Big Creek Restoration and Stabilization

One of the objectives of the six county Pilot View RC&D Inc. is to restore and stabilize eroding stream banks.  Stream bank erosion is one of the leading causes of pollution and sedimentation in our streams.

The Big Creek Project restored 5,000 feet of stream in Surry and Stokes County.  The landowners gave conservation easements along the stream reaching back 50 feet on both sides of the stream. This restoration and stabilization effort reduced sedimentation and improved water quality and aquatic habitat in the reaches restored and downstream as well. Numerous organizations collaborated in providing $1 million of design, engineering, management, and construction. The funders included NC Department of Water Resources, Clean Water Management Trust Fund, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program, and Surry Soil & Water Conservation District.

Before At this reach the stream had an unstable tight meandering bend, with a large sand bar, eroding banks, debris jam, and slumping trees	After Section was restored by smoothing the outer bend, narrowing the channel, installing a log/boulder J-hook, toe wood and transplanting alders along the outside bend
Before This reach had a series of unstable tight meandering bends, aggrading riffles, with large gravel bars, eroding banks, and slumping trees	After The reach was restored by constructing steeper riffles with boulder drop structures for grade control, smoothing outer bends, narrowing the channel, installing log/boulder J-hooks, toe wood and transplanting alders along the outside of the bends

Last Modified 10/27/2009

< Back to Profiles in Conservation