At a Glance
The restoration of over 2,000 linear feet of degraded stream and the mitigation of acidic riparian soil will return stability, ecological function, and habitat to Proctors Creek.
Project Description
Proctors Creek was relocated in the mid 1980s as a result of roadway interchange improvements. The relocation placed Proctors Creek in between a primary state highway and an overhead utility right of way, in an area with highly acidic soils. The soils prohibited vegetative recruitment in the newly disturbed area, which led to erosion and widening of the stream channel. The site was also influenced by beavers, which had entered the area and created impoundments in the Proctors Creek watershed.
Biohabitats was selected to help the Virginia Department of Transportation preserve highway assets, return normal hydrologic function to the stream, control erosion, reestablish riparian vegetation and mitigate the acidification of riparian soils.
The restoration design, which took into account the beaver population, created a new channel that would remove the influence of the acidic soils, thereby promoting vegetative reestablishment and reducing erosion. The new channel focused on numerous ecological influences within Proctors Creek corridor, helping to ensure a more successful restoration.