In Conway, Arkansas, an approach built around plants, soil, wetlands and carefully designed spaces has produced a striking environmental result. The Lake Conway-Point Remove Watershed was identified as a priority watershed in 2011, and years of planning eventually led to a green infrastructure project focused on the Stone Dam Creek Tributary. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that the completed project is estimated to reduce nitrogen loads by 41 per cent and phosphorus loads by 44 per cent annually, while also cutting sediment by 48 per cent. The achievement demonstrates how nature-based stormwater management can tackle water pollution while simultaneously addressing flooding, habitat and community needs.
The problem was closely connected to rapid urban development. Stone Dam Creek Tributary sits within the Lake Conway-Point Remove Watershed and is heavily developed, with the EPA reporting that about 83% of the tributary's area was developed. Stormwater rushing across roads, parking areas, buildings and other hard surfaces can carry nutrients, sediment and other pollutants into waterways. The tributary had been affected by stormwater flood events, erosion and channelization, while pollutants including nutrients, pathogens and sediment contributed to water-quality concerns. Excess nitrogen and phosphorus are particularly important because they can stimulate excessive plant and algae growth, a process known as eutrophication, which can degrade aquatic ecosystems.
