Stream Daylighting
at Brownfield Sites
This fact sheet explains stream daylighting,
identifies benefits and challenges of
daylighting a stream when addressing
brownfield and other contaminated areas,
and describes the information and key
decisions needed to determine whether
daylighting is right for your community.
What Is Stream Daylighting?
Stream daylighting happens when above-
ground water flow is restored to a stream that
in the past was diverted below ground, often
to facilitate development of an area. A stream
with newly visible, above-ground water flow
is the result of daylighting.
What Are the Potential Benefits
of Daylighting?
Environmental
benefits
•	Restoring natural
water flow
•	Restoring aquatic
and riparian habitats
•	Reducing
stormwater runoff
•	Improving
climate resilience
•	Improving flood and
water management
during extreme
weather events
•	Improving
water quality
Community
amenity benefits
•	Improving aesthetics
•	Providing
public greenspace
•	Providing educational
opportunities
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Steps for Assessing the Viability of a
Daylighting Project at a Brownfields Site
Site Assessment ~
Topography Soils
Project Planning ~
Goals &
Objectives
Regulatory
Agency
Coordination
Contaminants
Alternatives
Development
& Evaluation
Hydrology/
Hydraulics
Conceptual
Design
Project Design ~
30% 60% Draft 90% Draft 100% Draft
Preliminary Plans & Plans & Plans &
Plans Specifications Specifications Specifications
Environmental & Regulatory Compliance ~
Clean
Water Act
National
Environmental
Policy Act
Endangered
Species Act
State
Environmental
Policy Act
Project Implementation ~
Bidding &
Contractor
Selection
Project
Construction
Maintenance & Monitoring ~
Monitoring
Site Maintenance
& Reporting
As-Built/Record
Drawings
Adaptive
Management
&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
EPA Publication Number: 560-F-20-182

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Key Considerations for a Daylighting Project at a Brownfields Site
cTol
Technical Considerations
there be sufficient flow rate, water depth and flow variation? Consider:
~ The stream's
water source
~ Water sufficiency to
maintain constant flow
~ Ability of the stream
channel to handle the
water without flooding
~ Location of the
stream's flood plain
~ The effect that the seasons
and precipitation events
have on stream flow
Can the channel cross-section and gradient support a daylighted stream? Consider:
~ Location of the water
table with respect to
the stream elevation
~ Inflow and outflow through
the channel sides and bottom
(water gain and loss)
~ Stability of the stream
banks (i.e., sloughing,
sliding failures, crest
stability)
~ Likelihood of bank
erosion as a result of
channel flow or runoff
down the slope
~ Integration of the stream
with upstream and
downstream connections
Regulatory and Administrative
Considerations
How will the daylit stream meet regulatory and
administrative requirements? Will it be compatible
with existing plans? Consider:
Regulatory coordination among stakeholders
Coordination of regulatory compliance and approvals
Compatibility with adjacent land uses and/or landscaping
Impacts of the open channel blocking the passage of people
Compatibility with existing or planned public features
Public access to newly developed greenspace
Approval from public boards
Support from the community
Cost and financing options
SEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
EPA Publication Number: 560-F-20-182
Environmental Considerations
How will daylighting the stream impact habitats
or existing contamination? Consider:
~	Vegetation and fauna restoration
(or disturbance to existing vegetation and fauna)
~	Animal passage affected by open channel
~	Integration into area stormwater management system and
overall watershed
~	Potential disturbance of contaminated soil
and sediment
~	Potential degradation of water quality because of contaminated
groundwater release
~	Changes in groundwater contamination because of water gain
and loss at contaminated sites

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Case Studies
Case Study #1: Wisconsin River Stream,
Wausau, VVI
The City of Wausau, Wl, wanted to daylight a previously
navigable stream that was covered and used as a storm
sewer. The stream was restored with an arched bridge and
lighted waterfall feature built over it. The new riverfront design
includes an accessible boat and fishing wharf, a kayak launch, a multi-use trail system, riverbank restoration, landscaping amenities,
lighting, and site furnishings. Restoration also allows for the recirculation of fresh water from the Wisconsin River into the stream
during low-flow periods in the summer. An EPA brownfields area-wide planning grant, two EPA clean-up grants, and numerous
public and private grants contributed to this project.
Information from https://www.stantec.com/en/nroiects/united-states-nioiects/c/citv-of-wausau-iiveifront-biownfield-redevelonment
1 PROPOSED PUBLIC SPACE ¦¦ DEVELOPABLE ] PUBLIC SPACE
H [open space & roads ]	^	1 i	1	
East Riverfront Development Framework for Wausau, Wl
Case Study #2: Saw Mill River, Yonkers, NY
Saw Mill River was buried in the 1920s for flood mitigation and to protect people from the
poliuted waterway. To restore the river, the Saw Miii River Coalition used a three-pronged
approach:
1.	Clean up selected areas along the river, and conduct an outreach campaign to reduce
dumping and increase awareness of the importance of the Saw Mill's restoration
2.	Restore critical watershed and riverbank areas to ensure uninterrupted river flow and
flood prevention
3.	Address ongoing development pressures by helping municipalities incorporate river
protection into their decision-making processes
An EPA Targeted Watershed grant of nearly $1 million is helping this daylighting effort as part
of a multi-billion-dollar, area-wide revitalization project.
Information from www.ena.aov/brownfielcis/brownfields-iincoverina-lona-buiied-niize-clowntown-vonkers-
davliahtina-saw-mill-iiver
Case Study #3: Assunpink Greenway Park, Trenton, NJ
4 glimpse of the long-covered
Saw Mill River, visible between
two buildings
MSCOMSMi
• 65,020 »
Rendering of the completed
Assunpink Daylighting Project
SEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
EPA Publication Number: 560-F-20-182
February 2021
The Assunpink Greenway Park is a 99-acre linear park straddling the Assunpink Creek.
This park was a critical development project that can profoundly catalyze growth in the
surrounding neighborhood. The City of Trenton wants to daylight Assunpink Creek to fix:
an eyesore in the middle of downtown. The goal of the project is to benefit the surrounding
community by improving environmental conditions as well as providing access to the
restored waterfront. After 19 years of obstacles in design, permitting, funding and threatened
litigation, this project is finally funded and is being implemented. EPA provided technical
assistance to the City of Trenton to create a conceptual design of a new park.
Information from httDs://www.trentonni.ora/DocumentCenter/View/221/2018-Brownfields-Action-Plan-PDF

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How Much Does
a Daylighting
Project Cost?
Stream daylighting costs can
vary widely depending on
several factors including the
size and scope of the project
(e.g., channel length, width,
depth; earthmoving volume;
area restored), contamination-
related costs, urban demolition
and infrastructure relocation
costs, volunteered services, and
other unique qualities of the
project. This table illustrates the
approximate costs associated
with several example projects.
Project Name
and Location,
Year Completed
Daylighted
Stream
Length (feet)
Actual or
Estimated
Project Cost
(in 2020 $)
Daylighted
Cost per Foot
(in 2020 $)
Arcadia Creek
Kalamazoo, Ml
1995
Valley Creek
Port Angeles, WA
1997
Little River Walk
Hopkinsville, KY
2005
Saw Mill River
Yonkers, NY
2011
Kid's Creek
Traverse City, Ml
2013
1,550
490
7,900
550
4,500
$16,700,000 $10,800
$2,100,000
$1,300,000
$4,300
$200
$23,800,000 $43,200
$3,000,000
$700
Daylighting Resources
American Rivers (2014). Daylighting Streams: Breathing
Life into Urban Streams and Communities.
httns://americanrivers.oro/wp--content/uploads/2016/05/
AmericanRivers davliahtina-streams--report.pdf
Hoobyar, P. (2002). Dayiighting and Restoring Streams in
Rural Community City Centers: Case Studies. Seattle, WA:
National Park Service.
http://npshistorv.com/publications/rtca/nri/davliahtina.pdf
Pinkham, R. (2000). Daylighting: New Life for Buried
Streams. Old Snowmass, CO: Rocky Mountain Institute.
https://d231iw5ce53aca.cloudfront.net/wp-content/
uploads/2017/05/RMI Document Repository Public-
Reprts W'00-32 Davliahtina.pdf
, T. C., et al. (2011). Deculverting: reviewing the
evidence on the 'daylighting' and restoration of averted
rivers. Water and Environment Journal, 25(3): 412-421.
https://onlinelibrarv.wilev.eom/doi/abs/10.1111/i.1747-
6593.2010.00236.x
SEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
EPA Publication Number: 560-F-20-182
Bee Creek
Restoration
Dubuque, IA
2014
4,500
$81,200,000 $18,000
EPA Resources for Contaminated Properties
EPA Brownfieks Technical Assistance, Training and Research
https://www.epa.aov/brownfields/brownfields--technical-assistance--trainina-
and-research
EPA OBLR's Land Revitalization Toolkit
https://www.epa.aov/land-revitalization/land-revitalization-toolkit
Search for Superfund Sites Where You Live
https://www.epa.aov/superfund/search-superfund-sites-where-vou-live
Cleanups in My Community
https://www.epa.aov/cleanups/cleanups-mv-communitv
LEARN MORE
EPA Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization
www.epa.gov/brownfieids

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