Restoration of An Urban Trout Stream in An Industrial Complex
Jeremy Schewe
Ecobot, Inc.
Asheville, North Carolina
Little Creek is located in the Appalachian Plateaus and Valley & Ridge geologic region of North America, specifically draining through the city of Bristol, Virginia, in the Holston River watershed in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. The geology of this region is dominated by limestone. The project site consisted of 13 acres that have partially been utilized as an industrial asphalt facility site since 1961, and a rail yard previously. An undeveloped lowland floodplain forest on the right descending bank of Little Creek makes up approximately 5-acres of the property. Little Creek runs roughly north to south through the property, bisecting the developed industrial facility from the natural forested floodplain community. This natural community type is best described as a Piedmont/Central Appalachian Rich Floodplain Forest. Due to compact urbanization including residential, commercial, and industrial land use, this remnant natural area plays a vital function for natural flood water retention, and the Little Creek is a critical link for trout in the region.
Teaming with the landowner and various State and Federal agencies, our team was tasked with initiating stream restoration and wetland mitigation measures that would allow restoration of the water resources in the project area and consequently improve water quality downstream. Natural channel design and bioengineering techniques were adapted to the morphology of the site and to limitations instilled by the neighboring industrial land use. In-stream natural rock structures (cross veins, j-veins) were utilized to not only direct the thalweg of the stream and stabilize slope toes, but also to enhance in-stream habitat for rare fish and mussels known to exist in the watershed. Plans were devised to create a serious of step pools and riffle pools in the stream, in addition to vernal pools and seasonal impoundments on the floodplain to enhance the ecological functionality via floodwater retention. Thousands of native trees, shrubs, herbs, and graminoids were planted along the stream bank, and after three years of monitoring, have successfully established while in-stream structures have been observed to attract multiple species of fish, including the native brook trout.
About Jeremy Schewe
My niche lies in the sensitive ecology and environment of our planet. From combining Earth sciences and tech, raising capital and running successful businesses, to protecting thousands of acres of untouched wilderness, I live life to its fullest. As an entrepreneur, professional ecologist, botanist, environmental consultant, and executive at a tech startup, I have over 16 years of project management experience in the Americas, South Pacific, Middle East, and Europe. I am passionate and devoted to projects that enable sustainable economic growth, dovetailed with the conservation of the world's natural resources and indigenous rights. I am a problem solver and have an innate ability to recognize patterns, socially as well as ecologically, geologically, and economically, and how they can either be amplified or tempered as necessary. I love life. I work in the interchange between people and sensitive habitats via wetlands delineations, T&E surveys, biological inventories, botanical inventories, EIS, AIA for PSD applications, 404/401 permits, and more. I have also been heavily involved as an expert witness for sensitive and at-risk projects.