Researchers from the University of Queensland and Griffith University studied the costs and benefits of restoring riverbanks along 95 kilometers of Lockyer Creek near Brisbane. They found that fixing erosion and planting native vegetation could return up to 400% on investment. The main gains come from cleaner drinking water, lower flood risk, carbon storage, and better habitat. The study, published in Ecosystem Services, used data from 2008 to 2014 to show that restoration could cut the chance of flood-related disruptions to the water treatment plant from about 5% to 0.4%. It also estimated that newly planted trees would take about 20 years to withstand major floods, though they provide benefits earlier for smaller events. The research supports payments for ecosystem services and water funds as ways to scale up such projects.
