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Erosion is obvious at this bench overlooking the river where the earth falls away at the edge of the bench.
Jessica Webb
editor@thesmokymountaintimes.com
Heavy rainstorms in 2018-2020 caused water levels to rise on the Tuckasegee River and when the water receded, so too, did much of the banks along Island Park in downtown Bryson City. A North Carolina Land Management grant recently obtained by MountainTrue in partnership with Town of Bryson City and Wildlands engineering company, will bring bank stabilization to the island to help ensure its future.
This work builds on previous efforts led by MountainTrue on Island Park where volunteers dedicated many hours toward habitat restoration by removing non-native plant species from the island. One benefit, said Callie Moore with MountainTrue, is those volunteer hours helped count as matching funds toward the recent grant.
“The bulk of the grant funds will be spent on bank stabilization mainly on the Tuck side but also at the point of the Island where the old wall is there’s some erosion that happened in and behind that wall particularly behind the Deep Creek side,” explained Moore.
One area in particular for on the Tuckasegee bank is where a bench used to be that overlooked the river. After storm water eroded the shore, the bench sat at a 10-foot drop off—both dangerous and strange.
The plans by Wildlands will use natural materials opposed to large boulders and will include the use of vegetative material.
“It will look very natural when it’s done,” Moore said.
She said this work will help ensure the future of the island.
“The longer it sits there without being fixed every storm will continue to eat away at it,” she said. “The main thing is to stop the erosion of the island, so we continue to have an Island Park in the future.”
The work seeks to improve recreational use of the island and helps with water quality.
“It will help with the integrity of the river,” Moore explained, adding restoring the riparian area prevents more sediment from going into the river, which is important for fish and wildlife including the trout and muscles species that require cold, clean and clear water.
The work won’t begin until after Designated Trout Waters season ends April 15. Moore said hopefully it will be conducted in the spring and won’t impact summer visits to the island.
In the future, Mountain True hopes to continue with more habitat restoration work in the area.
This is one of several projects Mountain True has along the Tuckasegee River, which is among its highest watershed proprieties. Other projects to improve water quality include a non-native plant study along the greenway in Jackson County conducted by an AmeriCorps member. This will lead to some upcoming restoration work in that area.
MountainTrue is also working with other partners on the eventual removal of Cullowhee Dam to provide upstream spawning for trout and redhorse species in the river it would open over 100 miles of river for upstream migration for spawning. MountainTrue is also involved with work to hold parties responsible when they violate the Clean Water Act, Moore said.
To learn more about Mountain True or volunteer, visit mountaintrue.org or email Callie Moore at callie@mountaintrue.org.