The banks of the Prairie Creek Reservoir are known to have their fair share of problems. Erosion of the banks, especially on the east side, is a major concern. In addition to the bank erosion, there are many areas where gullies have formed, creating a direct route for sediment and other pollutants to get into the reservoir. These problems were especially apparent directly north of the beach parking area. Within a five-acre parcel, there were three cost-share projects, two eroded gullies and one majorly eroded bank.

The first of the gullies was a 400 foot long trench that was continually moving sediment directly into the water. It also flowed under a gravel road and during heavy rains would cause the gravel to wash into the lake. The maintenance practices did not help to slow down the erosion of the gully. Cool season grasses and their shallow root systems did little to hold the soil together.

The gully was re-graded and moved to the “low” spot where it would naturally flow. A new culvert was placed to allow the water to flow under the gravel road. Native vegetation was seeded along the length of the gully. Erosion fabric was placed to prevent erosion while the vegetation grows healthy root systems. A series of check dams were placed along the length of the new gully to help slow the water and cause sediment to drop out. These corrections will help to reduce 69 tons of sediment from reaching the reservoir.

The second gully was a much smaller one, but it still caused over three tons of sediment to pollute the reservoir. The cause of the gully is a pipe that drains over 5 acres of lawn directly across the road. The solution to this problem was to armor the drainage swale with native vegetation and to strategically place a couple of check dams in order to slow the water’s erosive potential.

The final project was the repair of a 200 foot eroded bank that ran along one of the arms of the reservoir. The bank had greater than one to one slopes and there were areas where large amounts of soil had sloughed into the water. Coir logs were placed along the bank and vegetation was placed around the logs. The logs will help to protect the bank as the native sedges grow and develop healthy root systems. Other native plants were seeded along the bank and erosion fabric was placed to hold the hillside together while the plants develop.

All of the projects will be maintained by the Muncie Parks Department. They will alter their management practices to allow the native vegetation to grow and flourish. These changes will include expanding “no mow” areas, reducing traffic in the area, and promoting the growth of the native plants. All of this work will help to create a healthy, clean reservoir that all can enjoy.