Eight Steps To Restore A Stream 



Gvl^^know Your Stream 



• Your first step is to familiarize yourself 

 with your stream and its combination 

 of characteristics. Take a walk along, or 

 maybe even in, your stream. 



Assess Your Stream & Streamside Area 



• Identify healthy stream reaches. 



• Identify problem areas. 



• If necessary, seek assistance : 

 resource professional. ,...., 



• Use a stream channel and riparian area 

 monitoring form available from local 

 resource agencies. 



Quantify Problems: For example, ask 



• How many feet of stream bank are bare 

 joi vegetation and eroding? 



• How many feet of stream bank contain 

 noxious weeds or species with poor root 

 structure? 



•iHow healthy is the fish habitat? Are 

 %ools and riffles adequate for fish 

 reproduction, rearing, and 

 overwintering? 



Prioritize Problems to Address 



• Read Section 3 about common stream 

 problems and their solutions. 



• Discuss the stream problems with a 

 stream management speciali^^^^^ 



• Determine which problems can 

 feasibly be corrected by your actions. 



• Which problems need the help of your 

 neighbors and community? 



To ensure successful restoration, you need to 

 thoroughly plan and carefully implement the 

 restoration. The steps on this page will help you 

 achieve your goals, as will the agencies listed on 

 the next page 



Establish Your Objectives- 



Objectives should be realistic. If you 

 include measurable standards and , 

 workable time frame, you can bet 

 gauge your success. Fdf^ example, 

 can aim to increase native streambank 

 vegetation by 50 percent in five years. 



Develop a VJork Plan 



• Evaluate a range of alternatives. 



lompare the costs for different 



lagement practices and restoration 



Implement Your Work Plat 



• Obtain all necessary permltsT 



• Adopt new management practiws. 



• Improve stream channel s^tottlty by 

 actions such as: jj^^ 



— installing tree revetments 



— planting streamside vegetation 



• Seek qualified contractors to assist you. 



Monitor the Restoration 



• Annually evaluate whether you are 

 meeting your restoratioh objectives. 

 Assess the need for niodification and 

 maintenance. Share your observahons 

 with stream management professionals so 

 that we all learn how to manage and 

 restore stream s succe ssfully. 



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