1. City of Charlottesville ~ A Green City ~ Moores Creek Stream Improvement Projects
Kristel Riddervold
Environmental Sustainability Manager
I am looking forward to share with you information on a major stream restoration project that has been underway begin on Meadow Creek.

2. Source: University of Virginia
Reminder…where are we?
Source: University of Virginia
Source: StreamWatch

3. Source: University of Virginia
Source: StreamWatch

4. What stream? What’s the problem?
Moores Creek
Tributary of the Rivanna River
35 mi2 watershed covering of parts of Albemarle and Charlottesville
Southern border of the City
Listed as “impaired” due to bacteria levels
Listed as “impaired” due to poor aquatic life quality…with sediment as a key stressor
Sediment is soil that has been washed off the land during rain storms and soil that is scoured from the stream banks by fast moving water.

5. What are some solutions?
Reduce bacteria
Pet waste management
Septic system repairs and rapid response to sewer infrastructure problems
Reduce sediment loading
Improve urban stormwater management
Implement best practices on agricultural land
Reduce streambank erosion

6. Turning Obstacles into Opportunities
2014 – Moores Creek Corridor Study
The likely causes of instability include…increases in runoff from surrounding urban development, … altered drainage patterns, past stream realignment and channelization, removal of woody riparian vegetation, debris jams, …
These impacts are characteristic of urban streams and contribute to degraded water quality, safety hazards, lack of biodiversity, increased flooding, loss of property and property damage.
Localized causes of instability exist as well including debris jams, infrastructure obstructions, and compromised trees.

7. Quarry Park – Low Water Crossing (2014)

8. Quarry Park Pedestrian Bridge Replacement (2014)

9. Abandoned Bridge Abutments – near Avon St Ext (2016)

10. Moores Creek Dam – Partial Removal (2017)

11. Successes and Motivation
Improvements to the stream system and transition of stream corridor into public ownership improves potential for trout stocking interest
While the key “manmade” structures on Moores Creek have been removes and stream has been stabilized at these points, we continue to face with urban stream improvement needs
Education, Awareness, Interest are key