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construction sequence from the
Paper Mill Run Demonstration Project
The construction began
in late August, and went on through the first week of
September, 1998. It involved some heavy equipment
(a diesel-powered excavator and a dump truck), and lots
of human muscle in the form of volunteers.
Biodegradable materials were used to reinforce
the newly-graded soil of the stream banks until the new
vegetation could take root and hold the banks in place.
As of autumn 2004, a few traces of this reinforcing material
were still visible, but the banks had been completely
overgrown with vegetation (only some of which is unwanted,
invasive plant life).
All photos were taken
by Pam Morris unless otherwise noted.
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Detail of a severely eroded
bank before construction.
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Banks were graded from steep,
eroded drop-offs to wider, shallower slopes.
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A shallow trench was cut at
the bottom, or "toe", of the bank.
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The toe of the slope was then
protected from erosion by biodegradable coconut fiber logs.
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The logs were set down into
the trench...
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...and temporarily staked into
place.
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Coconut coir matting was rolled
out...
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...and sewn to the fiber logs to create
a unified structure to stabilize the soil.
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Staking was completed...
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...and everything was tied and
sewn together.
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The matting was then rolled
back again, and the bank was raked and seeded.
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Then the mats were replaced,
stapled and staked to anchor them.
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Small plugs (plants rooted in
a tube of soil) were planted through the mats...
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...and sewn into place.
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Finished! September 4,
1998
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Click here
for a comparison of the Paper Mill Run
before and after the project.
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