Description:
Eroding banks on the Teton River were identified as a potential threat to an adjacent home and outbuilding. Each bank was characterized by shear, exposed slopes ranging from 4-6 feet high dominated by introduced pasture grasses. Intermountain Aquatics designed a bio-engineered bank stabilization method for the project that utilized native sedges, rushes and willows and erosion control fabric. No hard materials such as rock rip-rap were used to stabilize the eroding banks. Three weeks after the final planting, the eroding banks were stable and dominated by native plants. After 2 years, all sites looked and functioned like the natural, stable reference banks. The banks have remained stable and support deep pools that are holding large trout.