(CHEROKEE, N.C., October 6, 2026) –Around early 2021, it was becoming apparent that a stream system in western North Carolina was in critical condition. With increasing sediment in the river, no natural bed diversity, and streambank erosion, it was becoming apparent to the local community that it was time to act. Resource Institute in partnership with The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI), Cooperative Extension, and technical partners like Jennings Environmental, PLLC applied for funding as part of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). 

About the Project

The project sought to replicate how a natural stream functions, called the natural stream design (NSD). This approach is a river restoration method. It rebuilds streams to copy the shape, function, and-self-maintaining features of nearby stable natural rivers known as a reference condition. Instead of using concrete or rigid walls, it uses natural processes and materials to stop erosion and help wildlife.  Habitat features were installed to provide cover for fish, macroinvertebrates, and endangered aquatic species. These in-stream habitat features and structures mimic the natural habitat observed in a reference condition.

Much of the project is in the Ravens Fork watershed, a rugged, high-gradient mountain stream system in Western North Carolina that flows from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park down through the Qualla Boundary. The Qualla Boundary is a federally recognized land trust of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI). This watershed was chosen based on locally driven needs due to manmade impacts to the stream and wetland ecosystems, covering roughly 3,000 linear feet of stream. 

“This project addresses streambanks that were losing an estimated 1,600 tons of soil each year while restoring stable stream conditions, expanding native riparian buffers, and improving habitat for fish and macroinvertebrates. It also removes an aquatic barrier that has impeded fish passage for nearly 50 years and provides a new water intake for the Tribal trout operation. These are practical, measurable improvements that will benefit the watershed and the EBCI community for years to come”, said Alan Walker, Senior Project Manager for Resource Institute (RI).

Conservation Efforts

The project delivered substantial conservation benefits by restoring stream stability, reducing erosion, and markedly lowering sediment loads within the Ravens Fork watershed. By returning degraded stream reaches to a natural dimension, pattern, and profile, the work improved aquatic habitat by an estimated 50 percent and allowed spawning areas to reappear as sediment transport conditions were restored. Riparian buffers were expanded by 300 to 400 percent, which provide increased shade that lowered stream temperatures and strengthened watershed resilience. These improvements supported healthier fish, macroinvertebrate, and endangered species populations while also enhancing overall water quality and reducing safety hazards along the stream corridor.

The selected NRCS practice standards directly supported these conservation outcomes. Stream Habitat Improvement (395) and Channel Bed Stabilization (584) were used to reestablish natural hydrology, promote adequate sediment transport, and install habitat features that replicated reference‑condition streams. Streambank and Shoreline Protection (580) reduced near‑bank stress and mitigated erosion, while the removal of failing gabions restored aquatic organism passage. Together, these practices re-created stable stream systems capable of maintaining equilibrium and improving long‑term ecological integrity.

Vegetative practices also played a critical role in reinforcing these results. Riparian Forest Buffer (391) and Tree/Shrub Establishment (612) expanded and diversified riparian corridors, providing long‑term bank stability, filtering runoff, moderating stream temperatures, and sequestering carbon. Critical Area Planting (342) stabilized vulnerable soil areas, preventing sediment contributions during storm events. These measures collectively created a multi‑layered vegetative buffer that enhanced water quality, habitat diversity, and climate resilience.

Finally, Aquatic Organism Passage (396) improved natural vitality by ensuring unobstructed movement for fish and other aquatic species once barriers were removed. All practices were integrated through Natural Channel Design and evaluated with tools such as the Stream Visual Assessment Protocol and the Stream Quantification Tool, ensuring measurable conservation benefits. As a result, the project produced long‑term stream stability, improved ecological function, and significant economic gains for the Qualla Boundary community.

Partners

The EBCI Stream Habitat Improvement Project was made possible through a strong multi‑sector partnership led by RI. As the lead partner, RI coordinated planning, engineering, permitting, design, construction, and certification activities while ensuring seamless communication among all participating organizations. With more than two decades of experience and a history of successfully managing federal conservation projects, RI unified the project’s technical, administrative, and outreach components to deliver measurable environmental benefits.

EBCI, as both land stewards and major financial contributors, played a central role in directing project priorities. The Tribe committed $5 million in matching funds and worked closely with RI to identify restoration sites and target reaches with failing gabion baskets, degraded habitat, and critical resource concerns. Their involvement ensured that conservation actions respected cultural, environmental, and community needs within the Qualla Boundary.

“The Raven Fork dam removal and natural channel design project is the largest stream restoration project ever undertaken by the EBCI. This critical stream reach has suffered decades of degradation that has negatively impacted culturally significant fish populations and community access to the river. Our work with NRCS and RI will be instrumental in connecting wild trout populations to cold water and allow for the community to fish, play, and conduct cultural activities in a safe and beautiful place”, said Matt LaVoie, Natural Resources Director for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

Technical partnerships strengthened the project’s design and implementation capabilities. Jennings Environmental, LLC provided engineering, ecological assessments, and construction plan development, while North Carolina State University contributed in‑kind scientific review and educational support. RI also engaged a vetted group of construction firms with expertise in Natural Channel Design to accurately install NRCS conservation practices such as streambank stabilization, riparian buffer establishment, and aquatic organism passage improvements. Together, these partners aligned their expertise to restore stream function and improve watershed health.

Outreach and producer engagement were supported by the EBCI Department of Agriculture and Cooperative Extension, which helped identify sites, and connect with landowners. The partnership also worked jointly to manage permitting requirements through agencies such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and EPA, easing regulatory burdens for landowners. Through this coordinated and collaborative approach, made possible by the RCPP, the project delivered a restoration initiative that strengthened ecological integrity, enhanced community benefits, and demonstrated effective conservation leadership.

“The Raven Forks RCPP project is a great example that lasting conservation success depends on strong public and private cooperation. By bringing together the resources, expertise, and shared commitment, the partnership transformed a complex restoration challenge into measurable benefits for the watershed and the community”, said NRCS State Conservationist Matt Walker.

RCPP

The RRCPP is a partner-driven approach to conservation that funds solutions to natural resource challenges on agricultural land. By leveraging collective resources and collaborating on common goals, RCPP demonstrates the power of public-private partnerships in delivering results for agriculture and conservation. RCPP projects fall under two different categories: RCPP Classic and RCPP Alternative Funding Arrangements (AFAs). RCPP Classic projects are implemented using NRCS contracts and easements with producers, landowners and communities, in collaboration with project partners. Through RCPP AFAs, NRCS provides funding to partners to support conservation activities with eligible producers and landowners on eligible land. RCPP AFA funding reimburses partners for conservation activities done for or on behalf of producers, landowners, or other entities.

The project was a welcome relief, and its effects will be seen for years to come and was a testament to the effectiveness of the private-public working relationship that has made NRCS the agency that it is today. 

For more than 90 years, NRCS has helped farmers, ranchers, and forestland owners make investments in their operations and local communities to improve the quality of our air, water, soil, and wildlife habitat. NRCS uses the latest science and technology to help keep working lands working, boost agricultural economies, and increase the competitiveness of American agriculture. NRCS provides one-on-one technical advice and financial assistance and works with producers to help them reach their goals through voluntary, incentive-based conservation programs. For more information, visit nrcs.usda.gov.   

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