Project Highlight: Big Dry Creek at Cherry Knolls

Here is a recently completed urban stream restoration along Big Dry Creek in the Cherry Knolls neighborhood. This project was completed in 2021 and has revegetated very nicely. Even in an older urban setting it’s still a worthy goal to mimic natural stream form and function where we can, but we shouldn’t ignore the value of existing infrastructure like trails, utilities, and nearby homes. On this project it meant there was quite the combination of bank stabilization techniques from very robust grouted boulders, to vegetated soil riprap, to wrapped soil lifts, to simply relying on vegetation. Watch to the end to see what the project looked like immediately post construction and for a construction plan excerpt.
This was a fantastic project that achieved stability along with flood protection, ecological restoration, improved water quality, and it’s a place for people to connect with nature in the middle of the city. This project was led by the Southeast Metro Stormwater Authority and the South Suburban Parks and Recreation District. The design and construction teams included Olsson, Stream Landscape Architecture + Planning, CORVUS Environmental Consulting, and Naranjo Civil Constructors.