THE BENT WILLOW POLE METHOD

BIOENGINEERING: The use of living plant materials to stabilize streambanks Most bioengineering gives Mother Nature a jump start (plant those native species, tall, short, fast growing, slow growing, etc.)

THE BENT WILLOW POLE METHOD, SULPHUR CREEK, REDDING, CA.

THE BENT WILLOW POLE METHOD A John McCullah invention This technique is used to integrate large willow poles behind (landward of) a riprap protection scheme Poles can be laid on the bank (butt ends in water or vaidose zone), covered with riprap, then the upper ends bent to a vertical position, then rocks wedged behind pole to keep pole oriented vertically Allows willows to grow in some areas (UP BANK) where naturally it might be too dry for vigorous willow growth Mini case study: 1 of 25

Unique willow pole transportation Mini case study: 2 of 25

This method invented by John McCullah! From: Self-Filtering Stone can be used in this application Riprap can also be soil choked, seeded, planted Mini case study: 3 of 25

LPSTP weighted toe with paved midbank– Upper bank sloped & vegetated Grade the bank to the appropriate angle Mini case study: 4 of 25 Locked Logs (not used in John’s example) would be angled downstream 30 degrees Option

LPSTP weighted toe with paved midbank– Upper bank sloped & vegetated Grade the bank to the appropriate angle Mini case study: 5 of 25 Horizontal Root Wads can also be used, flow should be straight into the root wad (in compression) Option

LPSTP weighted toe with paved midbank– Upper bank sloped & vegetated Install gravel- cobble granular filter Mini case study: 6 of 25

LPSTP weighted toe with paved midbank– Upper bank sloped & vegetated Install willow poles (to be used as the Bent Willow Pole Method) Mini case study: 7 of 25

The Bent Willow Pole Method installation- slope bank & lay willow poles in place Pix from John McCullah Mini case study: 8 of 25

LPSTP weighted toe with paved midbank– Upper bank sloped & vegetated Start to install riprap Mini case study: 9 of 25

LPSTP weighted toe with paved midbank– Upper bank sloped & vegetated Bent Willow Pole Method (underlying willow bent up, then next stone placed) More riprap Mini case study: 10 of 25

LPSTP weighted toe with paved midbank– Upper bank sloped & vegetated Bent Willow Pole Method Mini case study: 11 of 25

The Bent Willow Pole Method- bend willows up, install stone, then bend next higher row of willows, add stone. Pix from John McCullah Mini case study: 12 of 25

LPSTP weighted toe with paved midbank– Upper bank sloped & vegetated More riprap Mini case study: 13 of 25

LPSTP weighted toe with paved midbank– Upper bank sloped & vegetated Bent Willow Pole Method Mini case study: 14 of 25

The Bent Willow Pole Method-8 months after installation Pix from John McCullah Mini case study: 15 of 25

The Bent Willow Pole Method-after 4 growing seasons, note fence was removed Pix from John McCullah Mini case study: 16 of 25

The Bent Willow Pole Method during a high flow event-Dec 27, 2006 Pix from John McCullah Mini case study: 17 of 25

The Bent Willow Pole Method June 1, 2008 Pix from Dave Derrick Mini case study: 18 of 25 Cottonwood from live stake

The Bent Willow Pole Method June 1, 2008, close-up of willows Pix from Dave Derrick Mini case study: 19 of 25

POSSIBLE VARIATION Plant some rooted-stock trees & shrubs within riprap area (in addition to the Bent Willow Poles) Mini case study: 20 of 25

LPSTP weighted toe with paved midbank– Upper bank sloped & vegetated Install Brush Layering Mini case study: 21 of 25

LPSTP weighted toe with paved midbank– Upper bank sloped & vegetated Install rooted-stock plants Mini case study: 22 of 25

LPSTP weighted toe with paved midbank– Upper bank sloped & vegetated Soil-choke riprap Mini case study: 23 of 25

LPSTP weighted toe with paved midbank– Upper bank sloped & vegetated Hydroseed all disturbed areas Mini case study: 24 of 25

DONE Mini case study: 24 of 25

MAKE IT A SHOWCASE!! Anything that should be along the stream corridor that is missing? Diversity: native plant assemblage (large variety of species and age) Native plants to out-compete non-natives? Wildlife / bird attractors-nesting Food sources: native pear-apple, crabapple, oak, berries Vines? Ground cover? Trumpet vines? Hummingbirds - butterflies - pollinators-insect attractors? Year round color: budding trees in spring (dogwood, redbud,) colorful flowering plants in summer (native azaleas, mountain laurel), fall and winter color (maples), trees that have unusual colored leaves-berries in fall winter? Good urban plants? Pollution tolerant?

Adventitious Rooting Plants (when trunk or branches are in contact with soil the plant will sprout roots) Banker’s Willow- Salix x cottetii, Streamco Willow- Salix purpurea, Black Willow- Salix nigra, Pussy Willow- Salix discolor, & Crack, Autumn etc. Red Osier Dogwood- Cornus stolonifera Silky Dogwood- Cornus amomum Buttonbush- Cephalanthus occidentalis Sycamore- Platanus occidentalis Cottonwood- Populus deltoides Box Elder- Acer negundo Speckled Elder-(bark was scarred)- Alnus rugosa Elderberry- Sambucus Canadensis Elm- Ulmus Americana Bois d'arc, Mock Orange, Bow Wood, Hedge Apple, Horse Apple, Osage Orange- all are Maclura pomifera. River Birch- (Betula nigra) Black Locust- (Robinia psedoacacia) Northern Catalpa- (Catalpa speciosa) Mulefat- (Baccharis salicifolia) Anyone know of any others???

ADVENTITIOUS ROOTING PLANTS NEED TO BE PLANTED WHEN THE PLANTS ARE DORMANT {AFTER THE LEAVES HAVE DROPPED & BEFORE THE LEAF BUDS APPEAR IN THE SPRING}

This PowerPoint presentation was developed & built by Dave Derrick. Any questions or comments, call my personal , or Enjoy the information!!

THAT’S ALL FOR NOW FOLKS !!!!