Projects

Audubon Arkansas is working on several restoration projects in the Fourche Creek Watershed. These projects will demonstrate streambank stabilization, stream corridor enhancement, habitat improvement, stream channel restoration, and mine reclamation.

Explore the links below to learn more about specific projects.

Coleman Creek Restoration with UALR and FTN

Audubon Arkansas, FTN, and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock are working together to restore over 500 feet of Coleman Creek. The section of creek being restored is just north of Asher Avenue and is surrounded by parking lots and buildings. Much of the channel is lined with asphalt and concrete. The first stage of the project will likely begin in the summer of 2007 and will involve the removal of several acres of asphalt parking lot and multiple buildings.

I-440 Borrow Pond Project

This joint effort by Audubon Arkansas, the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department, and Arkansas Game and Fish will provide safe access to an excellent fishing and nature observation spot. Since people currently illegally pull-off the Interstate to fish here, the first step of the project is to contruct an access road to the pond from Arch St. Once the road is complete, Audubon Arkansas will complete a series of habitat improvements in the area including: varying depths in the pond and planting native trees and aquatic plants. These improvements will provide better habitat for birds and fish.

Storm Drain Marking

Rain Gardens and Rain Barrels

Reforestation at Hindman and Fourche Bottoms Park

This summer Audubon Arkansas planted hundreds of Tupelo and Cypress trees along the banks of Fourche Creek in Hindman Park and in Fourche Bottoms Park. These trees will help stabilize exposed banks and prevent erosion.

Streambank Stabilization on Rock Creek

This project stabilized a 200 foot stretch of Rock Creek between Markham and Interstate 630. This sheer bank has been eroded due to the clearing of vegetation in the area and the regular bulldozing of the stream channel for flood protection. Audubon Arkansas will lower the slope of the bank and then plant the area with native vegetation. This project will drastically lower the ammount of sediment entering Rock Creek from this eroding site.

Chenal Parkway Riparian Restoration

This project restored an eroded stream channel of a Rock Creek tributary. First the stream channel was regraded to handle the increased flows that have resulted from the recent conversion of forested areas to large scale commercial developments. The increase in impervious surfaces such as parking lots and buildings near this stream has increased peak flows in this tributary, leading to problems with erosion.

After the channel was regraded, flow controlling rock check dams and vanes were added to slow the flow of stormwater. The project area was then seeded with native grasses and wildflowers and planted with aquatic plants.

Trash Removal and Clean-ups:

Litter Boom Project
Audubon is partnering with BFI Landfill to maintain two trash collecting booms across Fourche Creek. These booms collect trash from three major drainages Rock Creek, Coleman Creek, and the mainstem of Fourche Creek. Litter generated in the drainage ways finds its way into the three streams, flows down Fourche Creek, and washes out in low lying areas of the floodway. Significant quantities of litter, exceeding six (6) tons over the last three years, have been collected from these low lying areas, and clean up efforts are continuing. These booms contribute significantly to cleaning up Fourche Creek.

Gillam Park Cleanup
Audubon Arkansas conducted a clean-up at Gillam Park November 14th and 21st. Working with the City of Little Rock, we removed dozens of tires and several large piles of illegally dumped construction materials.

Hindman Park Cleanup