Examples of creek restoration???

Through a lot of research and reading online, especially this website, I have seen people say things like, "there are plenty of creeks that have been restored and are now flowing." But I haven't seen any proof/documentation for these creeks. Now, I am NOT saying that I don't believe it's possible. I whole-heartily DO believe it is possible, but I would like some actual examples. Preferably the names of the creeks and/or the documentation of the project. I am more interested in examples that can be found in the American Southwest, including Texas. I have read both volumes of Brad Lancaster's rainwater harvesting, and there are a few mentioned examples. But like I said, it's the documentation that I am interested in.
I have a dry creek/wash that runs through my property, and since there is an old Comanche foot trail that runs along it, I am convinced that it use to flow with water, at least seasonally. Right now it just flows while it rains and MAYBE for thirty minutes after me. My biggest problem when it comes to restoring the creek is that I need to convince everyone UPSTREAM, approximately 5 other people. I would like to read the documentation so I can study it better before I try it.
If anyone has any good examples, or even experience, I would really appreciate it.

Jon La Foy : If you want it strongly enough, You can make it happen! However, you may well be on a course of action that can stretch on though the years !

Probably the clearest example of the very beginning of your journey would be this 12min. video clip from www.geofflawton.com

Goto :::--> www.geofflawton.com/fe/62176-desert-oasis?r=y <--::: Hint! use your mouse to highlight the bold part and try a right click to open in a new
window !

After you have watched the video you are going to say ''but where is the running water?'' You are only just started on your terraforming journey to a Permculture
Desert Food Forest. From this beginning- you will effect a change within this microclimate that will not only build soil, but will create the locally elevated water table
that will eventually become a source for your running stream!

More proof ? Use google maps and satellite images of the reported successes, if the satellite images come back green now, that should convince you that it is
green on the ground ! There are no fast answers, or quick solutions !

Winston Churchhill famously said of the D-Day Normandy invasion of WW11, ''This is not the End,'' ''nor is it the Beginning of the End'', '' rather it is perhaps the-
End of the Beginning !"

If you take on this task, you will not be an invading Army of Millions but you, and perhaps a few fellow travelers, the Creators of a small but magnificent challenge!

For the Good of the Crafts ! Big AL

Jon La Foy: Did you see the Thread posted by Neal Spackman '' 20 months of growth on swales in Saudi Arabia'', in this Forum?
While mildly discouraging, their progress towards a similar goal is progress, and IS worth Recognizing ! Big Al

Interesting question - I'm not sure I have seen documented evidence of creeks being restored, but it has been certainly discussed anecdotally a lot.

I do remember seeing a video of one in africa where through changes in land management practice a natural spring reemerged.

The principals are pretty straight forward - catch all water that falls on the land. Slow it down so that it has longer to soak in to the soil and charge the ground water. Ground water then discharges slowly over many months, as opposed to running off the surface in minutes.

Earthworks, such as swales, can form a part of this process, but so can altering land use patterns. Ag practices that promote soil carbon increase water infiltration and storage which is why grazing practices such as holistically planned management can have such a big impact.

Alternatively, you can reverse the situation - ask yourself what actions lead to flash flooding events down stream? Logging in the uplands decreases the lag time between rainfall and water flow for example. So the flip side of that argument is that reforestation on steep land should go some way to regulating water flow.

- I had totally forgotten that I had signed up for e-mail updates at www.geofflawton.com his newest video can be found by going to his site and Looking for

:::--> An Oasis in the American Desert !

Amoung other things he makes the point that 1) you don't have to have a 365 days a year running stream, and 2) Given enough time a properly prepared
site can restore itself ! For the Good of The Crafts ! Big AL

Hey i am curious why my video is mildly discouraging...

- because us dumb-ass Americans can not understand why we cant have everything yesterday ! Big AL

Tamera, in Portugal, have restored a creek. Not sure of any links to 'prove' it, but I'm sure you can google it as well as I can.

Everyone, thank you for your replies. I have not checked out that thread yet, but once I get a chance I'm all over it. I can't believe I never signed up for Lawton's free emails, so I did that right away and I watched the video you were talking about. It was great. I was born and raised in Arizona, so it hit right at home. I will google the creek in Portugal. Do you happen to remember the name of the creek?
Thank you all again, and if you remember anything else or other examples, don't hesitate to post!!

Here is an example from Central Texas!

http://www.grassfedlamb.net/

http://www.edwardsaquifer.net/brush.html

I cannot find the article that was about him restoring his creeks but it was very awesome. Basically cleared 100% non-native species, to include cedars and planted more natives. Of course there were other steps but I cannot recall them now. Maybe you could contact him for more information?

Please post any progress, or other ideas you find.

Joe

Joe, thanks for the link. I'll definitely try to make contact with him, especially since I live in the same county as his ranch!
I have the same basic thought: get rid of the water sucking trees on the slopes. This will allow the water to run all the way to the creek. I'm keeping the old growth cedars, as per every one inch of rain the trees dump six gallons of water into the earth. Clearing the trees has provided material for a chicken house and future fence.
I will eventually construct sealed across the slopes, but I think my next project for creek restoration is using large rock I dug up from a pond to build check dams in my creek bed.
Thanks again for the info.