Backyard Stream Repair Workshop in Cove Creek

Spring 2013 workshop - Before and After

Have you every wondered how to care for your creek, but weren’t quite sure where to begin?   Well, the North Carolina Cooperative Extension has you covered with a hands-on workshop to reduce streambank erosion.  From 9:30am -4 pm on October 16th specialists from N.C. State University will provide a streambank repair workshop in Cove Creek.

The program starts at 9:30am in the classroom at Cove Creek Community Center where lunch will be provided.   The workshop will then move to a local section of Cove Creek for some hands-on lessons.   The workshop is a great time to ask questions and learn about the causes of streambank erosion and how to create a healthy streamside environment.   Participants will have hands-on experience in enhancing an eroding streambank using grading, matting, plants, and other various natural materials.  

To attend the workshop, please call the Cooperative Extension at 828-264-3061 to register.  Space is limited so sign up early!  The cost is $25 and checks can be made out to NCCES and sent or dropped off at the NC Cooperative Extension Service, 971 West King St. Boone, NC 28607.

For more information contact Wendy Patoprsty at Wendy_Patoprsty@ncscu.edu or call 828-264-3061.

Did you know that sediment (soil, dirt) is the number one water quality problem that faces North Carolina?   Sediment clogs waterways, destroys habitat, creates problems for drinking water filtration plants, and can carry other pollutants into our waterways.   As the streambank erodes, all that soil is washing downstream, and you are losing your yard!  We all know how expensive real estate is, so why should you let it wash away?    We can minimize streambank erosion by installing native plants and live stakes.  Live stakes are a long hardwood cutting from a native shrub, adapted to moist conditions, planted outdoors without rooting hormones.   In this area, we use silky dogwood, elderberry, ninebark, silky willow, and buttonbush. 

These woody plants have extensive root systems that stabilize the soil on stream banks during rainfall and high water flow.  The shade produced by the shrubs help maintain the cooler temperatures that our mountain fish and aquatic life need to survive, while the leaves help provide habitat and food for insects and fish. (Leaves fall into the stream, aquatic insects eat and live in the leaves, trout eat the insects) “Greening our Creeks” with vegetation is really important because it acts as a filter to prevent sediment, fertilizers, pesticides, bacteria, pathogens, and heavy metals from entering our rivers.