Stream Restoration
A stream, also known as a branch, creek, run, or brook, is a continuous surface flow of freshwater within a channel that is smaller than a river. Headwater streams can originate from groundwater (springs), runoff, or a wetland. Streams and rivers flow more than 3.5 million miles across the United States and are present in every region (EPA 2013). Streams are generally too small to have their own floodplain and run at steeper gradients and faster velocities than rivers, resulting in a greater amount of dissolved oxygen (USGS 2018). Nationally, stream health is declining as a result of an increase in impervious surfaces, polluted stormwater runoff, nutrient pollution, drought, deforestation, and physical barriers. As a response to this decline, communities are working to restore streams, with more than $1 billion a year spent on stream and river restoration in the United States (Bernhardt et al. 2005). Stream restoration techniques fall into two categories: form-based (which is more common) and process-based (Roni et al. 2002). Common techniques include brush layering, coir log installations, cross vanes, grading stream banks, log vanes, J-hooks, and step pools (MCDEP 2023).
Case Studies
Adaptive Management in Action: the Trinity River Restoration Program
Ah Pah Creek Watershed Restoration
An Integrated Plan for Water and Long-Term Ecological Resilience
Bird Track Springs Habitat Restoration on the Upper Grande Ronde River
Boosting Ecosystem Resilience in the Southwest's Sky Islands
Chatfield Reservoir-Plum Creek
Ciénega San Bernardino Wetland Restoration
Community Groups Work With Notre Dame Researchers to Restore a Creek Running Through New Golf Course
Cuenca los Ojos: Three Decades of Restoring Water Flows on Private Land in the U.S. and Mexico
Elwha Dam Removal and River Restoration
Eugene Field Park Restoration Project
Floodplain Restoration for Salmonid Habitat in the Yakima Basin
Fostering Resilient, Multimodal Transportation Solutions Along the California Coast
Habitat Restoration for Native Salmonid Conservation in the Lower American River of California
Harbor Brook Daylighting Project, Meriden, Connecticut
Hatchery Creek Stream Restoration
Horner Park Restoration Project
Lick Run Watershed, Cincinnati, Ohio
Little Snake River Restoration on Three Forks Ranch
Lower Boulder Creek Ecosystem Restoration Project
Pennsylvania Protects Coldwater Fisheries & Water Quality from Climate Change
Protecting Future Water Supply Through the Southeast Recharge Basin Project
Restoration of Bluewater Creek
Reversing Erosion on Semi-Arid Grassland Ranches: A 10-Year Analysis
Robbins Stormwater Park and Midlothian Creek Restoration Project
Santa Cruz Riverbank and Ecosystem Restoration, Pima County, Arizona
Santa Fe River Restoration, New Mexico
Springhouse Run Stream Restoration
The Nature Conservancy — Wetlands Restoration for Ecosystem and Community Resilience in He’eia O’ahu
The Provo River Restoration Project
Tulalip Tribes: Saving Their Sacred Salmon
Watershed-Level Restoration for Landowners and Native Fish in the Bear River
Working Toward Recovery of Apache Trout in the White Mountains of Arizona
Tools
In development.
Likely Benefits and Outcomes
This strategy is likely to achieve these project goals. Click to search for strategies with a similar benefit.
Related Green (natured-based) vs. Gray infrastructure
In development.