Stream Restoration Project Completed at Forsyth County’s Midway Park

Grant-supported restoration is county’s first such project  

Forsyth County marked the completion of the county’s first stream restoration project with a ribbon cutting ceremony held Monday, May 7. Located inside Forsyth County’s Midway Park, the stream restoration project was designed to improve overall downstream watershed conditions by stabilizing and restoring approximately 1,000 feet of degraded stream bank, using natural channel design methods.  

This project was supported by a United States Environmental Protection Agency 319(h) grant administered by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division.  

“This project was undertaken as a part of Forsyth County’s Watershed Improvement Plan,” Director of Engineering John Cunard said. “The county developed our Watershed Improvement Plan in 2007 to comply with regulations, and as a means of identifying the most beneficial and cost-effective projects for water quality improvement.”  

Objectives of this stream restoration project included reducing bed and bank erosion and sedimentation; improving channel stability, water quality, habitat and overall function of the stream; and restoring, enhancing and protecting riparian wildlife corridors.  

“We are very pleased with the outcome of this restoration project,” Cunard said. “Not only were we able to make important progress in terms of water quality, but we were also able to turn this area into a really beautiful outdoor space that can also serve as an educational tool for the community about watersheds and water quality.”  

The project features a walking path along the stream and educational signage about the stream restoration project.  

Midway Park is located at 5100 Post Road in west Forsyth County. The project is on a tributary to Cheatham Creek in the Big Creek Watershed.