|
Turtle Creek bank stabilization underway
If you have drove north from St. Ansgar on Highway 218 recently you may have noticed some activity along Turtle Creek as you cross the bridge over the creek. The landowner on the west side of the highway has agreed to do bank stabilization along the creek where it crosses his property. There were already plans to do stabilization projects on 550 feet of the creek banks on three different parcels of property before the flood of spring 2008.
An additional 255 feet was added after assessing the damage done by the flood waters.
The project is planned to be completed this fall or early next spring.
The stabilization sites are identified by observing where excessive erosion is occurring on the stream banks.
This can be caused by various factors but typically is due to high water flow and land use on adjoining property. Once the sites have been identified there is a survey and design of the area completed and the landowner and a contractor are consulted to decide if the project is feasible.
If it is decided to go forward with the project the landowner can apply for cost share from the Turtle Creek Watershed Project which will provide up to 75 percent of the funds necessary to complete the project. If the landowner agrees to include fish hides (a wooden structure that is submerged at the edge of the bank) which will provide additional habitat in the stream; the Iowa DNR Fisheries Department may provide an additional 25% cost share which would cover 100 percent of the project costs.
To install this conservation practice the existing banks are shaped with an excavator to provide a more gradual slope. Then the area at the bottom edge of the bank is dug approximately one foot deeper than the water level and leveled out to set the fish hide on.
The fish hide is set in place and large rip rap rock is used to hold the hide in place and rock is placed the rest of the way up the slope of the bank to keep everything in place, stable. Black dirt is then spread back over the top of the rip rap rock and seeded with a grass seeding, preferably native grasses, to provide a more natural look when complete.
One of these stabilization sites has been completed on the Boerjan Wildlife Area located northeast of St. Ansgar on property owned by the Mitchell County Conservation Board. The work was completed on September 16, 2008. There will be a frost seeding done on these banks later this fall.
To learn more about whether you have areas on your property that might qualify for this practice or to take a look at one installed please contact Dan at the USDA/NRCS office at 641-732-5504.
Story created Nov 03, 2008 - 17:34:43 CST.
|
