Why do Stream Rehabilitation

The easiest way to explain why stream rehabilitation in creeks and rivers is so important, is to show 'before and after' photos from a number of our projects. Stream rehabilitation is a long-term investment into land and water health. There are some rehabilitation practices that yield improvements immediately (fixed culvert), to ones that take a decade or more (riparian regrowth). 

Improvements to water resources

  • slows water loss during times of drought
  • reduces wildfire risk
  • adds to the water table
  • improves water quality
  • reduces flood risk

Improvements for fish

  • cools water
  • provides spawning and rearing habitat
  • increases food for fish (bugs etc.)
  • reduces barriers to fish migration
  • creates access to new habitat

Improvements to soil

  • reduces erosion and land loss
  • builds soil and adds nutrients

About

Culvert Boneyards

Bone yard crossings are bad crossings – doing it right the first time is not more expensive. It considers other values of the land, like fish passage, and contributes to the ranchers stewardship.

Improperly installed or left culverts cause damage.
Improperly installed or left culverts cause damage.
Installing the correct culvert improves habitat and reduces the risk of washouts.
Installing the correct culvert improves habitat and reduces the risk of washouts.
 

Before and After 

These before and after examples depict how fixing a culvert, fencing off a river bank from cattle grazing, incorporating a BDA, or armouring a stream crossing, will improve the habitat and overall health of a water system. 

Murray Creek Before and After
Murray Creek is longest running NEWSS project and is a fantastic example to show all the benefits related to stream rehabilitation.

Off-Channel Watering

An excellent option for ranchers to reduce livestock impacts to stream banks, off-channel watering can provide the water resource for livestock and keep livestock out of creeks - a win-win!

Off-channel opportunities are a great start to protecting riparian zones. Although not pristine, the limit of in-and-out access of livestock is beneficial to the goal of protecting the riparian zone. Here are different examples of how off- channel watering can look.

Separate area from main channel for watering.
Gravity-fed by underground piping.
Armoured section of side-channel.
Using solar energy to pump water here.
Solar energy is great for power pumps.
the water is pumped using power from the solar panels to direct off-channel storage, like this metal