Week One (First Week in October, 2008) (06 - 10 October) Work began on the north side of the Eagle River adjacent to the Edwards Waste Water Treatment Plant. A section of the river was isolated by an AquaDam to contain the sediment stirred up during river restoration. Restoration in this section comprised of narrowing the channel by placing cobbles and pebbles between the shoreline and the dam and packing them down. Larger rocks are finally placed on top of the cobble bed.
The cobble and rock bars in the river will narrow the channel which will create faster flowing water and lower temperatures in the summer months. Extensive planting of vegetation along the river banks is also part of the overall plan. |
Reach One
The AquaDam is performing its function by keeping silt out of the main river channel while the crew is working inside it.
Reach One
The bottom layer of pebbles and cobbles are being packed down to form the base of an alternating bar.
Reach One
Boulders are placed on top of the river stone base and then pounded into place.
Week Two
(Second Week in October, 2008)
(13 - 17 October)
Work continues on the north bank with the placement of log spurs. Also submerged boulders have been dropped into the river.
Reach One
Log spurs have been placed along the banks west of last week’s photos. The photo also includes 3 submerged boulders near the logs.
Reach One
The finished cobbled alternating bar – with 3 submerged boulders off of it.
(The small “island” already existed in the river – not part of the construction.)
Week Three
(Third Week in October, 2008)
(20 - 24 October)
Work now begins on the south side of the river across the river from the Waste Water Treatment Plant. After completing this section, the river will be narrower and deeper, which will result in a faster flowing stream with less surface area exposed to raise the temperature. Deeper streams are cooler streams -- trout like cooler water.
Reach One
The first bar that was constructed can be seen upstream on the left; while the AquaDam has been placed on the south side of the river for the construction of a second bar.
Reach One
The backhoe is beginning work to fill the area defined by the AquaDam and the shore. The two yellow curtains are additional silt trapping devices. Just under the bridge is a third curtain (mostly underwater).
Week Four
(Fourth Week in October, 2008)
(27 - 31 October)
Work has been completed in reach one of the river; the Aqua Dam and access road have been removed. Work will now begin on the next reach. The stream banks in this reach are very low and mostly comprised of easily eroded sand and silt.
Reach One
View of the AquaDam being removed from river by Trachoe as B&B demobilizes from this site.
Reach Two
Next work area on south side of the Eagle, just east of the area shown in the photo above. Note the degraded bank - sand and silt..
During week four, work began on the fifth reach, which is the reach closest to Edwards and just north of the old B&B Excavating operations.
Reach Five
The road from B&B Excavating to the river is through sensitive vegetation. Therefore, a membrane was used to cover the vegetation. Both the membrane and roadbed are shown in the photo. This technique allows B&B to clean up the affected area completely when the roadbed and underlying material are removed.
Week Five
(First Week in November, 2008)
(03 - 07 November)
Work continues on the second reach.
Reach Two
The new path out into the river to the sand island.
Watch out for the water, Melissa
Week Six
(Second Week in November, 2008)
(09 - 14 November)
Work continues on both Reach One & Two.
Reach One & Two
A new gravel bar is under construction. Note the pile of sand in the background. This is to be used to fill a hole in the river that was much deeper than expected.
Also note the yellow sediment capture curtains. No sediment to be allowed downstream!
Reach Two
On the south side of the river across from the Edwards Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Just the top of the AquaDam is evident just beyond the partially submerged boulders.
Reach Two
Placing boulders to support the AquaDam.
A closer look at the sand pile to be used to fill the hole in the river.
Reach One
Cleaning up the access to the Eagle. River remediation in Reach One is compete, but a bit of bank remediation remains.
Reach Two
Part of the former sand island on the south side of the river.
Note the recovered tires. Unfortunately, there are way too many that have been dumped into the river over the years.
Reach Two
Moving westward. The bar grows with the placement of cobbles and boulders.
Week Seven
(Third Week in November, 2008)
(17 - 21 November)
This week's photos show progress on Reach Five.
Reach Five
Looking from the south side of the river northwest. Again, the AquaDam is in use while cobble is placed on the north side of the river to narrow the channel.
Reach Five
A closer look at the AquaDam and the new bar under construction.
Reach Five
Looking almost due East. The bar in the distance on the North side of the river is also new.
Note the concrete barriers to hold the AquaDam in place. It is late in the year and ice is starting to form in the dams during the cold nights -- a real concern.
Week Eight
(Fourth Week in November, 2008)
(24 - 28 November)
Reaches One and Two are nearing completion.
Reach Two
The bar on the south side of the river is complete. This bar abutts the Hazelhorst property. Compare this photo with the second photo of Week Four.
Hint: the sand and silt bank is now stablized with rock.
Reach One
Back in Week Six, a photo was shown of the bank remediation where an access road had been cut to the river. That access has now been reseeded and covered for the Winter.
Week Nine
(First Week in December, 2008)
(01 - 05 November)
The year's work is drawing to a close. Work will begin anew in September 2009!
Erosion control products (left to right in photo: Curlex sediment logs, Koirmat 700 woven fabric, and Curlex NetFree non-woven fabric) will be tarped for overwinter storage and installation next spring as part of revegetation efforts.
Reach Five
Creating an earthen berm barrier to keep any water and soil collected in former B&B lot from flowing down Reach 5 access roads.
Reach Five
New log deflectors and habitat logs installed along the side channel in Reach 5 with innovative “split log pin” for log anchoring – a new alternative to anchoring to reduce rockwork. The Edwards restoration worked hard to blend into and incorporate existing natural features, such as the willows and hawthorns seen in this photo.
Very large boulders set in deepwater pool at downstream end of new point bar – fish (and fishermen) will love it!
