{"id":134,"date":"2019-03-12T23:10:32","date_gmt":"2019-03-12T23:10:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.forsea.org\/stream\/"},"modified":"2023-04-02T03:47:29","modified_gmt":"2023-04-02T03:47:29","slug":"stream","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/www.forsea.org\/stream\/","title":{"rendered":"Streamside Erosion"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n
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\n

  Streamside
\nErosion <\/font>
<\/p>\n

\n

Hundreds
\nof creeks, streams, and rivers form the network which drains the
\nPuget Sound basin. All urban streams, and many rural ones, receive
\nrunoff from lawns, fields, highways or parking lots. Sediments
\nfrom eroding streambanks and changes in land use can smother aquatic
\nlife, clog fish gills, and cut off needed light to underwater
\nplants. How we manage the land around the streams and creeks in
\nour neighborhood helps determine the quality and quantity of water
\nflowing in the Sound. <\/font><\/p>\n

Streamside
\nareas are important to life in and around the stream. Trees and
\nlow bushes shade the stream and help maintain water temperatures
\nthat are suitable for fish while protecting streambanks from erosion.
\nStreams are dynamic systems. Erosion and siltation are natural
\nprocesses which can’t be totally eliminated, nor should they be,
\nbut large scale removal of natural ground covers does impose an
\nunnecessarily heavy risk of excessive erosion and siltation. <\/font><\/p>\n

Tiny ditches
\nbelong to water networks that provide critical spawning and rearing
\ngrounds for salmon, trout, and other aquatic life. They also provide
\na constant supply of water to larger downstream livers, lakes
\nand the Puget Sound. <\/font><\/p>\n

We can all
\nplay a role in minimizing streambank erosion by taking a few simple
\nsteps to improve stream quality. The most important control measure
\nis to make sure your stream is surrounded by plenty of trees.
\nAs much as possible, leave stream banks and channels in their
\nnatural, unaltered condition. Trees and shrubs are important to
\nboth the stability of the streambank and to the health of the
\nstream itself. Trees should not be cleared away, their roots are
\nnature’s best purifying system, removing nutrients and excessive
\nsediments harmful to stream and Sound ecology. <\/font><\/p>\n

Before you
\nplant trees on the banks of your neighborhood creek, call the
\nDepartment of Fisheries habitat office at (206) 753- 6550 for
\ninformation. Any work done within the ordinary high-water line
\nrequires a hydraulic permit from the Department of Fisheries and\/or
\nthe Department of Wildlife (206) 753-3318. <\/font><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

<\/p>\n

\n

When
\nclearing land near a stream, leave a vegetation buffer strip along
\nthe stream. The width of the strip depends on the slope of the
\nland and the existing vegetation. Your local soil conservation
\ndistrict can provide you with assistance on your site.<\/font><\/p>\n

Watering
\nand feeding areas for farm animals and horses should be kept away
\nfrom streams. Because trampling by livestock increases the potential
\nfor streambank erosion, fencing or hedges should be used to restrict
\nlivestock movement. Fencing and hedges can also be used to restrict
\nvehicle or foot traffic.<\/font><\/p>\n

Remove trash,
\nlitter, and obstructions from your streambed. On the other hand,
\nleaning trees, large snags, and other obstructions on the streambank
\nmay help stabilize the bank and benefit fish habitat. As with
\ntree planting within the high-water mark, a Hydraulic Project
\nApproval permit must be obtained before removing obstructions.
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

In cases
\nwhere streambank erosion is severe, vegetation alone will not
\nbe adequate and structural measures may be required. Streambank
\nrestoration requires the assistance of a trained professional.
\nContact your local soil conservation district office for guidance
\nbefore attempting any structural work to protect your streambank.
\nIn your planning, recognize that streams can be expected to naturally
\nshift their banks, sometimes gradually, sometimes abruptly.<\/font><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

\nWaterfront Erosion Control<\/a><\/font><\/font><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  Streamside Erosion Hundreds of creeks, streams, and rivers form […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9048,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"template_6.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.forsea.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/134"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.forsea.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.forsea.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.forsea.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.forsea.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=134"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"http:\/\/www.forsea.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/134\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9262,"href":"http:\/\/www.forsea.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/134\/revisions\/9262"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.forsea.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9048"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.forsea.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=134"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}