Black Branch 2

Small headwater stream flowing through agricultural/pastoral landscape in Wilson County, TN. Bedrock substrate suggests limestone geology. Low flow conditions but perennial flow evident. Agricultural land use with thin riparian buffers may contribute to some sedimentation and nutrient loading.

Channel appears natural with no visible engineered modifications. Bedrock controls prevent significant downcutting. Some lateral erosion is present on banks, particularly upstream where root exposure and bank cutting are visible. The channel is functioning relatively naturally but the thin riparian buffer and adjacent pasture may be contributing to some bank instability.

Channel shows slight incision with banks 2-4 feet high in places. However, the bedrock bed limits vertical incision. The floodplain appears accessible during moderate flood events as the banks are relatively low. Agricultural land use in the watershed likely has altered hydrology somewhat with flashier runoff, but the overall floodplain connection appears functional.

Bedrock-controlled channel shows minimal sediment deposition. The exposed bedrock indicates the channel is effectively transporting its sediment load. Minor fine sediment is visible in crevices and along banks but no significant bar formation or pool infilling observed.

At current low flow conditions, the stream is almost entirely shallow. The bedrock bed creates some velocity variation but no deep pools are visible. Two regimes are present: slow-shallow in the small pools between rock features and fast-shallow over exposed bedrock. No deep habitats visible at this flow level.

Water is present but at very low levels. Much of the bedrock substrate is exposed above the water surface. The flow appears to be confined to the lowest portions of the bedrock channel, filling perhaps 25-50% of the bankfull channel width. Significant exposed substrate is visible in the front and down views.

The bedrock substrate creates some natural riffle-like features where water flows over exposed rock ledges and steps. However, at this low flow, much of the potential riffle habitat is dewatered. The channel shows moderate sinuosity which would create some pool-riffle sequences at higher flows. Scored at fair given the bedrock control that would create riffle features at normal flow.

This is a bedrock-controlled headwater stream with moderate sinuosity flowing through a pastoral landscape. The limestone bedrock controls bed elevation and prevents significant incision. Banks are composed of alluvial material over the bedrock platform. The channel is relatively narrow (6-8 feet) with a shallow, wide cross-section. The Rosgen B classification is tentative - the bedrock control and low gradient could also suggest a Bc (bedrock-controlled C-type) classification. The moderate sinuosity and riffle-run morphology best fit the B classification.

Left bank shows moderate stability overall. Some areas are low with grass extending to the bank edge (seen in right-side view from pasture perspective), but the upstream view (back face) shows significant brush piling suggesting recent tree clearing along this bank. Root exposure and bare soil are visible in several areas. The bank is generally low but shows active erosion in spots.

The left bank has compromised vegetative protection. Trees are present but sparse and dormant. Grass extends to the bank edge in some areas but the recent clearing activity visible upstream has reduced the protective vegetation. Bare soil patches are evident. Coverage appears to be approximately 50-60% when accounting for dormant season conditions.

Left bank shows evidence of recent tree clearing with large brush/debris piles visible upstream. This clearing may have reduced bank stability and vegetative protection. Grass and herbaceous cover extends to bank edge in some areas. Moderate erosion present where clearing has occurred.

Right bank appears somewhat more stable than the left. Grass cover extends to the bank edge in several areas visible in the front and down views. The bank is generally low (under 3 feet). Some minor erosion and bare soil visible but less severe than the left bank. Root systems from scattered trees provide some stability.

Right bank has moderate vegetative protection. Grass extends to the bank edge providing ground cover, and scattered trees provide root reinforcement. However, the riparian buffer is very narrow, quickly transitioning to mowed grass/pasture. Coverage is estimated at 60-70% during this dormant season.

Right bank is generally stable with grass extending to the bank edge. Thin riparian buffer transitions quickly to maintained pasture/lawn. Minor scour erosion in some areas. The bank is low, allowing good floodplain connectivity.

The left riparian zone has a very narrow strip of natural vegetation before transitioning to open pasture. With a channel width estimated at 6-8 feet, the riparian buffer extends perhaps 10-20 feet before reaching mowed/maintained pasture. Recent clearing has further reduced the effective buffer. This equates to roughly 1.5-3x the channel width, but the quality is poor due to sparse tree cover and recent disturbance.

The right riparian zone is similarly narrow. Scattered trees extend perhaps 15-25 feet from the bank before transitioning to maintained grass/pasture. The barn/outbuilding visible in the right face is relatively close to the stream. The buffer is narrow but somewhat more continuous than the left bank.

The floodplain vegetation is in a marginal state. While scattered deciduous trees are present, the overall riparian corridor is thin and dominated by grass. Natural forest cover has been largely removed for agricultural purposes. The recent clearing activity on the left bank has further degraded conditions. The vegetation is not in a natural state, with most of the floodplain converted to pasture.

Even accounting for leaf-off conditions, the canopy cover is minimal. Trees are scattered and sparse. During full leaf-out, this reach might achieve 25-40% shading, but at the time of assessment, effective shade is under 25%. The up face confirms very open canopy with widely spaced bare branches. For a warmwater stream, this is below optimal shade levels.

Both banks fail to meet TDEC 30ft minimum buffer requirements. The adjacent pasture land presents excellent opportunities for buffer restoration through riparian planting programs. Recent clearing on the left bank has exacerbated the buffer deficiency. The barn/outbuilding on the right side is within the buffer zone.

The bedrock-dominated substrate provides limited epifaunal habitat. While some crevices and edges in the bedrock offer attachment points, the flat bedrock surface is relatively unfavorable for colonization. Some undercut banks and root masses are present that provide habitat. Estimated 25-35% of substrate is favorable for colonization.

The bedrock substrate is largely clean and not embedded. The exposed limestone is swept relatively clean by flow. Some fine sediment has accumulated in crevices and depressions but the majority of the rock surface is exposed. This metric is somewhat less applicable to bedrock-dominated channels, but the overall condition is good in terms of fine sediment covering.

Pool habitat is very limited at current flow levels. The bedrock bed creates a few shallow depressions that hold slightly deeper water, but no pools of significant depth are visible. The entire stream bottom is visible throughout the reach. At higher flows, some bedrock features may create deeper pool habitats.

Fish cover is limited. The primary cover types available are undercut banks (visible in the back/upstream view), some root mats where tree roots are exposed, and overhanging vegetation (primarily dormant branches). No deep pools, logs/woody debris in the channel, boulders, or macrophyte beds are visible. Very limited habitat for fish at current flow levels.

No barriers to fish movement are visible within the reach. However, the very low water levels could seasonally limit movement. The bedrock substrate may create minor ledges that could impede passage at very low flows. No artificial barriers observed.

LWD in the channel is sparse. The large brush pile visible in the upstream view appears to be on the bank rather than in the channel. Some small woody debris is present along the channel margins. The recent clearing activity may have removed wood from the channel. No debris jams or pool-forming LWD structures are visible.

Three habitat types are visible: some undercut banks providing refugia, scattered cobble/rock fragments along the bedrock bed edges providing interstitial spaces, and minor leaf pack accumulations along channel margins. The flat bedrock surface provides limited habitat diversity. No submerged logs or coarse woody debris present in the channel for colonization.

Score based on habitat potential rather than direct observation. The clean bedrock surfaces, moderate water quality, and presence of some habitat features suggest the stream could support Group II macroinvertebrates. However, no organisms are directly visible in the imagery.

No individual macroinvertebrates directly observed from the panoramic imagery. Score based on habitat assessment - the bedrock substrate with clean water and moderate flow suggests potential for Group II organisms at minimum. The habitat, while limited, appears capable of supporting a moderate invertebrate community.

Suitable Habitat: No

The degraded riparian corridor and minimal instream habitat limit the potential for species of concern at this location. However, the limestone bedrock could potentially harbor endemic cave or spring-associated species if karst features are present in the watershed.

No wildlife directly observed during the survey. Winter conditions and time of day may limit wildlife activity. The brush pile on the left bank could provide temporary wildlife cover. The open pasture and thin riparian corridor reduce overall wildlife habitat value.

Water has a slight brown/tea coloration but is relatively clear. The stream bed is clearly visible through the water in the down view, indicating good clarity. Visibility appears to be approximately 1-2 feet through the water column. The brownish color may be due to dissolved organic matter and minor sediment rather than significant turbidity. No sheen, film, or algal growth observed.

No significant algae growth visible on the bedrock substrate. No macrophytes visible in the channel. Water is not green. Minor organic staining on some rock surfaces but no indication of heavy nutrient loading. The adjacent pasture could be a nutrient source, but no enrichment symptoms are apparent at this time.

No direct evidence of manure or livestock waste in or near the stream. However, the adjacent pasture/agricultural land and barn suggest livestock may be present in the area. No livestock, tracks, or manure deposits are visible at this location. Fencing is not clearly visible, so livestock access cannot be fully assessed.

This is a warmwater stream in an open pastoral setting. Shade is currently very limited due to sparse riparian trees and winter dormancy. Even during full leaf conditions, the sparse tree canopy would provide minimal shade. The shallow water depth over exposed bedrock makes this stream especially susceptible to solar heating during summer. Riparian buffer restoration would significantly improve thermal conditions. No cold-water indicators or groundwater seeps observed.

Recent vegetation clearing within the riparian buffer zone is a concern. If this represents intentional clearing rather than storm damage response, it may constitute unauthorized buffer encroachment. The clearing has reduced riparian function for bank stabilization, shade, and nutrient filtering. This should be investigated to determine if permits were obtained for riparian vegetation removal.

Terrestrial Invasives Assessment

Aquatic Invasives Assessment

Identification during winter dormancy is very difficult. Some shrub forms along the banks and in the understory could be bush honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) based on growth habit and persistent leaves/structure visible in some areas. Japanese honeysuckle vines are suspected in the tangled vine growth visible along banks. Confidence is low due to bare/dormant conditions. A growing-season survey would be needed to confirm invasive species presence and extent.