Mud Creek Watershed Restoration Plan - Henderson County Center

In addition to impervious cover, the presence of functional wetlands is another indicator forassessing the risk of water quality degradation from stormwater impacts. Functional wetlandsact as both sponges and filters during storm events. When wetlands are drained to accommodateagricultural activities or development, these functions are lost or impaired—resulting indecreased recharge, increased flooding, degraded water quality and increased stormwater flows.Hydric soils are one indicator for the presence or historical presence of wetlands.An analysis of the IPSI data reveals over four square miles of hydric soils in the Mud Creekwatershed and over eight square miles of soils with hydric inclusions (Figure 3.2). The IPSI dataalso show that only 0.9 sq. miles of the watershed currently support wetland vegetation,suggesting a significant loss of functional wetlands in the Mud Creek watershed and an increasedlikelihood of stream quality impacts due to stormwater volume and velocity. In May 2002, TheCity of Hendersonville and WRP entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to purchase andrestore 26 acres of degraded wetlands adjacent to Mud Creek in Hendersonville’s Southside.Projects like these, designed to restore lost wetland and floodplain functions, are critical steps toreducing stormwater velocities and volumes.Figure 3.2: Existing wetlands and areas withhydric soils in the Mud Creek Watershed.Section 3: Recommendations Page 28