Examples of Funded Projects

The following is a brief description of several projects that have received funding through the Urban Streams Restoration Program.

Jolly Giant Creek - Arcata, California

In an effort to develop flood damage reduction measures in a way that enhanced the environmental values of streams, the City of Arcata produced a Management Plan for all nearby streams flowing through the municipal area (Draft Arcata Creeks Management Plan, 1990). The Urban Streams Program assisted in funding a daylighting project along a culverted section of Jolly Giant Creek as part of implementing the Management Plan. Project elements included the following: daylighting a culverted section of the creek, construction of new deep water habitat, placement of instream structures for habitat enhancement, revegetation, and restocking with native fish. Flooding of nearby roadways decreased significantly as a result of this project.

Jolly Giant Creek Daylighting Project - Implemented 1991
Newly constructed channel, where a 120 foot culverted stream section was daylighted. Root wads were placed at intervals along the creek to enhance fish habitat. Two rock weirs were installed in the creek channel to create pools and riffles. All bare soil areas were then mulched with straw and planted with native trees, shrubs, and ferns. Photo taken October 1991.
	Same area, July 1999. Note large timber at left for comparison.

Brush Creek - Santa Rosa, California

In 1993, a coalition of citizens and local government agencies completed a Master Plan for Santa Rosa area streams. This Plan provides for alternatives to the traditional types of flood control along streams within urban areas, and outlines projects to restore those creek systems most heavily altered through previous construction of trapezoidal riprap channels devoid of habitat or aesthetic values. Additional implementation of the Plan included restoring 1100 feet of a highly altered section of Brush Creek.

Brush Creek Restoration Project - Implemented 1995
Brush Creek, 1995. A trapezoidal channel with a 2:1 slope along the banks.
	Same view, Spring 2000. Channel banks were recontoured to allow for 12-14 feet of added width. Channel size and capacity were also increased by removing an adjacent maintanance road. A low flow channel was created in the creek bed, with rootwads and boulders placed to establish a pool/riffle sequence. The streambanks were hydroseeded and lined with erosion control fabric where needed, and native riparian vegetation was planted along the channel.

Poinsett Park - El Cerrito, California

In 1992, the City of El Cerrito commissioned a study of its storm drain system. The goal was to evaluate pipe conditions and deficiencies, and develop a master plan of needed corrections. The voters of El Cerrito later approved a $6.3 million bond issue to finance the repairs. The City considered two options to attain these goals: replace and relocate existing drainpipes, or when feasible, restore an open creek channel. Under the second alternative, a functional natural drainage system would be restored using stream channels. The City’s consultants estimated the cost of the Stream Restoration Alternative to be approximately 30 percent more than the re-installation of drain pipe. The visual and educational value of the creek restoration alternative would offset the additional costs required to restore the stream. Furthermore, the costs for stream restoration over the long term (50+ years) would be less since pipes must be periodically replaced. In response to taxpayer concern over the additional costs, the City of El Cerrito sought grant funding from the Urban Streams Program to implement creek restoration solutions. A demonstration project was completed in Poinsett Park, where a portion of storm drain was excavated to return the section of creek to its natural condition. Erosion control devices such as rocks and outcroppings were installed, and native vegetation was re-established along the riparian corridor.

Poinsette Park Daylighting Project - Implemented 1995
Poinsett Park, with underground storm drain running through the center of the field. Photo taken 1995.
	Poinsett Park, February 2001. The underground storm drain was removed and abandoned. An open creek channel was excavated to width, depth, and meander dimensions in accordance with the size of the watershed it would drain. Boulders were placed for aesthetic appeal and soil stability for planting of vegetation. Native trees, shrubs, and ground cover were planted along the riparian areas. Sitting walls and paths were installed for public access and enjoyment.

Kern River - Bakersfield, California

The purpose of this project was to enhance the Kern River channel and provide for the safe carriage of flood flows through the urbanized Bakersfield area. This project implemented a program of planting low-maintenance native trees and riparian vegetation along the river frontage areas. Approximately 4,200 trees were planted along four miles of streambank in several phases from 1988 to 1991, with around 320,000 feet of irrigation line installed. The project was implemented in conjunction with the Kern River Parkway Plan and Channel Maintenance Program adopted by the Bakersfield City Council in 1986 to protect existing levees and riverfront riparian areas, while providing open space recreation for the Bakersfield community along the Kern River corridor.

Kern River Restoration Project - Implemented 1988-1991
Kern River, Fall 1988. Native trees and shrubs were planted adjacent to the flood control channel at suitable locations compatible with the channel’s flood carrying function. Water lines were extended to the project area for irrigation. The re-vegetation work took place on a secondary floodplain lying along the northern bank of the river.
	Same area, June 2000. Note small weir at lower right of photo for comparison.

Malibu Creek - Calabasas, California

The Malibu Creek Watershed is a prime example of a rural-urban interface watershed. Urbanization had taken place in the watershed without giving adequate attention to the effects of such growth on the major and tributary stream systems. Streambanks where native vegetation was completely or partially denuded and/or replaced with fill material from construction activities were structurally failing. The result was excessive flooding from increased overland runoff and erosion of sediments into streams. This project was an effort to reduce streambank failure and sedimentation while restoring native floral and faunal diversity within the Malibu Creek watershed. The Urban Streams Program funded restoration work along a section of Malibu Creek that was straightened, with the bank composed primarily of rapidly eroding fill material. This stream segment was contributing significant amounts of sediment downstream, and eventually into Malibu Lagoon and Santa Monica Bay. The existing vegetation was too sparse to stabilize the erosion problems due to the bank steepness and continuous excessive erosion.

Malibu Creek Restoration Project - Implemented 1997
Malibu Creek restoration site, 1995. The entire field in the foreground consisted of fill material that extended all the way to the streambed(at left), constricting high water flows. The result was constant bank erosion and slope failure along the straightened channel.
	Same view, February 2000. The fill material was removed to open the constricted creek section. The creekbank was graded to a 3:1 slope and stabilized with erosion control fabric. Native vegetation was then planted along the riparian and newly constructed floodplain areas, with an irrigation system installed to improve survival of the plantings. Banks that had some native plants but lacked sufficient ground cover were also revegetated.