Freshwater Voices
The Newsletter of Freshwater Future
Freshwater Voices is the newsletter of Freshwater Future, published four times per year. Freshwater Voices is intended to provide a forum for the free exchange of ideas among citizens and organizations working to protect aquatic habitats in the Great Lakes Basin.
Volume 17, Number 1 • Winter 2009
Stream Restoration at its “Greenest”:
Urban Creek in Flint River Watershed Gets Makeover
A creek that was channelized and
has been buried for decades in
Flint, Michigan is close to being
completely restored. Returning the creek
to its natural state will control flooding
and create a natural and scenic waterway
in an urban setting. But this isn’t
your typical restoration project. Everything
about the project is being done as
“green” as possible.
Construction equipment, which runs
on biodiesel fuels, comes from within
150 miles of the project. Everything
possible is being recycled onsite such
as tree stumps that are returned to the
water as fish habitat, a former bridge
that is getting a new home at a nearby
park, and broken concrete that will become
erosion blocks. The project is restoring
about 2,500 feet of stream bank
and creating a pond to provide flood
water storage and wildlife habitat. A
12-acre wetlands meadow will absorb
stormwater run-off with native plants
to filter contaminants and provide additional
habitat for fish and other wildlife.
Once the plantings have had a year or so
to get established, planners hope to add
a creekside bike path connected to the
Flint River Trail. Not only are they eliminating
flood problems, they’re creating
a usable park and environmental education
center right in the heart of the city.
The $2-million Gilkey Creek project
is being supported by the Ruth Mott
Foundation. Project partners include
the Center for Applied Environmental
Research at the University of
Michigan-Flint and the
Flint River Watershed
Coalition. “Its very
exciting watching
this creek come
back to life”
stated Rebecca
Fedewa, Executive
Director of
the Flint River
Watershed Coalition.
“Volunteers for
the Flint River Watershed
Coalition have
been monitoring the project to assess
the stream’s recovery. We are already
seeing good signs that the creek habitat
is recovering. And it proved itself in
weathering the big storms, easily handling
a week of heavy rains this fall that
in previous years would have resulted in
massive flooding.” For more information
on the project, contact Rebecca Fedewa
with the Flint River Watershed Coalition
at rfedewa@flintriver.org.
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