Removing old pipe

Grading

Rip-rap installation

Geo-textile fabric

Gravel over fabric

One main objective for the forest is to provide for water quality. This is especially important on this forest because the streams that run though the forest feed into Mountain Island Lake. This lake provides drinking water to 1 out of 8 people in North Carolina.

In the winter of 2004 we started work on 2 stream crossings on the forest. These crossings were either damaged or were not large enough to handle the capacity of water generated from the watershed located upstream.

The first step was to install a new culvert or to replace the old one to improve the crossing and to allow access to the other side for future management activities.

A trackhoe and crawler tractor were used to remove the old pipe in January 2004.

The road surrounding the stream crossing was graded and waterbars were installed to divert any surface water from going into the creek and causing erosion problems.

RipRap was installed around the openings of the culvert. This will slow or stop any soil from eroding and running into the creek. This rock was installed by hand to make sure the placement was secure and all exposed soil was covered.

Geo-textile fabric was installed on the roadbed and gravel was spread over the fabric. Silt fence was also installed along the edges as a further protection barrier against soil runoff into the creek.

The remaining exposed soil was planted in grasses and covered in straw to allow for a good seedbed.

The Stream Crossing in the Summer of 2004