On Friday, February 21st, 2025, community members, along with the City of Chattanooga’s Stormwater and Natural Resource Department staff, gathered with Dr. Andrea Ludwig from the University of Tennessee Knoxville for the inaugural Stream Repair Workshop of the season at Heritage Park in Chattanooga. The day kicked off with an award ceremony honoring WaterWays intern Emily Patton, who was named WaterWays’ first “Schorr Clean Stream Intern” in memory of the late Dr. Mark Schorr, a cherished former UTC professor. Dr. Schorr was a dedicated environmental educator who motivated countless students to pursue careers in natural resource conservation.
Following the ceremony, Dr. Ludwig provided a concise overview of fluvial geomorphology and introduced natural streambank repair techniques that would be implemented that day, including livestakes (cuttings of native shrub and tree species), coir matting, and coir logs. The afternoon concluded with the installation of over 300 livestakes, along with a 12-foot stretch of streambank reinforced using coir logs and matting. The coir log made of coconut fiber protects the streambank from further erosion and creates a medium for the growth of the livestake cuttings, which will help secure the bank with native root structures, ensuring stability in the area for years to come.
Special thanks to our partners, UTK Ag Extension and the City of Chattanooga’s Parks and Natural Resource Departments.
