Crystal River Bank Stabilization

Sustained high water in 2019 caused massive erosion along a steep bank of the Crystal River, threatening the stability of the Crystal Valley Trail and an important agricultural ditch. DHM collaborated with a team of engineers, hydrologists, county staff, and contractors to implement a hybrid restoration strategy. The restoration design utilized traditional engineering methods and bioengineered stabilization solutions, such as willow fascines, woody plantings and seeding. In stream work was undertaken to route the force of the river away from the bank requiring heavy machinery in the river and careful timing to not disrupt fish spawning. Thousands of cubic yards of fill were placed on the river bench and upland portions of the project. DHM’s ecological team developed unique strategies to plant and install plant material on the river bench and upland portions of the project providing stability, habitat and ecological function. DHM detailed specialty erosion control measures, designs for planting pockets on slopes as steep at 1.75:1 and incorporated willow and cottonwood stakes and fascines throughout the river bench and upland areas. The team also facilitated plant layout, install, germination and willow intervention monitoring. Construction on the 800 linear feet of river bank at the Crystal River is complete.