Is there a difference between urban and rural streams?
There certainly is a difference between urban and rural streams. Urban streams are subject to the pressures of increased imperviousness in their watersheds, increased pollutant and nutrient loads, and often increased traffic when compared with their rural counterparts. Consequently, they are subject to much higher flow, and much higher bankfull flow, than rural streams. The urban stream responds to these changes through incision or sedimentation, algae blooms and eutrophication, and impaired ecological function. Stream restoration projects can help streams achieve a stable condition even under the pressures of urban life. Given the site constraints of urban streams, reinforcement of the bed and banks will be necessary. Reinforcement includes rock structures, rock substrate, and heavy planting densities.
