Red River Riparian Project
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Park River Bible Camp
Riparian restoration and streambank stabilization work was initiated on the Middle Branch of the Park River within the Park River Bible Camp (PRBC) to address severe streambank erosion that was threatening a nature interpretive area of the camp and a utility pole. Assistance was requested by the PRBC in May of 1998. By July of that same year, Linda Kingery, Riparian Project Coordinator, assigned Frank Beaver, Craig Brumbaugh, Gale Mayer and several students from the University of North Dakota to assess and survey current site conditions and develop a plan for the stabilization and restoration of the streambank. By January of 1999, a Forest Resource Management Plan was completed by Craig Brumbaugh of the North Dakota Forest Service outlining recommendations for streambank protection, riparian buffer and wildlife plantings, and forest stand improvement practices. Several strategies were also being considered at that time for the stabilization of the streambank.
Final plans for the streambank stabilization portion of the restoration project were presented in May of 2000. The plan called for moving the channel 35 feet to the south of the existing channel and constructing a stable 3:1 slope from the new channel to the existing bank where the utility pole is located. Fill for creating the stable slope was taken from the flood plain on the south side of the river. Removal of this material intentionally lowered the floodplain so the stream could access it sooner during periods of high flow. This flood plain access would allow the water to spread out and slow down during high water events, decreasing the erosive force on the repaired streambank. In addition to earthwork, the plan called for the installation of rootwads at the bankfull elevation on the repaired slope. The rootwads function to deflect flow back into the channel and decrease the erosive energy of the water. The earthwork was completed at the site in late August of 2000.
Above the channel and toe of the constructed slope, bioengineering practices were planned to stabilize the slope face. Bioengineering is the use of dormant live plant materials in an engineered installation to stabilize a stream channel or bank. The bioengineering plan at PRBC called for dormant live willow stakes and sedge seedlings that were installed on the site by students from nearby Edinburgh School in early October of 2000. The constructed slope was also planted with native grass seed mixture and covered with straw and a loose mesh geotextile net.
During the spring of 2001, the Middle Branch of the Park River experienced a flood event that damaged the restoration work completed the previous fall. After assessing the site in the fall of 2001, it was determined that several factors in the design and the timing of the flood contributed to the damage. The design factors included miscalculation of the bankfull elevation leading to the misplacement of the rootwads and the narrowing of the bankfull-channel at the upstream end of the reach. In addition, vegetation did not have time to establish on the slope prior to being subjected to flooding. In the fall of 2001, repairs were made to the restoration that included lowering the south streambank to allow the flood water to access the flood plain sooner, armoring of the restored slope toe with rock, and additional bioengineering practices of willow posts and stakes installed on the constructed streambank.
In the summer of 2002, the restoration site at the PRBC was again subjected to flooding and survived with no damage to the riverbank or channel.
The following series of photographs depict the restoration of the Park River Bible Camp Site. Click on an
image for a larger version.
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A photograph taken in August 1999 showing the initial site conditions along the Park River near the Park River Bible Camp. |
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Initial site conditions showing the vertical banks and the power pole threatened by the excessive erosion. |
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Following the reshaping of the stream bank, heavy equipment was used to install root wads into the stream bank. |
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Reshaped bank slope after installation of root wads. |
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Volunteers from the Edinburg, ND area assist in the planting of numerous willow stakes in October of 2000. Note the application of a geotextile fabric prior to willow planting. |
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Photograph of the site following restoration activities. |
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View of the initial restoration effort in the vicinity of the previously threatened power pole. |
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Following a spring flood event that damaged the initial restoration effort, rock rip rap was installed add increased stability and protection to the toe of the slope. These photographs were taken two years after the restoration activity began. |
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View of the initial restoration effort in the vicinity of the previously threatened power pole. |