Stream stabilization/relocaion

[smstonypoint]

I have two streams on my farm in NC, one of which suffers from bank erosion. In 2013, I applied for NRCS EQIP cost-share assistance in stabilizing 320 feet of the stream. My application was approved and a NRCS engineer designed the project last February.

The NRCS application process was painless, but I did have to obtain a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) before work could begin. That permitting process was relatively painless -- it took me about four hours and a couple of phone calls to the Asheville ACOE field office to complete the permit application form.

I selected a contractor from a list of experienced contractors provided by the NRCS and he began work on the project on September 22. Unfortunately, I was stuck in SC until October 1, and I missed seeing the earth-moving part of the project.

I failed to take any "before" photos, but this shot from downstream illustrates how bad the bank erosion was on one section of the project.



Here's a shot (looking south) of the beginning section of the project.



There was a three-foot drop off to the stream within about three feet of the stream crossing. I felt safe crossing the stream with my RTV 900, but I wasn't about to risk it with my utility tractor. I had the contractor redo the stream crossing outside the EQIP cost-share agreement. He regraded the crossing, and installed geo-textile fabric and three-inch stone.

A bank cave-in (four-foot drop-off) had cost me several loblolly pines from the plantation tract on the right-hand (west) side of the stream.


Here's a shot facing north, about 200 feet from the start of the project.



There was about a ten-foot drop-off in the vicinity of the shadow of the walnut tree's top. It would have been just a matter of time before I started losing pines from the plantation tract on the east side of the stream.

The contractor crew had already installed eight log vanes and three rock vanes in the stream before I arrived on October 1. Apparently, all of the grading and vane installation was carried out under the supervision of the NRCS engineer.


When I arrived, the crew was broadcast seeding rye and fescue. They then installed coconut netting in the floodplain and straw wattles on the banks above the floodplain. They then used a straw blower to cover the banks above the floodplain with wheat straw.


Here are shots of a log vane and a rock vane that also show the coconut netting. The log vanes are hardwood logs (sycamore in this case) that the crew wrapped in a thick plastic.








The contractor will return in December to install live stakes of native trees and bushes on the banks above the floodplain.

I am more than happy with the results of this project. My only regret is that I did not apply for cost-share assistance for stabilization of more of the stream. I have now applied for assistance in stabilizing an additional 2,000 feet. I will hear in February whether my request has been approved.

Steve

 

[boggen]

i can only see the very top attachment, all other pictures / attachments coming up as invalid.

 

[smstonypoint]

I'm having a problem too. I will try compressing the images.

Steve

 

[boggen]

the stream going through the farm here, is getting pretty bad, 1 to 6' almost vertical drop on sides.

what is this assistance / share thing ya talking about?

from looks of it, they come in and move a bunch of dirt around and re-slope everything? even move the stream around?

 

[smstonypoint]

I hope I have corrected my attachment problem.

the stream going through the farm here, is getting pretty bad, 1 to 6' almost vertical drop on sides.

what is this assistance / share thing ya talking about?

from looks of it, they come in and move a bunch of dirt around and re-slope everything? even move the stream around?

You can read about EQIP here: Environmental Quality Incentives Program | NRCS. You can also talk to the NRCS staff at your local USDA office.

I have applied for EQIP cost-share assistance for four projects and three have been funded.

I first applied for cost-share for a controlled burn on a 25-acre pine plantation tract. That project was not funded, so I paid the full cost of the burn.

Last year I received cost-share assistance for herbicide control of hardwoods and brambles on a five-acre pine plantation tract that could not be burned due to its proximity to a US highway.

I received cost-share assistance this year for the stream project and improvement of a forest trail (to be described in another thread).

The NRCS engineer drew up a thorough design for the stream project. Several sections of the stream were relocated -- I would guess less than 60 feet in total.

Steve

 

[dragoneggs]

I hope I have corrected my attachment problem.



You can read about EQIP here: Environmental Quality Incentives Program | NRCS. You can also talk to the NRCS staff at your local USDA office.

I have applied for EQIP cost-share assistance for four projects and three have been funded.

I first applied for cost-share for a controlled burn on a 25-acre pine plantation tract. That project was not funded, so I paid the full cost of the burn.

Last year I received cost-share assistance for herbicide control of hardwoods and brambles on a five-acre pine plantation tract that could not be burned due to its proximity to a US highway.

I received cost-share assistance this year for the stream project and improvement of a forest trail (to be described in another thread).

The NRCS engineer drew up a thorough design for the stream project. Several sections of the stream were relocated -- I would guess less than 60 feet in total.

Steve

How much 'assistance' do you typically get (as a percentage)? Is there a standard depending the type of improvement?

 

[smstonypoint]

How much 'assistance' do you typically get (as a percentage)? Is there a standard depending the type of improvement?

Based on my experience, the answer is "It depends" I contracted with the NC Forest Service for the spraying project. I would need to check my records, but I think my share was 60% of the cost.

For the stream and trail projects, the contracts specified the EQIP dollar amounts to be provided upon NRCS certification that the projects had been completed to contract specializations. (I suppose that if I had the equipment and expertise, I could have completed the work myself.)

I used the same contractor for both projects and some additional work that was not covered by the EQIP contracts. It turned out that the EQIP funds covered the project costs. I suspect that the trail costs would have been higher had the contractor not had his equipment (a track hoe, a mini-excavator, and a tracked skid-steer) on site for the stream project.

Your mileage may vary -- you should visit with the NRCS staff at your local USDA Service Center.

Steve

 

[Jstpssng]

As the resident "Closet Greenie" :laughing:, this is the type of project which I don't mind supporting with my tax dollars.:thumbsup:

 

[dave1949]

Steve could have tossed some pallets on the eroding banks, pinned them down with rebar and fixed this himself.

It's no wonder our taxes are never enough. :laughing:

On a more serious note, where does the eroded silt go and did that have any weight in the funding decision?

 

[smstonypoint]

Steve could have tossed some pallets on the eroding banks, pinned them down with rebar and fixed this himself.

It's no wonder our taxes are never enough. :laughing:

Yes, but that would have involved me spending my money and my time.

On a more serious note, where does the eroded silt go and did that have any weight in the funding decision?

Some of the silt has built up in the stream's meanders and changed the course of the stream over time. Some of the silt has undoubtedly settled in a farm pond that is about one-half mile downstream from my property. The construction of that pond was funded in part by the Soil Conservation Service, the predecessor of the NRCS. I understand that the pond has been drained at least once to remove sediments. That fact may have improved my chances of getting funding.

Steve