Concrete Box Culverts—Four-sided concrete structures will be placed beneath bridge crossings to help direct the flow of the creek under roadways. Temporary road-closings will be required during the construction of these culverts.

Cleanup—Throughout the approximately 3.8 miles of Carrier Creek from I-496 North, a large number of creek flow blockages have been and will continue to be removed from the creek. These blockages range from log jams to human refuse including old appliances. Many of these blockages disrupt flow of water, causing increased bank erosion and decreased water quality, and are often extremely unsightly. Click here to view photos.

Cross Vanes, J-Hooks, and Riffle Zones—In-stream rock structures used to stabilize eroding banks.

•They work by directing water currents away from the banks and directing flow into the middle of the stream.

•The channel then becomes more narrow and deeper, and alleviates water eroding the banks (which therefore also helps eliminate further sedimentation).

•These structures have a secondary purpose of creating fish habitat downstream of the structures.

Detention Control Structures—Detention control structures are developed to regulate the flow of water runoff. These structures temporarily hold runoff in a contained area, and then release it at a controlled rate, to minimize flooding and the flashy hydrology of the watershed, reduce erosion, and improve water quality.

Erosion —Erosion is the process of wearing away of land by various forces. In Carrier Creek, flashy hydrology and currents acting directly on steep, unvegetated creek banks cause erosion. As the hydrology becomes flashier and current velocities increase, bank erosion increases. Erosion results in large volumes of sediment being deposited within the channel, which can contribute to unwanted flooding. Click here to view photos.

Flashy Hydrology—Flashy hydrology refers to rapid changes in water level following heavy rains. Today, Carrier Creek water levels can fluctuate from just a few inches to nearly four feet within hours. As the water levels rise, erosion is accelerated; and as water recedes, eroded material is deposited within the channel.

Impervious Surface—A surface that does not allow stormwater to be absorbed into the soil (for example, paved parking lots and rooftops).

Livestaking—Livestaking is the process of installing woody plants into the eroding bank. Material that will be used for live stakes along Carrier Creek includes silky and red osier dogwood and various other shrub-type plants. The purpose of livestaking is to provide long-term stability of streambanks through plants and their root systems, and to provide shading and habitat for the watercourse.

Meanders—A curve in the course of a stream creek that continually swings from side to side in wide loops as it progresses across relatively flat land. The construction of meanders increases stability of the creek, reduces erosion, improves water quality, and increases habitat diversity. A steep-sided channel characterizes the outer bend of a meander, while the inner bend is more gently sloping. More than 40 meanders will be constructed as part of the Carrier Creek project.

Stream Bank Armoring—A combination of stone and log structures will be built to stabilize portions of the bank to protect them from further erosion. In many cases, these structures will have the added benefit of improving fish habitat and water quality.

Sedimentation—The accumulation of sediment, derived from erosion, within a stream channel. As this sediment builds, it obstructs the current and diverts it toward adjacent banks, which increases erosion. In addition, excessive sedimentation can lead to flooding and unhealthy stream ecology.

Stormwater—Rain and snowmelt runoff that washes directly into the creek. In developed areas, stormwater picks up motor oil, fertilizer, and other materials that flow directly into the creek without any kind of treatment or natural ground filtration. The more impervious surfaces there are in an area (for example, rooftops and parking lots), the more pollutants the stormwater contains.

Stream Velocity—The speed at which water flows through a stream. The higher the velocity, the greater the erosive force of the stream.

Watershed—A watershed is composed of all the land that drains into a particular body of water. The Carrier Creek watershed includes about 11 square miles, or 7,400 acres, in Delta and Windsor Townships and the City of Lansing. Click here to view area overview map.

Wetland Detention Areas—Wetland complexes that will serve as storage areas for stormwater, to filter out pollutants before they enter the creek. These detention areas assist in reducing the flashiness of the creek downstream of the basins. The basins will be a natural wetland complex with standing water, marshes, shrubs and forested wetlands, and will host a wide variety of plant and animal life.