Stream Restoration at Cielo Falls Will Mean Clear Water and Happy Trout

Posted: December 7, 2006

Boone, NC - December 7, 2006 - Cold, clean and clear. That's what a trout wants. Give them what they want and they'll give you a great fishing experience.A forward-thinking, master-planned community near rural Boone, N.C., is making sure the trout get what they want. Cielo Falls is committed to helping its streams and wetlands achieve their fullest potential. By putting an emphasis on its natural amenities, this luxury log home community is on the leading edge of the rising trend of "green development."

"Wilkes County locals tell me that the streams on the Cielo Falls property were once known as the best trout streams in western North Carolina," says Cielo Falls development partner Mark Yates. "We greatly look forward to working with THI and hearing folks make those statements once again about this fabulous property."

Trout Headwaters, Inc. (THI), The River Restoration Company, based in Paradise Valley, Mont., was chosen to fully restore Cielo Falls' wetlands and more than three miles of stream. THI is the industry leader in natural, sustainable approaches to restoration and enhancement of rivers, streams, lakes, and wetlands.

"The water resources at Cielo Falls can support a first-class trout fishery," says THI president Michael Sprague. "Like most of our nation's streams, the North Prong at Cielo Falls has been impacted by human causes, and a historical lack of focus on the health of the fishery. The developers and residents of Cielo Falls appreciate the broader significance of restoring freshwater resources. One thing is for sure - nature is very resilient. With a gentle nudge in the right direction, Cielo Falls' water resources will offer unrivaled recreational enjoyment as well as restored, spectacular beauty."

THI's philosophy recognizes that it is easier and less expensive to maintain and enhance what nature gives us than to over-manipulate the complex relationships among the fish, stream and the valley through which the stream flows. Starting with a careful assessment of the current condition and ecological potential of the water resource, THI works with nature's processes of renewal and repair through habitat improvement, management and maintenance.

THI will address the problem of excessive, fine sediment and silt in the stream beds of Cielo Falls' streams. Clean bottom gravel, free of silt, is important for trout spawning habitat. When silt clogs spawning gravel, trout eggs may suffocate and tiny fry get trapped. Well-aerated water should pass through spawning beds to provide oxygen and remove waste. Many aquatic invertebrates, which are important food sources for trout, also require clean gravel.