Project Description
The project encompasses approximately 3,658 linear feet of Murfrees Fork, 918 linear feet of Rattlesnake Branch, and 5,325 linear feet of four unnamed first order tributaries. The impacted reaches at this site are highly impacted due to unrestricted cattle grazing in addition to historical channel straightening and hydrologic alterations. Both Murfrees Fork and Rattlesnake Branch are 303(d) Listed. Murfrees Fork and Rattlesnake Branch have severe bank erosion along both banks and have poor channel stability. The unnamed tributaries are in a state of extreme degradation. The riparian conditions along all the project reaches are poor. The primary goals of the project include improving water quality, enhancing aquatic habitat and restoring riparian habitat. Restoring a more natural channel dimension, pattern and planform and reconnecting to a functional floodplain will reduce flood velocities, reduce/eliminate excessive fine sediment inputs into the receiving streams, and more effectively transport sediments provided by the watershed. The diversity and quality of aquatic habitat in the reaches will also be improved through the reestablishment of riffle and pool bedform diversity and the use of instream structures and large woody debris to create habitat types. Native woody and herbaceous species will be used to reestablish naturally diverse buffers for improved nutrient filtering function and riparian habitat.
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|