8/20/25

Things are beginning to wind down and we are approaching the end of this project. The culvert crew recently finished surveying all sites available on public land (a huge accomplishment!). Our to do list is now focused on crossings on private land. Our first step is to contact landowners to request permission to survey on their land, so maybe you’ll receive a call from us soon, reader!

6/23/25

The team has spent the last couple of weeks surveying near the Hardy and Batesville area, where we’ve picked up a few new crew members! These furry and feathery friends were a welcome morale boost on our longest day of surveying. Another exciting find was a group of bats roosting in one of our crossing sites! For every crossing, we fill out a survey form to record its measurements and characteristics which are later used to score its passability for aquatic organisms. However, the last question of this form serves a different purpose and merely asks if bats are present in an effort to aid wildlife biologists. We have only been able to answer yes once before and this was for a single bat so it was amazing to find and report this many bats!

5/19/25

Spring is upon us this field season and summer is quickly approaching. Last week our team surveyed sites in the Ouachitas region. Many sites were overgrown and poison ivy and greenbrier were abundant. These obstacles are no match for our culvert crew however and we were able to add over 60 more road crossings to the SARP database. That's good news for the fish of this area because we encountered some severe barriers, including the vented ford below, where the inlet was almost completely clogged by sediment and debris. The water that was able to flow through the inlet was traveling much faster than the rest of the stream.

4/30/25

To determine if a crossing is acting as a significant barrier to aquatic organism (fish, mussels, amphibians, etc.) passage, our team takes in to account several factors. Many of these factors look at how the conditions in the crossing structure differ from those in the stream such as water depth, water velocity, and substrate type.  The more these conditions contrast from each other, the harder passage may be. Our team also looks for structure deformation, debris clogs, and inlet/outlet grades. The grade refers to where the mouth of the structure is in relation to the stream. The best option is at stream grade, where the structure is on the same level as the stream. However, we find a large number of crossings where the inlet, outlet, or both are perched above the stream. This means water has to travel up into the inlet and/or freefall from the outlet (demonstrated in the picture below on the left).  This creates a significant barrier to passage.

The picture on the right represents a structure that is not likely to act as a barrier to passage. The bridge spans the entire stream channel and its banks. Since it is not constricting the width of the stream like the culverts on the left, the water depth and velocity under the bridge are comparable to the natural conditions. Since the bridge has no bottom, the substrate is also comparable to natural conditions and is at stream grade. Additionally, this bridge also provides dry passage for terrestrial or semi-aquatic organisms such as turtles to move up and downstream without being forced onto dangerous roads.

4/29/25

After many field hours and hard work from past and present team members, we are almost finished surveying the publicly available sites in Northwest Arkansas! This area has a huge number of road crossings, likely because of its increasing population size and development. This presents its own unique challenges for our crew as we navigate traffic on interstate crossings and follow buried crossings through multiple parking lots. However, alongside its challenges, this area also boasts beautiful views of its streams and wildlife. Pictured below are some of the wildlife we have encountered in this region so far including a banded sculpin (Cottus carolinae), Eastern garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis ssp. sirtalis) and snail-case caddisflies (Family: Helicopsychidae).

We have also begun surveying sites in our remaining regions of the Ouachita mountains and Northeast Arkansas. Within these two regions, we have found ourselves conducting many surveys along unpaved roads in rural areas. At these sites, we have often found common crossing types to be natural, unnatural, and vented fords. A natural ford is where the stream simply runs over the road, with no infrastructure in place. An unnatural ford would be a crossing where there is some type of infrastructure, usually a slab of concrete placed across a gravel road where the stream crosses it. A vented ford is the aforementioned with a culvert(s) allowing some water to run under or through the ford itself. Fords often have a much shallower water depth than the rest of the stream and can impede aquatic organism passage. Fortunately, that's what we're here for!

2/18/25

Our team has been doing a lot of data collection in the northwest Arkansas region, working in the Illinois River, Kings River, and War Eagle Watersheds. As of recently, we have completed the majority of our sites in the area, and are expecting to finish what is left in the weeks to come hopefully.

After completing this region, we will start collecting data in the northeast region of the state as well as the Ouachitas Region. These areas will include the Strawberry, Eleven Point, Spring, and Upper Ouachitas River watersheds. The team has already made a couple trips to these areas when the NWA region was not possible due to weather conditions, and we look forward to getting to further our data collection in these areas coming soon!

Improper stream crossings - such as undersized and undermined culverts or poorly maintained bridges - can lead to serious flooding and erosion problems for landowners. These structures can block or redirect water flow, causing water to backup or overflow during heavy rainfall. This can lead to increased erosion along streambanks and even damage to surrounding properties. Many of our sites pass through or run right beside a landowners property. By collecting and analyzing data on stream crossings,  although Fish and Aquatic Organism passage are the main focus, our work  could potentially benefit some landowners facing these issues. Here's how:

Reducing Flooding Risks

When a stream crossing is too small or obstructed by debris, it can prevent water from flowing smoothly, resulting in flooding upstream of the crossing. This can cause significant property damage, disrupt agricultural land, and flood residential roadways. By identifying these problematic crossings and implementing improvements - such as larger culverts or bridges designed to withstand higher water volume levels - we can help landowners reduce the risk of flooding. Our data will go to help prioritize which crossings need upgrades to improve water flow and fish passability, which can thus prevent the backup and flooding that can damage properties.

Reducing Erosion Along Stream Banks

Improper stream crossings can also contribute to increased erosion, particularly when water is forced to change course or speeds up as it moves through a constricted crossing. The increased velocity can erode stream banks, wash away soil, and damage any nearby land over time. Through our data collection, failing or poor crossings with severe passability scores likely also have exacerbating erosion, and by replacing and improving those crossings, we help landowners protect their property from long-term erosion damage, as well as help the aquatic life in the stream.

In Arkansas, many of our streams and rivers cross under roadways via bridges, culverts, and other structures, which can significantly impact the flow of water and the movement of aquatic organisms. Here's why monitoring is crucial for both current and future restoration efforts:

Tracking the impact of Stream crossings on Aquatic Life

Stream crossings can create barriers for fish and other aquatic organisms, preventing them from moving freely between habitats. By collecting detailed data on each crossing - such as height, width, and length, as well as factors like water depth, bankfull, and the precense of sediment or debris -we can assess how these structures may be impeding water flow or restricting species movement. For example, if a culvert is too small or clogged with debris, it could create a bottleneck for water and organisms because water cannot flow through it properly. Monitoring allows us to track which crossings are most problematic and measure how these obstacles might be impacting aquatic ecosystems over time.

Informing Restoration of Stream Crossings

This data also helps guide the restoration of stream crossings. For crossings that are causing significant problems - wether through reduced water flow, debris buildup, or difficulty for species to migrate, this information can directly inform how and where changes should be made. For example, a culvert that is too narrow could be replaced with one that allows for better flow and easier movement of organisms, while a crossing with excessive sediment or debris could be cleared to ensure better water quality. By measuring and documenting the current conditions of crossings, we can prioritize which sites need immediate attention and develop more effective solutions.

10/8/24 

The Importance of Barriers and Stream Crossings:

The Southeast Aquatic Connectivity Program (SARP) aims to improve aquatic connectivity across the Southeastern United States. By addressing the barriers created by road-stream crossings, SARP promotes healthier ecosystems and supports the diverse aquatic life that relies on free flowing streams. Barriers such as culverts and bridges play a significant role in our landscapes; while they facilitate transportation for humans, they can disrupt the natural movement of fish and other aquatic orgnaisms. When these species are unable to navigate their habitats effectively, it can have cascading effects on their populations and the broader ecosystem. Understanding and assessing these bariers is crucial for the conservation of our aquatic resources. 

Aquatic Fragmentation caused by Barriers and the Effects of It:

Aquatic fragmentation caused by these barriers restricts the movement of fish and other aquatic organisms. This disruption can hinder spawning and access to feeding areas, impacting species that rely on connectivity. Culverts can also alter water flow, affecting sediment transport, temperature, and nutrient cycling, which may lead to habitat degradation and increased flood risks. Furthermore, over time culverts can accumulate debris and sediment, creating blockages that exacerbate their effects as barriers. This can lead to increased water quality issues and degraded habitats. The precense of culverts alone can shift the dynamics of aquatic ecosystems, favoring more resilient or invasive species while disadvantaging native species that are less adaptable to fragmented habitats.

Northwest Arkansas and The Illinois Watershed:

Our team has been actively working in Northwest Arkansas, specifically in the Illinois River Watershed recently. We have encountered unique challenges, including crossings located on private property and those situated around construction zones. Additionally, older structures in this region have become sediment choked or crushed in, impeding fish and water passage, while heavy construction in the area has led to the complete removal of certain crossings. Documenting these conditions allows us to advocate for necessary improvements and projects that will enhance connectivity. 

04/30/24 - After our meeting with the ASHP, the team decided to switch gears and prioritize surveying efforts in Northwest Arkansas. Last week, Whitney and Brady headed up to Siloam Springs to kick off surveying with Sager Creek. They conducted around 40 surveys of road crossings of Sager Creek and its tributaries.

Sager Creek is one of the main attractions in Siloam Springs, with its downtown area centered along the heavily modified banks of the stream. There are numerous bridges, walking trails, and pedestrian accesses to the creek, all within walking distance of restaurants, shopping, and entertainment. The picturesque state of the creek can be attributed to several dams and the artificial decorative rock banks, which draw in tourists.

There has been an issue with pollution in Sager Creek since the 1970s, which was apparent to the team as soon as they got close to the water. “The stream was heavily polluted, each time the stadia rod touched the water, a film of algae would coat it. It made for easy measuring, but we will have to remember to bring hand sanitizer next time we come,” Whitney remarked, “The stream could be characterized by the extreme amounts of snails and algae. And the smell of the stream was not pleasant. My boots reeked by the end of the day.”

On one of the tributaries to the north of Sager Creek, in a subdivision, the team encountered what Brady described as “a monstrosity.” This culvert had a combined 11 circle-shaped culverts and was connected to a box culvert that led underground. “It was the gift that kept giving,” Whitney laughed, “When we saw it, we were both surprised, but the closer we got, the stranger it got. It was very interesting!”

So far, the team has focused on crossings in rural areas, and this was their first trip surveying in a larger town. Urban surveying has its challenges—concerned homeowners, pollution, and reduced access, to name a few. But it also has its perks, like a variety of dining and lodging options. The team will likely go back to the area soon, as there are many crossings left to survey on Sager Creek.

Pictured below: Left: the monstrosity Right: Brady Bowers surveying a culvert on a tributary of Sager Creek

04/18/24 – The Arkansas Stream Heritage Partnership (ASHP) met on April 17-18th to discuss various barrier inventory, assessment, and removal projects from across the state. The meeting was sponsored by The Nature Conservancy, Central Arkansas Water, Crafton Tull, and the AR Dept of Agriculture – Natural Resources Division. 

The meeting was led by ASHP member Tate Wentz (Arkansas Dept of Agriculture – Natural Resources Division Water Quality Section Manager) and featured several presentations by ASHP members from various agencies across the state. Members shared ongoing and completed projects, research, and funding resources. Some exciting projects currently underway in the state include 

The generous donors provided the attendees with a social (TNC), dinner (Crafton Tull), and breakfast (Central Arkansas Water). 

To wrap up the meeting, members broke into groups to discuss major next steps and plans for the year.