Watershed No: 10270102130

Lead Agency: Shawnee County Conservation District, 3231 SW Van Buren, Topeka, KS, 66611, Norman L. Sawyer, Nonpoint Source Coordinator, 785-267-5721.

Landowner, Jerry Wohler, 117 S. Oak, Garnett, KS, 66032, 785-448-6225.

Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Bureau of Water, Nonpoint Source Section, Forbes Field, Topeka, KS, 66620, Rick Davis, 785-296-3600.

State Conservation Commission, 109 SW 9th St., Room 300, Topeka, KS 66612, Mr. Tracy D. Streeter, Executive Director, 785-296-3600.

Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Mike McFadden, RR #5, Box 227A-2, Lawrence, KS 66046, 785-842-4625.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 315 Houston St., Suite E, Manhattan, KS 66502, 785-539-3474.

Kansas State Research and Extension, 1515 College Ave., Manhattan, KS 66502, 785-532-5833.

USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 3231 SW Van Buren, Topeka, KS, 66611, 785-267-5721.

This project demonstrated the use of landscape design practices and bio-technical stream bank stabilization measures to correct a severely eroding stream bank. A small section of crop land was converted to forested land which provides wildlife habitat and eventually commercial timber production. The Shawnee County Conservation District received funding through the Kansas Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Funds for implementation of this and similar projects in Shawnee County. The demonstration project site was used as a show case for prospective participants. Section 319 Grant Funds were used to purchase some materials and installation costs, document the design and implementation process through video, workshops and field days, gain public participation; support outreach and develop/distribute information and education materials.

I. Background

The site for this streambank stabilization and riparian restoration project consists of approximately five acres adjacent to Soldier Creek, five miles northwest of Silver Lake in Shawnee County, Kansas. The land was being used for agricultural production, but a severely unstable streambank was creating several problems. The narrowest point of access to the east part of the site is currently 50’. The streambank showed no signs of stabilizing itself. Eventually, access would have been lost for agricultural machinery to reach about three acres of land. The eroding streambank was contributing to water quality impairment by the amount of sedimentation loading to the creek. This in turn affected aquatic wildlife habitat.

II. Objectives

The objectives of this project were to:

1. Demonstrate vegetative streambank stabilization techniques.

2. Demonstrate riparian restoration practices that address several land management objectives, including protection and improvement of water quality, enhanced wildlife habitat, and possible economic values from future timber production.

3. Monitor and document effectiveness of implemented practices through visual observation and documentation of reduced bank erosion and sloughing and subsequent sediment discharges to Soldier Creek.

4. Provide educational opportunities regarding vegetative stream bank stabilization practices and riparian restoration practices for the public.

5. Provide data and related information from which to estimate technical assistance needs and requirements for subsequent biotechnical streambank stabilization projects.

Unstable stream banks along riparian corridors are a significant source of sediment to streams in Kansas. Nutrients and pesticides, frequently associated with sediment, have an additional impact on water quality. Increasingly, landowners are recognizing the significance of this problem, but are often unsure of how to respond.

In fall, 1992, a landowner with cropped land adjacent to Soldier Creek in Shawnee County, Kansas contacted the Shawnee County Nonpoint Source Coordinator regarding a streambank stabilization problem. Approximately 500' of eroding streambank on the five acre site was contributing a heavy sediment load to Soldier Creek due to the lack of existing riparian vegetation. Cultivation to the edge of the bank was aggravating the problem. The landowner was concerned about losing access to the east portion of the site, since the eroding streambank was only 50' away from the property line.

Representatives from several state and federal agencies visited the site to discuss possible solutions. The landowner was encouraged to consider long range management objectives for the site in addition to the immediate need for streambank stabilization. After expressing an interest in timber production and wildlife habitat, a plan was developed to address the eroding streambank and provide long range management for the site.

The first phase of the design consisted of installing a tree revetment along the toe of the bank for two purposes. A tree revetment not only traps sediment from the slumping bank, but also when it washes down the stream. Sediment deposited behind the revetment allows seed from pioneer species such as willow and cottonwood to become established.

Trees for the revetment were cut and transported from property owned by the same landowner about 1 1/2 miles from the site. 15'-20' cedar trees were placed in an overlapped fashion and anchored with a duckbill anchor 4'-5' into the bank.

The second phase consisted of placing dormant willow and cottonwood stakes on the slope to establish deep rooting. Approximately 1000 willow and 400 cottonwood stakes were collected from Perry Reservoir. The stakes ranged from three-quarters inch to three inches in diameter. A variety of sizes were used to observe whether one size was more successful in establishment. All stakes were twenty-four inches long. One man can cut and load approximately 100 stakes per hour. To prevent drying from exposure to sun and wind, a Chevrolet Suburban was used to transport the stakes.

After soaking in a sediment and water control basin for three to fives days, four rows of stakes were installed on a four foot triangular spacing. Since the subsoil consisted of a hard clay, pilot holes were drilled with a one man gas-powered auger for the first two rows. The last two rows were driven with a sledge hammer. Only two to four inches of the stake was left exposed above the ground. In spite of the pilot holes, several stakes split when they were installed. These stakes were trimmed with a chain saw two to four inches above ground. Every other stake was treated with a 50-50 mix of white latex paint and water to observe whether treated stakes were more successful due to decreased desiccation. A fifth row of alternating plum and dogwood stakes (one-half inch in diameter and twelve inches long) were placed along the top of the bank to establish a row of shrubs. One man can install approximately 50 stakes per hour on clay soil.

The third phase of the project consisted of planting 1400 deciduous shrubs and trees to provide a varied habitat. Black walnut, green ash, hackberry, bur oak, silver maple, black locust, fragrant sumac, and honeysuckle were planted for species diversity. Several shrubs were also planted on the streambank to aid in revegetating the slope.

Several high-flow events have occurred after the installation of the project. Once in May and June, 1994, the tree revetment was completely submerged and showed no signs of failure. Between six and twelve inches of sediment have accumulated behind the revetment, particularly along the downstream portion. After the first high-flow event, the first row of willow stakes was covered under four to six inches of sediment. The willows emerged from the sediment and are growing well. Most of the willows in the first three rows are three to six feet tall. Several of the willows in the first two rows were observed in mid-July to be suckering new shoots from root growth.

In the fall of 1994 the tree revetment, willow stakes, and streambank cover looked great. The tree planting however was over grown with weeds. Sunflowers were 12 –14 feet high and Johnson grass was abundant. We determined the weed needed to be mowed to allow sunlight to the tree seedlings. The trees were all but impossible to see, so the rows were walked and a red flag was put by each tree. A swinging jinni was used to clean out the vegetation around the trees. It was determined weed barrier fabric should be put around the trees to provide some protection from weeds and to conserve moisture. In the spring of 1995 the area around the trees was disked and weed barrier fabric was put around all of the trees except the black locust, which were to large.

In the spring of 1995 we had many heavy rains which caused the Soldier Creek to flood several times. These floods were to much for the cedar tree revetment and about 300 feet of the revetment washed out, taking with it much of the 2 feet of sediment it had piled up behind it. These floods also washed most of the vegetation off of the bank so it looked as though we had failed. We decided to try one more thing. In March of 1996 we went to Perry Reservoir and cut 600 10 – 12 ft. long willow poles and hauled them to the site. They were stored in the Sediment and Water Control Basin where they soaked in water for three weeks. A flat berm was constructed right above the tree revetment. An 10 inch auger was attached to a backhoe boom. A 10 inch hole was drilled 10 feet deep on four feet centers. Five hundred and fifty willow poles were put in. By the end of April the beaver started eating off the willow poles. An electric fence was installed to keep out the beavers. It worked fine but the maintenance was nearly impossible as every time it rained the fence would wash out. This protected the willow poles long enough for them to get fairly well established. By January the beaver had eaten off most of the willow poles. However they were well enough established that they sprouted out the spring of 1998 and look pretty good in July 1998.They have better than 6 feet of growth on them. The willows are have suckers coming up all over including up slope. The Black Locust are putting out suckers down slope. The bank is pretty well covered with vegetation.

After the willow poles were planted the entire bank was raked with a hand rake, native grass seed was broadcast and a straw mulch was applied. Unfortunately about a month later the stream flooded and scoured off all the mulch and loose soil. In some rougher areas were the seed did not wash away there is a good stand.

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