Instream Erosion Control – General

EROSION CONTROL TECHNIQUES

Revegetation ✔ Temperate Climates ✔ Short-Term

Non Vegetation ✔ Wet Tropics ✔ Long-Term
Weed Control [1] Semi-Arid Zones ✔ Permanent ✔
[1] Weed control attributes can be incorporated into many instream erosion control techniques.

Photo 1 – Erosion control blankets Photo 2 – Jute mesh scour protection on

installed during channel revegetation the upper bank and lower rock protection

Disturbed instream surfaces need to be rehabilitated as soon as practicable after instream

works have been completed. Channel banks, and the channel bed where appropriate, should
be actively revegetated rather than waiting for natural regeneration.

One of the best ways of minimising instream soil erosion resulting from instream construction
and maintenance activities is to minimise any in-channel disturbance, and the disturbance of
high-risk areas such as the outside of channel bends. This can be achieved by:
• avoiding unnecessary disturbance to bed or bank vegetation;
• avoiding disturbance on the outside bank of a channel bend;
• minimising the soil disturbance needed to provide access to a work site;
• not accessing the channel via the outside of a channel bend, or via an unstable bank;
• using long-reach excavation equipment that allows all work to be done from the top of bank,
rather than allowing machinery to access the channel bed.

Revegetation is one of the most effective long-term stabilisation techniques for both natural and
modified waterway channels. In-stream ecology can be further enhanced through the re-
establishment of associated bank and over-bank riparian vegetation. Attributes of healthy
riparian vegetation include shading for water temperature control, the establishment of habitat
diversity, the creation of snags, and the linking of aquatic and riparian habitats.

Wherever reasonable and practicable, vegetation should extend to the water’s edge to increase
the value and linkage of the aquatic and riparian habitats. Rock protection of the bank toe
(Photo 2) is usually required to provide stabilisation during the plant establishment phase.

During plant establishment it may also be necessary to protect disturbed surfaces from short-
term erosion with the aid of Erosion Control Blankets, Mats or Mesh. Erosion Control Blankets
and Mats reinforced with synthetic netting are not recommended for use along waterways
containing ground-dwelling wildlife (this is likely to include most natural waterways).

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The stabilisation of active channel erosion requires an understanding of the various types of bed
and bank erosion, the ability to recognise the causes of such erosion, and the ability to identify
appropriate treatment measures. This usually requires the advice of experts, and the approval
of the relevant State authorities.

(a) Bank scour:

Photo 3 – Bank scour Photo 4 – Bank scour on channel bend

Bank scour is the removal of material from the surface of the creek bank as a direct result of
stream flow. The erosion may be the result of excessive turbulence (Photo 3), or high flow
velocity, such as on the outside of a channel bend (Photo 4).
Causes include: high velocity stream flows, poor vegetation cover, excessive reed growth within
the bed of the creek, turbulence caused by trapped debris such as fallen trees, or high velocity
water discharged from stormwater pipes or culverts.
Vegetative treatment measures primarily rely on the use of flexible ground covers placed within
the lower bank and along the water’s edge, and low-branch woody species (e.g. shrubs) placed
on mid and upper bank areas, and on the outer bank of channel bends. Generally, planting
schemes need to ensure that the banks need to be ‘hydraulically’ rougher than the channel bed.
The use of trees within the channel may increase flow turbulence aggravating the erosion.

(b) Bank slumping:

Figure 1 – Bank slump Photo 5 – Bank slumping

Bank slumping is the mass movement of bank material (Figure 1). Geological slip circle failures
are included in this category.
Causes include: the removal of trees from the top of the bank, deepening of the channel by
erosion or dredging, an unusual or rapid lowering of flood waters following saturation of the
banks, or excessive fill material placed on or near the top of bank.
Vegetative treatment measures primarily rely on the use of shrubs on the channel banks,
especially on the outer bank of channel bends; and deep-rooted trees placed planted on the
upper and over-bank areas, especially on steep and/or high banks.

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(c) Bank undercutting:

Figure 2 – Bank undercutting Photo 6 – Bank undercutting

Bank undercutting is the removal of material from the lower portion of a channel bank by ‘bank
scour’. This erosion results in the creation of an overhanging bank that usually fails in a more
violent motion than occurs in ‘bank slumping’. In effect, bank undercutting is a combination of
bank scour within the lower bank, which ultimately causes upper bank slumping. The two
actions may not occur simultaneously.
Causes include: a migrating low-flow channel, frequent high-velocity in-bank flows, exposure of
a weak soil layer within the lower bank, changing catchment hydrology (e.g. urbanisation), or
the removal of essential lower bank vegetation.
Vegetative treatment measures primarily rely on the stabilisation of the lower bank with rock and
tall, flexible, ground covers. Shrubs are normally located on mid and upper bank, and on the
outer bank of channel bends. Trees are primarily located on the upper bank and over-bank
areas, especially on steep and/or high channel banks.
The lower bank area often requires additional scour protection (e.g. rock and/or groynes) during
the plant establishment phase.

(d) Bed scour

Photo 7 – Bed scour Photo 8 – Head-cut erosion

Bed scour is the direct removal of material from the bed of the creek either by high velocity flows
(causing uniform scour along the bed, Photo 7), or the formation of a head cut (waterfall) that
migrates up the creek (Photo 8).
Causes include: clearing of vegetation from the channel resulting in increased flow velocities
(e.g. weed removal or de-snagging), changes in catchment hydrology (e.g. urbanisation and
land clearing), or the exposure of weak (e.g. dispersive) soils within the channel bed.
Bed stabilisation with grasses and other flexible, non-clumping, ground covers may be suitable
on ephemeral streambeds, otherwise the bed may need to be stabilised with rock. In gullies, the
erosion often exposes poor quality soils that will require appropriate chemical adjustment prior
to revegetation.

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(e) Lateral bank erosion

Photo 9 – Lateral bank erosion Photo 10 – Lateral bank erosion

Lateral bank erosion is the erosion of the creek bank resulting from the entry of lateral inflows
(usually stormwater) into the creek. The erosion usually takes the form of an upstream
progressing erosion head (head-cut) that propagates laterally from the main channel forming a
new gully (Photo 10).
Causes include: excavation of the downstream channel bed, a change in catchment hydrology,
or a change in the quantity or direction of overland flows entering a waterway channel.
Treatment normally involves engineered measures such as rock chutes, pool–riffle systems,
and grade control structures. In gullies, stiff grasses such as Vetiver grass, can be used to
slowly stabilise and partially back-fill the gully with sediment—this can help to reduce the rate of
progression of the head-cut.

(f) Fretting

Photo 11 – Wave induced erosion Photo 12 – Fretting erosion

Fretting is the direct removal of erosion prone material from the bank of a creek by wave action
(Photo 11). This erosion results in the undercutting (Photo 12) and possible failure of the bank.
Causes include: wind-generated wave action, waves generated by boat traffic, or the removal of
essential vegetation such as mangroves.
The bank can be stabilised through the formation of a sandy ‘beach’ in front of the eroded bank
or the formation of a retaining wall (generally undesirable). The beach acts as an effective
energy dissipater for the waves. Alternatively, the bank can be stabilised with rock, either with or
without vegetation.
It is usually better to incorporate treatment measures that help to dissipate the wave energy,
rather than hard engineering measures, such as retaining walls, that simply reflect the wave
energy to another location. Rock protection measures should maintain an open void structure to
help adsorb the wave energy; however, it should be noted that the placement of rock along the
toe of the bank can adversely affect the habitat value of the water’s edge.

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Table 1 provides general guidance on the use of vegetation in the control of channel erosion.
Table 1 – Vegetation types and erosion control characteristics

Type Scour control Bank stability Location of plants

Aquatic Provide good stability to Can assist bank stability Aquatic plants naturally
plants the low-flow channel and by protecting the toe of appear only within the
water’s edge. the bank. channel bed.
Some plants (e.g. reeds) If their impact on
can become inflexible as upstream flooding must
plant density increases. be controlled, then heavy
This can aggravate bank shading of any reed beds
erosion. Bank erosion can reduce their density
can be controlled through and thus their impact on
rock placement. flood levels.
Ground The most effective plant These plants are usually Ground covers are
covers for the control of ‘scour’. ineffective in the control generally located at all
To be effective, ground of bank slumping, bank bank elevations and in
cover plants should be undercutting, and head- over-bank areas. Planting
flexible and continuous. cut erosion. densities usually increase
Isolated, clumped plants They can be very within the lower bank
may aggravate soil effective in the area.
erosion. stabilisation of channel Isolated ground covers
Plants with a matted or banks during the early can help stabilise leaf
fibrous (hairy) root stages of revegetation. litter under tree stands.
system are most effective For example, the Some clumping plants,
in sandy soils. establishment of a such as Lomandra, are
temporary grass cover best placed in locations
can help control erosion where they will be fully
in active gullies while the submerged during
slower growing regular flood events (e.g.
permanent plant species in the lower bank area).
are being established.
Shrubs Shrubs can provide Shrubs can contribute to Shrubs are generally best
effective scour control if overall bank strength if located in the upper bank
their interlocking the depth of their root and over-bank areas.
branches prevent high system exceeds the Shrubs are very
velocity water from height of the bank. important on the outside
coming into direct contact Shrubs are unlikely to bank of channel bends.
with the soil. prevent bank under- Extreme care must be
Localised soil scour can cutting unless the shrubs taken when planting
occur around the edge of are located in the lower shrubs within critical flood
isolated plants. regions of the bank. control areas.
Trees Trees usually provide Trees are the most Trees are best located
little protection against effective plants for within the top-of-bank
bed and bank scour; stabilising banks, but not and over-bank areas.
however, significant necessarily stabilising the Tree species can vary
stands of trees can gully head. significantly over the first
reduce channel flow 5m from top-of-bank.
Tree roots provide bank
velocities, thus reducing
reinforcement to control Well-spaced, single-trunk
erosion, but they will also
bank slumping and bank trees with branches
increasing flooding.
undercutting. above flood height are
Some trees have root best in critical flood
To be most effective, tree
systems that survive control areas.
roots should be
when exposed to air.
encouraged to extend Grouped trees should be
Such plants are usually
below bed level. avoided in critical flood
located close to the
control areas.
channel bank.

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Table 2 outlines the attributes of various short- and long-term channel bank stabilisation
methods applicable during the channel revegetation phase.

Table 2 – Bank stabilisation methods during channel revegetation

Bank stabilisation method Uses and attributes

Short-term measures
Hydraulically applied • Includes Bonded Fibre Matrix and Compost Blankets.
blankets (Photo 16)
• Low to medium shear strength, thus only suitable for low
velocity channels.
• Suitable for application on irregular surfaces and steep
bank slopes.
• Compost Blankets can provide a nutrient source.
Jute or coir blankets/matting • Low shear strength, thus only suitable for low velocity
(Photo 13) channels.
• Require good soil preparation and removal of surface
irregularities from the bank.
Jute or coir mesh (Photo 17) • Medium shear strength.
• Generally suitable for the short-term protection of
drainage channels and minor stream and creeks.
• Typical design life in dry environments of 12 to 24
months.
• Do not represent a threat to wildlife.
Synthetic reinforced • Medium shear strength
blankets/matting (Photo 19)
• Plastic mesh can represent a threat to wildlife.
• Generally not suitable for the stabilisation of
watercourses where wildlife such as lizards, snakes and
birds may be present.
Geo Logs (Photo 14) • Diversion of minor high-velocity flows away from
seedlings planted close to the water’s edge.
• Protection of plants along the water’s edge from wave
action, particularly in lakes.
• Must be used with extreme care if placed parallel to the
stream flow, otherwise erosion may occur behind the
logs.
Long-term measures
UV-stabilised Turf • High shear strength.
Reinforcement Matting
• Can be damaged by grass fires.
(TRM)
• Generally not suitable for the stabilisation of
watercourses where ground-dwelling wildlife such as
platypus and bank-nesting birds may be present.
Rock stabilisation of the • Used in areas where channel velocities are high, but
water’s edge or toe of bank near-bankfull flow velocities are low.
(Photo 18)
• Commonly used to minimise the risk of bank erosion
caused by minor flows during the revegetation phase.
Rock stabilisation (rock • Stabilisation of very steep channel banks, with or without
beaching) of full bank vegetation.
• Commonly used on the outside face of high velocity or
sharp channel bends, or to minimise the risk of bank
erosion caused by near-bankfull flows during the
revegetation phase.

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 Photo 13 – Erosion control blankets Photo 14 – Geo log

Photo 15 – Gabions Photo 16 – Hydraulically applied blankets

Photo 17 – Jute mesh Photo 18 – Rock & vegetation

Photo 19 – Synthetic reinforced blankets Photo 20 – Vegetation

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