LTWA in the News
Sewage leak on Little Tennessee Greenway will likely continue with spring rains
Baird Cove development affecting Crawford Branch
N.C. keeps an eye on Rabun water plans
Rabun commissioners approve water treatment plant purchase
Rabun to operate water/sewer facility upstream
Twice failed MMS sewer line permitted to continue as planned
Four options considered for the new road
Area streams have a friend in Bill McLarney
Stewartia hike: 'In search of the rare and beautiful'
Planning board considers effects of storm water runoff
Fundraiser focused on support and preservation of the Little Tennessee
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Streambank Restoration
Did you know that sediment is the number one pollutant in the Little Tennessee Watershed? The USDA estimates that more than 2,000,000 tons of sediment enters the Little Tennessee River each year. Sedimentation destroys wildlife habitat, smothers fish eggs, kills fish and destroys their food supply. When you remove trees, shrubs, and other vegetation to replace it with exotic grass and rock along the bank it degrades the stream, often resulting in higher stream temperatures as well. Removing vegetation also eliminates the habitat for species that trout and other aquatic life use as food.
LTWA has been partnering with the Macon Soil and Water District and local landowners to complete voluntary restoration and revetment projects for over ten years. In this time, this program has restored over 3.4 miles of eroding streambank, planted 10.3 miles of riparian buffer, and fenced livestock out of 4.6 miles of local streams.
The Soil and Water Conservation District has many programs available to help landowners cover the cost of fencing livestock out of the river or restoring streams. These programs often cover between 75%-100% of the costs associated with restoration work. To learn more about this program, email LTWA call 369-6402. You can also call the Soil and Water District directly at 524-3311.