Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2006TX228B

Post-Restoration Evaluation of Urban Streams in Central Texas

Institute: Texas
Year Established: 2006 Start Date: 2006-03-01 End Date: 2007-02-28
Total Federal Funds: $5,000 Total Non-Federal Funds: $15,915

Principal Investigators: Megan Meier, Anne Chin

Project Summary: Studies over the past few decades have revealed the impacts of urbanization on stream channels. Even though this knowledge is increasingly used as a tool to restore degraded urban streams, few studies have investigated what occurs post-restoration. In this study, channel geometry and sediment characteristics will be evaluated at six restored reaches in tributaries of the Colorado River in Austin, Texas. These will be compared to six unrestored urban stream reaches of similar drainage area to test the hypothesis that restoration improves physical channel conditions. Six additional channel reaches not affected by urbanization will serve as a reference. Results of this research will improve knowledge of urban stream adjustments to restoration practices in Texas and in the United States. Such knowledge will be useful in future restoration of urban streams, which will mitigate flood hazards and enhance aquatic ecosystems.