SARP Projects W2B

Lake Mary Weir Repair
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This project repaired a Weir in Lake Mary within the state of Mississippi increasing water levels to benefit sport fish. (Photo: Lake Mary Weir before Construction)
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Green River Enhancement within the Green River WMA, KY
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The Green River and Green River Lake and provide aquatic habitat in the Green River Wildlife Management Area. The river is in declining condition due to severe erosion over almost four decades. Its restoration can allow it to support thriving populations of white bass, smallmouth bass, rock bass, flathead catfish, walleye, and muskellunge, and provide sport challenges to anglers.
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Channel, Bank, & Riparian Restoration to Improve Habitat and Water Quality in Kings River, AR
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The natural course and riparian corridor of the Kings River have been significantly modified by various landowners over several decades, leading to channel instability and decreased habitat and water quality. The Nature Conservancy (TNC) purchased a preserve on the Kings River that includes nine miles of river. To protect and restore river and riparian habitat, TNC has created a stream channel and floodplain restoration project along 0.5 miles of the river.
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Copper Creek In-Stream Habitat Restoration Project
This project improved riparian zones, water quality, appropriate sediment flows and restoring physical habitat for multiple listed aquatic species in the Copper Creek watershed, within the Upper Tennessee River Basin. (Photo: The low water bridge that was removed and replaced with a new bridge that spans the river.)

Raccoon Creek Stream Restoration for Imperiled Aquatic Species in lower Etowah River Drainage
This project restored stream areas of Raccoon Creek for imperiled aquatic species in lower Etowah River drainage, Georgia. This project has resulted in several new partnerships, including a collaborative planning workshop for Paulding County held by SARP and the Southeast Watershed Forum.

Valley River Watershed Habitat Restoration Project

Nashville crayfish Habitat Restoration on the Nashville Zoo Property
Mill Creek Watershed has been negatively affected by urbanization,resulting in increased sedimentation,reduced habitat quality, ultimately resulting in the Nashville crayfish being federally listed. This project will restore an unnamed tributary of Mill Creek by removing a barrier and restoring connectivity of the tributary.

Harpeth River Restoration
As part of a jointly funded project via the National Fish Passage Program, the totality of this project is removing a lowhead dam and restoring the immediate area to riffle/run habitat for the benefit of improved water quality and native fish habitat in the Harpeth River, TN.

Greene County Park Stream Restoration and Interpretative Trail NFHAP / SARP Project

Kentucky-Bayou de Chien/Jackson Creek Tributary Restoration Project

Habitat restoration for Southern Appalachian brook trout in 5 Cherokee National Forest, TN streams
Drought and stressed habitat conditions exacerbated natural competition for food and space between brook trout and rainbow trout in several creeks in the Cherokee National Forest. Both species, popular with anglers, were declining due to drought in recent years. By improving or restoring habitats, and removing rainbow trout from certain areas, both species can more easily thrive in the forest. (Photo: Cherokee National Forest Project Sites, TN)

NFHAP: Mackeys Creek Gulf Coast Strain Walleye Habitat Restoration
The initial phase of a project to restore a Gulf Coast strain of walleye (Stizostedion vitreum) population which had been in decline since the 1970s, was undertaken on a headwater stream of the Tombigbee River. The goal was to improve the spawning and rearing habitat by stabilizing a section of stream bank and to stop a head cut from advancing upstream. (Photo: Mackey's Creek Habitat Restoration Project Site)

Tampa Bay Seagrass Transplanting Project
This project is a seagrass transplanting project within Tampa Bay, Florida.

FISH Preserve Habitat Restoration Project
The Florida Institute For Saltwater Heritage (FISH) is restoring the “kitchen”, an important fisheries habitat for the section of shallow Sarasota Bay bottom south of Cortez. For villagers during the Depression, the kitchen provided food for the tables of their struggling families and was critical to their survival. In 1999, FISH raised money through community festivals to purchase 100 acres of environmentally-sensitive waterfront property that was slated for large scale development immediately east of the village. This historically-significant area became known as the FISH Preserve and is one of the last remaining undeveloped parcels on northern Sarasota Bay.

Oyster Reef Restoration Through the Use of Non-shell Cultch Material in the Estarine Areas of the Altamaha River, GA
Restoration of oysters along southeastern coasts is important for economic and ecological reasons. Oysters enhance waterquality. Their reefs buffer wave action adjacent to marshes, and they are harvested and marketed by commercial fishermen.

Riparian and Stream Habitat Restoration for 14 Species in the Middle Fork Saline River Watershed, AR
This project consisted of riparian and stream habitat restoration for 14 Species in the Middle Fork Saline River Watershed, Arkansas

Pelican Point Shoreline Protection and Habitat Restoration Project
Led by The Nature Conservancy, the Pelican Point project created of two 56' oyster reefs at Pelican Point, north of the mouth of Weeks Bay on Mobile Bay to protect the shoreline and restore aquatic habitat.

GTMNERR Community Oyster Shell Recycling and Living Reef Construction Project
This project established an oyster shell recycling program for St. Johns County, Florida, constructed a living shoreline, and planted spartina grass within the boundaries of the new reef to further protect the shoreline and provide nursery habitat for marine species at the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve.

Deadman's Island Restoration Project
Lead by the City of Gulf Breeze, this project restored coastal barrier habitat on Deadman's Island.

Living Shoreline - Little St. Simons Island, GA.
This project removed a failing bulkhead on Little St. Simons Island, GA and installed a living shoreline in its place to provide stream bank stabilization, habitat for eastern oysters, and essential fish habitat.

Improved Red Drum Habitat through Community-based Oyster Reef Habitat Restoration
Little has been attempted to improve the habitat to ensure survival of stocked red drum fingerlings in SC waters This project will create additional oyster reefs in stocking areas. The impact will be many fold as other organisms will utilize the habitat and oyster population and water quality improvements will be recognized. Patches of hard substrate and 3-D reefs will be created in stocking areas, thus establishing quality habitat for red drum at this early life stage.

Crabtree Swamp Habitat Restoration
The restoration of Crabtree Swamp is an innovative, "first of its kind" project, in which a previously channelized drainage basin is being returned to a blackwater hardwood swamp in which the floodplain is being recreated via earthmoving and replanting into functional habitat for fish, invertebrates and other wildlife. To match resources, the restoration project has been subdivided into 10 reaches.

Wolf Pen Gap OHV Trail Complex Stream Crossing Improvement
This project will improve stream crossings and trails at the Wolf Pen Gap OHV Trail Complex in Arkansas. It will also improve connectivity and open stream habitat for fish.

Restoration of Connectivity to Coal Pile, a Backwater of the Arkansas River
In order to restore connectivity to Coal Pile, the canals from the Arkansas River into Coal Pile will be dredged with a Mudcat hydraulic dredge, which was recently obtained from federal surplus equipment for use on this project.

Stony Creek (VA) Riparian Restoration and Stream Habitat Improvement
This projected will restore stream and riparian habitat within Stony Creek, located in the state of Virginia.

Riparian habitat restoration for listed freshwater mussels in the Ochlockonee River Basin GA/FL
This project will restore riparian habitat for listed freshwater mussels in the Ochlockonee River Basin, within Georgia and Florida.

Restoring Intertidal Oyster Reefs in Mosquito Lagoon
This project, lead by the Brevard Zoo, will increase acreage of intertidal oyster reef and assist in wake reduction.

Restore native aquatic plants in the Santee Cooper system, SC to improve anadromous fish habitat
This project will restore native aquatic plants in the Santee Cooper System (South Carolina) in order to improve anadromous fish habitat.

Restore eroding streambanks in tribs of Buffalo National River (AR) affecting native mussels
This project will restore eroding stream banks in tributaries of the Buffalo National River (AR) affecting native mussels.

Reintroduction of Native Brook Trout into Indian Flats Prong, Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Brook trout, the only salmonid native to the southeast, have lost about 75% of their historic range due to past logging activities and introduction of non-native trout. In 1993, the National Park Service identified 10 streams that can support native southern Appalachian brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis). The long term goal is to restore historic range of habitat for this native species.

Port Orange Living Shoreline and Oyster Reef Restoration System
This project, run primarily by the Marine Discovery Center, will increase intertidal shoreline and oyster reefs and vegetation will be planted.

Oyster Reef Shoreline Restoration and Stabilization, MacDill AFB, FL
Over the past decade, the eastern shoreline of MacDill AFB has eroded, resulting in loss of native plant species such as black mangroves, palms, and 100-year-old live oaks. A five-phase project to stabilize the shoreline is creating a series of oyster reefs along undeveloped shoreline. The resultant oyster and mussel colonies will filter water and provide valuable habitat for fish and other aquatic resources. The reduced wave energy and accumulated sediment will encourage growth of native marsh grasses and mangroves, which will further stabilize the shoreline and improve the habitat.

Nuisance aquatic vegetation removal/control in Caddo Lake (TX and LA)
This project will remove and control nuisance aquatic vegetation in Caddo Lake within the states of Texas and Louisiana.

Jockey's Ridge State Park Community-based Living Shoreline Restoration Phase I and II
Jockey’s Ridge State Park is the location of the largest sand dune system on the east coast. It is part of the Roanoke River Watershed, which flows from Virginia through North Carolina to the sea. Its estuarine shoreline had never been stabilized prior to making the area into a state park. However, the estuarine shoreline had been damaged by vehicle and foot traffic, and acres of salt marsh had disappeared.

Improved Recreational Fishing Through Community-based Oyster Reef Habitat Restoration, North Shore Eagle Point Oyster Restoration - Phase I and II
Oyster beds serve unique roles in estuaries, yet they are highly susceptible to over-harvesting, diseases and pollution. In addition to having both recreational and commercial value, oyster beds provide ecological benefits such as filtration and habitat for numerous species of invertebrates, fish, and plants.

Habitat Data Collection to aid Buck Creek Watershed Restoration
Restoration of native vegetation, streams, riparian zones and wetlands along Buck Creek and its tributaries is an ongoing project that needs physical habitat data specific to target species of fishes and mussels. The restoration effort is addressing Kentucky’s number one source of impairment — sedimentation and siltation. The overall goal is to tailor existing stream restoration efforts to benefit over 11 species of fish and mussels including sport fish, federally listed endangered species, and sensitive species in Buck Creek.

Gravel Augmentation at Spawning Habitats in the Oconee and Ogeechee Rivers of Georgia
The robust redhorse (Moxostoma robustum), a species that had been lost to science for about 150 years, was discovered on the Oconee River in 1991. Wild populations subsequently found in the Savannah River (Georgia/South Carolina) and Pee Dee River (North Carolina) have been augmented by stocking in other areas of Georgia and South Carolina. The species is very particular about the water quality and depth as well as the gravel quality of its spawning sites. To encourage propagation of this native species, the Robust Redhorse Conservation Committee coordinates activities in several southeastern states. The gravel augmentation is expected to benefit invertebrates, including mussels, as well as anadromous species such as striped bass, American shad, and Atlantic sturgeon.

Erosion control in Doe/Mill/Wildcat Branch Watershed, Winston County, Alabama, to benefit Rush Darter
This project will reduce the threat to one of the last surviving populations of rush darter (Etheostoma phytophylum)in the Doe/Mill/Wildcat Branch Watershed in Winston County, Alabama to prevent the need for listing under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

Community-Based and Larger-Scale Oyster Restoration in ACE Basin NERR, South Carolina
This project will build intertidal shorelines with oyster reefs.

Bennet Bayou Coastal Marsh Restoration
Bennett Bayou’s is a gateway to the Pascagoula River marshes. The Pascagoula River is the largest unimpeded river system in the continental U.S. It supports habitats for about 22 threatened and endangered species, and serves as a critical refueling and rest stop for birds during intercontinental migrations. Beneficiaries of restoration include red drum, brown and white shrimp, Gulf sturgeon, speckled trout and Atlantic croaker.

Altamaha River Flathead Project: More than One Way to Skin a Cat: Controlling the spread of invasive flathead catfish through research, outreach and education
The Altamaha River Watershed Conservation Action Plan cites invasive species as one of the six highest ranked threats. One of the invasive species thriving in portions of the watershed is the flathead catfish, which cause environmental harm, threaten native species, and can change the recreational value of an area for anglers. User groups (general public, children, anglers, commercial fishermen) as well as watershed managers must work together to control a population by size or area of infestation.

Watershed-Based Approach to Channel Stabilization and Sediment Control in Pleasant Run Creek
Excessive sediment from channelized tributaries of the Hatchie River (TN) are degrading downstream aquatic habitat. Pleasant Run Creek is a channelized tributary to the Hatchie River, exhibiting significant soil erosion and channel incision problems. This project seeks to implement channel stabilization measures on private lands that will improve riparian habitat on Pleasant Run Creek and reduce sediment loading to the Hatchie River.

Restoration of aquatic/riparian habitats of the Edwards Plateau at the South Llano River State Park
This project will restore aquatic/riparian habitats of the Edwards Plateau at the South Llano River State Park in Texas.

Restoration of Critical Habitat for LIsted Mussels and Fish, Big South Fork NRRA, TN/KY
The Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area is a focus for major conservation efforts due to the outstanding aquatic features found in the Big South Fork of the Cumberland River. The park is also a favorite location for equestrian riders, cyclists, and hikers. Managing a park for such multiple uses, while conserving biodiversity, is wrought with challenges.

Stream Restoration & Protection on Agricultural Lands in the Upper Duck River Watershed
The Allen family’s dairy, Dairy Made Farm in western Marshall County, is a top priority site for conservation work on the upper Duck River. The farm has been an Allen family operation for generations and is now operated by Cannon and John Daniel Allen. It is up-stream and adjacent to a reach of the Duck from Lillards Mill to Venable Spring, one of the most biologically diverse reaches of the entire river system. The opportunity to work with the landowners on this important site arose late in 2007 and it promises to be an exciting and beneficial project for all involved.

Upper Savannah Biological Assessment of Redeye Bass

Community-based Oyster Reef and Saltmarsh Restoration in the Charleston Harbor Watershed and Cape Romain Wildlife Refuge
This project will create intertidal oyster reefs and Spartina saltmarsh (.78 acres of intertidal oyster reef and 0.1 acre of adjacent saltmarsh) in the Charleston Harbor Watershed and Cape Romain Wildlife Refuge. Organization: South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.

Oyster Habitat Restoration and Capacity Building for Future Oyster Restoration in SC
This project consists of oyster habitat restoration and capacity building for future oyster restoration in South Carolina.

Develop Artificial Estuarine Habitats in SC to Increase Abundance of Recreationally-Important Fish
This project will develop artificial estuarine habitats to increase abundance of recreationally important fish within South Carolina.

Creating Oyster Niche Structures through Restoration Using Crab Traps
Abandoned crab traps are a prevalent form of marine debris on South Carolina and other states’ scenic coastal shorelines, detracting from their natural beauty and posing an ecological threat. This project, lead by a team of researchers with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), led by Associate Marine Scientist, Dr. Peter Kingsley-Smith, is a progressive way to use abandoned and unwanted crab traps to create new and thriving oyster reef habitat with funding from the SARP/NOAA Community-based Restoration Program (CRP), SCDNR.

Community-based and larger-scale oyster restoration in ACE Basin NERR Phase II
This project will create and protect intertidal oyster reefs and saltmarsh, essential fish habitat, within the Ashepoo-Combahee-Edisto (ACE) Basin National Estuarine Research Reserve in South Carolina. Organization: South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.

Oyster and Shoreline Habitat Restoration on Beacon Island in the Outer Banks of North Carolina
This project will stabilize and rebuild fringing salt marsh habitat to protect Brown Pelican nesting areas and to create approximately two patch oyster reefs for fish habitat on Beacon Island in the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

Using positive interactions between bivalves and seagrass to reduce habitat fragmentation and restore essential fish habitat
Lead by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, this project will restore eelgrass cover that had declined by propeller scaring through introducing mussels. A natural fertilization and predator protection interaction study will also take place.

Hydrologic restoration of coastal wetlands on North Carolina’s Albemarle- Pamlico Peninsula
This project, lead by the Nature Conservancy's North Carolina Chapter, will restore hydrology and reverse saltwater intrusion into wetlands by replacing an inadequate water control structure and plug canals in the Albemarle-Pamlico Peninsula.

NFHAP SARP Lower Bourbeuse Aquatic Conservation Area (LBACA) Landowner Partnership
This project consists of a landowner partnership within the Lower Bourbeuse Aquatic Conservation Area (LBACA), Missouri.

St. Catherine Creek Biological Monitoring in support of Landscape Model Development
The Pvt. John Allen National Fish Hatchery, the Baton Rouge Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office and the Gulf Coast Plains/Ozark Landscape Conservation Cooperative (GCPO LCC) are partnering to develop a proactive approach in identifying problem areas and delivering aquatic habitat restoration actions, on the ground, before the problems reach an irresolvable level. This joint effort is already in the full process of data collection and evaluation to develop a spatially explicit model of aquatic habitats found on the St. Catherine Creek National Wildlife Refuge in MS. The full spectrum of biological needs for both of the alligator gar, paddlefish, and other floodplain dependent species are found in this floodplain. The existing project is already developing remote sensing capacity to characterize all aquatic habitats found in this interior floodplain in terms of the biological needs of aquatic species. In addition, data on bathymetry, water quality parameters, flood frequency and duration periods and vegetative types are being collected in order to accurately portray and verify habitat characteristics in the spatial model. Hydro acoustic and side scan imaging will be utilized in order to deliver the highest quality data available to resource managers at the present. Quantitative biological information is necessary to complete the suite of data for the model. Abundance and distribution of selected fish needs to be collected in conjunction with environmental data in order to adequately characterize the importance of various physicochemical conditions to aquatic life. This project will collect those data on St Catherine Creek NMR. This project is currently on-going.

St. Catherine Creek Aquatic Habitat Assessment in support of GCPO LCC
This project will assess habitat in St. Catherine Creek, Mississippi, in support of GCPO LCC.

Habitat Restoration to Benefit Rare Species and Natural Communities in the Altamaha River Watershed
Cool water springs feeding major coastal rivers in Georgia provide critical thermal refuges during summer for diadromous fishes such as striped bass. However, the connectivity of many of these springs to the main rivers has been diminished by drought, sedimentation, accumulation of debris, and beaver dams. The goal of this project was to improve the connectivity of Troup Springs to the Oconee River and enhance spring flows.

Island Restoration and Habitat Enhancement in Lake Oconee
This project consists of Island restoration and habitat enhancement in Lake Oconee, Georgia.

Restoration of Essential Habitats for Juvenile Tarpoon and Snook
Habitat loss and degradation are major threats to coastal fisheries, especially alterations of freshwater flow into estuarine habitats. This project will restore natural topography and hydrology to 229 acres of coastal land that includes juvenile habitat for economically and recreationally important tarpon and snook. Monitoring of water quality and fishes within mangrove creeks will quantify the changes resulting from restoration. An established education program will be used to disseminate project results to the public, and the project site will be protected and managed as a public park and nature preserve in perpetuity. This project is currently on-going.

Improving Management of Seagrass Resources through Restoration and Assessment
Lead by the Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough City, this project will manage seagrass beds through creating a poll n troll zone to reduce seabed scaring, as well as testing different grass restore methods.

Ulele Springs Restoration Project
This project, run by the Ecosphere Restoration Institute, Inc, will create a natural spring and restore native wetland vegetation within the state of Florida.

North Peninsula State Park Saltmarsh Restoration
This project will create a healthy, productive saltmarsh habitat (9 acres, including complete restoration of 2 acres of historical marsh habitat filled with spoil as a result of dredge activities and enhancement of 7 acres of saltmarsh) in North Peninsula State Park, Volusia County, Florida.

Chipola River Watershed Restoration Listed Mussels and Black Bass Initiative
The Chipola River Watershed (HUC # 03130012) is located in northwest Florida/southeast Alabama and includes parts of Jackson, Calhoun, Gulf, Washington and Bay Counties in Florida and Geneva and Houston Counties in Alabama. Some of the smaller tributaries that encompass the Chipola River watershed include: Chipola River Dead Lakes, Spring Creek, Muddy Branch and Otter Creek (subunit 020, 050). The Chipola River Watershed traverses over 100 miles through 812,800 acres with 200,000 acres being utilized in crop production, which is vital to the economy of the region and is the primary socio-economic resource. The Chipola River is defined by Northwest Florida Water Management District as a major Florida river. It originates from freshwater springs in the upper watershed and accounts for approximately 20% of the waters to the Apalachicola River, which is the largest river in Florida. High base flow in Chipola River is supported by over 63 known Floridan aquifer springs. The Chipola River is defined by Florida Department of Environmental Protection as an “Outstanding Florida Waterbody”. However, threats have been identified that could degrade water quality, reduce habitat, or negatively impact rare or imperiled species within the Chipola River watershed. In the past three decades, nitrate concentrations in spring waters have increased substantially in northern and central Florida. Jackson Blue, a tributary to the Chipola and first magnitude spring has the second highest concentration of nitrates of any spring in Florida. The Chipola River and its subunits Dead Lakes (WBID 51B), Muddy Branch (WBID 175) and Otter Creek are 303(d) listed due to agricultural non-point source pollution within the watershed area (EPD 305b report). A great diversity of habitats exist within the watershed from xeric upland longleaf pine forests, to bottomland hardwood swamps, freshwater wetlands, numerous natural springs, and meandering creeks with multiple tributaries. These habitats support rich animal communities with several hundred species of fish and wildlife. There are six federally threatened and endangered mussels species that occur within the Chipola River i.e., oval pigtoe, fat three-ridge, Chipola slabshell, Gulf moccasinshell, purple bankclimber, and shinyrayed pocketbook. The Chipola River is also a managed resource for striped bass and the unique shoal bass fishery. Other threatened and endangered species include: Amphibians & reptiles- American alligator, eastern indigo snake and flatwoods salamander; Fish; Gulf sturgeon; Birds; Arctic peregrine falcon, southeastern kestrel, bald eagle, wood stork, red-cockaded woodpecker; Mammals: i.e. Indiana bat and gray bat. Chipola plants listed on the state or federal endangered list include Marianna columbine, sicklepod, and Apalachicola wild indigo. Endangered and threatened species under serious threat from habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation have been documented and a watershed based plan of action should be developed and initiated for their recovery. A Chipola River watershed partnership between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) have been initiated since 2006. The purpose was to develop and lead a research-based platform for environmental restoration and conservation. The Service, along with FWC, West Florida RC&D; Council and others developed a Chipola River Watershed Management Plan (CRWMP) to achieve management and conservation of fish and wildlife resources. This proposal is for the next steps toward management activities under the CRWMP.

Restoration of a backwater of the Arkansas River, Rector Chute
The Rector Chute backwater will be restored to prevent conversion of aquatic habitat to terrestrial habitat through sedimentation. Select areas will be dredged with a Mudcat hydraulic dredge.

Stream Bank & Riparian Restoration along the Wild and Scenic Cossatot River on the Ouachita NF
Six riparian sites have severe erosion from loss of riparian vegetation and heavy recreational use. Riparian habitat function will be restored by stabilizing stream banks and planting vegetation. Stream habitat cover will increase with addition of materials to repair stream banks. Campsites will be designated and hardened. To measure effectiveness, water samples taken every 3 months over the past 4 years will continue for at least the next 4 years by the Cossatot River Watch Stream Team to compare pre- and post-restoration.

Large Woody Debris Habitat Improvement in tribs to North Sylamore Creek (AR)
This project will improve the habitat in tributaries leading to North Sylamore Creek (Arkansas) through the addition of large woody debris.

Assessing Regional Habitat Condition for Aquatic Resources in the Southeastern U.S.