Stop Erosion on a creek bank that can become violent

[Micki1961]

Looking for answers to stop erosion on a creek bank and incoming spring. We have lost several trees over 10 years and this has caused the banks to get worse. The creek is 40 ft wide and at our property about 125 ft long. The creek is normally only ankle to thigh high deep but when it rains it can get violent. I have seen it carry whole trees past our property. This happens about twice a year the last several years. I'm afraid rip rap may get carried away. Any suggestions?

 

[UsandThem]

Moved from Hot Deals.

AT Mod Usandthem

 

[lxskllr]

That's tough to get right. Armoring with riprap is the most straight forward, but kind of ugly, and a big flush can still erode behind it unless you go way up the banks. For a quick and dirty test, I might try laying a log up against the bank, and staking it in place with angle iron. Put one in the worst area, monitor it, and refine potential solutions based on what you see.

 

[Greenman]

Rip rap or concrete are the only two I know of.

 

[Sgt. York]

You might want to check with the Corps of Engineers to make sure they don't have jurisdiction over that creek. OP never indicated how far this creek flows, but it looks like it could be part of a flood control system.

 

[SaltyNuts]

Can't you just stick wooden posts in the creek bed every 1" or less right there against the bank? Literally post after post after post so the water cannot do its devil.

P.S. god DAMN that is beautiful!!!

 

[IronWing]

For rip-rap:

• The engineering method: find stream flow records, determine the flood history, run the equations for rip-rap size, install rip-rap of at least that size.
• The Billy Bob method: walk up and down the stream channel for a good distance in both directions. Look for the biggest rocks in the channel or eroding out of banks and install rip-rap of at least that size.
• Both methods work about equally well.

For the log method: Walk the stream channel up and down stream for a good distance looking at scour holes. Bury the logs at least twice that deep. With excess sediment in the system (see below) finding scour holes representative of long term conditions may be difficult.

The natural and cheapest method method: Plant trees and shrubs that naturally grow along creek banks in your area. Let them do their thing which is to trap sediment and debris. Accept that you will lose some of the access/view you have now.

Looking at your pictures, there appears to be a big and bare gravel bar across the creek and another tailing off from your property, indicating excess sediment in the stream and suggesting that the stream system is out of whack. Is there new development or new roads upstream? Excessive livestock grazing in the creek bottoms or uplands? Logging or recent forest fire (past ~ten years)? You might give your local Agricultural Extension office a call and see if they have ideas that work for your area.

 

[Gardener]

Already several good responses, the time required to establish a planting of twig dogwood (better yet your local native analogue) behind a berm of rip-rap is all you can do. Creek scouring has been exacerbated by extensive land clearing/development in many areas, those once in a decade events happen more often.

Check the local regulations, you don't want to do something "unapproved" that causes property damage to the next guy down stream. Waterways meander, that is their nature.

 

[Micrornd]

Depending on what you want to spend, we have used this type of system in the past and it will solve your problem.
I could not find a small scale installation video, but these will give you the general idea.

Hydrotex Fabric-Formed Concrete Revetment Systems

https://rhmooreassociates.com/products/erosion-control/hydrotex-fabric-formed-concrete-revetment-systems.html

www.youtube.com

It does need to be professionally installed, all edges must be dug in to prevent water getting behind it.
We have installed it in overflow channels and tank drainage channels, as well as any pond, lake, and channel-like areas counties and municipalities didn't want to have to do maintenance.
It can't be installed vertically, but I have seen it installed at almost a 60 degree angle and after 15 years it's still there.
Any modifications or size adjustments needed are done to the basic fabric in the field with a portable hand-held sewing machine (neat little gadget !)