New River Conservancy Restoration Director, Katie Krogmeier, was joined by Joe Johnson from Foggy Mountain Nursery at the High Country Temple in Boone, NC to conduct a stream assessment survey for a section of Boone Creek (historically called “Kraut Creek” due to the sauerkraut plant that was along this stretch.) This section is where NRC hopes to conduct a stream restoration project. The surveys help us understand what the current ecological health and water quality of this portion of the stream.
NRC follows the NS Stream Assessment Method that focuses on metrics related to channel structure, flow, and profile, floodplain connectivity, water quality stressors, and habitat quality including flora and fauna assessments both in-stream and in riparian zones.
If we are able to obtain full funding and implement restoration, we will then go back in to conduct post-restoration survey in collaboration with faculty and students from Appalachian State University’s Biology Department.
