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Keywords

stream restoration, freshwater, water quality, urbanization, ecology

Abstract

Lotic waterways are vital for habitat, food, water, and flood protection, but urbanization poses a major threat to their integrity. Runoff from urban surfaces leads to pollution, flashiness, loss of biodiversity, and other symptoms, also known as Urban Stream Syndrome (USS). Streams can be restored in order to combat USS, but most restorations are not monitored, so their long-term effectiveness is unknown. This study quantitatively evaluated a decade-old stream restoration in Fayetteville, Arkansas, to assess its effectiveness in combating USS and achieving set restoration goals, and to gain insights for future restoration projects. Restoration goals included decreasing erosion and sedimentation, increasing pool and riffle habitat and aeration, and increasing nutrient assimilation. Physical, chemical, and biological data were collected at five sites above, at, and below the restoration for one year to determine whether water quality had improved significantly in the restoration and downstream sites as compared to the upstream sites. The turbidity levels were greatest in the restoration reach, but other goals were likely met. The restoration and downstream reaches had the most heterogeneous substrate and riffle/pool habitat, high dissolved oxygen, and high macroinvertebrate abundance, and they demonstrated nutrient loss likely due to uptake and assimilation. Results indicated that some restoration techniques seemed to be effective, and they highlighted the need for improved erosion prevention in future restoration continuation. Post-monitoring and gathering data like these are crucial to understanding how streams respond to restoration and urbanizing environments.

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