Stream Restoration and Management Concepts

The video explores the restoration of Yellow Branch stream at Willow Oaks Farm, highlighting the transformation from a straight, flood-prone stream to a meandering one. It discusses the challenges of stream management, the impact on water resources, and the success of the project in handling floods. The restoration aims to reduce erosion, manage sediment, and improve water quality, benefiting the Baltimore region's drinking water supply.

What is the primary focus of Willow Oaks Farm?

• Nature and agriculture

• Urban expansion

• Industrial development

• Technology innovation

What was the main issue with the Yellow Branch stream before its transformation?

• It was too deep for fish to survive

• It was prone to flooding and erosion

• It was too narrow for boats

• It was polluted with industrial waste

What is a relatively new realization about streams?

• They should be straightened for better flow

• They are best left untouched

• They are meant to be serpentine

• They should be dammed to control water

What is the main goal of stream restoration?

• To increase water speed

• To build more dams

• To make streams look and function like they did historically

• To create more land for agriculture

What was a common practice in the 1940s and 50s regarding streams?

• Planting trees along their banks

• Building bridges over them

• Straightening and ditching them

• Creating artificial lakes

What is one method used to prevent erosion in stream restoration?

• Removing all vegetation

• Increasing water flow speed

• Adding bends to the stream

• Building concrete walls

Why is it important to manage what goes into streams?

• To ensure clean drinking water

• To reduce water temperature

• To attract tourists

• To increase fish population

What role does vegetation play in stream restoration?

• It attracts wildlife

• It blocks sunlight

• It helps process nutrients and store sediment

• It increases water temperature

What was the outcome of the recent test from mother nature at Willow Oaks Farm?

• The stream was diverted to a new path

• The stream dried up completely

• The stream functioned as designed, handling the flood effectively

• The stream overflowed and caused damage

How does Scott McGill measure the success of a stream restoration project?

• By the amount of water diverted

• By the number of fish in the stream

• By the length of the stream

• By the response of the site to natural events