MUDDY CREEK WATERSHED RESTORATION INITIATIVE

Watershed Profile and Program Accomplishments; December 2004

  Conservation Solutions – Since 1998, the Muddy Creek Restoration Partners have generated natural channel design restoration, riparian reforestation, and livestock exclusion on 51,200 feet of stream in the Muddy Creek watershed.

• Natural Channel Design stream restoration at 11 sites totaling approximately 29,700 linear feet of stream.

A.     3 projects totaling 20,200 feet of stream are in “design” phase, but contracts are in-hand.  Projects should be on-the-ground and complete by summer 2005.

B.     The other projects totaling 7,500 feet of stream are complete.

• Riparian buffer reforestation at two sites totaling approximately 5,500 feet of stream. 
• Seven fencing projects that are excluding livestock from 16,000 feet of stream

A.     Two projects totaling 3,100 feet of stream are complete

B.     Four projects totaling 13,400 feet of stream are in progress with completion scheduled for spring/summer 2005

C.     One project totaling 500 feet of stream is the second phase of a two-phased project approach.  The landowner has completed Phase I and is still discussing logistics for Phase II.

      Watershed Planning – In December 2003, the Muddy Creek Restoration Partners completed and produced 100 copies of its Feasibility Report and Restoration Plan for the Muddy Creek Watershed.  This planning document has focused our restoration efforts and has been instrumental in leveraging $321,000 in cash funding over the last year.  Key findings of our restoration plan include:

• Biological, Physical, and Chemical Conclusions about Watershed Health

A.     Partners’ data suggest that the Muddy Creek watershed is “impaired” and warrants 303(d) listing.

B.     Fish and benthic bioindicators suggest “fair” to “good-fair” water quality. 

C.     Mean coliform bacteria concentrations exceed state public health standard at six of eight data stations

D.     Stream entrenchment is severe and pervasive on 36 miles of stream, reducing and in many cases eliminating floodplain functionality

E.      At least 3,500 tons of sediment per year likely enter the watershed through streambank erosion

F.      Riparian forest vegetation is less than 25 feet wide on 780,000 feet of creekside land

G.     Livestock regularly access 20,000 feet of stream at minimum

• Economic Benefits Analysis of Watershed Restoration

A.     Project will likely require 10 more years and at least $17.5 million to restore priority problem areas and preserve key intact riparian lands.

B.     Successful restoration could generate at least $1.2 million annually to Burke and McDowell Counties , based on viability of a tailrace trout fishery in the Catawba River and watershed landowners taking full advantage of investments in farm conservation programs.

• A Priority Listing of Conservation Solutions at Site-Specific Areas Developed for the Watershed

      Fundraising – The Muddy Creek Restoration Partners have generated approximately $4.5 million in cash and in-kind services since 1998 to pay for improvements to the Muddy Creek watershed.  Year 2004 has been a significant year for the project.

• Recent Year 2004 Grant Awards = $321,000

A.     $180,000 grant awarded in summer 2004 from NC Clean Water Management Trust Fund to fund outreach technician to market conservation solutions to landowners in the watershed and to pay for riparian reforestation projects. 

B.     $141,000 grant awarded in summer 2004 from USEPA 319 program to fund monitoring and evaluation of cumulative and site-specific impacts of all restoration projects in the watershed. 

• Year 2004 Restoration Projects = $3,157,316

A.     USDA Environmental Quality Incentives Program has paid roughly $68,396 for 11,500 feet of livestock exclusion.  The landowner cost-share of these projects has amounted to $17,099, bringing the total contributions from EQIP to $85,495.

B.     NC Agricultural Cost Share Program has paid roughly $33,457 for 4,500 feet of livestock exclusion.  The landowner cost-share of these projects has amounted to $8,364, bring the total contribution from NCACSP to $41,821.

C.     North Carolina Ecosystem Enhancement Program is paying approximately $3,030,000 for 20,200 feet of natural channel design stream restoration.

• Cash and In-Kind Funding raised by the Partners in Years 1998 – 2003 totals approximately $1,100,000.
• The Muddy Creek Restoration Partners continue to receive annual financial support from Duke Energy Corporation, NC Wildlife Resources Commission, and NC Trout Unlimited chapters to pay for project management, promotional activities, and restoration work.

      Landowner Outreach and Education - The Muddy Creek Restoration Partners maintains an active landowner outreach program that serves both broad educational purposes and targeted marketing of conservation solutions to landowners of priority conservation need.

• Part-time local outreach technician working out of McDowell Soil and Water Conservation District office continuously marketing conservation solutions to landowners as prescribed in watershed plan.
• Three watershed restoration tour events held to educate watershed residents and help market conservation solutions to other landowners.
• Presentation developed on the need for restoring the Muddy Creek watershed and always available for use by media outlets and with civic groups, schools, churches, and other landowners.

·        Ongoing contribution of Muddy Creek Restoration Partners staff and partners to McDowell County 4-H Fairs, McDowell County Schools EcoVan curriculum, and McDowell County schools Earth Day celebrations.

    Promotional – The Muddy Creek Restoration Partners have been the recipient of two prestigious awards recognizing the contributions of each of our partnering organizations to the improved water quality and ecological functionality of the Muddy Creek watershed.

• Winner – NC Wildlife Federation Governor’s Conservation Achievement Award for Water Conservationist of the Year 2000.
• Winner – NC Chapter of American Fisheries Society Award for Fisheries Conservationist of the Year 2002.