successful streambank bioengineering for drier areas of ...successful streambank bioengineering for...

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Successful Streambank Bioengineering for Drier Areas

of the West

Successful Streambank Bioengineering for Drier Areas

of the West

19851985

20002000

Plant Person trying to stay ahead of the engineers, geomorphologists, hydrologists, and

others

Plant Person trying to stay ahead of the engineers, geomorphologists, hydrologists, and

others

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•Streambank soil bioengineering is defined as the use of live and dead plant materials in combination with natural and synthetic support materials for slope stabilization, erosion reduction, and vegetative establishment (Allen and Leech, 1997).

•Streambank soil bioengineering uses plants as the main structural components to stabilize and reduce erosion on streambanks rather than just for aesthetics.

•Successful establishment of the plants, both herbaceous and woody, is extremely important.

•Streambank soil bioengineering is defined as the use of live and dead plant materials in combination with natural and synthetic support materials for slope stabilization, erosion reduction, and vegetative establishment (Allen and Leech, 1997).

•Streambank soil bioengineering uses plants as the main structural components to stabilize and reduce erosion on streambanks rather than just for aesthetics.

•Successful establishment of the plants, both herbaceous and woody, is extremely important.

Streambank Soil BioengineeringStreambank Soil Bioengineering

If you are in wet areas, does it mean that you can ignore these recommendations?If you are in wet areas, does it mean that you can ignore these recommendations?

•Drier areas are just tougher to establish•Principles are very similar

• Still need accurate inventory• Still need proper prior planning• Still need to pay attention to details

•Wetter areas are more forgiving• Until a drought • Until a flood• Or another event that changes the

parameters used for the original planning•Of course this doesn’t happen to your project!

•Drier areas are just tougher to establish•Principles are very similar

• Still need accurate inventory• Still need proper prior planning• Still need to pay attention to details

•Wetter areas are more forgiving• Until a drought • Until a flood• Or another event that changes the

parameters used for the original planning•Of course this doesn’t happen to your project!

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INVENTORYINVENTORY• Objectives and Goals• Is Management in

Place?• Soils data• Watertable history• Stream Flow data• Reconnaissance• Are woody plants in

the Vicinity?* If not, planting

them may not be an option!

• Objectives and Goals• Is Management in

Place?• Soils data• Watertable history• Stream Flow data• Reconnaissance• Are woody plants in

the Vicinity?* If not, planting

them may not be an option!

Riparian Planting Zones(Riparian/Wetland Project Information Series 16)

Riparian Planting Zones(Riparian/Wetland Project Information Series 16)

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SPECIES SELECTIONSPECIES SELECTION

•Flexibility of Stems* Creeping or Shrub

type* High water velocities* High debris loads* High Ice loads

•Different species have different growth and flexibility characteristics

•Flexibility of Stems* Creeping or Shrub

type* High water velocities* High debris loads* High Ice loads

•Different species have different growth and flexibility characteristics

SPECIES SELECTIONSPECIES SELECTION

•Grazing problemsLow palatability speciesStrongly suckering speciesRhizomatous vs. seed producers

•Severe Ice flowsDeep rooting or Rhizomatous

•Grazing problemsLow palatability speciesStrongly suckering speciesRhizomatous vs. seed producers

•Severe Ice flowsDeep rooting or Rhizomatous

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SPECIES SELECTIONSPECIES SELECTION• Fire tolerance

• Aesthetics* Size, shape, color* Diversify by layers

• Flooding* Inundation

tolerance* Willows = months* Chokecherry =

week

• Fire tolerance

• Aesthetics* Size, shape, color* Diversify by layers

• Flooding* Inundation

tolerance* Willows = months* Chokecherry =

week

PLANT MATERIALS COLLECTIONPLANT MATERIALS COLLECTION

•Noxious or nuisance weeds•Select vigorously growing and healthy looking plants

•Insect and disease damage•Damage to “mother plant”•Low success = stressed plants

* long term stress (drought, flooding, frost during flowering, insects, etc)

* short term stress (poor collection tech, poor transportation tech, poor storage tech)

•Noxious or nuisance weeds•Select vigorously growing and healthy looking plants

•Insect and disease damage•Damage to “mother plant”•Low success = stressed plants

* long term stress (drought, flooding, frost during flowering, insects, etc)

* short term stress (poor collection tech, poor transportation tech, poor storage tech)

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HANDLING OF PLANT MATERIALSHANDLING OF PLANT MATERIALS•Handle properly to survive transplanting stress*Keep cool, shaded, and moist

•Harden off greenhouse grown plants*Going from Utopia to real world

*Keep well watered and shaded

•Bareroot or unrooted cuttings*Keep in dark, cool, and slightly moist (too wet = water roots)

*Soak unrooted cuttings before planting

•Handle properly to survive transplanting stress*Keep cool, shaded, and moist

•Harden off greenhouse grown plants*Going from Utopia to real world

*Keep well watered and shaded

•Bareroot or unrooted cuttings*Keep in dark, cool, and slightly moist (too wet = water roots)

*Soak unrooted cuttings before planting

TYPES OF PLANTING STOCKTYPES OF PLANTING STOCK• Dormant unrooted cuttings

• Pole plantings• Used in Fascines, Vertical bundles,

Brush Mattress, etc.• Plugs• Conetainers• Deep pot• Bareroot• Potted• Balled and Burlap

• Dormant unrooted cuttings• Pole plantings• Used in Fascines, Vertical bundles,

Brush Mattress, etc.• Plugs• Conetainers• Deep pot• Bareroot• Potted• Balled and Burlap

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TYPES OF PLANTING STOCKTYPES OF PLANTING STOCK

• Pole Plantings: for planting as single poles or small bundles

• Pole Plantings: for planting as single poles or small bundles

Dormant unrooted cuttings

•Branched cuttings:For use in fascines, vertical bundles, brush mattresses, and other treatments

•Branched cuttings:For use in fascines, vertical bundles, brush mattresses, and other treatments

Hardwood Propagation

• For both types of cuttings

• Hardwood cuttings are made from branches, stems, or trunks

• In dry areas, don’t use whips –Use 2-7 year old wood

• Applies to willows, cottonwood, dogwood, and a few other species

• For both types of cuttings

• Hardwood cuttings are made from branches, stems, or trunks

• In dry areas, don’t use whips –Use 2-7 year old wood

• Applies to willows, cottonwood, dogwood, and a few other species

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TYPES OF PLANTING STOCKTYPES OF PLANTING STOCKDormant unrooted branched cuttings

•Cut from the same source as pole planting material

•Main difference is that the tops and side branches are left on the cuttings

•Tops and side branches used for bulk

•Cut from the same source as pole planting material

•Main difference is that the tops and side branches are left on the cuttings

•Tops and side branches used for bulk

TYPES OF PLANTING STOCKTYPES OF PLANTING STOCK

•Reach to lowest watertable

•Can withstand high streamflow velocities

•Smaller planting hole

•Can take inundation and flooding

•Can be planted in some competing vegetation

•Reach to lowest watertable

•Can withstand high streamflow velocities

•Smaller planting hole

•Can take inundation and flooding

•Can be planted in some competing vegetation

Dormant unrooted cuttings for pole

plantings

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•Root Primordia or root buds

• Inexpensive

• Easy to harvest

• Easy to store

• Easy to plant

• Easy to replant

• Plant in large numbers - rapidly

•Root Primordia or root buds

• Inexpensive

• Easy to harvest

• Easy to store

• Easy to plant

• Easy to replant

• Plant in large numbers - rapidly

Dormant unrooted cuttings for pole

plantings

Planting Recommendations For Pole Cuttings

*Reach the lowest watertable

*Extend above competing vegetation shade

*Extend below the competing vegetation root mass

*2/3 cutting in the ground

*Reach the lowest watertable

*Extend above competing vegetation shade

*Extend below the competing vegetation root mass

*2/3 cutting in the ground

• Cutting Length• Cutting Length

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Poplar cuttingPoplar cutting Poplars after 3 growing seasons

Poplars after 3 growing seasons

* Larger is better

* 2-7 years old (Depends on area and Species)

* Don’t use whips (except in high precipitation areas)

* Species Dependent

* Larger is better

* 2-7 years old (Depends on area and Species)

* Don’t use whips (except in high precipitation areas)

* Species Dependent

•Cutting Diameter•Cutting Diameter


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*Cut off apical bud*Cut off all side branches*Seal cutting top

*Cut off apical bud*Cut off all side branches*Seal cutting top

•Cutting Treatment for pole planting

•Cutting Treatment for pole planting


*Soak in water to swell the root primordia for a minimum of 24 hours, 5-7 days is better.

*Roots will emerge after about 14 days or longer depending upon species

*Soak the entire cutting

*Soak in water to swell the root primordia for a minimum of 24 hours, 5-7 days is better.

*Roots will emerge after about 14 days or longer depending upon species

*Soak the entire cutting


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* Stored is good (store dry)

* Plant as soon as harvested (dormant cuttings)

* Green cuttings 50% survival (as long as they are processed like a dormant cutting.)

* Stored is good (store dry)

* Plant as soon as harvested (dormant cuttings)

* Green cuttings 50% survival (as long as they are processed like a dormant cutting.)


*Lowest watertable of the year

*Soil Texture*Soil Layers - perched water

*Good soil to stem contact

*2/3 of cutting in ground*1 to 2 buds above ground (unless shade problems)

*Lowest watertable of the year

*Soil Texture*Soil Layers - perched water

*Good soil to stem contact

*2/3 of cutting in ground*1 to 2 buds above ground (unless shade problems)

• Planting Depth• Planting Depth


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* Accessibility* Washout Problems* Good soil to stem contact* Depth to lowest

watertable* Soil Texture* Layers - Compaction, clay,

calcic * Rock - Large gravel,

cobbles, boulders

* Accessibility* Washout Problems* Good soil to stem contact* Depth to lowest

watertable* Soil Texture* Layers - Compaction, clay,

calcic * Rock - Large gravel,

cobbles, boulders

• Planting Methods• Planting MethodsThe StingerThe Stinger


Planting BarPlanting Bar HammerHammer Power AugerPower Auger

GroundhogGroundhog

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WATERJET STINGER:

A tool to plant dormant unrooted cuttings

WATERJET STINGER:

A tool to plant dormant unrooted cuttings

Force of the water liquefies the soil so a cutting can be pushed into it.

Force of the water liquefies the soil so a cutting can be pushed into it.

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TYPES OF PLANTING STOCKTYPES OF PLANTING STOCK• Plugs, Conetainers, Deep

pot, Bareroot, Potted, Balled and Burlap

•Plant where adequate moisture is available -natural or irrigated

•Little or no competing vegetation - chemical or scalp

•Plant in areas with short period of inundation or flooding

•Can’t take high streamflow velocities

• Plugs, Conetainers, Deep pot, Bareroot, Potted, Balled and Burlap

•Plant where adequate moisture is available -natural or irrigated

•Little or no competing vegetation - chemical or scalp

•Plant in areas with short period of inundation or flooding

•Can’t take high streamflow velocities

Plugs, Conetainers, Deep pot, Bareroot, Potted, Balled and Burlap

•Soils test •Establish fertility of soil•Needed supplements•Water holding capacity

•If irrigation is needed (soils information is crucial)•Drip irrigation system

•Moveable and reusable•Up-gradable as plants grow•For portability, use Gas pump or solar pump

•Avoid sprinkler system•Weeds•Water concentrated at roots

•Soils test •Establish fertility of soil•Needed supplements•Water holding capacity

•If irrigation is needed (soils information is crucial)•Drip irrigation system

•Moveable and reusable•Up-gradable as plants grow•For portability, use Gas pump or solar pump

•Avoid sprinkler system•Weeds•Water concentrated at roots

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Plugs, Conetainers, Deep pot, Bareroot, Potted, Balled and Burlap

•Irrigation Water Management (soils information is crucial)

•Early on: High frequency, Low duration•As plants start to grow: Lower frequency, higher duration

•As plants extend root system: Low frequency, long duration

•Weed control •Have a plan•Identify the weeds•Identify person who will do the work•Budget money •Schedule work

•Irrigation Water Management (soils information is crucial)

•Early on: High frequency, Low duration•As plants start to grow: Lower frequency, higher duration

•As plants extend root system: Low frequency, long duration

•Weed control •Have a plan•Identify the weeds•Identify person who will do the work•Budget money •Schedule work

POT PLANTING PROBEPOT PLANTING PROBE

Large 2 Liter

Pot

Waterjet Stinger adaptation for containerized plants

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Suggestions for better establishment success

•Bottom 6-8 inches of pole cutting should be in the lowest watertable of the year

•Most expensive part of planting a pole cutting is digging the hole

•Put multiple stems in the same hole to increase changes that at least one will survive and root.

•If the vegetation cover is 50% or greater sedges and rushes, do not plant pole cuttings

•Too much competition•Too wet for tender new roots

•Part of the pole cutting should be in aerobic soil above the saturated zone.

•Soak the cuttings in water before planting•Muddy the cuttings in to eliminate air pockets and get better soil to stem contact

•Bottom 6-8 inches of pole cutting should be in the lowest watertable of the year

•Most expensive part of planting a pole cutting is digging the hole

•Put multiple stems in the same hole to increase changes that at least one will survive and root.

•If the vegetation cover is 50% or greater sedges and rushes, do not plant pole cuttings

•Too much competition•Too wet for tender new roots

•Part of the pole cutting should be in aerobic soil above the saturated zone.

•Soak the cuttings in water before planting•Muddy the cuttings in to eliminate air pockets and get better soil to stem contact

Channel Stability Rating (Vegetation)Channel Stability Rating (Vegetation)

0 2 4 6 8 10Relative Stability Class

Bare Ground

Willow-Sedge

Willow-Bluegrass

Beaked Sedge

Bluegrass

Baltic Rush

Anchored Rock

Coyote Willow

Winward 1999Appendix B

Adequate RootStrength

Root Length

0

5

10

15

20

25

Miles

NebraskaSedge

Baltic Rush DouglasSedge

NevadaBluegrass

Column of soil12"X12"X16"

0 to 4 in4 to 8 in8 to 12 in12 to 16 in

Manning, M.E., et al, 1989

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Planting Herbaceous Wetland Plants•Plant plugs versus seeding

• Seeds need water, heat, and light• Development of structures to breath in

anaerobic conditions•Buy the largest plugs you can afford•Plant in the right hydrologic zone for each species

•Spacing should be about 18 inches between plugs

• Will fill in between plugs in one growing season

• If you don’t have enough plants, plant in copses or patches and skip areas in between

•Plant plugs versus seeding• Seeds need water, heat, and light• Development of structures to breath in

anaerobic conditions•Buy the largest plugs you can afford•Plant in the right hydrologic zone for each species

•Spacing should be about 18 inches between plugs

• Will fill in between plugs in one growing season

• If you don’t have enough plants, plant in copses or patches and skip areas in between

Examples of Streambank Bioengineering Treatments

Examples of Streambank Bioengineering Treatments

• Vegetation and rocks are not mutually exclusive

• Many structures can be constructed with vegetation• Benefits of vegetation (aesthetics, water

quality, habitat, shade, etc.)• Allows vegetation around the structure to

establish• Vegetation can reduce maintenance

requirements of rock structure• A combination of rock and vegetation can

allow the best of both worlds.

• Vegetation and rocks are not mutually exclusive

• Many structures can be constructed with vegetation• Benefits of vegetation (aesthetics, water

quality, habitat, shade, etc.)• Allows vegetation around the structure to

establish• Vegetation can reduce maintenance

requirements of rock structure• A combination of rock and vegetation can

allow the best of both worlds.

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Vertical Willow

Bundles

Vertical Willow

Bundles

Alternative Planting

Method for Very Coarse

Soils

Alternative Planting

Method for Very Coarse

Soils

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Vertical willow bundles installed under rock riprap

Vertical willow bundles installed under rock riprap

Willow Clump Planting

(Don’t have to grow new roots and stems/leaves)

Willow Clump Planting

(Don’t have to grow new roots and stems/leaves)

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Brush Spurs(Carson River, NV)

2002

Brush Spurs(Carson River, NV)

2002

Monitoring and Maintenance Monitoring and Maintenance

•Ensure targeted functions are addressed

•Ensure targeted functions are developing according to plan

•Identify failures or developing problems

•Indicate a need for regular maintenance

•Indicated a need to change management practices

•Monitoring stimulates maintenance

•Ensure targeted functions are addressed

•Ensure targeted functions are developing according to plan

•Identify failures or developing problems

•Indicate a need for regular maintenance

•Indicated a need to change management practices

•Monitoring stimulates maintenance

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Monitoring and Maintenance Monitoring and Maintenance

• Problems associated with M & M* M & M not considered in the plan* M & M not budgeted for* Time not allocated for M & M in the

annual operations plan* Responsible parties not identified to

carry out M & M* Responsible parties not given time in

their work plan to complete M & M

• Problems associated with M & M* M & M not considered in the plan* M & M not budgeted for* Time not allocated for M & M in the

annual operations plan* Responsible parties not identified to

carry out M & M* Responsible parties not given time in

their work plan to complete M & M

Establishment of Riparian Plant Species Depends on:

Success of the Project is dependent on the complete integration of these

steps……………

• Understanding the watershed• Stream Assessment• Develop Objectives• Site Inventory• Planting Location• Proper Selection of Species• Plant Material Handling• Establishment Techniques• Monitoring and Maintenance

• Understanding the watershed• Stream Assessment• Develop Objectives• Site Inventory• Planting Location• Proper Selection of Species• Plant Material Handling• Establishment Techniques• Monitoring and Maintenance

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Are you ready for the next flood event!!!

Are you ready for the next flood event!!!

Questions???Questions???

J. Chris HoagWetland Plant EcologistRiparian/Wetland Project

USDA-NRCS Plant Materials Center, Aberdeen, Idaho

email: [email protected]:

http://www.plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/idpmc/riparian.html

J. Chris HoagWetland Plant EcologistRiparian/Wetland Project

USDA-NRCS Plant Materials Center, Aberdeen, Idaho

email: [email protected]:

http://www.plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/idpmc/riparian.html

successful streambank bioengineering for drier areas of ...successful streambank bioengineering for...

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