Incorporating Natural Stream Protection into Municipal Infrastructure Design: A Kansas City Model

Natural stream preservation was a key feature of the 2003 update to a model storm drainage design criteria used in the greater Kansas City area. The criteria contained detailed guidance on buffer zones and standards for construction in and near the stream. Standards were provided for culvert, bridge, and utility crossings, storm drain outfalls, flood control projects, floodplain fills, and bank stabilization measures. Guidance and discussion was provided for hydrologic controls, systematic grade control, and stream restoration. The criteria focused on practical guidelines for typical urban construction and deliberately avoided focusing on more complex stream restoration. A standardized method of data gathering and stream assessment was presented. The criteria (Section 5600) is published and maintained by the Kansas City metropolitan chapter of the American Public Works Association and can be downloaded at http://www.kcapwa.net/specifications.asp. This paper also discusses some of the philosophy and reasoning behind the criteria.