north fork mud creek
The project includes 16,048 linear feet of first and second order streams that are the majority of the headwaters for the North Fork Mud Creek, a tributary to Big Sandy Creek. The existing channels were highly degraded due to past channelization, unrestricted livestock access, and riparian vegetation removal. Streambanks throughout the project area were typically vertical or near vertical with rotational slumping and mass wasting common. This bank instability caused excessive sediment accumulation, which was the main aquatic habitat-limiting factor. The lack of sufficient bank and riparian vegetation also limited the nutrient filtering, sediment and runoff retention, and habitat functions. The primary goals of the project included restoring stream stability, improving local water quality and enhancing aquatic and riparian habitat. Restoring a more natural channel dimension, pattern and planform and reconnecting to a functional floodplain will reduce flood velocities, more effectively transport sediments provided by the watershed, and reduce streambank erosion. The reduction in sediment inputs and the use of in-stream structures will improve aquatic habitat and maintain the diversity of the bedforms while the reestablishment of a native buffer will filter and capture sediment and further improve both aquatic and terrestrial habitat. Removal of the livestock from the stream corridor and the permanent conservation easement will further protect the restored streams and buffers.
Service Area: Lower Tennessee
Watershed: Lower Kentucky Reservoir
Project Length: 16,048 linear feet
Date of Completion: December 2006
