HOW HEALTHY IS YOUR
CREEK?
Many creeks in Arlington have been
altered, channelized, or piped underground. Others have become victims
of excessive sedimentation, sewage, reduced water flows, and dumped
debris. While intact creek ecosystems continue to thrive in some
places, few if any of Arlington's urban creeks have survived in a
pristine, natural state. Still, creeks are resilient. With care and
stewardship, the health of a creek can rebound.
Of course, stream characteristics
vary depending upon where you live. A healthy creek may be an
intermittent stream that does not flow year-round. Water flow and
characteristics of the creek banks, stream bed, vegetation and
wildlife also vary naturally along the length of each creek. A
thriving creek ecosystem is a diverse habitat where you will encounter
a range of conditions. You need to understand how your stretch of the
creek and your property fit into the overall ecosystem.
Although you can play a key role in
creek care, a creek's health is also affected by activities far beyond
the boundary of your property. Within the watershed, as natural
surfaces are paved and developed, less rainfall percolates into the
ground and more water flows directly into the creek system from
streets and storm drains. Almost always, this urban runoff carries
debris and pollutants that pose significant dangers to creeks. Water
entering the storm drains of Arlington is not treated to remove any
pollutants. While you may have little control over the entire
watershed, your diligence and cooperation with other creekside
neighbors can prevent and reduce activities which harm your creek.
Signs of a Healthy Creek
Water quality and
flow
- Cool, clear water free of
contaminants and excess algae
- Varied flow cycles
Creek bed and banks
- Stable vegetated banks with minimal
erosion
- Presence of both slow pools and fast
water running over shallow, rocky stretches
- Abundant rock and clean gravel of
various sizes (critical for fish spawning)
Plants and wildlife
- Native riparian tree canopy, which
stabilizes banks, provides habitat for birds and small mammals and
keeps water temperature cool for fish populations
- Abundance of native riparian
vegetation, providing cover for wildlife and root systems which
stabilize banks ("riparian" refers to the land adjacent to
creeks and rivers, where the vegetation is influenced by the
presence of water)
- Thriving fish, amphibian, and
aquatic insect populations
- Leaves, small branches, fallen logs
and other natural vegetative debris within the stream bed and along
banks, which support the aquatic food chain and provide hiding
places for fish and invertebrates
Symptoms of an Ailing Creek
Water quality and
flow
- Poor water quality, including
problems such as excessive algae, suspended sediments, contamination
from animal waste or sewage, or presence of metals or other toxics
- High water temperature (may be
unavoidable in Texas summers)
- Reduced water flow (although no flow
in Texas summers often is natural).
Creek bed and banks
- Loss of natural creek channel
- Excessive erosion along creek banks
or deeply incised stream bed and high rates of sedimentation
impeding stream flow
- Still water, an absence of pools,
riffles, or clean gravel (which may be covered by sediment)
- Litter, yard clippings, trash, and
other dumped debris
Plants and wildlife
- Lack of diversity in flora and fauna
- Barren creek banks
- Invading non-native plants which
compete with native species in the riparian corridor
- Diminished or non-existent fish,
amphibian and aquatic insect populations
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