Stream Management Projects by RNSP and NYC DEP
On a soft afternoon in early November, I met with Karen Rauter, Program Coordinator for Rondout Neversink Stream Program, and Mark Vian, Project Manager of NYC Department of Environmental Protection. They took me on a tour of their two past projects and one project-in-progress.
The first stop was a residential property project. They explain that many landowners prefer manicured lawn extending right up to the water, exposing the bank to erosion. This particular property owner came on board after Hurricane Irene.
They used coir blocks (coconut fiber blocks) to build banks and planted them with willows. They show how they were stacked and explain why they chose these type of willows.
The second project was an immense project where they outfitted a long portion of a large stream. The West Branch Neversink River Project demonstrated the practice of bioremediation and partnership among various organizations. They enforced the stream bank with coir blocks and willows to create a buffer between the road and water, controlling erosion and preventing road salts from entering the stream. They also planted willows right through an existing riprap, a common practice used in streams and rivers, further stabilizing the bank and creating the bio-buffer.
The third project is in the planning phase, at a spot called Clothed Pool. It is a bank where the grade is too steep for vegetations to take hold, allowing a constant flow of sediment to enter the stream. Mark explains his vision of how this problem could be solved.
Stream management takes coordination among many different players, sometimes with differing opinions. Karen and Mark impressed me by their sensitivity and understanding of the concerns of all that are involved.
The three videos are organized into a playlist. One will play after another.
