The Nature Conservancy: Big Woods Stream Restoration

Construction Underway

Josh here. We are at week three of the construction process, and it's exciting to see things coming together on the ground. After months of prep work (collecting and processing data from reference streams, site survey, hydrologic and sediment analysis, and natural channel design), implementation of the plan is finally underway. These two images show the same section of stream, one constructed on the ground and one as a schematic design.

A key aspect of stabilizing our new channel is ensuring that native vegetation roots within the channel and on the unconsolidated soil of the point bars. A cover crop of winter wheat comes up quickly and will hold the topsoil while live stakes, native grass, sedge, and rush plugs, bottomland hardwood seedlings, and native seed get established.

Background: Benson Creek Stream Restoration

In July 2006, we, The Nature Conservancy in Arkansas, began work to restore 2.5 miles of headwaters and reforest 440 acres of farmland at Benson Creek. During a watershed study funded by the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission, stream restoration of ditches was identified as a priority need to reduce sediments in Bayou DeView and the Cache River.

Before we started our on-the-ground work, we took measurements from high-quality natural streams on lands with the same soils, slopes and plant communities. Next, we processed this data through a technique called natural stream-channel design in order to design stable creek that will move water and sediment and have a natural flood pattern.

Once we had a good design in place, we began the earthwork in September. We are literally breaking ground with this project -- hoping our work will be used on streams throughout the Delta and the nation that face these same, ubiquitous threats.