Field Tours and Workshops

Participants may select one field tour from options 1-6. Additionally, if you select tour/workshop 2 or 3, you may also select tour 7. Participants who select tour 6 will automatically attend tour 7 and do not need to additionally select it.


Field Tour 1a – French Broad River Bank Enhancement and DuPont State Forest Stream – Hiking – FULL

Maximum Capacity: 28 people Duration: 6.5 hours

Description: This tour will first visit a recently restored rural stream funded by USDA-NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). The project is located on a private family farm along the East Fork of the French Broad River and features stream stabilization, aquatic habitat enhancement, erosion reduction and more.  The next stop is a 3-hour hiking trip in DuPont State Forest to visit a 7-year-old stream restoration project on Reasonover Creek and several natural waterfalls on Little River.  Experience beautiful mountain scenery and wildlife. Hikers should have comfortable hiking shoes and snacks.

Tentative Route/Schedule:

8:00 am – 9:00 am Depart from hotel, 1 hour drive to Platt Stream Restoration
9:00 am – 9:45 am Tour Platt Restoration
9:45 am – 10:30 am 30-40 minute drive to DuPont State Forest
10:30 am – 12:30 pm Hiking trip to observe Reasonover Creek restoration project and several waterfalls in DuPont State Forest (4 miles of easy trail walking)
12:30 pm – 1:30 pm Boxed lunch at High Falls Picnic Area
1:30 pm – 2:00 pm Hike to Bus
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Return drive to hotel

        


Field Tour 1b – French Broad River Bank Enhancement and DuPont State Forest Stream – Biking – FULL

Maximum Capacity: 27 people Duration: 6.5 hours

Description: This tour will first visit a recently restored rural stream funded by USDA-NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). The project is located on a private family farm along the East Fork of the French Broad River and features stream stabilization, aquatic habitat enhancement, erosion reduction and more.  The next stop is a mountain bike tour. Bikers will participate in a shorter hike followed by a vigorous mountain bike ride through trails in the state forest. Experience beautiful mountain scenery and wildlife.The trail ride will cover several miles through variable terrain that is geared toward experienced riders with good aerobic fitness. Bikers should have comfortable biking shoes and snacks.  

Tentative Route/Schedule:

8:00 am – 9:00 am Depart from hotel, 1 hour drive to Platt Stream Restoration
9:00 am – 9:45 am Tour Platt Restoration
9:45 am – 10:30 am 30-40 minute drive to DuPont State Forest
10:30 am – 12:30 pm Biking trip to observe Reasonover Creek restoration project and several waterfalls in DuPont State Forest
12:30 pm – 1:30 pm Boxed lunch at High Falls Picnic Area
1:30 pm – 2:00 pm Hike to Bus
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Return drive to hotel

 


Field Tour 2 – Urban and Rural Agricultural Stream Restoration Tour – FULL

Maximum Capacity: 55 people Duration: 5 hours

Description: This half-day tour will visit two completed stream restoration projects. The first project is located in the Town of Laurel Park on public property and features both dam removal and stream restoration. The project was completed in 2013 and features constructed riffles, extensive bioengineering and a series of boulder steps through the former emergency spillway of the dam. The second project features a recently restored rural stream funded by USDA-NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). This project is located on a private family farm along the East Fork of the French Broad River and features stream stabilization, aquatic habitat enhancement, erosion reduction and more. Tour participants should wear comfortable shoes as walking short distances to projects is required.

Tentative Route/Schedule:

8:30 am – 9:15 am Depart from hotel, 35 minute drive to Laurel Park
9:15 am – 10:00 am Tour Laurel Park stream restoration project
10:00 am – 10:45 am Travel to Platt restoration site
10:45 am – 11:30 pm Tour Platt stream restoration project
11:30 am – 12:30 pm Return trip to hotel
12:30 pm – 1:30 pm Lunch provided at the hotel

 

       


Workshop 3 – Advanced Modeling for Stream Restoration, Dam Removal, and Fish Passage Workshop

Maximum Capacity: 150 people Duration: 5 hours

Description: HEC-RAS has recently added a cariety fo new capabilities that can take your stream restoration approach to the next level. This class will explore tools for sediment transport analysis and multi-dimensional modeling through the use of real-world examples. Case studies will include completed projects for assessing dam removals; testing in-stream structures; and describe a project process that includes modeling as part of the design approach. A laptop with a spreadsheet program and the latest version of HEC-RAS installed will be helpful for getting the most out of this workshop. In addition, an overview of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s SRH-2D model will be provided. SRH-2D modeling applications include flows with in-stream structures, through bends, with perched rivers, with side channel and agricultural returns, and with braided channel systems. The model is well suited for modeling local flow velocities, eddy patterns, flow re-circulation, lateral velocity variation, and flow over banks and levees.

Tentative Schedule:

8:00 am – 12:30 pm Workshop
12:30 pm – 1:30 pm Lunch at the Hotel

 

         


Field Tour 4 – Drone Technology Tour and Workshop

Maximum Capacity: 55 people Duration: 6 hours

Description: This tour and workshop combination will feature discussion of FAA rules/regulations from licensed 107 pilots, safety, and use of drones for stream data collection at an upcoming project. Tour leaders will demonstrate collecting imagery and topo data in the field. Various drone models and sensors will be demonstrated and their applications discussed. The workshop portion will cover post-processing and use of data collected by the drones. Participants should wear comfortable shoe for outdoor portion of the tour.

Tentative Route/Schedule:

8:15 am – 9:15 am Depart from hotel, 60 minute drive to demonstration site
9:30 am – 11:30 am Drone and sensor demonstration at field site
11:30 am – 12:30 pm Return trip to hotel
12:30 pm – 1:30 pm Lunch at hotel
1:30 pm – 3:30 pm FAA rules and regulations; data reduction and mapping; demo data, insurance, and lessons learned

 

          


Field Tour 5a – Ivy River Bank Enhancement Tour – Rafting – FULL

Maximum Capacity: 35 people Duration: 6.5 hours

Description: This tour will visit a recently completed streambank enhancement project on the Ivy River near its confluence with the French Broad River, upstream of Marshall, NC. The project includes a boulder vane to reduce near-bank shear stress and a vegetated geolift to provide soil strength on a steep river bank. The property owner has planted 250 native trees and shrubs to re-establish a riparian buffer at the site. The next stop is lunch, followed by a four-hour guided rafting trip to the French Broad River with some class 2 and 3 rapids and takes you through a forest of native trees and plants, and offers picturesque mountain views. Participants should bring swimsuit, towel, dry clothes, and snacks.

Tentative Route/Schedule:

10:00 am – 10:30 am Depart from hotel, 30 minute drive to Ivy River
10:30 am – 11:30 am Tour Ivy River Bank Enhancement
11:30 am – 12:00 pm 15 minute drive to French Broad Adventures
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Lunch at French Broad Adventures
1:00 pm – 4:30 pm Rafting
4:30 pm – 5:00 pm Return trip to hotel

 

         


Field Tour 5b – Ivy River Bank Enhancement Tour – Zipline – FULL

Maximum Capacity: 20 people Duration: 6.5 hours

Description: This tour will visit a recently completed streambank enhancement project on the Ivy River near its confluence with the French Broad River, upstream of Marshall, NC. The project includes a boulder vane to reduce near-bank shear stress and a vegetated geolift to provide soil strength on a steep river bank. The property owner has planted 250 native trees and shrubs to re-establish a riparian buffer at the site. The next stop is lunch, followed by a ten-line zipline canopy tour that takes you through a forest of native trees and plants, and offers picturesque mountain views. Closed toe shoes are required.

Tentative Route/Schedule:

10:00 am – 10:30 am Depart from hotel, 30 minute drive to Ivy River
10:30 am – 11:30 am Tour Ivy River Bank Enhancement
11:30 am – 12:00 pm 15 minute drive to French Broad Adventures
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Lunch at French Broad Adventures
1:00 pm – 4:30 pm Ziplining
4:30 pm – 5:00 pm Return trip to hotel

 

      


Field Tour 6 – Tour de Asheville: Urban Stormwater Bike Tour – FULL

Maximum Capacity: 25 people Duration: 4.5 hours

Description: This tour will visit an assortment of old and new stormwater projects including rain gardens and stormwater wetlands and stream restoration efforts.  The route will travel down Asheville’s French Broad River and Hominy Creek greenways and includes stops in West Asheville.  Get to know West Asheville and enjoy a mostly shady ride along some of Asheville’s most scenic greenways. The tour will end at New Belgium Brewery where you will tour stream enhancement, low impact development, stormwater management and native plant community establishment efforts on the brewery property.

Tentative Schedule:

12:15 pm – 1:15 pm Lunch at hotel
1:15 pm – 1:30 pm Depart from hotel, 15 minute drive to Carrier Park
1:30 pm – 3:00 pm Tour of Carrier Park wetlands; West Asheville Park (rain gardens and stream restoration); Estes Court (grass swales, pervious pavement and bioretention)
3:15 pm – 4:30 pm Tour New Belgium Brewery LID and stream restoration installations (along with other group)
4:30 pm – 5:00 pm Return to hotel

 

      

Photo Credit Sitework Studios


Field Tour 7 – Brewery, Low Impact Development & Stream Restoration Tour – FULL

Maximum Capacity: 50 people Duration: 4 hours

Description: This tour will include a visit through the New Belgium Brewery operation combined with a tour of the stream enhancement, low impact development, stormwater management and native plant community establishment efforts at and around the Brewery.

Tentative Schedule:

1:30 pm – 2:00 pm Depart from hotel, 30 minute drive to New Belgium Brewing Company
2:00 pm – 5:00 pm Brewery Tour
Tour of Regeneration Stream Restoration Channel, Low Impact Development and Stormwater Practices and Native Plant Initiatives on New Belgium property
Free time at Brewery
4:30 – 5:00 pm Return to hotel