Urban Stream Restoration Practices: An Initial Assessment

Abstract

www.cwp.org Urban stream restoration projects are being designed and constructed in increasing numbers across the country. Numerous stream restoration techniques are being employed that vary from “hard ” structural approaches to “soft” bioengineering approaches. The one factor that all stream restoration projects share, however, are the individual stream restoration practices that together make up a stream restoration project. A recent study by Brown (2000) examined 24 different types of stream restoration practices and included over 450 individual practice installations. The practice types were broadly classified into four practice groups based on their intended restoration objective: bank protection, grade control, flow deflection/concentration and bank stabilization. Each practice was evaluated in the field according to four simple visual criteria: structural integrity, function, habitat enhancement, and vegetative stability. Our assessment of urban stream restoration practices found that most practices, when sized, located, and installed correctly, worked reasonably well and are appropriate for use in urban streams. Of the 24 practices evaluated, only two appeared to have questionable value in urban stream restoration. Overall, nearly 90 % of the individual stream restoration practices assessed remained intact after an average of four