Brush Creek is a direct tributary to the Missouri River in the Kansas City region in Platte County, Missouri. Brush Creek is approximately 11 miles long; its watershed encompasses approximately 15,045 acres (or 23.5 square miles) and it is contained within the Missouri River Main-stem Basin. While still mostly undeveloped, the Brush Creek watershed is expected to experience rapid development over the next decade. The Brush Creek watershed hosts valuable natural resources, including wetlands, prairies, forests, streams, lakes and numerous tributaries.

The Brush Creek Mid-Shed was the area of focus for this project and it encompasses approximately 2,400 acres. The primary objective of this project was to minimize the impacts of development on Brush Creek, and subsequent impacts to the Missouri River. The goal was to protect the stream habitat conditions with respect to recharge, hydrology, stream temperature, channel stability, riparian condition and sediment deposition.The project area begins just north of the intersection of Highways 152 and I-435, continuing south along the I-435/Brush Creek Corridor to just south of the Highway 45 intersection. Local and county planners are anticipating this area of the watershed to be completely developed within ten years. The rapid land-use conversion in this watershed will result in numerous road-stream crossings and land disturbance, resulting in an increase of sediment runoff from construction.

The five major goals achieved from this project included:

1. Assess potential impacts in the watershed by: a) completing a watershed assessment and critical area protection strategy (WACAPS); and b) identifying best management practices (BMPs) that will protect the watershed
2. Plan and design a comprehensive watershed management plan that: a) involves citizens, developers, local and regional planners and other stakeholders; b) facilitates major focus groups, trainings, public meetings, design charrettes, survey analyses and planning; and c) raises public awareness through multi-media efforts and education events
3. Facilitate implementation of the plan by: a) promoting the adoption of BMPs and governing statutes; and b) providing developers with monetary and public relations incentives through a cost-share progam;
4. Reduce pollutant loads based on BMPs pollution reduction data.
5. Evaluate and report project successes to watershed stakeholders, and transfer information to external stakeholders.

 To learn more about this project and how you can get involved, contact the Platte Land Trust today at info@plattelandtrust.com