Re: OT-other-erosion control

Thanks for the info.  To be honest, I didn't even think about going to the
conservation/extension service.  I for sure wasn't thinking about trees.
This creek is lined with trees of various ages however none are willows,
most are hardwoods, and the creek has a tendancy to undercut these.  I will
check with our local agencies.  Thanks again.

Glenn

Glenn & Linda Simmons  Springfield, Missouri
e-mail glennsimmons@msn.com or
gsimmons1@juno.com or lindaAsimmons@juno.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Daryl &Kathy Haggstrom <hagg@alaska.net>
To: Multiple recipients of list <iris-l@rt66.com>
Date: Sunday, March 08, 1998 1:39 AM
Subject: Re: OT-other-erosion control


>
>I hesitate to offer advice as our climate is so different from yours,
>but my husband has overseen several streambank revegetation projects
>here in Alaska in his position with Alaska State Parks, and he said much
>of their basic information came from the expertise of Robin Sortiere,
>who began her career in Georgia.
>
>In Alaska, streambank erosion requires aggressive control, which means
>woody plants, which have holding power & strength, not herbaceous
>plants. That would require what is called riparian vegetation, ones
>which endure wet soil conditions and periodic flooding. Willows, poplars
>& cottonwoods are three such here that root readily from cuttings. In
>his projects, my husband would select a quick rooting riparian which was
>already growing in the general area, which meant it would be best
>adapted to conditions at that site. The choice was usually always willow
>as they are more suitable for streambanks. Information on which plants
>are suitable for revegetation in your area should be available through
>your extension service, state parks, or whatever agency deals with such
>matters in your area. Whatever plant is chosen needs to be quick
>rooting. Of the 32 varieties of willow here, only 4 are are considered
>quick-rooting enough for revegetation.
>
>The method involves collecting dormant cuttings of the plant 4' long &
>tieing them in 4" bundles, which are placed in snow or a freezer until
>planting time. The bundles are laid horizontally along the bank in a
>shallow trough, covered with soil, with a stake pounded into the bundle
>to anchor it. The covered bundles require less moisture and "coddling"
>early on than single upright cuttings or rooted cuttings, which is why
>it is the preferred method. There are more particulars concerning this
>method, which if you were really interested in, I could send you
>off-list. But the main idea behind it is to choose a riparian plant
>common to your area, choosing a quick rooting variety, and plant this on
>your bank. They will often seed hardy grass LIGHTLY over the planted
>bundles, as a temporary stabilizer.
>
>I suspect this information may be more "institutional" than you need,
>but I would be surprised if your Extension Service didn't already have
>such localized information available to the public. We get such
>information here through the Dept of Natural Resources, and our Plant
>Materials Center, in addition to the Extension Service.
>
>Kathy Haggstrom
>Anch AK
>hagg@alaska.net
>
>
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