Catheys Creek stream restoration project, looking upstream from the City of Brevard’s water treatment project – Brevard, NC
Brevard, NC
Construction is underway on a project that will improve the reliability and quality of water for the City of Brevard. The City of Brevard and Resource Institute, a Winston-Salem based nonprofit, teamed up to restore a section of stream along Catheys Creek, near the City’s water treatment plant.
North State Environmental nears completion on the Catheys Creek stream restoration project – Brevard, NC
Catheys Creek provides about 1 million gallons of drinking water each day to City water users. Prior to construction, the water intake pipe at Catheys Creek was located next to an eroding streambank along an unpaved road on U.S. Forest Service property. Sediment eroding from this unstable section of the creek often caused clogging in the pipe, threatening to disrupt the flow of clean water to the treatment plant. Post-construction, the project will reduce erosion and relocate the water intake pipe upstream to a safe location away from sediment sources. The project will also stabilize the road and improve stream habitats for fish, hellbender salamanders, and other wildlife in this high-quality stream.
An aerial view of the Catheys Creek stream restoration project around the City of Brevard’s water treatment plant – Brevard, NC.
Charles Anderson, Resource Institute says, “The biggest polluter to water treatment facilities is sediment. The more sediment imported into the treatment plant, the greater the cost to remove impurities. Improving the water intake and stabilizing the stream banks reduces the pollutants and sediment in the water being treated.”
Darrell Westmoreland, North State Environmental, Inc. says Cathey’s Creek was in dire need of repair. “This section of Cathey’s Creek had numerous problems that need to be addressed, such as bank erosion and instability, a growing mid-channel bar, and the lack of proper stream function and habitat. The North State Environmental Team is extremely excited about the opportunity to restore Cathey’s Creek back to a natural stream and providing The City of Brevard with a working water intake system.”
The City of Brevard is partnering with Resource Institute, NC Division of Water Infrastructure, the U.S. Forest Service, Jennings Environmental, LLC, and North State Environmental to remedy the situation. The Catheys Creek Water Intake Project will use sustainable river engineering technologies based on the “natural channel design” approach to improve the natural stream stability and habitat functions.
The project is funded through a grant from the NC Division of Water Infrastructure with matching funds provided by the City of Brevard. The U.S. Forest Service is contributing resources to improve road stability and drainage on federal property adjacent to Catheys Creek. Resource Institute is supporting project management and grant administration. Greg Jennings, PhD, PE, Jennings Environmental, PLLC provided engineering design services. North State Environmental is constructing the project. The project will be complete by the end of the year.