Delaware Water Gap - Stream Restoration - Contracted for $529,000
Sections of Bushkill Creek, Dingman’s Creek and the Delaware River located within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in eastern Pennsylvania, were hit hard by the erosive forcesof the Hurricane Ivan flood in September, 2004. Ecological Restoration, Inc. was called upon to develop a stream bank restoration and stabilization workplan in conjunction with the US Army Corps of Engineers, and implement construction.
Of the nine sites designed, five sites were completed with available federal funding in 2009. These sites were stabilized with engineered rock structures and bank protection measures such as bendway weirs, longitudinal peaked stone toe protection, rock armoring and traffic control stones to alleviate stresses, as well as create habitat for flora and fauna. Additionally, installation of soil mixes and planting of various native species, including Willow Pole bioengineering methodologies, ensured vegetative stability. It is anticipated that the four remaining sites will be built as funds become available.
Site 6 "The Bowl"
A particularly challenging aspect of this project was the site refered to as "the bowl." A flood of the Delaware River had caused a large mudslide. The result was a bowl shaped cliff that was eroding and threatening to destroy a jogging path.
ERI designed and implemented a plan for stabilization of the hill which included grading the hill, laying rock, covering with geotextile, adding new topsoil over the geotextile, using coir matting to stabilize the soil, and finally seeding the hill and replanting above and below with native species.
Landslide resulted in a bowl shaped hill
ERI Design
ERI Design
Geotextile was secured ontop of the rock
A soil cap was added to allow the hillside to vegetate
