Reconnecting Water & Community in the Heart of Asheville after Helene

The Asheville-Buncombe (A-B) Tech Stream Restoration project has finished construction! Wildlands worked with RiverLink and A-B Tech Community College to complete this project, which was identified as part of the Central Asheville Watershed Plan in 2019. It restored 1600 LF of Haith Branch and 530 LF of an unnamed ephemeral gully (named Haith Gulley for the project). Both the stream and gulley were severely eroding, with headcutting and lateral scour contributing to excessive sediment and silting of aquatic habitat within the reach and into the French Broad River 400 LF downstream.

Haith Branch and Haith Gulley are headwater tributaries to the French Broad River, draining the A-B Technical Community College (A-B Tech) Asheville Campus and adjacent residential areas. Wildlands helped prepare technical grant information, and design work began in 2023 with the procurement of that grant funding, awarded from the North Carolina Land and Water Fund (NCLWF) and the Pigeon River Fund.

Wildlands began by collecting existing conditions data, analyzing the 2017 LiDAR as well as recent topographical surveys, which were taken by AB Tech’s own surveying class. This data allowed Wildlands to selectively restore specific areas along Haith Branch that had one or more impairments. Some of these impairments included lack of instream habitat, severe bank erosion or tight meanders, incised sections lacking regular floodplain access, and areas where erosion was actively damaging existing sewer line or water line infrastructure.

Wildlands procured necessary permits, including 401/404 and erosion control, prior to beginning construction in the fall 2024, about three months after Hurricane Helene. The hurricane resulted in approximately 20 fallen trees needing removal throughout the work area, the blow out of an earthen dam and culvert at the top of the project that was originally not part of the project, and the necessary restoration of several additional areas of Haith Branch, which were significantly eroded by the storm flows. In the wake of the hurricane, Wildlands adapted our design plans to better meet the needs of the site and of the community.

Construction began earlier than anticipated to expedite recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene. Through this project, we were able to provide work for the contractor, Baker Grading, when most projects were at a standstill due to the hurricane recovery. A local surveyor was also utilized to provide grade control for the GPS model that Baker utilized.

The original design minimized grading to reduce the number of trees required to be cut down, which was a request of the community college and the residential neighbors of the stream. However, after Helene wiped through WNC, approximately 20 additional trees had fallen within the project area. All trees cut and fallen were utilized to provide grade control in the form of log drops, a log sill, steep embankment toe protection, wetland habitat, and floodplain and vernal pool large woody debris functioning as habitat and reducing the velocity of overland flow before entering “Haith Gulley” and subsequently Haith Branch.

Following Hurricane Helene, construction of the AB Tech Stream Restoration Project has provided an opportunity to bring together—and show support for—our Asheville community. Before construction, community members often walked with their children, pets, or fellow neighbors along the stream corridor and the walking trail. The project amended the existing walking trail, which now crosses the earthen embankment of the newly constructed vernal pool. These new trails allow for views of the step pool gulley restoration and have expanded the recreational area available to the public for enjoyment. RiverLink is in the process of procuring an educational sign to place along the trail explaining the restoration and its importance. The AB Tech surveying class has already been able to get back out into the area, and the project continues to bring new opportunities for the Asheville community.

🌿2025 ECOSTREAM CONFERENCE🌿
If you’re attending the conference, join us for a field tour of this site on August 14, 2025!

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.

This project has received significant attention for its impactful outcomes, earning the distinction of being featured in a National Geographic article!

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 »

Conserving Eastern Hellbender habitat at Wildlands Engineering’s Falcon Mitigation Site

North Carolina is home to one of the largest aquatic salamanders found in the United States, the Eastern Hellbender (Cryptobranchus a. alleganiensis). The Eastern Hellbender can grow to be more than two feet long and is found in perennial streams with fast flowing, cool, and clear water. Adult hellbenders spend most of their life under large, flat rocks that shelter them, whereas larval and juvenile hellbenders hide beneath large rocks and under small stones in gravel beds. Fine sediments from eroding stream beds and banks can harm these key habitats for this unique species. The Eastern Hellbender is currently listed as a US Federal Species of Concern (FSC) and a North Carolina Special Concern (NCSC).

Wildlands is currently working alongside state and federal agencies to provide ecological and water quality improvements at our Falcon Mitigation Site located in the western part of North Carolina. The streams within this mitigation site are part of a natural area rated as ‘high’ functioning by the NC Natural Heritage Program due to the richness of aquatic species it supports. Both Wildlands and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) noted the potential benefit of performing a restoration project within this important stream community.  To specifically benefit Eastern Hellbenders, Wildlands coordinated with NCWRC and conducted Eastern Hellbender surveys, as well as eDNA sampling during the design phase at the Site. Snorkeling within project streams was done to investigate existing habitats and try to identify any existing populations. Results from the study did not identify individual species within the project limits; however, a positive environmental DNA (eDNA) sample was recorded at the downstream end of the project which indicates that there is at least one animal within less than 1 km upstream from this point. Wildlands discussed areas that should be protected with NCWRC and is implementing species aimed habitats using large flat boulders to provide additional nesting areas within the channel post construction.

Through our restoration efforts, Wildlands will restore and enhance over 5,700 linear feet of stream by excluding livestock, creating stable stream banks, restoring a forest in agriculturally maintained buffer areas, and restoring riparian habitat. The site will also be protected in perpetuity by a 15.5-acre conservation easement. These actions will reduce fecal, nutrient, and sediment inputs to project streams, and ultimately to Cartoogechaye Creek and the Little Tennessee River, as well as reconnect instream and terrestrial habitats on the Site. Habitat and water quality are important factors for hellbender survival rates as they breathe entirely through their skin and cannot tolerate high sedimentation rates or low dissolved oxygen levels. Changes in watershed land use and streamside management have been the primary factor negatively impacting this species. During construction Wildlands and the contractor will be especially careful and observant for animals when working in the channel and relocate “out of harm’s way” per NCWRC guidance.

Wildlands is excited to be a part of this conservation effort for the Eastern Hellbender!

Sources:
USFWS: https://www.fws.gov/species/eastern-hellbender-cryptobranchus-alleganiensis-alleganiensis
NCWRC: https://www.ncwildlife.org/species/eastern-hellbender

Contacts at NCWRC: Lori Williams and Andrea Leslie

Wildlands Engineering continues to protect the dwarf-flowered heartleaf

In April of this year, Wildlands’ Double Rock Mitigation Project wrapped up construction, completed by Wildlands Construction. Located in the Catawba River basin, a unique aspect of this project is the presence of a rare species of plant called the dwarf-flowered heartleaf (Hexastylis naniflora)!

The dwarf-flowered heartleaf species is only found in several counties across North and South Carolina and is currently listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. However, in 2021, the USFWS proposed to de-list it. When the dwarf-flowered heartleaf was initially put on the endangered species list in 1989, there were only 24 known populations, distributed across North and South Carolina. Since then, through the combined efforts of various non-profits, land conservation organizations, and private landowners, the dwarf-flowered heartleaf has made a tremendous comeback. There are currently over 120 known populations, of which several of these sites are thriving with more than 1,000 plants, many are found on protected conservation lands.

Wildlands has had the opportunity to partner with many organizations, as well as private landowners, to create, implement, and preserve these stable habitats for endangered species such as the dwarf-flowered heartleaf. The organizations that have played a key role in conserving this species are: Foothills Land Conservancy, Catawba Lands Conservancy, The Nature Conservancy, National Park Service, Broad River Greenway, North Carolina Department of Transportation, Duke Energy, private landowners, State of North Carolina.

In 2023, Wildlands scientist identified and delineated the dwarf-flowered heartleaf population alongside USFWS within our project area. Wildlands worked closely with Wildlands Construction team to avoid any impacts to the population and conserve 3 acres of the dwarf-flowered heartleaf population and habitat that will be protected in perpetuity within the conservation easement. Wildlands is thrilled to be a part of the dwarf-flowered heartleaf’s conservation effort through the implementation of the Double Rock Mitigation Project.

Source: https://www.fws.gov/story/2021-04/proposed-delisting-dwarf-flowered-heartleaf