Porterhouse Valley Mitigation Bank

Stream mitigation credits in eastern Tennessee

Porterhouse Valley Mitigation, LLC (the bank sponsor) restored two stream systems totaling 6,790 linear feet that had been severely degraded by conventional agricultural practices. Over time the natural vegetation that kept the streams in their healthy course had been removed, and the channels began to erode, leading to bank failure, loss of aquatic habitat and poor water quality.

Working with the landowner, the sponsor designed a system of fences and livestock watering structures that lets the family keep farming without interruption. The streams were returned to their natural position in the landscape and planted with native bare-root trees, shrubs and herbaceous vegetation that will hold the channels stable and in their natural pattern. A 23-acre conservation easement protects the work in perpetuity.

The bank is fully approved, and SQT stream credits are available for purchase now.

Hiwassee service area

The bank’s primary service area is the Hiwassee River watershed, HUC 06020002, which covers Cleveland, Athens, Etowah, Benton and the surrounding parts of Bradley, McMinn, Polk and Monroe counties. Permitted stream impacts anywhere in this watershed can be offset with Porterhouse Valley credits at the bank’s standard ratio.

Middle Tennessee–Chickamauga service area

The Middle Tennessee–Chickamauga watershed, HUC 06020001, is a secondary service area for the bank. It includes Chattanooga, Soddy-Daisy, Dayton and the Tennessee River corridor from Chickamauga Dam upstream toward Watts Bar. Impacts here can typically be offset with Porterhouse Valley credits subject to agency approval and any adjusted ratio for out-of-primary-area use.

Watts Bar Lake service area

The Watts Bar Lake watershed, HUC 06010201, is the bank’s other secondary service area. It includes Kingston, Rockwood, Harriman, Lenoir City and much of Roane and Loudon counties. As with Chickamauga, availability for Watts Bar projects is subject to agency approval and applicable ratios.

How to buy

Request a quote with your project location, the HUC-8 watershed, and the number of credits your ARAP or Section 404 permit requires. We confirm service area and availability by email, issue an invoice, and deliver a credit transfer letter suitable for TDEC and the Corps once payment is received.