By Joe Johnson
Director of Operations and Projects
The flood event the High Country experienced with Hurricane Helene has left many landowners asking questions about what to do with their river, stream and creek banks. While we need to focus on trash and debris removal in the short term, it would be beneficial to the New River to start thinking about restoration activities that improve water quality, fish and wildlife habitat, and property values.
The most common concern landowners have communicated to the New River Conservancy is the loss of property due to significant bank erosion that occurred during the recent flooding (Photo 1). This “accelerated erosion” is a result of many factors that include present and historical land use, climate change driven flood events, and the physical shape of the stream channel. While there is no single solution for reducing bank erosion, there are cost effective techniques that can be used in conjunction that help prevent it from occurring.
Many people understand the importance of native trees and shrubs for wildlife and mental health, but some are unaware of the importance these organisms have for preventing erosion. Planting trees and shrubs next to a stream or river will allow for the root systems to “armor” the bank which will help hold the bank in place during normal flooding. However, planting trees and shrubs on vertical banks (photo 2.) will not be effective at preventing erosion because the trees will be undermined as the river continues to erode the bank beneath them. This is why it is important to “slope” the bank prior to planting trees and shrubs.
Bank sloping is a way of modifying the angle of a stream bank in order to reduce erosion. By sloping the bank (photo 3) it allows the trees and shrubs to establish a root system before they are undermined by a new flood. While sloping the bank may be easily accomplished if you have access to machinery, it is important to realize that these activities need to be permitted by state and federal agencies. It is advised to contact organizations like New River Conservancy (NRC) prior to engaging in these activities.
NRC’s River Builder can help mitigate some forms of erosion and bring a damaged bank back to good health. Please fill out our River Builder form to have someone contact you about your river banks.
While the events of Hurricane Helene are recent and continue to impact our day-to-day lives, it is important to understand that NRC continues our dedication to our mission to protect the woods, waters, and wildlife of the New River. It will take time and hard work to fully recover from the flooding, but our organization will never cease trying to make the watershed better for the people and wildlife that live here.
Photo 1
Photo 2
Photo 3
