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CRITICAL BARE AREAS
Garland Hogsed David Stiles
Herman
Ford John Wood James Payne
Landowners of bare, eroding
areas within 300 feet of streams in the watershed were contacted and
offered financial support through the Brasstown Watershed Restoration
Project to assist in stopping the erosion and improving the condition
and productivity of their land. Conservation treatments commonly used
include grading and filling and the preparation of seedbeds. Contour
ripping and diversions were sometimes used to enhance infiltration and
slow runoff. Hydroseeding was occasionally required on steep slopes.
In most cases, the landowner, the Coalition, NRCS, and Clay County Soil
and Water Conservation District signed contracts. A cost-share agreement
of 80/20 was used with the landowner agreeing to share 20 percent of the
cost of the project with cash or in kind services, and to maintain the
practices for the life of the agreement. The NRCS, with assistance
from the District, provided the Conservation Plans, layout of the
projects, and technical oversight.
Hogsed and Stiles critical bare area
project lands before treatment.
[Note eroding hillsides in
distance.]
GARLAND HOGSED Project
This site is a
40-acre steep mountain pasture drained by the headwaters of Long Branch.
Conditions of Site Prior to Project
This
40-acre plot had been clear cut, about five years prior to first
inspection, and not replanted. Slopes were very steep and the owner was
advised that replanting with trees would be the best course of action to
stabilize the land. However, Mr. Hogsed was determined to establish
pasture. Rills and gullies had formed causing severe erosion and
little topsoil was left. Some of the gullies were 3-4 feet deep, 4-6
feet wide, and 200-500 feet long. Tracks were visible from previous
attempts to apply seeding and chemicals. These tracks ran vertical to
the slopes rather than along contours or the horizontal. Mr. Hogsed
also has a borrow pit for fill material located about 50 feet from the
branch. This pit is located such that flows from storm events are
concentrated into a raw gully that flows directly into the pit, which
then overflows directly into Long Branch.
Although the Long Branch drainage comprises only first and second order
streams and the drainage area is small, this site was deemed by NRCS to
be one of the worst sources of sediment in the Brasstown Creek
watershed.
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After |
Conservation
Treatments Installed
To
meet the objectives for this project, the site was graded and a seedbed
was prepared for the planting of fescue. Critical areas were stabilized,
gullies filled, and the land shaped to prevent erosion. Contour ripping
was done to help infiltration and to reduce peak flows off the slopes.
Inspections by NRCS through 2002 have shown continual improvement at
this site.
Work has started to
remediate erosion and soil loss through the borrow pit. This
project will entail the construction of a sediment pond or diversion
above the borrow pit with outlet piping around the pit to a rip rapped
gravel pad which will serve to filter runoff water prior to its flow
into Long Branch. This work is covered under another contract and was
completed in 2003.
This project
restored 40.0 acres.
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DAVID STILES Project
This
site is a 77.7-acre steep mountain pasture drained by the headwaters of Long Branch
and adjacent to the Garland Hogsed Project.
Conditions of Site Prior to Project
Most
of the trees had been cleared off this 77.7-acre plot to convert the
landscape to pasture. Slopes were very steep and rills and gullies had
formed causing severe erosion. Erosion was also occurring from recent
road construction into the property.
Although the Long Branch drainage comprises only first and second order
streams and the drainage area is small, this site was deemed by NRCS to
be one of the worst sources of sediment in the Brasstown Creek
watershed.
Conservation
Treatments Installed
To
meet the objectives for this project, the site was graded and a seedbed
was prepared for the planting of fescue. Critical areas were stabilized,
gullies filled, and the land shaped to prevent erosion. A diversion was
installed to help reduce peak flows off the slopes.
Work
is continuing on this site under another contract. This project
will include the installation of two sediment ponds with livestock
exclusion fencing. Also, hydroseeding of about two acres of
severely eroding slopes will be done followed by the replanting of
trees.
Mr.
Stiles plans to put horses on this property. When this occurs, he will
be eligible for additional monies, through NC Ag Cost Share and EQUIP
programs, to install more conservation practices to improve this site.
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herman ford project
This site is a pasture
on the farm of Herman Ford in the headwaters of the Beach Creek
watershed.
Conditions of Site Prior to Project
Three road
culverts that drained onto Mr. Ford’s pasture were causing significant
erosion problems. Gullies and rills had formed in the pasture and head
cutting below the culverts was occurring. Two ditches were eroded and
needed stabilizing. The pasture is about 40 acres with about half in
fair to poor condition. There were four acres of bare area ranging from
15-30 percent slopes within 300 feet of Beach Creek. Cattle had been
previously fenced out of he creek, but vegetation was not well
established on the streambanks.
Conservation
Treatments Installed
To meet the
objectives for this project, the installation of a lined waterway, a
grassed waterway, a stream crossing and a diversion was necessary,
followed by critical area stabilization and planting. This project
restored 13.3 acres.
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JOHN WOOD Project
This site is an
eight-acre plot that borders a tributary to Beach Creek on the farm of John Wood.
Conditions of Site Prior to Project
The
site borders Beach Creek and has slopes that range from 8-20 percent.
Mr. Wood was attempting to increase pasture acreage (approximately eight
acres) by clearing off early succession tree species from a slope within
300 feet of the creek. Previous logging practices had caused severe
ruts going into the site and clearing this area had increased erosion
and sediment going into Beach Creek.
Conservation
Treatments Installed
To meet the
objectives for this project, the site was graded and a seedbed was
prepared for the planting of red clover and orchard grass. Critical
areas were stabilized, gullies filled, and the land shaped to prevent
erosion.
This project restored 8.0 acres.
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JAMES PAYNE Project
This
site is a 23-acre plot drained by the headwaters of Payne Branch.
Conditions of Site Prior to Project
This 23-acre plot had
been clear cut and not replanted. Rills and gullies had formed causing
severe erosion. Road ditches were also eroding.
Conservation
Treatments Installed
To meet the
objectives for this project, the site was graded and a seedbed was
prepared for the planting of fescue. Critical areas were stabilized,
gullies filled, and the land shaped to prevent erosion. A road ditch
was also reshaped and armored with riprap.
This project restored 23.0 acres.
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