Stream Restoration in West Virginia
Streams can be affected by many natural and artificial processes. Stream restoration can help repair the function of streams that have changed to improve watershed health and keep people living near the stream safe. This Science & Technology Note explains why streams may undergo changes necessitating stream restoration, breaks down the advantages and disadvantages of different types of stream restoration methods, and highlights potential funding sources and policies for stream restoration in West Virginia.
Updated September 10, 2026
Research Highlights
Stream restoration projects may help to reduce flooding impacts in West Virginia.
Projects are specifically designed for the stream and surrounding environment that they will be located in.
Plants, animals, and people in communities surrounding streams benefit from stream restoration projects.
West Virginia has a number of state and federal funding structures available for stream restoration work.
West Virginia’s Streams
About 35% of West Virginia’s streams are classified as ‘impaired’ according to the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). These streams might benefit from stream restoration. Many types of historic land use in West Virginia may have contributed to stream quality in the state. Mining, logging, and increased urban development can all impact stream health via changes in stream flows and floodplain reduction.
Well-functioning streams and floodplain systems can reduce flooding and pollution and increase habitats and diversity for native plant and animal species. Healthy stream systems lose about 10-20% of rainwater as runoff, while unhealthy stream systems can lose 60-70% of rainfall as runoff, contributing to flash flooding.
Stream Restoration Technologies
Stream restoration attempts to restore streams back to their original, pre-human intervention state. Methods of stream restoration include bank stabilization, planting vegetation along streams, reconnecting streams to surrounding floodplains, and reducing stormwater flow. Stream restoration can be classified as form (changing the stream’s shape to improve its health) or function (improving stream health without changing its shape) restoration. The methods used depend on the specific goals of the project, its location, the condition of the stream, and the needs of the nearby community. Natural Channel Design is a commonly used method in the mid-Atlantic region, including in West Virginia, due to its ability to compensate for storms and erosion and need for relatively little maintenance.
After flooding is a common time to perform stream restoration. Dredging, or removing debris and other blockages in streams, is sometimes applicable, but may not always be the best method. Instead, other practices, such as bank stabilization or planting vegetation may be used. After a restoration project, ongoing monitoring can be used to analyze the impact of the project. Currently, only about 10% of projects receive monitoring. One study of 434 stream restoration projects in Southern Appalachia estimated that 117 of them implemented follow-up monitoring. Even if a stream is unable to be fully restored, it can often benefit from similar processes used in stream restoration to enhance the health of the stream.
Various methods of stream restoration are used depending on the goals of a project and whether restoring the form or function of the stream is the top priority. Adapted from Guidance for Stream Restoration and How is Stream Restoration Done?
Several recently completed stream restoration projects in West Virginia showed environmental and human benefits. One project in Logan County used vegetation and woody materials to improve stream health, eventually resulting in the reintroduction of elk and the growth of a vulnerable native wildflower. Another project to restore Three Fork Creek in Preston and Taylor counties resulted in reduced dissolved minerals, increased fish populations, and increased property values after restoration.
Before (left) and after (right) photos of a stream restoration project at Laurel Fork stream in Holly River State Park. The project used redirective techniques to change the speed and depth of water and increase its oxygen content, improving fish breeding habitats in the stream.
Policies for Funding Stream Restoration
Several partnership and shared funding models are available for stream restoration projects federally. West Virginia also has a state-level Stream Partners Program through the DEP, the Division of Natural Resources, the Division of Forestry, and the state Soil Conservation Agency. In the FY 2027 budget, the state allocated approximately $3.7 million for stream restoration, $77,000 of which was dedicated to the Stream Partners Program. Virginia has a similar program, however, they limit program eligibility to flooded streams, while West Virginia has no such provision. West Virginia limits total grant amounts through the Stream Partners Program while Virginia does not provide a maximum amount. West Virginia requires groups to match at least 20% of state funding, while Virginia specifies that state funding may make up no more than 50% of the total cost of a project. Due to the number of poor quality streams in the state, West Virginia could consider increasing the total grant amount or adjusting the state matching percentage through the Stream Partners Program if the state wanted to incentivize stream restoration activities. Alternatively, groups or individuals in West Virginia wishing to perform stream restoration activities could use federal funding as an additional funding source for stream restoration.
This Science and Technology Note was prepared by Madison Flory, PhD, West Virginia Science & Technology Policy Fellow on behalf of the West Virginia Science and Technology Policy (WV STeP) Initiative. The WV STeP Initiative provides nonpartisan research and information to members of the West Virginia Legislature. This Note is intended for informational purposes only and does not indicate support or opposition to a particular bill or policy approach. Please contact info@wvstep.org for more information.