Manitou River – Site M – 29
Bank Stabilization Project
The work was generally completed according to the plans. Due to the high bank and fine sand substrate present, the contractor suggested adding clay soil material on top of the newly 2:1 sloped sand bank to help retain moisture (and encourage the rapid re-growth of vegetation) in the overlying topsoil. This was discussed with a Manitoulin Streams representative and it was agreed that the additional clay material (15 tandem loads) would be applied.
Site M-29 is located where the Manitou River meanders to the east and from consequence of a lack of riparian vegetation, the western bank has undergone extensive erosion as a result of historic poor land use practices. The area affected totals 70 meters in length is composed primarily of loose fine sands. This area was growing in size with each flood event. There was a pressing need to complete restoration plans for site M-29 as the site’s proximity to Government Road makes it ideal to serve as a demonstration site for the “Manitoulin Streams” initiative. Documented outside stream bank erosion cutting into the unprotected bank was creating slumped banks. The significant erosion was subsequently infilling downstream pools and other critical aquatic habitats with sediment and thus reducing the total available critical fish habitat features in the river. Therefore, excessive erosion at this site warranted the need to mitigate this situation through the; installation of large boulders at the toe of where the slope met the waters edge to dissipate the power of high water flows; sloping the river bank to a more stabile 2:1 ratio and planting and re-establishing a dense riparian vegetation zone. When combined, these two restoration initiatives will further increase bank stability while simultaneously providing shade and a cooling effect for the adjacent reach of river. Additionally, clean 1 cm diameter glacial origin spawning gravel was placed on the river bottom adjacent to the newly rehabilitated river bank. This enhanced spawning area encompassing an area of approx. 70 m in length by 5 m in width for a total area of 350 m created.
The work involved the installation of ten (10) root wads, (14) boulders, bank grading behind the root wads, topsoil placement, seeding to establish vegetation, the planting of (1,766) shrubs and the placement of spawning gravel 10 x 3m =30m2, 0.3m thick. A section of river bank immediately upstream of the eroded bend was also graded and shrubs and vegetation planted to stabilize the bank and improve fish habitat. This project will contribute to the rehabilitation of the Manitou River and demonstrated the valued benefits of this community stewardship initiative to the general public and other local landowners who are apprehensive about participating. The work was completed according to the site plans through the cooperation of landowners, dedication of volunteers, consulting expertise of Great Lakes Environmental Services (GLES) and equipment, material, and services of C. Pearson & Sons Ltd. The shoreline was stabilized and re-vegetated with eastern white cedar, red maple and spruce trees, speckled alder, red-osier dogwood, and right of way grass mixture. Numerous communications took place by phone as the landowner lived in Southern Ontario. The landowner and her family member made several trips up to Manitoulin Island from Hamilton to meet with the engineer to go over site design and to contribute her in-kind support. Travel took over 16 hours (both ways) x 4 trips, for a total of 64 hrs plus the cost of gas. The landowner contributed to the project by volunteering her time by planting 206 trees. The Lake Manitou Area Association also contributed to planting trees at the site, 10 people/ 3 hrs. This project had up to 19 volunteers from Manitoulin Streams working on this project at various times.
Manitoulin Streams had numerous committee meetings, site inspections, landowner meetings and email communications to discuss the details about this project including sending out Site Design Request for Proposals, Tenders and Site Supervision to ensure proper delivery of site design and issuing a winner of the bids. A total of 80 hours of volunteered hours was dedicated by “Manitoulin Streams” committee members attending meetings to discuss planning procedures. Funds from various sources were used to complete this project; Site Design was paid for by DFO. CFWIP, COA, and Eco-Action were used to pay for heavy equipment rental and materials to complete rehabilitation work. COA also contributed for site supervision by a certified engineer.
Erosion of the stream bank had caused sediment to be displaced down stream over critical fish habitat. The pictures demonstrate the lack of vegetation along the shoreline which is needed to stabilize the banks.
The work was generally completed according to the plans. Due to the high bank and fine sand substrate present, the contractor suggested adding clay soil material on top of the newly 2:1 sloped sand bank to help retain moisture (and encourage the rapid re-growth of vegetation) in the overlying topsoil. This was discussed with a Manitoulin Streams representative and it was agreed that the additional clay material (15 tandem loads) would be applied.
Site M-29 is located where the Manitou River meanders to the east and from consequence of a lack of riparian vegetation, the western bank has undergone extensive erosion as a result of historic poor land use practices. The area affected totals 70 meters in length is composed primarily of loose fine sands. This area was growing in size with each flood event. There was a pressing need to complete restoration plans for site M-29 as the site’s proximity to Government Road makes it ideal to serve as a demonstration site for the “Manitoulin Streams” initiative. Documented outside stream bank erosion cutting into the unprotected bank was creating slumped banks. The significant erosion was subsequently infilling downstream pools and other critical aquatic habitats with sediment and thus reducing the total available critical fish habitat features in the river. Therefore, excessive erosion at this site warranted the need to mitigate this situation through the; installation of large boulders at the toe of where the slope met the waters edge to dissipate the power of high water flows; sloping the river bank to a more stabile 2:1 ratio and planting and re-establishing a dense riparian vegetation zone. When combined, these two restoration initiatives will further increase bank stability while simultaneously providing shade and a cooling effect for the adjacent reach of river. Additionally, clean 1 cm diameter glacial origin spawning gravel was placed on the river bottom adjacent to the newly rehabilitated river bank. This enhanced spawning area encompassing an area of approx. 70 m in length by 5 m in width for a total area of 350 m created.
The work involved the installation of ten (10) root wads, (14) boulders, bank grading behind the root wads, topsoil placement, seeding to establish vegetation, the planting of (1,766) shrubs and the placement of spawning gravel 10 x 3m =30m2, 0.3m thick. A section of river bank immediately upstream of the eroded bend was also graded and shrubs and vegetation planted to stabilize the bank and improve fish habitat. This project will contribute to the rehabilitation of the Manitou River and demonstrated the valued benefits of this community stewardship initiative to the general public and other local landowners who are apprehensive about participating. The work was completed according to the site plans through the cooperation of landowners, dedication of volunteers, consulting expertise of Great Lakes Environmental Services (GLES) and equipment, material, and services of C. Pearson & Sons Ltd. The shoreline was stabilized and re-vegetated with eastern white cedar, red maple and spruce trees, speckled alder, red-osier dogwood, and right of way grass mixture. Numerous communications took place by phone as the landowner lived in Southern Ontario. The landowner and her family member made several trips up to Manitoulin Island from Hamilton to meet with the engineer to go over site design and to contribute her in-kind support. Travel took over 16 hours (both ways) x 4 trips, for a total of 64 hrs plus the cost of gas. The landowner contributed to the project by volunteering her time by planting 206 trees. The Lake Manitou Area Association also contributed to planting trees at the site, 10 people/ 3 hrs. This project had up to 19 volunteers from Manitoulin Streams working on this project at various times.
Manitoulin Streams had numerous committee meetings, site inspections, landowner meetings and email communications to discuss the details about this project including sending out Site Design Request for Proposals, Tenders and Site Supervision to ensure proper delivery of site design and issuing a winner of the bids. A total of 80 hours of volunteered hours was dedicated by “Manitoulin Streams” committee members attending meetings to discuss planning procedures. Funds from various sources were used to complete this project; Site Design was paid for by DFO. CFWIP, COA, and Eco-Action were used to pay for heavy equipment rental and materials to complete rehabilitation work. COA also contributed for site supervision by a certified engineer.
Erosion of the stream bank had caused sediment to be displaced down stream over critical fish habitat. The pictures demonstrate the lack of vegetation along the shoreline which is needed to stabilize the banks.
