Creekbank Restoration Project
Along Sweeten Creek in Asheville, NC
A Collaboration for Wildlife in Urban Spaces:
This project was led by Wild Ash Consulting and partially funded by Riverlink.
Goals:
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Repair degraded creekbanks.
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Control future erosion using native plants.
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Shade the stream to support aquatic wildlife.
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Add deep-rooted meadow plants to further support the local ecology of the riparian zone.
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Create a bloom eruption from spring to fall.
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Reduce maintenance and mowing of the banks.
Bringing Life Back to the Banks
If you’ve walked by the creek near Ernest Co-warehousing or Devil’s Foot Beverage and wondered what’s going on—there's a lot more than meets the eye. This project is an evolution and at the beginning of a 3-year long restoration timeline, it might look a little wild, but I'm here to explain.
We’re restoring this important stretch of Sweeten Creek to create a healthier, more stable ecosystem that supports both people and wildlife. This creekbank was previously dominated by turfgrass and invasive species that did little to prevent erosion or support the local environment. Now, we’re giving it a much-needed boost—a new story—which you're now a part of.
Project Timeline
Sept 27th 2024
March 2025 - April 2025
June 2025
June 2025 - November 2026
Spring - Fall 2027
Spring 2028 and Beyond
Hurricane Helene compromised this little section of Sweeten Creek by causing several cave-ins along the banks in front of the Ernest and Devil's Foot building. The banks had only tall fescue and several invasive plant species with shallow roots holding the soil.
Riverlink and Wild Ash met with the property owner to review the multi-phased plan to restore the banks and Riverlink committed to partially fund the first two phases of the restoration project.
Wild Ash completed Phase 1, which included re-sloping the parts of the banks that caved in, installing three coco coir wattle logs (these act as a prosthetic bank foundation - or toe), a jute erosion blanket, and over 350 live stake branches from native shrubs. We also prepped the tops of the banks by killing the tall fescue and invasives by using an aquatic-safe herbicide (this is the best way to hold the integrity of the already-compromised soil along the bank).
Wild Ash will complete the installation of Phase 2, which is to create a deep-rooted, flowering native meadow design that will further support the health of the creek by controlling run-off, inviting birds, pollinators, and amphibians to make themselves at home at the food buffet.
This is the initial establishment period, which gives the plants one full growing cycle after installation. We will monitor the riparian shrubs, meadow plants, remove/treat invasive plants, and look for any additional erosion along the banks.
We expect this time period to look a little unkept, kind of like a middle-schooler who is growing up, but not quite mature yet. Have patience for the full potential, which is coming!
By year two of the planting, you'll begin to see the shrubs grow to a height and width that closely resembles their root structure under the soil, helping to secure the banks. The meadow begins to close in without much room in between plants, which reduces the amount of potential for invasive seeds to take hold. The bloom succession is giving us a solid preview of what is to come after the establishment period ends next year.
The third year of a native planting we call the "leap year"—the first year plant growth sleeps, second year it creeps, and the third year it leaps. We're really starting to see the full beauty of what a thriving naturalistic riparian planting can look like and do for the creek ecosystem. The plants are large and full, they are shading the creek, and fully populated with pollinators, creatures, and life.
Project Photo Gallery
Why Restoration Matters Here:
Biodiversity begins at the water’s edge, where native plants and deep roots rebuild the balance between land and stream.
Creekbanks need deep, spreading roots to stay stable. Unfortunately, many common landscape grasses (like tall fescue) have shallow roots and die back in winter, leaving the banks exposed to erosion—especially during high water events.
On this property, erosion had already started to cause visible damage. There was no shade for the water, no deep root systems to hold the soil, and very few native plants to support birds, insects, and pollinators.
Healthy creekbanks act like sponges and filters. They slow down stormwater runoff, prevent pollution from entering the creek, provide shade to keep water temperatures safe for aquatic life, and offer habitat for native species.
