In 2023, North Carolina's Catawba Lands Conservancy took on 80 acres damaged by erosion and invasive plants. 3 years later, the project aims to bring 1,000 people into restoration nearby

In 2023, Catawba Lands Conservancy began a three-year restoration effort at Mountain Creek Park in Catawba County, North Carolina. The project covers 80 acres of the 600-acre park, where erosion and invasive plants have created serious ecological challenges.

Crews are restoring eroded banks, removing invasive species and bringing native trees, shrubs, grasses and forbs back to the landscape.

At the same time, community outreach is helping connect more than 1,000 people with the importance of habitat restoration and environmental stewardship. The report is sourced from Catawba Lands Conservancy, Catawba County Parks and Recreation, SER’s Standards-based Restoration in Action program, Microsoft’s Datacenter Community Affairs team.




When Catawba Lands Conservancy began restoration work at Mountain Creek Park in the summer of 2023, the goal was bigger than removing unwanted plants. The North Carolina nonprofit land trust set out to restore an 80-acre portion of the 600-acre park while addressing erosion, improving habitat and strengthening the landscape around Lake Norman.

The three-year project is tackling two major problems at the site: soil erosion and invasive plant species. It is also bringing volunteers, local partners and educational programs into the effort, with outreach designed to teach more than 1,000 people about restoration and encourage long-term stewardship.

The project is being led by Catawba Lands Conservancy in partnership with Catawba County Parks and Recreation. Funding comes in part through SER’s Standards-based Restoration in Action program, in collaboration with Microsoft’s Datacenter Community Affairs team, with additional support from the North Carolina Land and Water Fund.

Why did Mountain Creek Park need restoration?

Significant bank erosion at Mountain Creek Park has increased stormwater runoff into Lake Norman. As soil is washed away, nutrients are lost and water quality and aquatic habitats can be affected.

CLC began addressing the erosion in 2023 by reseeding damaged banks with native grasses. The work is intended to stabilize the soil and reduce the movement of sediment toward the lake.

Invasive plants present another challenge. Wisteria, tree-of-heaven and Chinese privet have spread through the area and compete with native vegetation.

That competition can reduce biodiversity while limiting the habitat and food available to native birds, pollinators and other wildlife. The absence of native plants has also contributed to declines in important pollinator species in the region.

Instead of allowing those invasive plants to dominate, the restoration project is taking a step-by-step approach to removing them and replacing them with native species.

How are invasive plants being removed?

CLC is systematically clearing dense growths of invasive plants in cooperation with Native Roots, LLC. The approach is designed to minimize pesticide use while targeting plants at different stages of growth.

Mature invasive plants are treated with herbicides applied directly to their stumps. Smaller plants receive targeted foliar treatment.

Once invasive vegetation has been removed, native trees, shrubs and other plants are introduced to the site. Among those being planted are pawpaw, possumhaw holly, spicebush and arrowwood viburnum.

These native plantings serve several purposes. They help hold soil in place, reduce runoff and create natural barriers that can improve water quality in Lake Norman. They also provide habitat that supports native wildlife and pollinators.

The restoration is expected to benefit species including the marbled salamander, southern two-lined salamander and chuck-will’s-widow.

The work therefore connects erosion control with habitat restoration. By replacing invasive growth with native vegetation, the project is working to create a more diverse landscape while addressing some of the conditions that allowed ecological degradation to continue.

How is the community getting involved?

Community participation is a major part of the Mountain Creek Park Habitat Restoration project.

CLC is working with Catawba County Parks and Recreation to carry out the restoration, coordinate volunteers and educate visitors and residents about the work.

Volunteer opportunities are helping bring people directly into the project. A dedicated volunteer day with Microsoft has already provided an opportunity for volunteers to plant native shrubs at the site.

Educational programs and signs at the park are also being used to explain why restoration matters. Together, those efforts aim to reach more than 1,000 people and encourage greater stewardship of the park.

The partnership approach is also central to the project's alignment with SER standards. The effort brings together the expertise of Catawba Lands Conservancy and Catawba County Parks and Recreation with volunteer support and community participation.

What could the restoration change?

The project is designed to produce several environmental and community benefits.

Reducing erosion and establishing native plants can decrease sedimentation and improve water quality and aquatic habitat in Lake Norman. Removing invasive vegetation and replacing it with native species can increase biodiversity and create better habitat for wildlife.

There are also benefits along the park's trails. Clearing invasive plants and shrubs can open lines of sight and views, improving scenery, accessibility and visibility for people using the park.

The restoration also follows a broader ecological goal: addressing the causes of degradation rather than focusing only on its visible effects.

Native grasses and forbs are being seeded, while native trees and shrubs are planted after invasive species are removed. The project prioritizes native habitats that can support a wider range of plants and animals.

Restoring 80 acres within the larger Catawba County landscape also contributes to the health of the Lake Norman watershed.

For Catawba Lands Conservancy, the work is ultimately about more than one section of Mountain Creek Park. The project combines habitat restoration, erosion control, invasive plant management and community education in one coordinated effort.

As the three-year initiative moves forward, the restoration continues alongside volunteer events, educational outreach and partnerships. The goal is to improve the condition of the 80-acre project area while helping people understand the value of protecting and restoring the natural landscape around them.

The Mountain Creek Park project shows how standards-based restoration can bring ecological work and community involvement together, with native plant recovery, improved water quality, wildlife habitat and public education all forming part of the same effort.

FAQs

What is being restored?
An 80-acre section of Mountain Creek Park.

Who is leading the work?
Catawba Lands Conservancy.