2025
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South Central • Fannin County, Texas
Lower Bois d’Arc Reservoir Stream Mitigation Design
SWCA was retained to design stream and wetland restoration to mitigate impacts from the construction of the Lower Bois d'Arc Creek Reservoir by the North Texas Municipal Water District.
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Houston
10245 West Little York Road
Suite 600
Houston, Texas 77040
Suite 600
Houston, Texas 77040
Details
Completion
2021
Client
North Texas Municipal Water District
Office
Sub-Consultants
Resource Environmental Solutions, LLC
Description
SWCA was retained to design stream and wetland restoration to mitigate impacts from the construction of the Lower Bois d’Arc Creek Reservoir by the North Texas Municipal Water District. The project was the largest stream and wetland mitigation project on a single site in the United States and included more than 24 miles of Rosgen Priority 1 and 2 stream restoration; approximately 46 miles of Rosgen Priority 3 stream restoration and riparian-only restoration; and over 17,000 acres of emergent, scrub-shrub, and forested wetland restoration on a contiguous agricultural land largely occupied by the historic Riverby Ranch on the southern banks of the Red River and sites near the newly built Reservoir. SWCA also conducted cultural resources monitoring during construction.
Markets
Services
Water, Water, Everywhere: Stream and Wetland Restoration in North Texas
An afternoon thunderstorm rolls across the plains of northern Texas and on the banks of the Red River, the former cattle pastures and agricultural fields at Riverby Ranch slowly begin to fill with water. But there is no cause for concern; in fact, everything is going according to plan. As the North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) creates the area’s first major reservoir in nearly 30 years only a few miles from the Ranch, SWCA’s stream and wetland restoration plans will offset habitat lost to the new lake’s rising waters with a flood of its own – creating protected waterways and wetlands where cattle once grazed.
About seven miles upstream of the Ranch, Bois d’Arc Lake is taking shape. Once filled, the 16,641-acre lake will provide a critical supply of drinking water for two million people in north Texas, helping meet the demands of the area’s growing population.
In addition to the much-needed drinking water, Bois d’Arc Lake will also provide a variety of recreational opportunities for residents and visitors flocking to the area. Fannin County expects to see hundreds of millions of dollars in new economic activity each year between the construction of waterfront homes and associated property taxes, hotel occupancy taxes, visitor spending, and 2,400 new long-term jobs in the area.
Meet the Experts
Project Restoration Engineer • Fort Collins
Joseph Zhang
Joseph Zhang works as a restoration engineer in the ecological restoration group. Using AutoCAD, RiverMorph, HEC-RAS, and other programs, he develops and improves the engineering design of stream/wetland/shoreline restoration projects. He performs geomorphic assessments, conducts flood risk analysis, analyzes stream functions, and provides sustainable eco-solutions for clients.
Through years of experience in civil and environmental engineering projects in the western United States, he has developed skills in multi-criteria decision analysis, three-dimensional restoration design, fish habitat designs, and hydrology and hydraulics modeling. He leads colleagues to achieve goals and trains new professionals on skills to succeed in their careers. He also organizes local environmental stewardship volunteer events that demonstrate a deep appreciation for our rivers, mountains, and communities.
