Roeland Park residents can help combat erosion along this creek

Some Roeland Park residents are being called upon to help check erosion along Cooper Creek, near one of the city’s main entry points.

The city council on Monday unanimously approved a nearly $50,000 agreement with a Missouri-based habitat restoration firm to work to prevent erosion — including planting native species along the banks of the creek that runs for about 900 feet between Roeland and Ash drives, just off Johnson Drive.

This comes after significant efforts have already been made to address erosion in the area and combat invasive plant species, as well.

Nearby residents can plant native species on their properties

The city is coordinating with the county’s Contain the Rain program to enlist homeowners whose properties butt up to the creek to plant native species in their yards to help control erosion.
Contain the Rain covers 50% of the cost of trees, rain gardens and native plantings, and Roeland Park has set aside $5,400 to cover the other 50% for residents.
This means residents next to the creek who want to plant native species can potentially be reimbursed 100% for their purchases, City Administrator Keith Moody said.
There are about 13 residents who live adjacent to Cooper Creek, Moody said, but it is unclear how many want to participate.
Habitat Architects, a Belton-based habitat restoration company, will complete the native planting work along the bank itself for an estimated cost of nearly $7,000.

Roeland Park Cooper Creek stream. — The stream at Cooper Creek. Photo credit Juliana Garcia.

Additional improvements may be necessary

An engineering analysis to see whether or not additional reinforcements, like small dams or strategic stone placement, will be needed.
These extra measures, if needed, would ensure the native plants do not wash away.
Costs for these additional reinforcements are unknown, but the engineering analysis alone is costing Roeland Park a little more than $35,000.
“We don’t know yet what that analysis engineering effort will yield in what further improvements might be necessary, we’ll find that out as Habitat Architects finishes that analysis and design phases,” Moody said. “But there will likely be some additional improvement they recommend to help keep the plants in place and discourage further erosion.”

Next steps:

Moody told the Post via email that the city does not have a timeline for the work yet.
Habitat Architects will begin engaging with residents as soon as possible and the native plantings in their yards may be a go as soon as next spring, he said.
Planting along the banks of Cooper Creek may begin as early as this fall.
The engineering analysis should be completed by the end of the year, at which point the council can provide direction and the city can move ahead on any further efforts.

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