Project Updates

We are thrilled to announce that the Reedy Creek Stream Restoration Project has received its final credit release. This means the data collected over the past five years proves the site is stable and functioning naturally. Over the past ten years, the major milestones for this project have included:

• 2014: Wildlands is selected to navigate the first design-build stream restoration project for the City of Charlotte Umbrella Mitigation Bank.
• 2015: Wildlands completes the design.
• 2016: The project design is approved by government agencies including the US Army Corps of Engineers and the NC Department of Environmental Quality.
• 2017-2019: Construction occurs on over 26,000 linear feet of stream.
• 2019-2023: Five years of monitoring is conducted.
• 2024: Final mitigation credits are released.

Have you noticed the yellow photo point posts in the Reedy Creek Nature Preserve? These were installed by Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation where the trails cross the stream restoration project to help document the changes through time. The above time sequence of Reedy Creek was assembled from images captured and posted to social media exclusively by citizens! Next time you are at the park, don’t forget to post your own picture from one of these posts, and use the hashtag #NewReedyCreek to be part of the project!

Many native wildflower species are in bloom this spring at Reedy Creek! The project restored and enhanced many different habitats, including streams, wetlands, and forests, each of which supports different types of plants. Wildflowers emerging below the tree canopy include mayapples, violet wood sorrel, and jack in the pulpit. Sightings also included one uncommon species found in wetter streamside soils called the atamasco lily. This lily is also known as the Easter Lily since it usually blooms around Easter (fourth photo). Wildlands is delighted by the diversity of species growing at the project so soon after construction and cannot wait to see what blooms next!