Project Objectives

Soft Shoreline Stabilization Options

Hudson River Estuary

Alternatives

Literature review of soft

stabilization techniques

Qualitative assessment of
available soft stabilization
techniques

Recommended
techniques applicable to
the Hudson River Estuary

Literature Review
Databases accessed:

Ingenta
EBSCOHost
Scientific Research
Illumina
Engineering Village
USACE
ASCE
NRCS

Literature Review
Keywords for database searches:

References sources:

Internet
University of
Massachusetts,
Amherst
Pennsylvania State
University

River restoration
River bioengineering
Soil bioengineering
Streambank stabilization
Biotechnical streambank stabilization
Ecological river restoration
Estuarine river restoration

Literature Review
Substantial information found from:
z

FISRWG 1998 - Stream Corridor Restoration: Principles,

Processes and Practices.
Practices. The Federal Interagency Stream
Restoration Working Group, ISBNISBN-0-934213934213-5959-3.
USDA NRCS 1996 - Chapter 16, Streambank and Shoreline
Protection. Engineering Field Handbook, USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service, Aberdeen, ID.
GSWCC 2000 - Guidelines for Streambank Restoration. (Revised
March/2000). Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission.

Literature Review
z

Allen and Leech 1997 - Bioengineering for Streambank Erosion

Control - Report 1, Guidelines, Technical Report ELEL-9797-8. U.S.
Army Engineer Waterways Experimental Station, Vicksburg, MS.
z

Available Soft Shoreline

Stabilization Techniques

Live Stakes
Wattling or Live Fascines
Brush layering
Branch packing
Vegetated Geogrids
Live Cribwall
Live Grating
Joint Planting

Gray and Sotir 1996 - Biotechnical and soil bioengineering slope

stabilization: A practical guide for erosion control.
control. A WileyWileyInterscience Publication, New York, New York.
Schiechtl 1980 - Bioengineering for Land Reclamation and
Conservation. The University of Alberta Press, Alberta, Canada.
Schiechtl and Stern 1997 - Water Bioengineering Techniques for
Watercourse, Bank and Shoreline Protection. Blackwell Science,
Klosterneuburg,
Klosterneuburg, Austria
Landphair and Li 2002 - Biotechnical engineering as an alternative to
traditional engineering methods, A biotechnical streambank
stabilization design approach. Landscape and Urban Planning 60
(2002) 225
225242. Texas Transportation Institute.
Various U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center
Technical Reports

Available Soft Shoreline

Stabilization Techniques

Brush Mattress
Tree Revetment
Log and Rootwad Revetment
Dormant Post Planting
Coconut Fiber Rolls, Jute Logs,
Coir Rolls
Vegetative Rock Gabions

Live Stakes (source: Texas DOT)

Live Stakes
(source USDA Engineering Field Handbook 1996)

Live Fascines (source: Texas DOT)

Live Fascines
(source:

Sotir and Fischenich 2001)

Brush Layering (source: Texas DOT)

Branch Packing (source: Texas DOT)

Branch Packing

Vegetated Geogrids (source Texas DOT)

(source USDA Engineering Field Handbook 1996)

Vegetated Geogrids

Live Crib Wall (source: Texas DOT)

(source: Sotir and Fischenich 2003)

Live Crib Wall

Live Grating

(source: USDA Engineering Field Handbook 1996)

(source: USDA Engineering Field Handbook 1996)

Joint Planting (source: Texas DOT)

Joint Planting
(source: USDA Engineering Field Handbook 1996)

Naturally occurring along Hudson River Shoreline (source: D. Miller)

Miller)

Brush Mattress (source: Texas DOT)

Brush Mattress
(source: USDA Engineering Field Handbook 1996)

Tree Revetment
(source: USDA Engineering Field Handbook 1996)

Log, Rootwad Boulder Revetment

Tree Revetment
(source: USDA Engineering Field Handbook 1996)

Log, Rootwad Boulder Revetment

(source: USDA Engineering Field Handbook 1996)

Source: Fischenich and Allen 2000

Source: USDA Engineering Field
Handbook 1996

Dormant Post Plantings

Dormant Post Plantings

(source: Texas DOT)

Source: Hoag 2000

Source: USDA Engineering Field

Handbook 1996

Coconut Fiber Roll

Coconut Fiber Roll

(source: USDA Engineering Field Handbook 1996)

(source: USDA Engineering Field Handbook 1996)

Vegetative Rock Gabions

Vegetative Rock Gabions

source: Fischenich and Allen 2000

Source: Freeman and Fischenich 2000

source: USDA Engineering Field

Handbook 1996

Criteria for Screening Alternatives

Available stabilization techniques were reviewed

for applicability to the Hudson River Estuary

Techniques with stabilization properties greater

than 6 inch diameter riprap were selected
potential application.
z

Qualitative Screening of Options

(source: Fischenich 2001)
Boundary Category

Temporary Rolled
Erosion Control
Products (RECPs)

Riprap size chosen to represent low end of existing

stabilization measures on the Hudson River Estuary
Stabilization qualities for 6 inch diameter riprap:

Permissible
Shear Stress
(lb/ft2)

Permissible
Velocity
(ft/sec)

Reed plantings

0.1-0.6

N/A

Hardwood tree plantings

0.41-2.5

N/A

0.45

1-2.5

1.5-1.65

1-3

2.25

3-4

Boundary Type

Jute net
Straw net
Coconut fiber with net

Non-Degradable
RECPs

Unvegetated

Permissible shear stress =

2.5 lb/ft2

Partially vegetated

Permissible Velocity =

5-10 ft/sec

Fully vegetated

5-7

4.0-6.0

7.5-15

8-21

Qualitative Screening of Options

(source: Fischenich 2001)
Boundary Category

Boundary Type

Permissible
Shear Stress
(lb/ft2)

Permissible
Velocity (ft/sec)

2.5

5-10

Riprap

6 inch D50

7.6

12-16

Soil Bioengineering

Wattles

0.2-1.0

Reed fascine

0.6-1.25

18 inch D50

Hard Surfacing

Qualitative Screening of Options

Based on information presented in the previous
table and other literature, soft stabilization
techniques considered to be applicable for
the Hudson River Estuary are:

Coir roll

3-5

Vegetated coir mat

4-8

9.5

Live brush mattress (initial)

0.4-4.1

Live brush mattress

(grown)

3.90-8.2

12

Brush Layering (initial/grown)

0.4-6.25

12

Live fascine

1.25-3.10

6-8

Live willow stakes

2.10-3.10

3-10

Gabions

10

14-19

Concrete

12.5

>18

Vegetation for Stabilization

Most common and costcost-effective method to
establish vegetation utilize dormant, nonnon-rooted
cuttings

z
z

Vegetative Geogrids
Live Crib Wall
Joint Plantings
Brush Mattresses
Vegetative Rock Gabions

Typical Vegetation for Stabilization

Woody plant families most commonly referenced
in the literature include:
z
z

Benefits of cuttings:
Stability when exposed to high water velocities
Ability to plant where water table is deeper than
1 ft
Lower costs than traditional bare root or
container nursery stock

Willows
Dogwoods and
Viburnums

These species (especially willows) propagate roots

easily from cuttings
Native species should be used

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Planting Cautions

Other Invasive Species

Monitoring after installing plantings should be done

to control invasive plants.
Asiactic bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus)

Common invasive plants include:

Purple loosestrife (Lythrum
(Lythrum salicaria)
salicaria)
Japanese Knotweed (Polygonum
(Polygonum cuspidatum)
cuspidatum)

Black swallow-wort (Cynanchum nigram and

Cynanchum rossicum)
Common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica)
Garlic mustard (Allaria petiolata)

Invasive aquatic plants common to the Hudson

are:
Common Reed (Phragmites
(Phragmites australis)
australis)
Water chestnut (Trapa natans)
natans)
Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum)
spicatum)

Honeysuckles (non-native shrub species)

Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii)
Multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora)
Tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima)

Published Cost Data

Vegetation Selection

Stabilization
Techniques

Criteria:
z
z
z
z
z
z
z
z
z

Native plants
Readily available
Roots easily from cutting
Rapid growth rate
Spread potential
Salinity tolerance (lower regions of the estuary)
Flood tolerance
Cost
Low maintenance

Unit Capital Costs

Reference

Vegetated Geogrids

$16 - 37 per square foot

Sotir and Fischenich

2003

Live Cribwall

$13-33 per square foot

Gray and Sotir 1996

Joint Planting

$1 5 per square foot2

Gray and Sotir 1996

Brush Mattress

$3 - 14 per square foot

Allen and Fischenich

2000

Vegetated Rock
Gabions

$176 527 per cubic yard of

protection

Freeman and
Fischenich 2000

Notes:

For comparison, costs were adjusted to 2005 present day $

Joint planting costs do not include riprap and assumes 4 cuttings/SY

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Questions?
References
Adams, M.A. 2002. Shoreline Structures Environmental
Design: A Guide For Structures Along Estuaries and
Large Rivers. Fisheries and Oceans Canada,
Vancouver, BC and Environmental Canada, Delta,
BC. 68p and appendices.
Allen, H.H., and Fischenich, J.C. 2000. Brush mattress for
streambank erosion control, EMRRP Technical
Notes Collection. U.S. Army Engineer Research and
Development Center, Vicksburg, MS.
www.wes.army.mil/el/emrrp
Allen and Leech 1997 - Bioengineering for Streambank
Erosion Control - Report 1, Guidelines, Technical
Report ELEL-9797-8. U.S. Army Engineer Waterways
Experimental Station, Vicksburg, MS.
Allen, H.H., and Fischenich,
Fischenich, J.C. 1999. Coir geotextile roll
and wetland plants for streambank erosion control,
EMRRP Technical Notes Collection TN EMRRPEMRRP-SRSR4. U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development
Center, Vicksburg, MS.
Caulk, A.D., Gannon, J.E., Shaw, J.R., Hartig,
Hartig, J.H. 2000.
Best Management Practices for Soft Engineering
Solutions. Greater Detroit American Heritage River
Initiative, Detroit, Michigan.
Fischenich, C. 2001. Stability Thresholds for Stream
Restoration Materials, EMRRP Technical Notes
Collection ERDC TNEMRRPTNEMRRP-SRSR-29. U.S. Army
Engineer Research and Development
Center,Vicksburg,
Center,Vicksburg, MS.
Fischenich, J.C., 2000. Stream Management. US Army
Corps of Engineers Waterways Experiment Station,
Vicksburg, MS.

FISRWG 1998 - Stream Corridor Restoration: Principles,

Processes and Practices. The Federal Interagency
Stream Restoration Working Group, ISBNISBN-0-9342139342135959-3.
Freeman, G. E., and Fischenich,
Fischenich, J.C. 2000. Gabions for
streambank erosion control, EMRRP Technical
Notes Collection ERDC TNTN-EMRRPEMRRP-SRSR-22. U.S.
Army Engineer Research and Development Center,
Vicksburg, MS.
Gray and Sotir 1996 - Biotechnical and soil bioengineering
slope stabilization: A practical guide for erosion
control. A WileyWiley-Interscience Publication, New York,
New York.
GSWCC 2000 - Guidelines for Streambank Restoration.
(Revised March/2000). Georgia Soil and Water
Conservation Commission.
Landphair and Li 2002 - Biotechnical engineering as an
alternative to traditional engineering methods, A
biotechnical streambank stabilization design
approach. Landscape and Urban Planning 60 (2002)
225
225242. Texas Transportation Institute.
Schiechtl 1980 - Bioengineering for Land Reclamation and
Conservation. The University of Alberta Press,
Alberta, Canada.
Schiechtl and Stern 1997 - Water Bioengineering
Techniques for Watercourse, Bank and Shoreline
Protection. Blackwell Science, Klosterneuburg,
Klosterneuburg,
Austria
Sotir,
Sotir, R.B., and Fischenich,
Fischenich, J.C. 2003. Vegetated
Reinforced Soil Slope for Streambank Stabilization,
EMRRP
Sotir,
Sotir, R.B., and Fischenich,
Fischenich, J.C. 2001. Live and Inert
Fascine Streambank Erosion Control, EMRRP
USDA NRCS 1996 - Chapter 16, Streambank and
Shoreline Protection. Engineering Field Handbook,
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service,
Aberdeen, ID.

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