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Station 16:
Riparian Restoration Project

The January 1996 flood caused extensive erosion damage along Ackerly Creek near the confluence with Tunkhannock Creed.  Fast moving flood waters tore away tens of feet of stream bank, cutting into the athletic fields and tearing out the original Nokomis bridge behind the library.  More unstable stream banks were poised to collapse into the stream.  A grant from the Northeastern Pennsylvania Urban Forestry Program allowed the College to repair the damage and develop a model project for restoration techniques.

The riparian zone is that area between the stream bank and adjacent forest.  This area had been historically degraded by removing much of the vegetation for farming and recreational purposes.  In part, this set the stage for the flood damage.

Repair meant reestablishing a more natural riparian buffer zone.  This vegetated area would help to reduce and catch erosion and runoff that was now going directly into the stream.  Additionally, shade would cool and moderate the water temperature.  The vegetation also provides wildlife habitat.

To restore the area and reestablish the riparian buffer zone would require stabilization of the streambank.  A mixture of techniques was chosen.  'Hard armor', such as riprap (large rocks), was deployed along part of the bank.  'Soft armor' bioengineering techniques were also incorporated, including biologs constructed of plant materials to help hold the bank.  Fabric mesh was laid on the graded banks to stabilize the bare soil.  Water loving vegetation such as willows were planted directly into the bank.  Quickly developing root masses will provide integrity to the banks.  Red-osier Dogwood and Arrowwood Viburnum are among the water tolerant plants that were integrated into the stabilization plans.
Downstream several large downed trees were buried in the streambank with their roots protruding into the channel.  These rootwads deflect and slow the current and provide fish cover.

With extensive community and volunteer support, this award-winning project has been a great success and has attracted professional restoration  biologists eager to see mitigation techniques at work.

A more detailed discussion of the project is available in the Riparian Interpretive Trail Guide.