Headwaters
The Little River watershed is located in the upper Chattahoochee River basin in north Georgia, about 2 miles north of the City of Gainesville in Hall County and 55 miles northeast Atlanta. The thirty-five square mile watershed includes the western half of the town of Clermont and drains directly into Lake Sidney Lanier.
Project Area Problems
Historic and ongoing agricultural land use practices and non-point source runoff are substantially degrading water quality and aquatic habitat in the West Fork Little River. The West Fork Little River is listed under the State of Georgia 305(b) Report and the 303(d) list with a water use classification of “fishing”, however the stream has a rating of NS (not supporting designated use) due to fecal coliform violations. In addition, the close proximity of the Little River watershed to Gainesville and Lake Lanier is leading to a gradual transition of rural forested lands and pasturelands to low-density residential uses and small horse farms, or “hobby farms” contributing to increasing levels of stormwater runoff.
Project Description
Three thousand lineal feet of this watershed will be assessed in order to prioritize areas that will receive some type of restoration effort. Habitat restoration methods to be used include the stabilization of stream banks through plantings, re-sloping of stream banks, redirecting of agriculture runoff, and channel stabilization methods. In addition, a public outreach campaign will be conducted to introduce people to the concept of riparian zones and stream restoration, and to highlight restoration techniques and project results.
Expected Benefits
The environmental goals of the project include the restoration of degraded stream, wetland, and riparian zone within the 35 square mile subwatershed. Aquatic ecosystem benefits will be generated through stream bank stabilization, reduced streambed degradation, reduced sedimentation problems, reduced TSS loading, and moderated stream temperatures. The anticipated beneficial improvements in habitat will be demonstrated through long-term improvements in species richness and abundance, species diversity, and measures of habitat quality. Further, fish and invertebrate habitat will be improved in the creek by the provision of structural habitat associated with the proposed project. Water quality related education will increase the awareness levels of residents within the Little River watershed and among the general public in the local community.
Please also visit these sections:
Headwaters Education Programs
Riparian Restoration & Education Project/Soque River Restoration Project
What Are Riparian Buffer Zones?
Biodiversity: Assessment of Threatened Fish Species
