Role of Stream Restoration on In-Stream Water Quality in an Urban Watershed-A Case Study

This study addresses the effectiveness of stream bank and channel restoration techniques on improving benthic macroinvertebrate indices and in-stream water quality within an urban watershed. The project involved monitoring before and after restoration of 1,800 linear feet of degraded stream channel in the North Fork of Accotink Creek in the City of Fairfax, Virginia. Restoration, which was completed in June 2006, included installation of native plant materials along the stream and bioengineering structures to stabilize the stream channel and bank. These actions were intended to restore the stream channel to a stable condition, thereby reducing stream bank erosion and sediment loads in the stream. In-stream samples were collected and analyzed for physical, chemical, and biological (macroinvertebrates, bacterial indicators) parameters to document the changes in stream quality as a result of the restoration. The preliminary results of the sampling and monitoring are summarized in the paper.