North State Environmental starts instream construction on Grassy Creek in early June 2020.
Pinnacle, NC
Pilot Mountain rises 2,000 feet unexpectedly from the North Carolina Piedmont. Historically, Pilot Mountain functioned as a navigational landmark. Pilot Mountain State Park protects this astounding landmark and conserves almost 4,000 surrounding acres. Grassy Creek flows through Pilot Mountain State Park and empties into the Yadkin River. Grassy Creek experienced severely eroding, down cut streambanks. At several points, the streambanks were as much as 10 feet tall and volatile. Although the water quality was good, Grassy Creek transported too much sediment due to significant erosion.
Grassy Creek instream structure designed by Environmental & Planning Restoration. The structure was completed in late July 2020.
Matt Windsor, Superintendent, Pilot Mountain State Park, reached out to Resource Institute for a solution. Resource Institute, a Winston-Salem based nonprofit, restores streams, rivers, and wetlands by working in partnership with local landowners and communities. Matt worked with Resource Institute in 2014 to restore Horn Creek, another stream in the Park with similar issues. This public-private partnership effectively conserved and restored a natural resource in the Park. Matt turned to Resource Institute for another alliance to restore and stabilize Grassy Creek. Resource Institute worked with the Park to leverage funding for the project from the NC Clean Water Management Trust Fund.
Grassy Creek just after the completion of instream construction in late August 2020. Riparian Buffer plantings will be introduced late fall 2020.
Resource Institute brought in Jake Byers, PE, Ecosystem Planning & Restoration (EPR), to assess the stream. The RI & EPR team found that Grassy Creek had eroded down to bedrock, with steep, incised streambanks. The stream was also cutting into the floodplain and moving towards a wastewater treatment plant, potentially putting the plant at risk. Jake developed design and engineering plans using the Natural Channel Restoration approach. Natural Channel Restoration uses sustainable river engineering technologies to improve natural stream stability and habitat functions.
The plan called for the installation of instream features to restore the natural riffle, pool sequence, stabilize streambanks, and reduce the amount of sediment transported by the stream. This plan called for natural wood and toe wood structures, created bankfull benches, realigned the stream, and connected it to the floodplain. The Park also removed the wastewater treatment facility as part of the overall project plan.
North State Environmental constructed the restoration project. Instream construction is complete, and riparian buffer planting is scheduled for fall. Matt Windsor, Pilot Mountain State Park, noted that construction moved quickly. “It looks a lot different. The project improved water quality and stabilized the stream. It’s a wonderful use of conservation dollars. Plus, you know that this area will always be protected because the land doesn’t change hands.”
In addition to improving Grassy Creek, this project also improves conditions in the Yadkin River, which supplies drinking water for 1.5 million people. Visitors to the Park can see the project from the Grassy Creek Trail, a 1.7-mile trail on the eastern side of Pilot Mountain connected to the Visitors Center.
Charles Anderson, Resource Institute says “RI is thrilled to work with Matt Windsor and Pilot Mountain State Park again. We are proud to support the Park and help conserve its natural resources. Projects like these help the Park and the local economy grow by attracting new visitors and keep dedicated patrons coming back.”