. Coast watch. Marine resources; Oceanography; Coastal zone management; Coastal ecology. were filled in with loose synthetic fibers. The soil on the upper slope of the bank was hemmed in with a tight-knit blanket of natural and synthetic fiber. A roll of compressed coconut fibers was laid end-to-end upstream of the rows of A-jacks for added support. Several weeks later, volunteers planted grasses and poked cuttings from willow trees along the bank. When the willows sprout in early spring, the tough, fast-growing trees should establish a deep root system resistant to erosion. The willows will a
. Coast watch. Marine resources; Oceanography; Coastal zone management; Coastal ecology. were filled in with loose synthetic fibers. The soil on the upper slope of the bank was hemmed in with a tight-knit blanket of natural and synthetic fiber. A roll of compressed coconut fibers was laid end-to-end upstream of the rows of A-jacks for added support. Several weeks later, volunteers planted grasses and poked cuttings from willow trees along the bank. When the willows sprout in early spring, the tough, fast-growing trees should establish a deep root system resistant to erosion. The willows will also help slow the flow of water in the stream. In some rural farm areas of the Midwest, bioengineers have used large willow poles as the sole source of stabilization. Augered deep into the banks, the willows are often a cost-effective method of erosion control. In urban Illinois, bioengineering has become popular because it is more affordable than all-rock structures, says Randy Stowe, a Chicago-area consultant who designed the Rocky Branch demonstration project. Low-quality limestone is the only locally available material. But even though bioengineering is a sound technique, and vegetative buffers are one of the most important aspects of a healthy stream, the concept often requires "creative marketing," he says. "Many private landowners have an image coming out of Better Homes and Gardens, of green lawn sweeping down to the water's edge," he says. One selling point is that taller vegetation near the water deters Canada geese, an animal that has reached nuisance numbers in some urban areas, says Stowe. The type of vegetation is important. Exotic or invasive species, such as honeysuckle, often take over native plants and tend to have shallow root systems. Native plants work best. Willows, silky dogwood and sycamores are just a few of the woody species that are suited to our climate and land. Bioengineering isn't a cure-all and it won't work everywhere. The am
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