A Guide to Bank Restoration Options for Large River Systems: Part II Bioengineering Installation Manual MWMO Watershed Bulletin: 2010-3 Prepared for the MWMO by: Great River Greening A Guide to Bank Restoration Options for Large River Systems: Part II Bioengineering Installation Manual Prepared for the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization by: Great River Greening Contributing Authors: Todd Rexine, Great River Greening Operations Manager Dan Kalmon, Mississippi Watershed Management Organization Planner & Program Manager Daniel Tix, (former) Great River Greening Conservation Director Assistance from: Sol Bijnagte, (former) Landscape Ecologist at Great River Greening Tony Randazzo, (former) Landscape Ecologist at Great River Greening Thank you to the staff from the following organizations: Minnesota DNR, USGS, Mn/DOT, US COE, NRCS, U of M St Anthony Falls, and MNRRA who reviewed various stages of this project as well as provided resources for: the modeling of the river; assembling the bio-engineering and stabilization practices and developing the written guidance. Published by: The Mississippi Watershed Management Organization 1224 Marshall Street NE, Suite 201 Suggested Citation: Minneapolis, Minnesota 55413-0136 Mississippi Watershed Management Organization. 2010. A Guide to Bank Restoration Options for Large River Systems: Part II Bioengineering Installation Manual MWMO Watershed Bulletin 2010-3. 95 pp. (612) 465-8780 (612) 465 8785 fax Front Cover: Riverbank photos near downtown Minneapolis. Clockwise discription starting with background: exposed bedrock in gorge; eroded bank; 10 to 25% vegatated bank; Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board bank www.mwmo.org restoration sites using bioengineering. Photograph by: Daniel Kalmon, Mississippi Watershed Management Organization A Guide to Bank Restoration Options for Large River Systems: Part I Riverbank Restoration Planning Software Prepared for the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization by: LimnoTech Contributing Authors: Todd Redder, LimnoTech Hans Holmberg, LimnoTech Dan Kalmon, Mississippi Watershed Management Organization Daniel Rucinski, LimnoTech Assistance from: Thank you to the staff from the following organizations: Minnesota DNR, USGS, Mn/DOT, US COE, NRCS, U of M St Anthony Falls, and MNRRA who reviewed various stages of this project as well as provided resources for: the modeling of the river; assembling the bio-engineering and stabilization practices and developing the written guidance. Published by: The Mississippi Watershed Management Organization 1224 Marshall Street NE, Suite 201 Suggested Citation: Minneapolis, Minnesota 55413-0136 Mississippi Watershed Management Organization. 2010. A Guide to Bank Restoration Options for Large River Systems: Part I Riverbank Restoration Planning Software MWMO Watershed Bulletin 2010-3. 95 pp. (612) 465-8780 (612) 465 8785 fax Front Cover: Riverbank photos near downtown Minneapolis. Clockwise discription starting with background: exposed bedrock in gorge; eroded bank; 10 to 25% vegatated bank; Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board bank www.mwmo.org restoration sites using bioengineering. Photograph by: Daniel Kalmon, Mississippi Watershed Management Organization Abstract The Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO) has developed a guidance document and planning software for bank restoration on large river systems. Physical characteristics of the riverbank, along with predicted shear stresses across a full range of flows, are used to classify and recommend bio-engineering applications that restore and protect the riverbanks of the Mississippi River. This effort included: writing an installation manual, field surveys and data collection, modeling, and data synthesis. Field surveys were conducted to collect information on bank profiles and slope, vegetative cover, soil type, and existing structures or protection measures. Two-dimensional hydrodynamic modeling of the Mississippi River from the Hwy 694 bridge to Ford Dam has been conducted to assess shear stress and critical bank elevations. Planning software was also developed to allow property owners to select locations, review physical data and modeling results, and choose applicable bio-engineering options for their site. The MWMO anticipates further development and application of this tool, in cooperation with local and state authorities, as a planning resource other organizations can replicate and utilize for TMDLs and Implementation Plans. 1224 Marshall Street NE, Suite 201 Minneapolis, Minnesota 55413 (651) 287 0948 (651) 287 1308 fax www.mwmo.org NOTICE: The Mississippi Watershed Management Organization, Great River Greening, and LimnoTech Inc are not liable for damages or losses that may result from the installation of any of the recommended practices in this guidance manual. It is the landowners’ responsibility to assure that the practices installed on their sites do not result in damages or losses to persons or property. This guidance manual provides a range of restoration options for various sites based on a generalized classification of the riverbanks within the MWMO. It is meant to provide landowners with a list of potential riverbank restoration practices. Landowners must conduct any analysis needed to determine which of these practices, if any, are suitable for installation on their sites given site specific characteristics. A Guide to Bank Restoration Options for Large River Systems: Part II bioengineering installation manual Table of Contents Purpose of the Guide ......................................................................................................................................................... 4 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................................... 4 Mississippi River Dynamics............................................................................................................................................... 6 Assessing Riverbank Zones ............................................................................................................................................... 8 How to Recognize Bank Stability Problems ................................................................................................................. 10 What is Working Along the River .................................................................................................................................. 11 Steps to a Successful Project ........................................................................................................................................... 13 Case Studies ....................................................................................................................................................................... 20 Slope Restoration, St.Croix River, Lakeland, MN .................................................................................................. 20 Bank Restoration, Vermillion River, Hastings, MN ............................................................................................... 21 Toe Restoration, St. Croix River, Lake St. Croix Beach, MN .............................................................................. 22 Technical Sheets: River Bank Restoration Solutions ............................................................................................. 23 Technical Sheet 1: Vegetated Erosion Control Blanket .................................................................................. 24 Technical Sheet 2: Bio-logs .................................................................................................................................. 26 Technical Sheet 3: Live Stakes ............................................................................................................................. 28 Technical Sheet 4: Live Fascines ......................................................................................................................... 30 Technical Sheet 5: Brush Mattress ...................................................................................................................... 32 Technical Sheet 6: Tree Revetments ................................................................................................................... 36 Technical Sheet 7: Vegetated Geogrids .............................................................................................................. 40 Technical Sheet 8: Rootwads ............................................................................................................................... 42 Technical Sheet 9: Crib walls ............................................................................................................................... 46 Technical Sheet 10: Riprap with Live Stakes ..................................................................................................... 48 Technical Sheet 11: Rock Barbs with Live Stakes ............................................................................................ 50 Technical Sheet 12: Gabions with Live Stakes .................................................................................................. 54 Technical Sheet 13: Retaining Walls ................................................................................................................... 56 Technical Sheet 14: Soft Armor Walls ..............................................................................................................