Success StoryBackyard Stream Success



Backyard Stream Success

Author: Amanda Gumbert

Planning Unit: Agriculture and Natural Resources Programs

Major Program: Backyard Streams

Outcome: Intermediate Outcome

Kentucky has over 90,000 miles of streams and rivers, with many of those stream miles passing through urban landscapes. To help address homeowner concerns related to backyard streams, University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service water specialists developed a Backyard Streams program. This program includes an online course with 12 learning modules, publications, workshops, videos, and a website housing these resources. Over 25 participants have completed all modules and have received Backyard Stream Steward certificates. Specialists have partnered with Friends of Wolf Run Watershed, Andover Neighborhoods, and SD1 to offer focused workshops and presentations for residential audiences, highlighting best practices for stream stewardship and assisting in the development of on-the-ground streamside buffer plantings. As a result of the workshop with residents in the SD1 service area, 73% indicated they planned to explore streams in their community; 82% planned to implement best management practices in their stream buffer zones; and 82% planned to encourage neighbors and others to make stream restoration a priority. As a result of the partnership with Friends of Wolf Run Watershed, a new project to evaluate effectiveness of small-scale residential stormwater practices is underway, with a scheduled completion timeline of Fall 2020. Developing and promoting the Backyard Streams program has been an effective way to address urban stream concerns in an interactive and influential way.






Stories by Amanda Gumbert


Life Hacks over Lunch: A Meet-up Series for Watershed Professionals

about 1 years ago by Amanda Gumbert

Members of the Southern Extension-Research Activity-46 (SERA-46) team identified a need for building... Read More


A Collaborative Approach to Forested Stream Buffer Implementation

about 1 years ago by Amanda Gumbert

Stream buffers provide various ecosystem services including stabilizing stream banks, regulating str... Read More


Stories by Agriculture and Natural Resources Programs


Mentoring new catfish farmer

about 1 years ago by Forrest Wynne

A new channel catfish farmer in Hickman Co. has been mentored for the past 14 months. His fingerling... Read More


Empowering clientele to propagate and produce their own fruit trees

about 1 years ago by Sheri Crabtree

Empowering clientele to propagate and produce their own fruit treesWith supply chain issues causing ... Read More