Upper Rocky Mitigation Bank
North Carolina
Watershed
HUC 03040105/ Lower Yadkin River Basin
Pre-Construction:
Upper Rocky is a mitigation bank located in Mecklenburg County, NC within the Lower Yadkin River Watershed (HUC 03040105). The project provides stream and wetland mitigation credits to compensate for unavoidable impacts to waters of the United States authorized under Sections 401 and 404 of the Clean Water Act and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act.
The bank will result in a significantly higher functioning aquatic ecosystem. The project goals and objectives will address water quality stressors by reducing nutrient and sediment inputs through stream restoration, riparian buffer restoration, and riparian wetland restoration. Hydrologic functions will be improved by raising the local water table. A more natural flow regime will be restored to riparian wetlands and floodplain areas by implementing a Rosgen Priority Level I restoration approach. The biologic and habitat functions will be improved by extending wildlife corridors that connect with wooded areas near the upstream extents of the project reaches.
During Construction
Primary Service Area:
Lower Yadkin River
State:
NC
Acres of Wetland Restoration:
14.51
Easement Acres:
43.74
Linear Feet of Stream:
9,685
Project Goals
- Reducing in-stream erosion and sediment/nutrient inputs by rebalancing imposed shear forces and sediment transport capacity with sediment supply;
- Reestablishing floodplain connectivity of the currently incised channel;
- Prevent active headcuts from migrating farther upstream;
- Restoring, preserving and protecting riparian, riverine wetlands; and
- Increasing habitat for benthic macroinvertebrates by incorporating habitat features such as woody materials, pools and backwaters, riffles and structures.
