Swannanoa_CaseStudy

Creating a 9-Element Watershed Plan
Case Study: Upper Swannanoa River

NC
205(j)
Grant
Creating & Implementing a Watershed Plan
In 2014, TBM partnered with the Land of Sky Regional
Council (LOSRC) to create the Upper Swannanoa Watershed
Management Plan with an EPA Clean Water Act Section 205(j)
Grant matched by a Pigeon River Fund Grant. The watershed
plan was designed to meet all of the EPA 9 minimum
elements in order to qualify for Clean Water Act Section 319
Grant funding– a watershed restoration grant administered
by the NC Division of Water Resources. In addition to these
elements, the plan included conceptual models and
estimated costs for 17 stormwater retrofit sites, making the
plan immediately actionable. Subsequently, LOSRC received
a $60,000 319 grant in 2016 to install 3 bioretention
features in Black Mountain. With a watershed plan and site-
specific designs in place, the TBM and other groups working
in the USRW can continue to implement restoration projects
with the ultimate goal of removing the Upper Swannanoa
River from the impaired waters list.
Project Background
The Upper Swannanoa River
Watershed (USRW), home to
several rare plant and animal
species, is a tourist
destination and major economic driver for Buncombe County
and the Town of Black Mountain (TBM). However,
development and deforestation in the area led to increased
stormwater runoff, resulting in greater streambank erosion
and aquatic habitat degradation. As a result, the river was
added to North Carolina’s 303(d) list of impaired waters in
2006 for degraded benthic macroinvertebrate community.

River Basin: French Broad
County: Buncombe
205(j) Funding: $25,000
Total Project Cost: $50,000
Upper Swannanoa River
Species of Concern
Pictures from NCWRC & NC Parks
Bog Turtle
Hellbender
French
Broad Crayfish
Superb
Jewelwing
205(j) Grant Administrator: Kelsey Rowland
Email: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]
General 205(j) Grant Requirements:
• Water quality management planning
projects
• Council of Governments sponsor/
partner
• No more than 18 months
• No match requirement
Similar Project Types:
• Adapting an existing watershed plan
into a 9-Element Plan
• Developing a Project Atlas or SCM
Design Guide for a watershed plan
• Launching an Outreach & Education
Campaign for a watershed plan
EPA’s 9 Minimum Elements
of Successful Watershed Plans Planners used digital mapping (GIS), aerial photos,
and field assessments to identify sites for 21
stormwater retrofits and 16 stream improvements.
Stormwater retrofits would improve water quality by
reducing an estimated 1.9 tons of suspended
sediment, 14 lbs phosphorus, 103 lbs nitrogen, and
8 lbs of zinc annually. An additional 1,014 tons of
sediment could be reduced if the identified 31,000ft
of stream channel are improved.
Planners developed a 4 pillar outreach and
education strategy to address (1) programmatic
outreach, (2) local government practices/programs,
(3) outreach to the business community, and (4)
public stormwater management practices.
The plan proposes regular water chemistry testing
and benthic monitoring by local volunteers to track
trends in watershed conditions, as well as sampling
by the state every 5 years to determine if the USRW
is eligible for removal from the 303(d) list.
Upper Swannanoa River Plan Highlights
The goals of the plan are to implement the
identified projects to stabilize streambanks and
reduce sediment.
EPA Watershed Planning Handbook
Learn more about the 205(j) grant on the North Carolina
Department of Environmental Quality website.