Beals Branch Green Infrastructure Design Project

Middle Fork Beargrass Creek is a major urban watershed in Jefferson County. One of the tributaries to Middle Fork is Beals Branch which is located within Olmsted Park’s Cherokee Park. Before Beals Branch enters the main stem of Middle Fork, it passes under the roadway where Beals Branch Road meets the Cherokee Park Scenic Loop. This area is heavily used by the community because of its multi-use capability, allowing for driving, biking, walking, archery, and other activities.

The flow of Beals Branch leading to its confluence with Middle Fork passes under the roadway and into a concrete lined channel that prevents natural infiltration and does not allow for pollutants to be filtered out of stormwater entering the channel.  

The Beals Branch Green Infrastructure Design is an implementation project under the Middle Fork Beargrass Creek Watershed Plan, funded by Section 319(h) of the Clean Water Act. The project aims to plan and design green infrastructure best management practices (BMPs) to restore the natural function of the Beals Branch channel, provide floodplain mitigation, and reduce nonpoint source pollution. 

The goals of the project are to:

1. Develop a BMP design to reduce the nutrient, bacteria, and sediment loads reaching Middle Fork Beargrass Creek from the Beals Branch tributary and provide floodplain mitigation through the creation of natural capacity and treatment.
2. Create greater opportunity for community members to become involved in watershed improvement efforts and solutions.

MSD is partnered with Olmsted Parks Conservancy, Kentucky Waterways Alliance, Beargrass Creek Alliance, Louisville Parks and Recreation, and Kentucky Watershed Watch on this effort.