A Watershed Approach to Stream Assessment and Restoration in an Urban Water Supply Watershed

The McDowell Creek watershed drains directly into the primary drinking water supply reservoir for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area. The watershed, which is approximately 29 square miles in area with 93 miles of streams, has experienced rapid development in recent years. Sediment from construction sites and bank erosion has destroyed aquatic habitat in McDowell Creek, prompting the North Carolina Division of Water Quality (NCDWQ) to label McDowell Creek as biologically impaired. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services (CMSWS) is targeting this watershed and has begun work on numerous projects to improve the water quality and restore the eroded stream channels of McDowell Creek and its tributaries. CMSWS initiated a watershed-wide strategy consisting of a combination of regulatory measures, land acquisition/preservation, and development of a comprehensive watershed management plan to address water quality issues in this sensitive watershed. Baker has completed a two-phase project to conduct a detailed assessment of the streams within the watershed, as part of the comprehensive watershed management plan. The goal of the assessment was to document riparian conditions and to prioritize riparian management needs within the watershed. This data was used by CMSWS within the McDowell Creek Watershed Management Plan. This paper will review the innovative watershed-scale approach taken by CMSWS to reduce sediment loading to the drinking water supply.