Sleepy Creek Watershed Sleepy Creek Watershed Association Riparian Association Riparian

Planting ProjectPlanting Project

Gale Foulds, Gale Foulds, Sleepy Creek Watershed AssociationSleepy Creek Watershed Association

Barbie Elliott, Barbie Elliott, West Virginia Conservation AgencyWest Virginia Conservation Agency

Riparian Areas Resources and StrategiesRiparian Areas Resources and StrategiesDecember 3, 2008 December 3, 2008 Morgantown, WVMorgantown, WV

PlanningPlanning

2006:Streambank Survey in the 2 tributaries 2006:Streambank Survey in the 2 tributaries that make up the headwatersthat make up the headwaters

2004: Total Watershed Assessment 2004: Total Watershed Assessment – Percentages of landusePercentages of landuse– GeologyGeology– SoilsSoils– ClimateClimate– Water QualityWater Quality– Cooperative agreement with EPCD and Shepherd Cooperative agreement with EPCD and Shepherd

UniversityUniversity– Partnered with NRCS and CVI for mapping and aerial Partnered with NRCS and CVI for mapping and aerial

photosphotos

2005 Streambank Survey of Lower half of 2005 Streambank Survey of Lower half of SC, the main stem w/o tributariesSC, the main stem w/o tributaries

DesignDesign

Asked for technical assistanceAsked for technical assistance– Stream: ACF and Mid-Atlantic Chapter of Stream: ACF and Mid-Atlantic Chapter of

International Erosion Control AssociationInternational Erosion Control Association

– Trees: WVDOFTrees: WVDOF Helped to determine species for first 2 plantings.Helped to determine species for first 2 plantings. SCWA chose the most successful trees from the last 3 SCWA chose the most successful trees from the last 3

plantings. plantings. Forester educated SCWA Board on layout for the Forester educated SCWA Board on layout for the

planting site and assisted with flagging the site for planting site and assisted with flagging the site for auguring.auguring.

Enlisted forester to demonstrate proper tree planting Enlisted forester to demonstrate proper tree planting technique. technique.

Bell 2006Bell 2006 11stst opportunity to utilize Chesapeake Bay Funds. opportunity to utilize Chesapeake Bay Funds.

Using streambank survey results, 3 sites were Using streambank survey results, 3 sites were ranked for a possible streambank stabilization ranked for a possible streambank stabilization workshop.workshop.

After consultation with erosion specialists the After consultation with erosion specialists the Bell site was chosen.Bell site was chosen.– 10 foot Bio-Logs made of coconut fiber were used to 10 foot Bio-Logs made of coconut fiber were used to

stabilize the eroding bank.stabilize the eroding bank.– 450 feet of coir fiber matting was installed along the 450 feet of coir fiber matting was installed along the

stream bank and then seeded with grass to aid in stream bank and then seeded with grass to aid in revegetation. revegetation.

After stream stabilization, partnered with EPCD After stream stabilization, partnered with EPCD on a Forestry workshop to establish a 35 foot on a Forestry workshop to establish a 35 foot wide riparian buffer the entire length of the wide riparian buffer the entire length of the project.500 trees and shrubs were utilized.project.500 trees and shrubs were utilized.

Bell Project 2006Bell Project 2006

22ndnd site Lynch Summer 2006 site Lynch Summer 2006 11stst Sleepy Creek Project Team Site: Sleepy Creek Project Team Site:

– Under the Chesapeake Bay Program, West Under the Chesapeake Bay Program, West Virginia's Potomac Tributary Strategy Virginia's Potomac Tributary Strategy Implementation Committee allocated $5,000 Implementation Committee allocated $5,000 for stream bank stabilization.for stream bank stabilization.

– Site was chosen due to visibility, landowner Site was chosen due to visibility, landowner cooperation and budget match.cooperation and budget match.

100 feet of streambank stabilization100 feet of streambank stabilization– Articulated Concrete BlockArticulated Concrete Block– 1 Log Vane1 Log Vane– Planted 73 trees within the riparian area.Planted 73 trees within the riparian area.

Lynch Project 2006Lynch Project 2006

2007 Projects2007 Projects

Stream Partners Grant and NPS 1209 Stream Partners Grant and NPS 1209 Funds: $4,000.00Funds: $4,000.00

Dawson Farm had an active hay producing field and Dawson Farm had an active hay producing field and the buffer was not adequate. Installed 220 trees, the buffer was not adequate. Installed 220 trees, 1,000 linear feet by 35 feet wide1,000 linear feet by 35 feet wide

Staubert Farm was chosen based upon need for bank Staubert Farm was chosen based upon need for bank stabilization and landowner cooperation:45 Trees, stabilization and landowner cooperation:45 Trees, 200 feet by 35 feet200 feet by 35 feet

Tree planting using 2-3 gallon potsTree planting using 2-3 gallon pots

2007 Projects2007 Projects

2008 Sleepy Creek Bend2008 Sleepy Creek Bend Chosen in conjunction with a Natural Stream Chosen in conjunction with a Natural Stream

Restoration Project that was done by the WVCA. Restoration Project that was done by the WVCA. Site chosen due to channel braiding and erosion Site chosen due to channel braiding and erosion of bank near a state road. of bank near a state road.

High priority site when funds were made High priority site when funds were made available. available.

Stream Partners: $2,500 for riparian planting.Stream Partners: $2,500 for riparian planting.– Creek Bend: 145 trees on 385 linear feet with a 35 foot Creek Bend: 145 trees on 385 linear feet with a 35 foot

buffer.buffer.

2008 2008 Sleepy Sleepy Creek Creek BendBend

VolunteersVolunteers

HOW:HOW:– Active Board of DirectorsActive Board of Directors– Averaging 20-30 volunteers for each Averaging 20-30 volunteers for each

projectproject– Publicity in local newspaper, watershed Publicity in local newspaper, watershed

newspaper and word of mouthnewspaper and word of mouth

Monitoring and MaintenanceMonitoring and Maintenance

Check sites for health of treesCheck sites for health of trees Replace tubes as neededReplace tubes as needed Did not set up watering plans Did not set up watering plans Planting times are importantPlanting times are important Nursery Stock is importantNursery Stock is important Education is important to Education is important to

landownerlandowner

Lessons LearnedLessons Learned Continue building and expanding Continue building and expanding

partnershipspartnerships Build support from local businessesBuild support from local businesses Plant more in fall, due to dry summersPlant more in fall, due to dry summers Consider deer pressure (deer browse)Consider deer pressure (deer browse) Augur holes in advanceAugur holes in advance Deliver trees prior to eventDeliver trees prior to event Provide supplies (Tools, tubes and mulch) Provide supplies (Tools, tubes and mulch)

on siteon site BE ORGANIZED!BE ORGANIZED!