ECOLOGICAL SERVICES RESTORATION PROJECT

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ECOLOGICAL SERVICES RESTORATION PROJECT BLOSSOM
WAY CREEK, ROGERS, ARKANSAS Morgan, R.A. E.
Cummings S. Ekka G. Goh A. Ludwig M. Matlock
A. McAllister M. Nelson B. Schaffer C.
Thompson Biological and Agricultural Engineering
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
METHODS AND MATERIALS  Watershed Delineation and
Land Use/Land Change The Blossom Way Creek
watershed was delineated and land use estimated
using ArcView GIS 3.2a (ESRI, Redlands, Ca.)
using thirty-meter digital elevation models (DEM)
from the United States Geological Survey
(USGS). Habitat Assessment Habitat assessments
were performed at eight sites on the Blossom Way
Creek between Dixieland and 26th street using
the USEPAs (1999) Rapid Bioassessment
Protocols.   Tree Survey Individual trees
were identified in the field by common name,
estimated height, and estimated base diameter
width. The data were entered into CityGreen
v5.2. Aerial DOQQs from 2001 were used as a
reference to label where individual trees are
located.   Reach Identification The Blossom
Way Creek was divided into three stream reaches
that were representative of the stream segments.
Reach 1 is grass banked with a relatively
small channel. Reach 2 has increased flow,
wider channel, and increased riparian zone
timber. Reach 3 is wide highly
eroded.   Channel Forming Discharge Three
methods were used to compute channel-forming
discharge, the 1.5-year return interval
discharge was computed using the Natural
Resources Conservation Service curve number
method, from surveyed stream cross sections in
each reach and compute the bankfull discharge
using Mannings formula, and by monitoring a
bankfull event at the gage on 26th street. The
three methods were compared and the
channel-forming discharge selected using
professional judgement. To compute the
discharge of the stream with the NRCS method, an
initial CN watershed was estimated as 75. The
peak discharge for a 10 year recurrence event
was then calibrated to the values given in the
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flood
study for the site and CN adjusted accordingly.
  Sediment Transport Total sediment transport
in a stream was computed as the sum of the
washload and the bedload. The suspended
sediment concentration, as measured at the 26th
street bridge was obtained from the Rogers Water
Utilities. The average suspended sediment load
for all storms with a gage height of greater
than 4 feet was used as the estimate for
washload at bankfull. For this study, bedload
was computed by Einsteins (1942) equation
.   Detention Storage The required volume of
detention storage was computed as the difference
in volume of the hydrographs for bankfull
discharge at 26th street for the predicted
conditions and the estimated historic discharge.
Historic discharge, the land cover was assumed as
forest in good condition and, the soil was
hydrologic group B.  
PROJECT DESIGN
ABSTRACT   The City of Rogers, Arkansas is part
of the rapidly growing metropolitan area of
Northwest Arkansas. In June of 2003, the Milken
Institute identified the area as having the top
economic performance of cities in the United
States. The water resources of the area have
been stressed as the cities struggle to develop
infrastructure to match the growth. Increased
wastewater, stormwater runoff, and loss of
riparian zone vegetation have all contributed to
the stress. In 2002, the City received a section
319(h) nonpoint source pollution grant to
demonstrate protection of ecological services
(disturbance regulation, water regulation, water
supply, erosion control, nutrient cycling, waste
treatment, refugia, recreation and cultural uses)
through the use of greenways. The demonstration
is on a second order stream draining a roughly
sixteen square kilometer watershed that is
developing as commercial, industrial, and family
residential property. In the initial phase of the
demonstration, an evaluation was made of the
riparian habitat, biodiversity, trees present,
land use and land use change, and
hydrologic/geomorphologic conditions in the
stream to analyze the ecological services
provided by the stream. The project is unique in
its combination of environmental sciences and
engineering in the initial planning stages. A
local stakeholders committee has been established
to extend the greenway concept to the rest of the
city, and the city now requires new developments
to dedicate floodplain property to the greenway
system.  
COMPREHENSIVE DRAWING
DISCUSSION Objective 1. Reduce tractive force
and erosion by restoring
channel sinuosity, reducing slope, and reducing
bank height. Objective 2.
Stabilize channel and prevent further
entrenchment by installing grade
control structures.
Objective 3. Restore riparian buffer to
provide terrestrial and
aquatic habitat. Objective 4. Use abandoned
channel as subsurface retention
to treat parking lot runoff, and to supply
minimum flow during
low-flow periods. Objective 5. Restore pool
riffle habitat by installing artificial
riffles.
Watershed Description   Blossom Branch is
located in Rogers, Arkansas and flows southwest
into the Illinois River. The watershed area of
interest is approximately 15.6km2 the reach of
interest is approximately (,494m extending from
Dixieland road downstream to 26th street. In
addition, located at the 26th street bridge is a
gauging station that provides the necessary
hydrologic data for this greenway project. The
average land slope of the watershed is 2.78.
Maximum width is 4.96km and maximum length is
5.67km. Land cover is a mixture ofrecreational,
single family residential, industrial, highway
commercial, residential, and agriculture.  

Dredging New Channel
Constructing Subsurface retention cell








Stakeholder Involvement The City of Rogers
Chamber of Commerce formed a new Greenway and
Trails Committee whose function is to oversee the
development of a comprehensive greenways and
trails program for the city including input to
on the desires of the City concerning Blossom Way
Creek. The landowners along the project area
along with the City Parks and Recreation and
Planning Departments and the Rogers Public
Schools formed the second committee which will
make final decisions on implementation of
recommendations from the project.