Suburban Stream Mitigation - Challenges and Opportunities Behind 2.6 miles of Stream Restoration in One of the Fastest Growing Counties in the Country
Jacob M. Byers, PE
Principal
Ecosystem Planning and Restoration
Asheville, NC
Jed Grubbs
In-Lieu Fee Stream Restoration Program Manager
Cumberland River Compact
Nashville, TN
Authors: Byers, Jacob B., PE, Grubbs, Jed
Rapid suburban growth presents unique challenges for stream restoration, including constrained corridors, infrastructure, altered hydrology, and high public visibility. The Stephens Valley Stream Restoration Project addresses these challenges through the restoration of 2.6 miles of degraded stream channels in one of the fastest growing counties in the United States. Sponsored by the Cumberland River Compact and designed and implemented by Ecosystem Planning and Restoration, the project integrates geomorphic restoration, water quality improvement, and habitat enhancement within an active development context. This presentation explores key design and construction challenges encountered in a suburban mitigation setting, highlights innovative solutions and adaptive strategies, and discusses opportunities for achieving ecological uplift while balancing regulatory, land use, and stakeholder considerations. Lessons learned from planning through implementation offer insights applicable to stream restoration practitioners working in rapidly developing watersheds.
About Jake Byers, PE
Jake Byers, PE is Principal and Vice President with Ecosystem Planning and Restoration based in Asheville, North Carolina, with 20 years of experience in ecosystem restoration, water resources, and environmental mitigation projects. He works closely with multidisciplinary teams to develop and deliver stream restoration, watershed improvement, and ecological enhancement projects that balance regulatory requirements, technical performance, and stakeholder objectives. Jake's experience includes project planning, design development, permitting coordination, and implementation support for public and private sector clients. With a degree in Biological Engineering from NC State University and as a licensed Professional Engineer, he is committed to practical, science-based solutions that improve environmental outcomes while meeting project goals.
About Jed Grubbs
Jed Grubbs is the Compensatory Mitigation Program Manager at the Cumberland River Compact. In his role, he administers the Stream Restoration compensatory mitigation program, ensuring that mitigation dollars from permittee impacts to streams are spent on high conservation value stream restoration projects. Jed has a master’s degree in environmental planning as well as certificates in watershed management and geospatial information technologies from Virginia Tech. In addition, he has certificates in applied fluvial geomorphology from Wildland Hydrology, in hydrologic determinations from the TN Department of Environment and Conservation, and in project management from the Project Management Institute.
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