Spokane River Shoreline Stabilization Project

The Problem

There are very few sections of the natural shoreline remaining within the Spokane River's Upriver Dam forbay. The ones that do exist are experiencing shoreline erosion at a very accelerated and unnatural rate.

Within the summer months this area of the river is used heavily by water skiers, wake boarders, and jet skiers, all of which create large boat waves.

The continuous wave action (some nearly three feet high) on this highly erosive sand, gravel and cobble shoreline, is devastating the natural plant communities along the river. The vegetation's root system are undermined and the plants due from root exposure or they simply fall into the river. These conditions are also very detrimental to any new vegetation establishment.

The Solution

For one landowner the solution was bioengineering. Bioengineering in this case is simply the use of biodegradable materials and planting in combination.

1. Biologs (tightly wrapped coconut fiber) and root wads were staked down at the water's edge. The stakes used were both untreated wood and live willow cuttings. The biologs and root wads were chosen with a dual purpose in mind.

a. To protect the shoreline from the wave action while the plants are established

b. As these materials breakdown, they provide an additional planting median.

2. Over the next two to three years, and as the slop becomes more stable, additional trees and shrubs appropriate for the area will be planted.

Project Specifics

Stream bank length: 250'

Man hours: 60

Materials

Root wads: 10

Stakes:

-Untreated wood: 100

-Willow cuttings: 300

Biologs (12''x20') : 20

Twin- 1000'

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