Community Development: The Effects of Construction on Riparian Corridors.

Riparian corridors consist of unique plant communities adjacent to streams and improve water quality by reducing stream bank erosion and excess sediment entering aquatic ecosystems. Mullins Creek, an on-campus stream apart of the Town Branch tributary, catches solid waste such as trash bags, water bottles, and construction materials. The University of Arkansas (UA) Crop, Soil, and Environmental Science (CSES) student club partnered with the Beaver Watershed Alliance and other student led organizations on the UA campus to locate sources of waste from active construction sites located adjacent to Mullins Creek. The club participated in stream clean-up efforts in the fall of 2015 and sorted waste present in Mullins Creek and its riparian zone. The CSES Club conducted an audit of waste located in the riparian zones of Mullins Creek to determine the amount of trash coming from predetermined construction sites located along the creek. The waste audit, conducted by the CSES Club, was compared to the “Town Branch Watershed Clean up Report” conducted by the Beaver Watershed Alliance in February of 2015. The document serves as a comparison of water quality before construction began and helped the club analyze active construction site management. The club used the audit to develop educational awareness strategies geared toward educating individuals about the importance of construction management and development. Club members understood their impact on riparian corridors and were able to participate in communal clean up efforts.