By Evan Patrick
Restoring Harrison Fork: A Stream Revived at Bernheim Forest
Creating a healthy, dynamic stream and providing habitat for wildlife
Bernheim Forest is in the midst of an ambitious and impactful project: restoring nearly one mile of Harrison Fork to create high-quality habitat for wildlife, native plants, and the surrounding community. This stream restoration effort is a collaborative partnership between many agencies and ecological experts, including Bernheim Forest and Arboretum, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, Wetland Studies and Solutions Inc., the University of Louisville, Ridgewater Restoration and Management, the Kentucky Division of Water, and the Army Corps of Engineers.
Like many streams across Kentucky and the broader region, Harrison Fork was altered decades ago—rerouted to the edge of agricultural fields to maximize farmland efficiency. This straightening of stream channels was common practice, but it came at a steep ecological cost. By diverting streams from their natural paths, dynamic habitats, vital wetland areas, and the natural processes that support healthy ecosystems were lost.
Today, that is changing at Harrison Fork. The restoration project is rerouting the stream back into its floodplain, to a path more consistent with its historical and geomorphological character. Instead of a straight, channelized stream, the new design features large, meandering curves—serpentine and sinuous like a healthy, undisturbed waterway. Along the channel, pools, riffles, and ephemeral wetlands are being restored, creating a rich mosaic of microhabitats for a wide range of species.
To further mimic a mature, established stream system, large woody debris is being embedded into the banks and channels. These logs and root wads provide structure, slow water flow, and support aquatic and terrestrial life. This approach helps recreate a complex stream habitat that might otherwise take centuries—or even millennia—to develop naturally.
The upstream portion of the new channel has already been completed. Before water is diverted into the newly constructed channel, vegetation must be well established to stabilize the banks and prevent erosion. A diverse seed mix of wetland and riparian plants has been sown, and young trees have been planted along the stream edges to form a robust riparian buffer. Construction on the downstream section is scheduled to begin this summer.
Once the downstream section is completed and revegetation efforts are successful, Harrison Fork will be fully diverted into its new channel. The former streambed will then be filled, and a series of wetland pools will be created in its place, providing even more habitat for wetland-dependent species.
Bernheim has a proven track record with stream restoration. Nearly two decades ago, a similar project was completed at Wilson Creek. Since then, biodiversity at that site has significantly increased. Native plants, fish, amphibians, reptiles, and shorebirds were drawn to the revitalized habitat. Pools, riffles, and slower-moving water fostered a dynamic environment that supported a wider range of species.
With the lessons learned from past projects and improved restoration techniques, the future looks bright for Harrison Fork. We anticipate a marked increase in biodiversity as the stream system is revitalized. The restored habitat will become home to a thriving community of bats, wood ducks, turtles, shorebirds, fish, salamanders, beavers, frogs, insects, and many more species.
A healthy, dynamic stream is a lifeline for thousands of species. Through this project, Bernheim Forest is not just restoring a stream—it is reweaving a vital thread in the ecological fabric of the forest.
