Black Branch 2

Small headwater stream significantly impacted by concrete rubble dumping in channel. Habitat severely degraded by artificial substrate. Agricultural land use adjacent on the left bank with barn within 20-30 feet of channel.

Channel bed is dominated by dumped concrete rubble. The left bank has been armored with stacked concrete debris. The channel shows evidence of incision and the natural substrate has been completely replaced by artificial material. While not formal channelization, the concrete dumping has fundamentally altered channel character.

The stream shows moderate incision with banks 3-6 feet high relative to the narrow channel. The agricultural building and gravel area very close to the channel suggest floodplain has been modified. Concrete rubble placement may have altered flow patterns and connectivity.

Fine sediment has accumulated between and over the concrete rubble fragments. The artificial substrate traps sediment. Some natural sediment deposition is evident but assessment is complicated by the concrete rubble dominating the bed.

At the time of observation, the stream is dominated by a single regime: slow-shallow. The very low flow and shallow depth over flat concrete rubble creates a uniform condition. No pools, riffles, or fast-deep areas are visible.

Water is present but fills only a narrow portion of the channel. Much of the concrete rubble bed is exposed above the water surface. Flow appears to thread between and around rubble pieces rather than filling the full channel width.

No natural riffles are visible. The concrete rubble creates some localized turbulence but not true riffle-pool sequences. The channel morphology has been obliterated by the dumped material.

Classification is complicated by the heavily modified channel conditions. The concrete rubble dumping has fundamentally altered the bed material and morphology. The natural stream type is likely a small G-type or possibly F-type entrenched channel in this valley setting. The steep right bank hillside and agricultural encroachment on the left create a confined valley. Low confidence in classification due to extensive artificial modification.

The left bank has been informally armored with concrete rubble but this is not proper stabilization. The bank is moderately high (3-6 feet) and steep. Agricultural structure encroachment reduces natural stabilization. Some trees remain but the concrete rubble placement is ad hoc and likely to fail over time. Bare soil is extensive between rubble pieces.

Vegetation coverage on the left bank is compromised by the proximity of the barn and gravel area. Some trees (cedars and deciduous) are present but the bank face itself has extensive bare soil and rubble. Vegetation coverage is approximately 50-60% when considering the full bank face.

Left bank heavily impacted by adjacent agricultural building. Concrete rubble dumping along bank is both informal stabilization and an environmental concern. The barn is approximately 20-30 feet from the channel, well within the riparian buffer zone. Trash and debris (plastic) mixed with rubble.

The right bank rises steeply into a wooded hillside. While steep, the bank has more natural vegetation coverage and root stabilization than the left bank. A large fallen tree indicates some bank instability or natural processes. The hillside is moderately stable with dense shrub understory. Some exposed roots but generally better condition than the left bank.

Vegetation coverage on the right bank is approximately 60-70%. Bare deciduous trees provide root stabilization but limited ground cover in the current leafless season. Dense understory shrubs and herbaceous growth (some possibly invasive) provide moderate coverage. Leaf litter covers much of the bank surface.

Right bank is in substantially better condition than the left bank. Wooded hillside provides natural stabilization. Fallen tree and root wad may provide some habitat value. No artificial modifications observed.

The left riparian buffer is severely compromised by the agricultural barn and gravel area located approximately 20-30 feet from the channel. Only a thin strip of trees (cedars and a few deciduous) separates the stream from the structure. The effective natural vegetation buffer is less than 10 feet wide in many areas.

The right bank has a substantial wooded hillside extending at least 50-100 feet upslope. Dense deciduous forest with understory provides a continuous riparian buffer. The vegetation appears to extend well beyond the channel width.

The left floodplain is dominated by the agricultural building and gravel area. The right side has decent forest coverage but the overall floodplain vegetation is compromised by the encroachment. Concrete rubble dumping and agricultural land use have significantly altered the natural riparian/floodplain condition.

Currently in early spring with bare deciduous canopy, shade is approximately 25-40%. During full leaf-on conditions, shade would increase to perhaps 50-70% from the deciduous trees. The right bank provides better canopy coverage than the compromised left bank. Cedar trees on the left provide some year-round shade.

Left bank buffer is non-compliant with TDEC MS4 permit section 4.2.5.4 requirements. The red metal barn/agricultural structure is within the 30-foot minimum buffer. Concrete rubble dumping within the buffer zone constitutes an additional violation. Right bank buffer appears adequate.

The channel bed is dominated by concrete rubble which provides very poor substrate for epifaunal colonization. The smooth, flat surfaces of concrete are far less suitable than natural cobble or gravel. Some woody debris (fallen logs, root wads) on the right bank area provides limited habitat. Overall, less than 20% of available substrate is favorable for colonization.

Natural gravel and cobble substrates are essentially absent, replaced by concrete rubble. Where any natural substrate material exists, it is heavily embedded in fine sediment between concrete pieces. The assessment is complicated by the artificial substrate dominance, which itself represents a severe habitat impairment.

No pools are visible anywhere in the reach. The concrete rubble creates a uniformly shallow channel bed. The entire bottom is clearly visible with less than 1 inch of water in many areas. No pool-forming features are present.

Only 2 cover types are identifiable: some woody debris/logs along the right bank, and overhanging vegetation from bank trees. No deep pools, undercut banks, cobble/boulder substrate, macrophyte beds, or backwater pools are present. The concrete rubble does not function as effective fish cover.

No formal barriers are visible in this reach. However, the extremely shallow water depth and concrete rubble bed may functionally impede fish passage during low flow conditions. No culverts or drop structures are visible in the immediate area.

Several pieces of large woody debris are visible, including a large moss-covered fallen log on the left bank/floodplain area and a root wad on the right bank. The LWD is mostly on or near the banks rather than in the channel. Some smaller woody debris is scattered. The debris is in moderate to well-decayed condition suggesting it has been in place for some time.

Only 2 types of invertebrate habitat are identifiable: some fine woody debris and leaf pack accumulations. The concrete rubble bed provides extremely poor substrate for macroinvertebrate colonization compared to natural cobble, gravel, or even sand. No undercut banks, cobble/boulder substrate, coarse gravel, or submerged logs are available for colonization in the channel proper.

No organisms were directly observed. The severely degraded habitat (concrete rubble bed, very shallow water, limited natural substrate) would be expected to support only tolerant macroinvertebrate communities at best. Score reflects habitat-based prediction of community.

No macroinvertebrates were directly observed in the imagery. Assessment is based on habitat quality only. The concrete rubble substrate, very shallow water, and degraded habitat conditions suggest that if present, the community would be dominated by tolerant taxa.

Suitable Habitat: No

The severely degraded instream habitat (concrete rubble substrate, minimal water depth, no pools) would not support species of concern. The wooded hillside on the right bank may provide general terrestrial wildlife habitat but no specific sensitive species habitat was identified.

No wildlife was directly observed during this panorama capture. The presence of the surveyor may have displaced any nearby animals. The degraded stream habitat limits aquatic wildlife potential. The concrete rubble pile and associated debris could provide shelter for small mammals or reptiles.

Water is shallow enough that the entire bottom is visible, so clarity assessment is limited by depth rather than turbidity. The water has a slight brownish tint which could be natural tannins or fine sediment. No obvious discoloration, sheen, or film is visible. The very shallow depth makes clarity assessment less meaningful.

No significant algae growth or macrophyte density is observed. The water does not appear green or show signs of excessive nutrient enrichment. Some minor algal film may be present on concrete surfaces but is not prominent. The early spring timing may limit algal growth observations.

No direct evidence of manure or livestock waste in the stream. However, the agricultural barn is very close to the channel, and open pasture/field is visible nearby. No livestock are visible and no direct manure is observed, but the proximity of agricultural operations is a concern.

Currently in early spring with bare canopy, the stream receives more solar radiation than during leaf-on season. The right bank hillside with deciduous trees will provide substantial shade during summer months. The left bank is compromised by the agricultural barn but cedar trees provide some year-round shade. The very shallow water depth makes the stream thermally vulnerable regardless of shade conditions. No thermal refugia (deep pools, springs, seeps) were identified.

CRITICAL: Concrete construction and demolition debris has been dumped in the stream channel and used as informal bank armoring. This likely violates TDEC regulations regarding fill material in waterways, CWA Section 404 requirements, and potentially local MS4 permit conditions regarding illegal dumping and illicit discharges. The agricultural structure within the 30-foot riparian buffer zone may also represent a compliance concern. The black plastic sheeting and litter mixed with rubble further indicate unpermitted activity.

Terrestrial Invasives Assessment

Aquatic Invasives Assessment

The early green growth visible in the understory during the bare-deciduous season is highly suggestive of invasive species, particularly bush honeysuckle (Amur/Morrow's) and Japanese honeysuckle, which leaf out earlier than native species. Some dense shrub growth on the right bank hillside is consistent with bush honeysuckle or privet. Multiflora rose may also be present among the thorny understory visible. Confidence is medium due to the difficulty of definitive species identification from imagery during the early leaf-out period, but the phenological timing strongly suggests invasive dominance in the shrub layer.