Palm Valley Streamside Planting
County of Roanoke has over 200 miles of streams from the mountainous headwaters to the Roanoke River. These streams are an integral part of the history of the Roanoke Valley and continue to provide recreational, environmental, and aethetic value to this region.
The Carvin Creek Watershed has a 28 mile drainage area and is one of the largest watersheds in the Roanoke area. The headwaters of Carvin Creek begin in the ridges of Tinker Mountain where the land is undeveloped and wooded. The creek flows to the Carvin Cove Resevoir and continues through Holins University Campus to connect with Tinker Creek at the boundary of Roanoke County and City.
Growth and development in the Roanoke Valley region has led to a gradual loss of water quality and the first signs of degradation of natural habitat for fish and wildlife in our waterways. In the past few years, more and more Roanoke area streams have failed to meet water quality standards. Carvin Creek is one of those streams.
Carvin Creek has been identified by the Department of Environmental Quality on the 303d List, as being impaired due to urban and residential usage. This type of impairment is a natural affect of so many people living near streams. To see the entire TMDL for the Tinker/Carvin Creek watershed, click here.
The County of Roanoke, Department of Community Development is dedicated to protecting the quality of the waterways that are a part of the culture of the region.
How does planting trees help Carvin Creek? |
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Due to the proximity of Carvin Creek to residential areas, the creek has a high potential for pollutant contamination. Common sources of urban residential contaminants are yard fertilizers, common household chemicals, pet waste, aging sewer pipes, and automobiles.
The County plans to restore and protect Carvin Creek from further degradation by repairing and enhancing a tree buffer along the creek banks of Carvin Creek along Palm Valley Rd.
The trees and plants located in the streamside area will absorb contaminants. The soil will trap nutrients and other pollutants in the clay and organic particles and naturally store or break down the pollutants.
The tree buffer will also protect the banks from erosion, provide shade for the stream, allow waterbourne nutrients and pollutants to be absorbed into the soil, and provide wooded areas for local residents' recreational uses. |
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What types of trees and shrubs will be planted? Click on tree or shrub type for more info.
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This project received funding from a Virginia Water Quality Improvement Fund Grant provided by the Virginia Department of Forestry via grant number 06WQI-24.