E& S Controls along a stream bank? 1

[cfj104]

I have a project that is going to require the removal of a streambank to the base of the creek - what type of erosion controls have you used that may be applicable in this situation? The site is very constrianed with steep (greater then 1:1) slopes. I have been looking into placing wattles/fiber logs along the bank, but not sure how the conservation district is going to feel about this - they recommended super silt fence, however, the area is very rocky and I am not sure it will be possible to properly install. Just curious to see what people may recommend. This creek is also very responsive to rainfall and floods easily so I want to be sure what I place along the creek will either stay put, or cause little adverse effects if washed downstream.

Also, any advice on restoration along steep slopes is helpful - we are trying to go the route of bioengineering if at all possible.

Thank You in advance!
Chrissy

 

[bltseattle]

A regular silt fence requires excavation to key it in, which as you note may not be practical.

Other systems include:
sand bags and plastic sheeting (good for small projects);
silt/turbidity curtain - floating curtain ballasted by chain to weight it to the channel bottom, used for working in the wet but confines sediment;
"porta-dam" - temporary cofferdam, membrane over a framing system;
"aqua-barrier" - temporary water filled dams

 

[bltseattle]

One more....
Sheet piles, intensive and expensive but require little/no maintenance once installed.

 

[blueoak]

It would be interesting to now your climate.

You may want to do the restoration/stabilization at the same time or before other site work. Riprap with willow cuttings can be a nice solution. I have seen some very nice restoration (depending on flow velocity) with a rock/riprap material up to the bank hieght and at the toe elevation with willow cuttings. Then use more traditional bioengineering higher up. A lot of times it is the cutting near the creek that produces the worst downstream discharges, so phasing your project to have a stable new bank may help.

I would also do whatever you can to at least temporarily divert drainage away from the stream cut.

Federal government interagency stream manual:

http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/stream_restoration/

I like how the federal document combines the forces that require "hard" (or I like to say, stay put practices") with the soft practices.