Plants for Bank Erosion Prevention

I don't know how they'd do in a Calif. climate but in the UK willows
have traditionally been and still are used for the job.  Summer heat
might be a problem? but certainly winter cold wouldn't. Damp and shade
of course they relish. 

They can be used not just in streams but even at the saltwater shore
line since there are spp which will stand constant exposure to salt. I
have a friend who works with willow professionally and more than half
of his time is spent on precisely this sort of operation. 

You can either leave the willows to grow naturally and form into trees
or (in this context, preferably) you can back-fill with soil behind
and, as soon as the new saplings (planted 2-3' apart, slanting
backwards) are rooted in, you can then start to 'weave' the cross
branches together to form a dense hedge which can then be trimmed and
kept neat with an annual haircut and topped off at whatever height you
prefer. (I've tried my hand at this - 'under supervision'! - and it's
good fun, if you like that sort of 'practical game' job. A bit like
dry-stone-walling.) Another advantage of willow is of course the ease,
cheapness and speed with which you can work with it - unrooted lengths
just shoved in will root in no time at all and will be flourishing
young shrubs 3 months later. (Early in the season when the sap is just
rising is the ideal time to do the planting.) In winter many spp offer
the bonus of distinctively coloured bark - green, red, purple, yellow,
reddish-brown, etc. - so a well-made stream-side retaining hedge then
makes a handsome 'abstract painting' sort of addition to the
landscape. 

Hope this helps. If you're interested (or think your friend might be!)
but want more detail (best spp, precise methods, look of finished
result), I'm sure I could talk my friend into providing details +
photographs.
Tim Longville
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