Eight Steps To Restore A Stream 



Get to 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 from a 

 resource professional. iH 



• Use a stream channel and riparian area 

 monitoring form available from local 

 resource agencies. 



Quantify Problems: Tor example, ask 



• How many feet of stream bank are bare 

 of vegetation and eroding? 



• How many feet of stream bank contain 

 noxious weeds or species with poor root 

 structure? 



• How healthy is the fish habitat? Are 

 • pools 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 specialist. 



• Determine which problems can 

 feasibly be corrected by your actions. 



• Which problems need the help of your 

 neighbors and community? 



To ensure successfid restoration, yon need to 

 thoroughly plan and carefidly 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 a^ 

 workable time frame, you can better 

 gauge your success. For example, you 

 can aim to increase native streambank 

 vegetation by 50 percent in five years. 



Develop a Work Plan 



• Evaluate a range of alternatives. 



• Compare the costs for different 

 management practices and restoration 



^alternatives.w 



Implement Your Work Plan 



• Obtain all necessary permits. 



• Adopt new management practi^. 



• Improve stream channel stability by 

 actions such as: 



— installing tree revetments 



— planting streamside vegetation 



• Seek qualified contractors to assist you. 



Monitor the Restoration 



• Annually evaluate whether you are 

 meeting your restoration objectives. 

 Assess the need for modification and 

 maintenance. Share your observations 

 with stream management professionals so 

 that we all learn how to manage and 

 restore streams successfully. 



15 



