The Fourche Creek Watershed Restoration Initiatives by Audubon Arkansas‏

A watershed or drainage basin is a section in the land where water from rains or melted snow can flow into a body of water like a river, a lake or a reservoir. It acts like a funnel that collects all the water in the area covered by the basin and transports it through a waterway and into the body of water.

In the state of Arkansas, the most important urban watershed is the Fourche Creek Watershed. The watershed drains and filters water coming from the lands of Little Rock, the capital of Arkansas. Decades of abuse has caused several damages to the watershed's ecosystem that requires extensive restoration work. The watershed supports a wide variety of plants and animal life within a 1,800 acre main bottomland region. Audubon Arkansas stands in the forefront of restoration efforts for Fourche Creek, and works for the education and outreach to get people from the state to get involved in these efforts.

Fourche Creek was named by French explorers who observed that the creek divides or "forked" just before it flows into the Arkansas River. The French word for fork is "fourche" and is pronounced as "fush" or "foosh" by the locals. The Fourche Creek watershed is composed of six streams and nine primary tributaries. Stretching across the whole length of the city of Little Rock, the watershed includes several large and isolated urban wetlands. The creek drains in water into the Arkansas River located at the south of downtown Little Rock. Another flow is immediately below the city's wastewater treatment facility. Ten city parks borders the creek and its tributaries, with 90,000 acres located within the city limits of Little Rock. 2,000 acres remain intact as wetlands and remains undeveloped. However, it is surrounded by commercial and industrial sites with utility corridors crisscrossing the area. This area would require extra restoration efforts.

A typical storm can fill up Fourche Creek's wetlands with up to a billion gallons of water. Water purification is provided by the creek, watershed and wetland areas, although these can also offer efficient containment and storage of floodwaters, air and water pollution control, and wildlife habitations within the city. The creek is home to over 50 species of fish and is surrounded by three hundred year old bald cypress which houses a diverse population of migratory birds.

Audubon Arkansas heads the restoration and maintenance efforts for Fourche Creek. Established in 2000, it works to inspire Arkansans to get involved in natural resources conservation and the preservation and restoration of natural habitats. Like the restoration work in Fourche Creek, Audubon Arkansas focuses on aquatic ecosystems which has been degraded by urban development and population spread. This results to sedimentation, encroachment of floodplain areas, and the urban conversion of wetlands.

Part of the restoration efforts by Audubon Arkansas involves conducting programs to increase the knowledge and understanding of the public regarding the importance of watersheds and the impact of environmental issues that can affect the city's water resources. Water quality conservation is promoted by working with landowners, local governments, and members of the community that are within watersheds.

James Farkenfur writes for homeowners. Additional information available at:
http://www.localrestorations.com/Arkansas