On October 30 the Smoky Mountain News featured details of grants awarded for streamside enhancement projects. LTLT successfully applied for the grants awarded for the Killian and Kelly stream restoration projects. LTLT will be partnering with US Fish & Wildlife Service, USDA National Resources Conservation Service and County Soil & Water Conservation Districts in Macon and Jackson Counties respectively to use the Duke funding in conjunction with significant federal and state stream restoration funding.

Here’s the story from Smoky Mountain News (also available here):

Duke funds streamside enhancement projects

Duke Energy will spend more than $100,000 on seven streamside habitat projects in the watersheds and tailwaters of its Nantahala area hydroelectric projects. Duke’s Riparian Habitat Enhancement Fund grant of $109,057 plus matching and in-kind funds for the projects total $406,873.62.

The projects were chosen by an advisory board, comprised of state and federal resource agencies and county soil and water conservation experts, who rank project proposals based on long-term impact, direct benefits to riparian resources, broad support for the project, creativity and the ability to show measurable results. The projects are:

• Killian Farm – Cartoogechaye Creek Restoration: Stream bank and aquatic habitat restoration in Cartoogechaye Creek, a tributary of the Little Tennessee River near Franklin.

• Kelly Farm – Savannah Creek Restoration: Stream bank and aquatic habitat restoration in Savannah Creek, a tributary of the Tuckasegee River near Dillsboro.

• Riparian Education & Enhancement in the Hiwassee River Watershed: Replanting riparian buffers and educating local school children and landowners on the value of these buffers using a small tributary of the Hiwassee River near Hayesville.

• Little Tennessee River Greenway Riparian Restoration & Education: Remove invasive exotic vegetation and plant native trees and shrubs at the confluence of Cartoogechaye Creek and the Little Tennessee River near Franklin.

• Tributary to Hiwassee River Rehabilitation: Reconstruct 1,000 feet of stream bank and enhance riparian buffers on a small tributary of the Hiwassee River near Murphy.

Another request for proposals will be issued in early 2014. The application will be posted at www.dukeenergy.com/lakes/nantahala/hydroelectric-relicensing.asp.