Soft Shoreline Stabilization Options

Example Projects

Representative Sites

Campell Island, Rensselaer County

Henry Hudson Park, Bethlehem

Poughkeepsie

Newburgh

Bowline Point Park, Haverstraw

Site Locations

Selected site: Campbell Island

Campbell Island

Campbell Island
shoreline

Hydraulic Conditions

Tidal flow is roughly 10,000 cfs

Average river velocity ~

1.2 ft/sec

Max velocity

2.2 ft/sec

Tide range

4.5 ft

Water Depth

4 to 10 ft

Navigation channel roughly 400 ft from shore

Erosion

Ice scour

River currents

Stormwater runoff

Waves from passing ships

Excerpt from Henry Hudson Park (across river) website

http://www.townofbethlehem.org/ParkHenH.html
http://www.townofbethlehem.org/ParkHenH.html::
Attention Boaters:
The docks and concrete piers were severely damaged by the wake of a
passing ship on July 22, 2005. We are currently working with the NYS
Department of Environmental Conservation to determine the best course of
action in repairing the damage. The ramp remains open. Please use
caution to avoid concrete piers below the surface - they are marked by
buoys. We appreciate your patience.

Existing Shoreline Condition

Old timber bulkhead

with concrete cap

Concrete and timbers

are failing

Existing Structure Deficiencies

Timber Wall Overtopped at high tide

Existing Structure Stability

Concrete Cap Undermined from erosion

Aquatic Habitat

River channel habitat

Nearby tributaries (Papscanee

(Papscanee Creek and Vloman
Kill Creek) are Spawning habitat for:
Blueback herring
Alewife
American Shad

Main channel spawning area for shortnose sturgeon

Existing rock crib structure has been known to

provide habitat for eels

Fish Species
51 beach seine samples since 1980
Species
Banded killifish
Unidentified clupeids
American shad
Spottail shiner
Blueback herring
Tesselated darter
White perch
Alewife
Pumpkinseed

Mean Catch
50.9
37.1
34.3
28.9
28.5
15.4
8.6
1.4
1.1

Existing Shoreline Function

Adjacent land use rural, undisturbed woody

vegetation

Artificial island created of dredged material

from navigation channel

Timber bulkhead designed to contain

dredged material

Does not support nearby infrastructure

Screening of Alternatives
Vegetated Geogrids
z require extensive excavation
z minimal land use constraints for design footprint
Live Cribwall
z feasible
z similar to existing design
z aesthetics not as favorable as other alternatives
Brush Mattress
z requires extensive excavation and deforestation of
the existing riparian vegetation
z labor intensive to install
z not as durable as other options

Screening of Alternatives
Vegetated Rock Gabions
z feasible
z aesthetics not as favorable as other alternatives
Joint Planting
z Could retrofit existing bank with joint plantings
z Remove the existing concrete cap and add live
stakes

Project Design

800 ft of shoreline; 12,000 sq ft area

Remove concrete cap

ReRe-grade rock fill behind existing bulkhead to a

1V:2H slope (if appropriate for existing fill site)

Leave timber piles in place

Add additional piles in gaps of existing bulkhead

z
z

Dissipate wave energy

Offer protection from ice

install vegetated geogrid lifts above high water

Construction Sequence
1.

Access is difficult, some installation work

from barges

2.

Drive piles in bulkhead gaps from barge

3.

Clear and grub riparian area within footprint

4.

Remove concrete cap

5.

ReRe-grade existing riprap fill, add additional

rock where required

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Construction Sequence
6.

Excavate area for geogrid lifts

7.

Install rock foundation

8.

Install soil lifts wrapped in geogrid

9.

Place live cuttings between each soil lift

10.

Drive live or dormant stakes over

installation

Cost Estimate

Installation estimated to take 6 to 8 weeks

$786,000 estimated project cost

z
z
z
z
z
z

$52,000 mob & demob

$68,000 concrete bulkhead removal
$213,000 regrading,
regrading, stone, & timber piles
$239,000 geogrid,
geogrid, brush layering, & live stakes
$57,000 engineering
$157,000 contingencies

Approximately $65.50 per square foot

assuming bargebarge-mounted equipment

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Maintenance

Monitor live cuttings, stakes and dormant

posts often until established (first two
seasons)

Inspect vegetation and bank stability after

major storm or flooding events

Inspect each Spring for ice scour damage

Prune after second season to increase

foliage

Benefits

Stabilize degrading shoreline

Contain dredged material

Heavy vegetation for terrestrial habitat

Reduction in erosion would improve benthic

habitat and water clarity

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Workshop Exercise Sites

Henry Hudson Park, Bethlehem

Poughkeepsie
Newburgh
Bowline Point Park, Haverstraw

Questions?
References:
Allen, H.H., and Fischenich, J.C. 2000. Brush mattress
for streambank erosion control,
control, EMRRP Technical
Notes Collection. U.S. Army Engineer Research and
Development Center, Vicksburg, MS.
www.wes.army.mil/el/emrrp
GSWCC. 2000. Guidelines for Streambank Restoration.
(Revised March/2000). Georgia Soil and Water
Conservation Commission.
Hoag, J.C. 2001. Costs and Considerations of
Streambank Bioengineering Treatments.
Riparian/Wetland Project Information Series No. 15.
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service,
Aberdeen, ID. July 2000.
Mulberg,
Mulberg, G. and Moore, N.J. 2005. Streambank
Revegetation and Protection, A Guide for Alaska,
revised 2005,
2005, Technical Report No. 9898-3. Alaska
Department of Fish and Game, Division of Sport
Fish. April 2005.

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