Wenatchee River Bank Stabilization and Habitat Improvement

Statistics

• Client: Private homeowner
• Location: Wenatchee
• Dates: 2007-2009

Description

This Wenatchee area residential property is on the outside of a gentle meander bend with a 30-40’ high bank that has experienced substantial bank erosion and retreat. The bank is currently oversteepened in most of the project area, and actively eroding.

The Watershed Company developed a plan to use Large Woody Debris (LWD) and rock to maintain a large existing off-shore pool, provide cover to the pool, and improve bank stability. A somewhat controversial project element is two rock barbs, designed to deflect stream energy away from the eroding bank and towards the center of the channel, chosen for this site due to the proximity of the residence to the steep bank as well as the ability of a barb to help reduce bank erosion while directing scour towards the existing pool to help maintain it.

As anticipated, project permitting included formal consultation with both the USFWS and NOAA Fisheries, who have now issued Biological Opinions with few additional conditions. A Corps permit has been issued. The project qualified for Streamlined Processing as a Fish Habitat Enhancement Project with WDFW.