A Cleaner Stream
Restoration Efforts
You can help restore Nine Mile Run by donating or signing up to volunteer at ninemilerun.org
Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration
The first major restoration project for Nine Mile Run was completed by the Army Corps of Engineers in 2006. Called the Nine Mile Run Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration, the project was one of the first major stream restoration projects in the country.
This video explains the first major restoration project for the stream (WQED, 2010)
This project restored a two mile section of the stream, redirecting its flow, reinforcing its banks, and planting native plants around it. The stream is now is able to handle higher volumes of water, making it better prepared for large rainstorms. It is also now a more natural habitat for invertebrates, fish, and plants. (WQED, 2010)
This area is part of the wetlands that were restored by the Army Corps of Engineers
Nine Mile Run Watershed Association
While the stream restoration by the Army Corps of Engineers led to great improvements, Nine Mile Run is still not a healthy stream. Currently, the Nine Mile Run Watershed Association (NMRWA) is working to clean up the stream through several ongoing projects.
Rosedale Runoff Reduction
The Rosedale Runoff Reduction Project aims to remove some of the runoff that flows into Nine Mile Run. The plan is to create green infrastructure that will reduce the amount of stormwater flowing into the sewers. One aspect of this is to give away rain barrels to residents in the watershed. These rain barrels collect storm water from gutters, so it can be released into the water table later. The water from the rain barrel can be used for watering lawns and gardens, so it can be slowly absorbed by the ground. This project also aims to create 10 rain gardens in the area, further reducing runoff from impervious surfaces (Rosedale, 2015). Read more about it here.
Greenlinks
Greenlinks is a project that has planted nearly 900 trees in the watershed since it began in 2003. The goal is to improve the urban forest in the area, as trees can absorb thousands of gallons of stormwater each year. Installing rain gardens and permeable paving are also part of this project, as these reduce runoff (Greenlinks). Read more about it here.
Stream Sweeps
The NMRWA also organizes community events to clean up the stream. In these stream sweeps, volunteers clear out trash from the stream. One of these events saw volunteers removing "items such as tarps, bicycles, shopping carts, street signs, hubcaps and tires" (Hayes, 2009). Events like these can raise awareness for the pollution in the stream, and encourage local people to get involved in other ways (Hayes, 2009).
In one stream sweep, volunteers removed 68 bags of trash (Hayes, 2009)