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Elbow Creek Natural Channel
Design
Environmental processes and
human-induced practices often
alter the natural morphology of
a stream, resulting in bank
erosion and sediment transport.
Natural Channel Design (NCD) is
a fairly new concept to stream
restoration that utilizes the
natural fluvial geomorphology of
a stream to promote
stabilization and to reconstruct
aquatic and flood plain habitat.
Elbow Creek is a major tributary
that enters Lake Algonquin,
Wells, NY. In 1996, a severe
storm event washed out a section
of Glimantown Road. Beadload was
carried to flat sections of the
stream where velocity decreased,
and cobble and pavement were
deposited in the streambed while
smaller sediment was deposited
in Lake Algonquin. Since then,
other storm events have further
increased bank erosion as water
is deflected off the deposited
material in the channel to
stream banks. Local landowners
suffer from soil erosion,
tourism is impacted with
decreased fish populations, and
the Elbow Creek ecosystem has
been adversely impacted.
NCD has been implemented on
Elbow Creek, with the
restoration goal of decreasing
erosion and sediment transport
during a bank full event.
J-hooks and cross vanes are rock
structures that, when placed in
a stream and along the bank,
diffuse and redirect the energy
of the stream to the middle of
the channel, reducing bank
erosion. This reestablishes the
flow of the stream to a more
stable, non-erosive state. Pools
behind these structures create
superb habitat for aquatic life.
Structures were installed along
a 1900-foot stretch of Elbow
Creek. A number of trees that
were falling into the channel
were re-erected and newly
established flood plains were
hydroseeded.
This project was a success due
to the joint efforts of the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service
(operator of structure
installation, project design,
funds), Hamilton County Soil and
Water Conservation District
(project coordinator, provided
FL-LOWPA grant funds for
restoration material and
equipment), Town of Wells
Highway Department (provided
trucking for removal of spoil),
and the Hamilton County Highway
Department (trucking and hauling
of rock).
A video is being developed
detailing the process of NCD on
Elbow Creek. If you would like
more information on this project
or a video, please contact the
HCSWCD office.
 
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