Construction wraps up on our Vile Creek Stream and Wetland Mitigation Project.

Wildlands is pleased to announce that construction is complete on the Vile Creek stream and wetland mitigation project in Alleghany County, NC.  The project includes the restoration and enhancement of 7,900 feet of streams and restoration of 6.5 acres of wetlands.  The wetlands restoration includes the expansion of Southern Appalachian Bog habitat which is intended to support populations of bog turtles (Glyptemys muhlenbergii).  In addition, Vile Creek drains to Little River within the project conservation easement, which is a hatchery supported trout stream stocked by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (WRC). Vile Creek also holds trout which migrate from Little River and fish habitat was constructed as an element of the project. The floodplains and wetlands on the site were planted with native tree and shrub species. Shrubs were planted on much of the site so that the bog habitat areas will not be overly shaded. By closeout, the project will result in 5,146 stream mitigation units (SMUs) and 5.82 wetland mitigation units (WMUs).

 

NC wetland mitigation, NC stream mitigation
Vile Creek Mitigation Project
NC wetland mitigation, NC stream mitigation

Wildlands adopts a portion of Little Sugar Creek in Charlotte!

Wildlands adopts a streamWildlands is pleased to announce our adoption of a portion of Little Sugar Creek (LSC) in Charlotte, NC. Our adopted portion of stream stretches from Morehead Street to Charlottetowne Avenue. Through this program, the Wildlands team has committed to cleaning our portion of LSC at least twice a year. This is just a small token of our dedication to improving the water quality and ecological health of our watersheds.

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Construction is underway on the Chantilly Ecological Sanctuary at Briar Creek

Mecklenburg County and the City of Charlotte have partnered on this stream enhancement and storm water quality retrofit project along Briar Creek near the Chantilly neighborhood.  Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Service’s overall goals of the project are to restore Briar Creek, Edwards Branch, and the Chantilly Tributary, improve water quality through improved storm water BMPs, and obtain stream mitigation credits for the City of Charlotte’s Umbrella Mitigation Bank.

Prior to the project, the Doral and Cavalier apartment complexes were located within the 100-year floodplain of the project site. Mecklenburg County purchased and removed the flood-prone buildings as part of the FEMA flood mitigation buyout program, which provided the space necessary to expand the existing community park, incorporate storm water quality retrofits, and restore portions of degraded streams. Over 9,000 LF of stream restoration and enhancement will be performed, two storm water quality BMPs will be installed within the floodplain of Briar Creek, and the ground will be prepared for greenway and recreational trails to be expanded in the future. Extensive hydraulic analysis was required to support a floodplain no-rise certification. Wildlands also prepared a feasibility study and an alternatives analysis for the Chantilly Tributary and BMP components of the project. Wildlands Realty negotiated five donated storm water easements on private parcels. Construction began in summer 2016 and is currently ongoing.

Win Taylor receives Professional Wetland Scientist certification

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAJoin us in congratulating Wildlands team member, Win Taylor, for receiving his Professional Wetland Scientist certification! This certification is awarded by the Society of Wetland Scientists Professional Certification Program, which evaluates each applicant based on a combination of academic coursework, continuing education training, years of working experience in the field, letters of recommendation, and an essay describing an area of expertise. Congratulations, Win!