Since 1997, the Little Tennessee Watershed Association has partnered with Macon Soil and Water Conservation District (MSWCD) and local landowners on restoration activities to improve management and protection of buffers along the Little Tennessee mainstem and tributaries. Since then, we have organized voluntary restoration projects on more than 3.4 miles of eroded streambank, planted over 10.3 miles of vegetative buffer, and installed 4.6 miles of livestock fencing along local waterways. An informative sign at Industrial Park along Cartoogechaye Creek highlights our work and explains the benefits of buffers to the public.

In 2009, LTWA’s Restoration Program expanded its scope to include more intensive and site specific projects informed by our Biomonitoring Program and completed independently of Macon SWCD. Using the vast data from our Biomonitoring Program, we can identify and prioritize key areas for restoration projects. Many times landowner relationships have already been established, creating a receptive environment for these projects. Most notably, our most recent projects involved creating upstream fish passage previously inhibited by culverts, by replacing the culverts with a free-spanning bridge. Many of our projects replace degraded structures with a more sound structure and come at little to no cost for the landowner, while restoring the stream to a more natural state.

In addition to on-the-ground work, LTWA strives to advocate for proper watershed management including:

• Work with Macon County Commissioners, Watershed Council members, Planning Board members and County enforcement staff to update existing ordinance definition of the term “buffer”
• Work with Macon Soil and Water Conservation District to prioritize target ares for buffer restoration activities by this program in Macon County
• Help identify and prioritize target areas for livestock fencing in and around stream access points
• Continued monitoring at restoration sites to document and evaluate our work
• Taking great pride in our efforts, we encourage others to view our work and/or contact us in cooperation for future projects. Taking time to discuss our project with volunteers during biomonitoring allows the chance to inform others about the purpose for the restoration and the impact our project has on the stream.

Awards-
Natural Resource Enhancement Award (2001) from Soil & Water Conservation Society N.C. Chapter