Interagency Riparian/Wetland Plant Development Project

Workshop participants install brush
revetment on the Lemhi River

As part of our technology transfer program, a three-day Streambank Soil Bioengineering Technical Training Workshop was developed. This workshop was formally a two day workshop, but based on popular demand, has been expanded to a three day course. The first day and a half of the workshop is devoted to the classroom where basic riparian dynamics, riparian zone vegetation, plant acquisition, bioengineering techniques, woody plant propagation, case studies, and project planning are discussed. The afternoon of the second day is held in the field discussing a proposed restoration site. The participants utilize the knowledge gained in the classroom to develop restoration plan alternatives. The plan alternatives are then discussed and the selected plan for the project site is discussed with the group. The third day is spent at the project site where participants install a series of bioengineering treatments on an eroding section of streambank based on the selected project plan.

This year, Streambank Soil Bioengineering Technical Training workshops were held in Grand Forks, ND on the Turtle River, Laguna Beach, CA on Aliso Creek, Stevenson, WA at the River Restoration NW conference as a technical workshop, Parker, AZ on 12 mile Lake located on the CRIT Reservation, and at Moose, WY in Grand Teton National Park on the Snake River. A total of 470 people were trained in 2005 on design and construct ion of Streambank Soil Bioengineering treatments.