While stream restoration projects are generally not eligible in this category, several were submitted this year. The jurors felt it was important to recognize a project that they felt was exceptional for its habitat creation and the diversity of restoration approaches. The Cattail Creek project used stream restoration and living shoreline design principles to guide the restoration of this site, reconnecting water and land resources. The restored tributary was reconnected to its upstream reach, including a bog complex, enhancing fish passage and habitat connectivity. Shallow in-stream pools enhance habitat for aquatic plants and animals. The design and planting palette of the project is inspired in part by the historical presence of a Magnolia bog, a globally rare ecosystem home to unique species that thrive in acidic, saturated soils.
