Bioengineering

Over the years, bioengineering has become an acceptable and successful technique for river restoration. Bioengineering is the use of living materials and ecologically designed concepts to restore or enhance a degraded section of stream or a riparian zone.

Willow is a key tree species used in bioengineering efforts by the KWRC. This pliable tree grows quickly and can be propagated from cuttings. Its root growth is thick and readily holds soil materials in place and can act as a filter that keeps fine sediments from entering into streams.

In the summer of 2012 the KWRC undertook it's first bioengineering project with the hope that land owners would gain trust in the approach so that future projects would be more ecologically friendly and improve flood plain connectivity.

Now in 2020, we have successfully implemented bioengineering techniques at numerous properties - improving stream health across our watershed.

Check out our Bioengineering efforts during the summer of 2020

These bioengineering techniques used by the KWRC will result in the eventual growth of mature willow trees, resulting in overall restoration of a site. The site can be further enhanced by planting other species at the top of the bank and throughout the riparian area. The mature trees will provide shade to the stream and offer terrestrial habitats to other riparian dependent species.

Through this project the KWRC has tracked costs of installation and will continue monitoring the sites over the next few years to gauge success. It is hoped that our stakeholders will gain confidence in these techniques as they prove to be successful in our watershed.