Bio-Engineered Streambank Restoration-Chena River
Partners
for Fish and Wildlife at River Bend Estates
This
residential parcel includes 195 feet of waterfront within the River
Bend Estates Subdivision near Fairbanks, Alaska. Wave action from water
craft was rapidly eroding the bank of the Chena River at the site and
threatening the loss of shoreline habitat as well as reducing the value
of the parcel.
Using funds from The Partners for Fish and Wildlife program, the bank
was restored. Bio-engineered restoration consisted of placing a continuous
log berm (several large diameter trees drilled and pinned with branches
left intact) at the toe of the bank, 195 linear feet of vegetated riprap
(live staking of willows between the riprap) behind the log berm, and
several large birch and juniper trees planted at the top of the bank. 
The
top of the bank was sloped no greater than 1' vertical to 2' horizontal.
All disturbed areas of the bank were initially stabilized by fertilizing
and seeding to control erosion.
During Chena River flooding in 2003, the landowner experienced no erosion.
The 2:1 slope maintained itself and the planted willow is thriving.
