Thursday, October 14, 2010

NCSU River Course comes to Banner Elk

Track hoes are digging, vegetation is being planted, and fish are finding a new home in Shawneehaw Creek this week.  The Banner Elk town park has been instrumental in demonstrating stream restoration projects over the years with the final phase being completed this week.  Over 30 workshop participants observed the contractors and designers performance during the  NCSU Biological and Agricultural Engineering River Course training in conjunction with the Clean Water Management Trust Fund, Northstate Environmental, Blue Ridge Environmental Consulting, the Town of Banner Elk, and the Cooperative Extension.  Folks got to see first-hand the installation of trout habitat structures, bioengineering techniques, and the use of a pump around system to reduce sediment and stress on "critter" populations.  During this two day, professional development workshop environmental professionals, including engineers, ecologists, biologists, hydrologists, geomorphologists, landscape architects, planners and natural resource program managers,  had "hands-on" learning experiences with field work in small groups, data analysis, design case studies, and site tours.
For more information on River Course Programs go to
http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/programs/extension/wqg/srp/rivercourse.html

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