1. October 26, 2016 Amanda Gumbert Extension Water Quality Specialist
Backyard Streams
October 26, 2016
Amanda Gumbert
Extension Water Quality Specialist

2. Benefits of Healthy Stream Buffers
Filter stormwater runoff
Protect streambanks from erosion
Reduce flood damage
Provide wildlife habitat
Improve aesthetic value of landscapes
Provide shade to streams

3. Challenges for Urban Streams
Impervious surfaces

4. Challenges for Urban Streams
Utilities/infrastructure

5. Challenges for Urban Streams
Historic planning
Some communities may have allowed development within or too close to the floodplain. As development increases, causing more impervious surface area in the watershed, more flooding may occur along streams.

6. Challenges for Urban Streams
Expectations
Landowners and landusers may have a wide range of expectations for streams. Some may expect streams to simply carry away runoff water, while others may expect them to prevent flooding, provide wildlife habitat, or provide aesthetics.

7. This homeowner likely expects this stream to carry away runoff without eroding the streambanks.

8. The installer of this sign expects visitors to stay out of the stream.

9. These students expect to safely explore and investigate the stream.

10. Challenged Urban Streams
Location of Cane Run Creek daylight.

11. Location of Cane Run Creek daylight.
Example of eroding streambanks and gabion baskets as reinforced bank material.

12. Tributary to the Cane Run Creek in Fayette Co.

15. In our own backyards! What Do We Do? Where do we start?
How do we start?
In our own backyards!

16. Strategic Initiatives: Addressing Water Issues
Backyard Streams

18. Resources
New Publication: Backyard Stream Guide Authors: Amanda Gumbert, Carmen Agouridis, Chris Sass Pilot Workshop: Wolf Run Watershed

19. Step 1: Site Assessment and Evaluation of Your Stream
Take a walk along the stream and ask some questions:
Are there places where streambanks are eroding?
How does your stream look after a rain event?
Where are your property lines?
What does the stream look like up and downstream of your property lines?

20. Step 2: Investigate laws, ordinances, and guidance.
Regulations:
Clean Water Act
Section 401: covers impacts of discharges on quality of water; protects physical, biological, and chemical parameters of water
Section 404: covers the discharge of dredged or fill materials into waters of the U.S.
Bank Stabilization
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regulates and issues permits for streambank stabilization projects
State/Local Ordinances
Permit to Construct Across or Along a Stream; KPDES General Stormwater Permit; local floodplain permit

21. Step 3: Make a Plan
Simple Steps for a Well-Planned Backyard Stream Ecosystem 
2-page spread that can be removed as a “cheat sheet.”
Simple Steps for a Well-Planned Backyard Stream

22. Step 4: Implement Your Plan

23. Passive – plants naturally establish by no-mow zones
Easy, low maintenance
Cheap, utilize existing seed bank and seeds dispersed by wind and water
Unwanted plants might establish (non-native invasive plants like honeysuckle, wintercreeper, multiflora rose, etc)

26. Active – deliberate planting of specific trees, shrubs, grasses
Create a planting plan
Remove undesirable plants
Stabilize streams
Install erosion control materials
Select and install desirable plants
Maintain plant communities

27. Volunteers planting plugs in a buffer that had been treated with herbicide to kill existing grass.

28. Step 5: Maintain Your Landscape
Inspect your stream regularly
Remove litter after storm events
Remove invasive plants annually
Prune trees and shrubs as needed
Remove previous year’s growth from perennials in late winter/early spring

29. Challenges for Urban Stream Buffers
Appearance
Manicured
Wild and wooly
Intentional wildness

30. Challenges for Urban Stream Buffers
Cost

31. Challenges for Urban Stream Buffers
Maintenance
Some individuals may not accept a wild and wooly appearance that occurs with a no-mow zone.

32. Amanda Gumbert amanda.gumbert@uky.edu 859-257-6094
Questions?
Amanda Gumbert