Bank Stabilization Techniques

Bank Stabilization Techniques

Bank erosion is a natural process in a stream's dynamic system. Alterations to surrounding riparian areas by activities like forest harvesting, agriculture, and urban development may increase bank erosion by reducing riparian vegetation, increasing, the stream's sediment load, and altering the timing and volume of water flow.

Bank erosion may degrade fish habitat in the following ways:

- Loss of protective vegetation cover

- Increased water temperature as a secondary effect of loss of shading vegetation

- Reduced channel depth

- In-filled pools

- Smothered spawning gravel

To maintain and improve fish habitat, bank stabilization efforts may be necessary. Techniques to do this can be grouped into 3 types; rock, vegetative, and integrated methods. Each of these methods will be described, advantages and disadvantages of each will be listed, and how and when to employ these methods will be discussed.

References:

Babakaiff, Hay, & Fromuth. Rehabilitating Stream Banks. In: Fish Habitat Rehabilitation Procedures. Watershed Restoration Technical Circular No. 9, Watershed Restoration Program, Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks and Ministry of Forests. British Columbia, 1997. Chapter 6.