Russian River Riverbank and Riparian Revegetation Project
Rochioli Vineyards
Healdsburg, California
This project was constructed at the Rochioli Vineyards along the Russian River near Healdsburg, California. The project stabilized and revegetated 705 feet of eroding riverbank that was threatening a vineyard and vineyard access road. The following bioengineering techniques were used to stabilize the riverbank: live willow siltation baffles, boulder wing deflectors, live willow brush mattress, live woven willow wall, and live willow brush layers.
The downstream portion of the eroding riverbank prior to restoration. On the right side of the picture are remnants of the piled rock stabilization.
The upstream portion of the eroding riverbank prior to restoration.
The excavator has cut an access ramp into the bank to begin construction of the bioengineering stabilization structures.
The crew used a small boat to drag live willow branches from one side of the river to the other for use in the restoration project.
Newly excavated baffle trenches.
The baffle trenches were lined with a dense row of live willow branches then the excavator placed boulders in the trench to hold the willows in place.
The upstream baffles have been completed and the excavator has just finished constructing a boulder-wing deflector to protect and support a large, old canopy tree at the top of bank.
After the live willow siltation baffles were completed, we built a live woven willow wall above the baffles to support the vineyard road at the top of bank. The wall was backfilled with river gravel to form a stable slope between the road the willow wall.
The upstream portion of the project one year after construction.
The downstream portion of the project one year after construction.
The upstream portion of the project 2 years after construction.
The downstream portion of the project 2 years after construction.
The project two years after construction.