Streeter Creek Streambank Stabilization Project
Black Oak Ranch
Laytonville, California
This is one of many sites along the Black Oak Ranch ownership of Streeter Creek that have been restored and repaired by BioEngineering Associates, Inc. (BE). This project was constructed in 1988 and is one of the older projects that BE has designed and constructed. At this site Streeter Creek takes a sharp right turn. With all the riparian vegetation eroded away, more and more of the meadow was being lost with each winter storm. The repair used here was a Live Willow Brush Mattress anchored at the bottom by a row of quarried boulders.
Spring 1986 before construction.
Gravel from the opposing point bar was dozed up to create a shallow sloped bank.
After the bank was reshaped, a life willow brush mattress was constructed to prevent further erosion to the bank and loss of valuable grazing land.
One year after construction. The willows have begun their rapid growth and young, volunteer alder trees have started growing among the willows.
One year after construction.
Five years after construction, alders now dominate the shoreline.
Over time, plant and channel diversity have continued to increase. There are now deep pools and large woody debris in the water.
A view of the mattress from the meadow, summer 2003.
Streeter Creek, Summer, 2003