According to the 2022 U.S. Census Bureau, Charlotte, North Carolina has been recognized as one of the fastest growing cities in the country. The rapid development associated with this population growth poses numerous threats to water quality in over 3,000 miles of creeks and streams located within Mecklenburg County (Newsom, 2015). Strengthening these waterways against disturbances like pollution, stormwater runoff, and erosion is critical to building ecosystem resilience in urban settings.
This blog explores the past and present social-ecological systems surrounding the Briar/ Little Sugar Creek watershed in Charlotte. Little Sugar Creek, and its major tributary Briar Creek, together form a micro-watershed that is part of the larger Catawba River Basin, which eventually drains into the Atlantic Ocean (Newsom, 2015). The Briar/ Little Sugar Creek watershed exemplifies how historically degraded streams can be restored to create new habitat for urban wildlife and offer a space for residents to connect with their local ecosystems. However, like others across the county, this small urban watershed is facing many pressing challenges. Throughout my blog posts, I will be diving into unique watershed characteristics, dendrology, threats, monitoring, and advocacy efforts around Charlotte's Little Sugar Creek.
Image credit: Cecilia Kammire
Newsom, M. (2015, March 26). Little Sugar: The Creek the City Loved to Hate. Keeping Watch. https://keepingwatch.org/programming/creeks/little-sugar-creek
Comments