August 2009 - Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources

A U G U S T 2 0 0 9
Trammel Creek
restoration
completed in
Allen County
The KDFWR Wetland and Stream
Mitigation Program recently completed
a 3,800-foot stream restoration project
on Trammel Creek in Allen County. The
construction was completed in August
2009 and tree planting will be completed
in winter 2009. Trout Unlimited has
shown interest in assisting with the tree
planting.
The project site was selected for restoration
due to the degraded stream habitat.
Degradation was caused from excessive
cattle grazing, stream side tree removal,
channel straightening and gravel dredging.
These impacts lead to excessive bank
erosion and channel widening.
As the channel widened the stream
lost its ability to effectively transport
material and the stream began to fill in
with sediment. This adjustment resulted
in a loss of pool habitat, channel migration
from bank erosion and siltation.
The leading causes of impairment in the
Green River basin are pathogens, siltation,
physical substrate habitat alteration
and nutrients (KYEPPC-DOW, 2008).
The goal of the project was to restore
the riffle/pool complexes, reestablish a
forested floodplain and eliminate cattle
grazing along the stream banks and riparian
areas.
Channel stability and fish habitat
structures such as log vanes, rock cross
vanes, constructed riffles and boulder
clusters were installed throughout the
project area. These structures are used
to create eddies and pools that are more
fishable.
A new treatment utilizing woody
debris and logs keyed into the bank below
the water surface, then overlaid with sod
was used to create an undercut bank for
fish habitat and bank protection.
Conservation easements were donated
by the landowners to protect the
project site in perpetuity.
The project was designed by Stantec
Consulting Services Inc. and constructed
by Bluegrass Stream. Funding was
provided by the NRCS and Kentucky
Wetland and Stream Mitigation Trust.
Due to the cold water supplied by
Trammel Creek before
the 3,800 foot stream
restoration project that was
completed in August 2009.
Trammel Creek after
completion.
7
multiple springs near the area, Trammel
Creek is classified as a Class II trout
stream and managed as a put-grow-take
fishery for rainbow and brown trout.
The Trammel Creek stream restoration
project is another example of
KDFWR’s ongoing efforts to protect and
restore aquatic habitat in Kentucky.
For more information, contact Joseph
Zimmerman in the Division of Fisheries/
Environmental Section at 502-564-3400
extension 4453.