Stream Name: Paradise Creek
Date Established: 06/05/2001
Project Status:
Description
The main purpose of this project was to stabilize and revegetate a 1,020 foot section of stream to provide habitat for fish and wildlife, provide shade to reduce stream temperatures, provide a vegetated buffer from agricultural runoff, and reduce the amounts of sediment entering the stream. Earth moving was completed by University of Idaho Farm Operations, and staff from the Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute. The AmeriCorps NCCC team complete the other bank stabilization activities.
The steep streambanks were resloped to either a 2:1 slope (due to the closest of the road) or to a 3:1 slope (for sections of the stream were space is not limited) to reduce erosion, reconnect the floodplain, and create an area to plant native vegetation. The resloped banks were seeded with a riparian grass mixture and covered with geotextile fabric. Native woody vegetation will be planted next fall. This excavated material will be relocated outside the floodplain.
Where feasible, concrete that was dumped along/within the stream channel was removed to reduce the possibility of water pollution by chemicals escaping through the concrete. Additionally, the removal of concrete will allow for vegetation to be planted along the stream and provide habitat for fish and wildlife.
In selected areas coconut fiber-filled logs planted with wetland plants were installed along the streambank to stabilize the bank and to help improve water quality through the water-filtering qualities of wetland plants.
Previous Conditions
This stream segment was characterized by slumping, eroding streambanks that were frequently undercut during heavy storm. Reed canary grass was the dominant vegetation along this stream segment. Few trees or woody vegetation grew along the stream segment to provide any stabilization or shade to cool the stream.