ut to wolf river
The project reach, a 303d listed stream, is located within the Wolf River Wildlife Management Area in Fayette County, Tennessee. The existing channels are highly degraded due to past channelization and riparian vegetation removal. Presently, the stream lacks a functional floodplain and is entrenched with actively eroding banks, while the corridor offers minimal riparian habitat. The lack of sufficient bank and riparian vegetation limits the nutrient filtering, sediment and runoff retention, and habitat functions provided by well-developed, naturally diverse buffers. The channelized, eroding channel condition results in excessive fine sediment input, which is the main aquatic habitat-limiting factor. The primary goals of the project included improving water quality, enhancing aquatic habitat and restoring riparian habitat. To accomplish this, the approach was to develop appropriate stream morphology for stability and competent sediment transport, recreate functional floodplain access, and reestablish a natural meandering sinuosity. The restored channel and floodplain will reduce flood velocities and prevent excessive scour and erosion while the reduction in sediment inputs and the use of instream structures will improve aquatic habitat and maintain a diversity of bedforms. Likewise, the restored native buffer will filter and capture sediment and further improve both aquatic and terrestrial habitat.
Service Area: South Hatchie Obion
Watershed: Wolf River
Project Length: 9,471 linear feet
Date of Completion: January 2009
