Tennessee Stram Mitigation Program

Project Description

The project included over 3,000 linear feet of Robinson Creek and 1,875 linear feet of Taylor Creek, a tributary, which are 303d listed for impairment due to siltation. The existing channels were highly degraded due to past channelization and riparian vegetation removal. Streambanks throughout the project area were characteristically vertical or near vertical. Scour and basal cleanout with associated rotational slumping and mass wasting were common. The resultant bank instability had allowed a majority of the project streams to incise and over-widen to varying degrees. The primary goals of this restoration project were to restore stability, improve water quality, enhance aquatic habitat, and restore riparian buffer function. Both Priority I and Priority II restoration approaches were used to reestablish floodplain access, restore natural channel morphology, improve instream habitat, and reestablish native riparian buffers. These activities will reduce flood velocities, prevent excessive scour and erosion, and more effectively transport sediments provided by the watershed. The reduction in sediment inputs and the use of instream structures will improve aquatic habitat and maintain riffle and pool bedforms. Likewise, the restored native buffer will filter and capture sediment and further improve both aquatic and terrestrial habitat. 

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After