
Fax:  678-493-6088
[email protected]