PROJECT SPOTLIGHT: Shulls Mill Dam Removal and Watauga River Restoration

The Shulls Mill Dam Removal is complete! Wildlands worked with MountainTrue, American Rivers, and the Wildlife Resources Commission to complete design, permitting, construction oversight, and post-construction activities for this exciting aquatic connectivity project, which opened up over 84 miles along the Watauga River in Western North Carolina. The partially breached concrete dam, which dates back to 1910, was removed between June 27 and July 10th by the US Fish & Wildlife Service Aquatic Restoration Team, who contributed funding and in-kind construction services to execute the removal. Appalachian State University assisted in relocating Hellbenders before the removal (check out this great article published by WFAE about the relocating process of the Hellbenders found onsite – CLICK HERE). They also assisted with fish and crawdad rescue during the removal process.

The removal process involved planning for the relocation of sand, gravel, and fine sediment that could adversely impact downstream habitat. In addition, a severely eroding bank with invasive plants was restored to a stable condition to allow for native revegetation. Kee Mapping & Surveying and Appalachian Landslide Consultants assisted with mapping and geologic interpretation using LiDAR and test pit sampling. The data collected was used by Wildlands Engineering (Wildlands) to prepare dam removal and river restoration sequencing and to design the new alignment of the restored river channel to address erosion and sedimentation and to promote long-term stability and habitat quality in the reach. Wildlands collaborated with Ecoforesters to treat invasive Japanese knotweed on the site. In order to permit the project, Wildlands Engineering prepared floodplain, erosion and sediment control, trout buffer waiver, NCDOT, and 404/401 permits. These efforts were supported by a stakeholder engagement process led by Wildlands to gather input from regulatory and resource agencies and determine an approach that would protect downstream habitat from the impounded sediment behind the dam, among other regulatory requirements.

A huge thanks to Wildlands Construction, which helped with test pit sampling, tree clearing in the winter to avoid impacts on bats, and construction phase assistance with traffic control, temporary crossings, and other materials management to make this project successful!

Similarly to the previously completed Ward’s Mill Dam Removal Project that Wildlands also completed in 2021, the Shulls Mill Dam Removal will have beneficial impacts for years to come. The endangered hellbender will be able to travel upstream of the dam, along with fish and mussels. The Watauga River is also a recreational centerpiece of the high country, where flyfishing, kayaking, swimming, and tubing are popular activities. Removing the dam will allow safe passage for recreational users without the drowning hazard caused by the retentive hydraulic created by low-head dams. After the removal, approximately 400 feet of the stream was restored, and native vegetation was planted (following the treatment of invasive species), providing valuable habitat and food for local animals.

Reedy Creek Stream Restoration Project receives final credit release!

We are thrilled to announce that the Reedy Creek Stream Restoration Project has received its final credit release! As the first-ever design-build project to generate stream and wetland mitigation units for the City of Charlotte Umbrella’s Mitigation Bank, this is an impressive milestone for Wildlands and the City. This project successfully transformed deeply incised and eroded channels into natural, stable streams within a thriving ecosystem and expanded the City’s contract delivery options for mitigation credits!

Thanks to our client’s support and team members’ collaborative efforts, we restored over 26,000 linear feet of stream and six acres of wetlands. With the enhanced natural habitats and beautiful nature trails, this project serves as a serene retreat within city limits. Join us in celebrating this major achievement for our company and the City of Charlotte!

PROJECT SPOTLIGHT: Southside Community Stormwater Improvement Project

Since 2019, Wildlands Engineering (Wildlands) has been working on several green infrastructure project initiatives with our long-time partner RiverLink, a watershed group with the mission of promoting the environmental and economic vitality of the French Broad River and its watershed. Wildlands recently completed the Central Asheville Watershed Restoration Plan for Riverlink, which consisted of project identification and developing an interactive watershed plan. Within the watershed plan, projects were identified in multiple subwatersheds, including Nasty Branch which runs through the Southside Community. In the 1960s and 1970s, this and other nearby black communities were negatively impacted by urban renewal projects, which left a profound impact on the social structure and well-being of the community.

Over 1300 businesses and homes were lost from the Southside Community between the 1960’s and 1970’s.

Among the many projects identified, one stood out for its apparent need of creating a more functional space, safe environment, and resilient infrastructure at the Erskine Apartments – located along Livingston Street in the heart of Southside. The watershed plan identified proposed activities to target a drainage issue in the cul de sac on Water Street where water was seeping onto the road resulting in a bad odor and unsafe conditions, particularly in winter.  After further evaluation of the site and its contributing drainage and infrastructure, a multifaceted project was proposed to address multiple community needs as well as provide stormwater management to improve water quality in Nasty Branch.

In addition to the drainage issue, concrete stormwater swales and corrugated metal pipe systems from the original apartment construction in 1969 were failing, a powerline behind residences was very low to the ground creating an unsafe feeling environment, and areas of dense invasive vegetation created unusable spaces and consumed native trees and vegetation. Discussions with community leaders, meetings in the park, and door to door efforts lead to a list of community needs and desires that were assembled into a cohesive improvement plan to address as many considerations as possible.

Wildlands helped prepare technical information for grants to fund the project. Multiple entities contributed funding to the project including the apartment owner, the Asheville Housing Authority. The project used stormwater control measures called regenerative stormwater conveyance (RSC) channels to replace pipe and concrete ditches. These incorporate sand-based media to provide additional water quality treatment. Rain gardens and a stormwater wetland were implemented to capture parking lot and rooftop runoff; a french drain routed subsurface flow into the stormwater system to resolve road seepage; a power line relocation addressed the low overhead line; and trails and sitting areas for contemplation and to honor lost loved ones were incorporated into the project. The paths and a bridge over the RSC channel connect kids and community members to the nearby park, community center, school bus stops, and other nearby destinations. For more information, visit RiverLink’s Project Page »