Northern Catawba Basin Protection & Restoration Plan

Old Fort Finishing Dam Removal

The Old Fort Finishing dam is a barrier to fish passage and a danger to recreation. Removal of the Old Fort Finishing Dam would allow the state threatened Brook Floater (Alasmidonta varicosa) increased habitat range. This is the only dam on the main stem of the Catawba River between Lake James and the small relic dam at Catawba Falls.

White Creek Restoration

White Creek is a 303(d) listed watershed. There are 3 possible options for this project.

a) Replace perched culvert- this will reduce the bank erosion and erosive power of a small tributary at its confluence with White Creek.

b) Stream restoration to combat incision- below the Highway 126 bridge is incised with some signs of severe bank erosion.

c) Riparian vegetation replanting- at the location of the new bridge for the Fonta Flora State Trail, there is a lack of a riparian buffer that would benefit from replanting.

Black Bear Shoreline Stabilization

This project is a shoreline stabilization and replanting of an eroded point near the Black Bear Boat Ramp Access. A proposal will be submitted to Catawba-Wateree Habitat Enhancement Program (HEP) in 2022 to reduce erosion and provide wildlife habitat.

Bradley Creek Restoration

Bradley Creek is a tributary to Crooked Creek with highly eroded streambanks. This project would involve stream bank regrading to reconnect the floodplain to reduce erosion and sedimentation. Additionally, replanting of a healthy riparian buffer would follow with invasive species control.

Old Fort Trash Trout

Trash Trout was installed on 05/16/2022 on Mill Creek near Hillman Beer. This will alleviate some of the trash that is making its way into the Catawba River and eventually into Lake James. Cleanout of trash will occur after rains or when it is full. Information about the type, condition, and brand of trash will be collected following EPA's Escaped Trash Assessment Protocol (ETAP:  https://www.epa.gov/trash-free-waters/epas-escaped-trash-assessment-protocol-etap ).

Crooked Creek Watershed

Crooked Creek is a large subwatershed of the Catawba River above Lake James. We have identified this as a watershed of concern due to high amounts of stream bank erosion and sedimentation. Currently, this would be a good candidate for creating a Watershed Action Plan in partnership with Lake James Environmental Association.

Hunting Creek Restoration

We submitted a 319 grant proposal (FY 2022) to create a Conceptual Restoration Design to allow for stakeholder input/buy-in to restore a large reach of 303(d) listed Hunting Creek. The Conceptual Restoration Design would incorporate future planned greenways and educational opportunities along Hunting Creek. This is a highly problematic stream and a priority for restoration activities moving forward.

Canoe Creek Restoration

Canoe Creek was identified as a major contributor of sediments to the Catawba River. Canoe Creek suffers from severely incised banks and severe bank erosion. Future efforts would likely take place on the Oak Hill Community Park and Forest owned by FCNC.

Unnamed Tributary of Canoe Creek Culvert Repair

A collapsed culvert is causing severe sedimentation as the creek is diverting through an access road. This is located upstream of the BDA project. We are proposing to replace with a buried culvert or ford to adress this problem.

JD Pitts Mill Dam Removal

The JD Pitts Mill Dam is located along Canoe Creek just upstream of the bridge crossing of Watermill Road and Canoe Creek. First built in 1890 and rebuilt after the flood of 1916, and made of stone, the dam is likely a source of sedimentation and causing bank erosion below the dam. The dam is a barrier to aquatic species passage. The dam's structural integrity is not known it is not regularly inspected.

Valdese Lakeside Park Shoreline Replanting

A cove at Valdese Lakeside Park on Lake Rhodhiss has a shoreline erosion and shoreline litter problem. This would be a possible HEP (Habitat Enhancement Program) grant for a project that would include shoreline replanting and invasive species removal. This is needed to mitigate wave induced erosion contributing to the erosion. A cleanup would be coupled with replanting efforts to remove litter from the shoreline.

Fiddlers Run Restoration

Fiddlers Run is a 303(d) listed stream in the Hunting Creek Watershed and is eligible for 319 grant funding. The area identified is mostly on public land, mostly owned by Burke County. The City of Morganton is working to restore portions of Fiddlers Run on their Bethel Park property downstream of this area. Given the area is mostly on publically owned land and the work being done downstream, this would be a good candidate for a restoration project to address serious issues along Fiddlers Run.

McGalliard Creek Falls Restoration

McGalliard Creek Falls is a 303(d) listed stream and is a 319 eligible watershed. Some work has been completed by the Western Piedmont Council of Governments to estimate costs for restoration. Upon a site visit, there were ample signs of beaver activity above the falls with moderately incised banks. The reach below the falls remains to be investigated for current conditions for restoration.

Wilson Creek Streambank Replanting

Wilson Creek is a Federally Designated Wild & Scenic River. This is one of the first areas where Wilson Creek loses its riparian buffer. The parcel is a single owner and extending a riparian buffer along this property would further protect Wilson Creek's exceptional water quality.

Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Stream Health Initiative

There are a lot of streams that are degraded but are not eligible for funding sources as they are not listed as impaired. To address this we propose using aquatic macroinvertebrates to identify impaired waters and get them listed on the 303(d) list. This will create increased opportunities for restoration. We are currently, testing this in the South Fork of the Catawba. A focus of this is on the Lake Hickory watershed due to the lack of information about stream condition in the watershed.

Cattle Fencing Pilot Program

Cattle accessing streams is ubiquitous in the Northern Basin. Not only do cattle cause water quality issues but it is also dangerous for cattle to traverse steep streambanks and flooded rivers. We propose to pilot a program using volunteer labor to decrease the financial barriers to entering local Soil and Water Districts Cost Shares Program for fencing cattle out of streams.

Upper Liledoun Dam Removal

This is the upstream most of a series of 5 dams along the Lower Little River. A danger to recreators and a barrier to aquatic species passage, this project would be a good candidate for removal. The interest of the owner in dam removal is unknown.

Liledoun Dam Removal

One of several legacy dams on the Lower Little River. This is located near the Carolina Glove Company which sits at the former Liledoun Mill. There is poor signage at all of these dams for recreators. Additionally, there is a dangerous hydraulic on the river left created by the dam.

Millersville Dam Removal

The Millersville Dam is one of the tallest dams on the Lower Little River, and at over 30 feet high, it is a significant danger to recreators. It is not known who owns the dam or if they are interested in removal. The plan is to pursue all removals along the Lower Little River and see if there is a willing owner.