Mill Branch Creek Restoration Project

1. Mill Branch Creek Restoration Project Annual Membership Meeting March 23, 2010 Project 08-200 FY 2008

2. Our Partners

3. Highway 62 Berryville Community Center Mill Branch Creek Mill Branch Creek • Mill Branch is located near the Community Center in the heart of Berryville • Mill Branch flows into Osage Creek, Osage Creek flows into Kings River

4. Mill Branch Creek Mill Branch in 2007 Aggressive vegetation management, such as herbicide use, had destroyed the riparian zone and led to extensive erosion.

5. Mill Branch Creek KRWP has worked with the City to develop better management practices. Vegetation has returned but bank erosion and destabilization are still occurring.

6. An Important Urban Stream • Mill Branch watershed is 0.6 square miles and drains about 40% of the urban area of Berryville • Through landowner interviews and numerous site visits, it is estimated that this reach has contributed approximately 7,000 cu. ft. of sediment in 2008. • At its present rate of erosion, the stream is estimated to erode into the City’s skateboard park, located along the stream’s banks, in less than 3 years.

7. An Important Urban Stream • In 2008 reach 037 of the Kings River was placed on the 303 (d) list of Impaired Waterways for Total Dissolved Solids. • In the past multiple sections of Osage Creek and Kings River have been placed on this list for excess nutrients and sediment.

8. Restoration • Project will span 1,105 ft of stream bank • 12 rock structures to be built creating a step-pool system to stabilize the bank and reduce erosion • 266 tons of sandstone will be used • 453 cubic yards of dirt will be moved • Grasses and trees will be planted to re-establish the riparian zone

9. Restoration Gully Park Restoration: Watershed Conservation Resources Center in Fayetteville. • The bank has been re-sloped • The waterline, or toe, has been secured with rock • Rock extends across the stream to create small ‘dams’ and pools

10. Restoration Step pool design: • Rock structures will slow down the flow of water • Reduce erosion of the stream bank • Allow sediment to settle instead of being carried downstream • Help maintain more consistent water levels to promote aquatic habitats.

11. Goals • Stabilize the stream environment and reduce erosion and sediment flows. • Install trees and plants to create a greenspace for citizens and visitors • Bring attention to the problem of stream bank erosion and the resources available to manage it.

12. In Our Watershed • In 2007 the KRWP surveyed 85 miles of the Kings River and Osage Creek to identify and map stream bank erosion. • Using the bank erosion hazard index (BEHI) and NPS protocols the surveyors found 31 extremely eroded banks, 106 very highly eroded banks, and 63 highly eroded banks. • Of the 85 miles of the Kings River and Osage surveyed, 17.6 miles were found to be eroded. This map shows the area surveyed.

13. Resources For more information on this and many issues in our watershed, pick up The Landowner’s Guide to Stream Side Living Online at: http://www.kingsriverwatershed.org/landowners_handbook.html

14. Questions? Thank You!