Streambank and Shoreline Protection

Streambank and Shoreline Protection are treatment(s) used to stabilize and protect banks of streams or constructed channels and shorelines of lakes, reservoirs, or estuaries. This practice is used to accomplish one or more of the following purposes: to prevent the loss of land or damage to land uses or facilities adjacent to the banks of streams or constructed channels and shorelines of lakes, reservoirs, or estuaries. This includes the protection of known historical, archaeological, and traditional cultural properties; maintain the flow capacity of streams or channels; reduce the offsite or downstream effects of sediment resulting from bank erosion; improve or enhance the stream corridor or shoreline for fish and wildlife habitat, aesthetics, or recreation.

This practice applies to streambanks of natural or constructed channels and shorelines of lakes, reservoirs, or estuaries susceptible to erosion. It does not apply to erosion problems on main ocean fronts, beaches, or similar areas of complexity.

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Stream Restoration, a Natural Channel Design Handbook

Stream restoration is the re-establishment of the general structure, function and self-sustaining behavior of the stream system that existed prior to disturbance. It is a holistic process that requires an understanding of all physical and biological components of the stream system and its watershed. Restoration includes a broad range of measures, including the removal of the watershed disturbances that are causing stream instability; installation of structures and planting of vegetation to protect streambanks and provide habitat; and the reshaping or replacement of unstable stream reaches into appropriately designed functional streams and associated floodplains.

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Turf Transformations Achieve Multiple Benefits

Transforming Non-Functional Turf to Waterwise Landscapes Achieves Multiple Benefits

Transforming non-functional turf to waterwise landscapes achieves a wide range of benefits that enhance water supply and community resilience.

Many of these benefits, such as water and cost savings, are quantifiable. Other co-benefits of transforming non-functional turf to waterwise landscapes, such as neighborhood beautification and pollinator habitat, are qualitative. These qualitative benefits, while less measurable, remain important considerations when making the “triple bottom line” case for investing in landscape transformations. Waterwise landscaping provides environmental, economic, and social benefits. These landscapes also help build community resilience to the impacts of climate change, reduce stresses on local resources from population growth, and supplement aging infrastructure. All these benefits—both quantifiable and qualitative—should be taken into account when considering whether to make these investments. Comparing the cost of replacements to water and cost savings alone would not capture the full meaning of the investment for the community.

To support communities’ triple bottom line assessment of local turf conversion programs, WaterNow and Western Resource Advocates have developed this resource with short descriptions of the qualitative benefits waterwise landscapes generate and access to additional resources, including frameworks for evaluating benefits.

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Communitywide Economic Analysis Tool

Developed in collaboration with Honey Creek Resources, this tool comprises a set of interactive worksheets to help utility staff analyze the benefits and costs of turf replacements over a 30-year period. The Economic Analysis Planning Tool also supports decision-making about the cost-effective price point for turf replacement incentives, and helps utility staff compare the cost per acre-foot of water conserved from demand reduction due to turf replacements with the cost per acre-foot of traditional water supplies.

Pilot Parcel Water Savings Estimate Tool

This data driven tool estimates water savings for turf replacement projects by considering the existing landscaping, new landscaping, and annual water savings based on local climate data (including reference ET, rainfall, and landscape water requirements).

Communitywide Assessment Water Savings Estimate Tool

This tool features a collection of interactive worksheets to assist utility staff in evaluating various turf replacement scenarios and estimating water savings for different types of replacement landscaping throughout the community.

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Grand Rapids Stormwater Credit Trading

 

 

Stormwater Credit Trading

Why We Need Green Infrastructure

Why We Need Green Infrastructure

Making Detroit’s GSI Count

Making Detroit's Green Stormwater Infrastructure Count

Detroit faces significant challenges from unmanaged stormwater, including surface flooding and combined sewer overflows (CSOs). The increased rainfall volumes and intensity expected with climate change will only add to this risk. Therefore, stormwater management that can address increased rainfall, reduce downstream pollution, and support healthy communities will play a critical role in the future of Detroit and the surrounding region.

In this report, The Nature Conservancy in Michigan examines 1) the ongoing needs for stormwater management in Detroit, 2) the opportunity to leverage stormwater management into broader impact, 3) the approaches and perceptions of stormwater management designers, and 4) the costs and benefits of a suite of existing stormwater management projects.

Click the link below to download the report.