Stream Restoration

By: Teddy Collins, Tyler Moore, Wyatt Halstead, and Zachary Clark

Across Rhode Island, a significant portion of the surface water does not meet the quality

standards for drinking water due to pollution. Stream restoration is one impactful way to solve

this issue. You may be asking yourself, “what is stream restoration?”

Stream restoration is best defined as the process of returning a degraded or altered

stream system to a more natural and functional state. This includes pulling out the gunk and

weeds, removing falling branches and rotting wood, diverting sections for better flow, and

cleansing the waters. The goal is to restore balance to the town's natural ecosystems and

ensure that we have clean water sources to draw from.

There are many reasons for stream restoration projects. These include clogged streams,

flooding in areas with heavy rainfall, poor water quality, dried out streams, or a combination of

these issues. These factors prompt stream restoration because they can be detrimental to not

only the stream, but the surrounding neighborhoods as well. Overflow after heavy rainfall can

be harmful to the area around the stream because it can cause flooding in residential areas or

nearby streets. The stream restoration process can reduce the risk of flooding and the dangers

that come with it. By leaving clogged and dirty streams unattended, flooding becomes infinitely

more dangerous. When a stream has a natural path and little blockage, the effects of flooding

are reduced, as the water already has a natural path to follow. Stream restoration does not

prevent flooding, but increases the predictability of it, allowing for planning ahead of time.

Poor water quality may also prompt stream restoration because polluted water is not

safe to draw from. If the water is not drinkable and it is a water source for the people around

the area, a stream restoration would be necessary to make sure that these people have clean

water to drink.

Finally, a dried out stream can prompt a restoration because if there is no stream, there

is no water. This leaves animals, plants, and the ecosystem as a whole vulnerable. When a

stream restoration is done in a dried area, these vulnerabilities are removed and access to the

water is restored.

As you can see, stream restoration is a very important process that makes sure our

natural ecosystems are able to flourish, while providing clean, fresh water to our communities.

Without the stream restoration process, pollution and drought can run rampant and destroy

our ecosystems. The stream restoration process is protective at its core. It keeps the dangers of

environmental imbalance away as well as financial struggles from outsourcing water. While

stream restoration is important, it can be hard to find the streams that are in most need of

restoration.

Streams are continuously monitored by the town of Bristol and assessed to see if a

restoration is needed. When the town sees a stream in need of restoration, they will begin

developing a plan of action to restore it. You can help! If residents notice a stream in bad

condition before the town does, and think it would benefit from restoration, they can access a

form on the town website to file a complaint. This ensures that all water sources in the town

are being properly monitored and cared for.

Through stream restoration, streams become unclogged, allowing water to flow freely

and safely. With water flowing as it should, wildlife can drink clean, unpolluted water. Stream

restoration also positively impacts grass and vegetation, as the cleanliness of streams

influences their growth. Stream restoration also reduces the frequency and impacts of flooding,

an important benefit in our coastal community.

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