THE BENT WILLOW POLE

METHOD

BIOENGINEERING: The use of living plant materials to stabilize

streambanksMost bioengineering gives Mother Nature a

jump start (plant those native species, tall, short, fast growing, slow growing, etc.)

THE BENT WILLOW POLE

METHOD, SULPHUR CREEK,

REDDING, CA.

THE BENT WILLOW POLE METHOD• A John McCullah invention• This technique is used to integrate large willow poles

behind (landward of) a riprap protection scheme• Poles can be laid on the bank (butt ends in water or

vaidose zone), covered with riprap, then the upper ends bent to a vertical position, then rocks wedged behind pole to keep pole oriented vertically

• Allows willows to grow in some areas (UP BANK) where naturally it might be too dry for vigorous willow growth

Mini case study: 1 of 25

Unique willow pole transportationMini case study: 2 of 25

This method invented by

John McCullah!

From: www.E-SenSS.com Self-Filtering Stone can be used in this

application

Riprap can also be soil choked, seeded, planted Mini case study: 3 of 25

LPSTP weighted toe with paved midbank– Upper bank sloped & vegetated

Grade the bank to the appropriate angle

Mini case study: 4 of 25Locked Logs (not used in John’s example) would be angled downstream 30 degrees

Option

LPSTP weighted toe with paved midbank– Upper bank sloped & vegetated

Grade the bank to the appropriate angle

Mini case study: 5 of 25

Horizontal Root Wads can also be used, flow should be straight into the root wad (in compression)

Option

LPSTP weighted toe with paved midbank– Upper bank sloped & vegetated

Install gravel-cobble granular

filter

Mini case study: 6 of 25

LPSTP weighted toe with paved midbank– Upper bank sloped & vegetated

Install willow poles (to be used as the Bent Willow Pole Method)

Mini case study: 7 of 25

The Bent Willow Pole Method installation-slope bank & lay willow poles in place

Pix from John McCullah Mini case study: 8 of 25

LPSTP weighted toe with paved midbank– Upper bank sloped & vegetated

Start to install riprap

Mini case study: 9 of 25

LPSTP weighted toe with paved midbank– Upper bank sloped & vegetated

Bent Willow Pole Method (underlying willow bent up,

then next stone placed)

More riprap

Mini case study: 10 of 25

LPSTP weighted toe with paved midbank– Upper bank sloped & vegetated

Bent Willow Pole Method

Mini case study: 11 of 25

The Bent Willow Pole Method-bend willows up, install stone, then bend next higher row of

willows, add stone.

Pix from John McCullahMini case study: 12 of 25

LPSTP weighted toe with paved midbank– Upper bank sloped & vegetated

More riprap

Mini case study: 13 of 25

LPSTP weighted toe with paved midbank– Upper bank sloped & vegetated

Bent Willow Pole Method

Mini case study: 14 of 25

The Bent Willow Pole Method-8 months after installation

Pix from John McCullah Mini case study: 15 of 25

The Bent Willow Pole Method-after 4 growing seasons, note fence was

removed

Pix from John McCullah

Mini case study: 16 of 25

The Bent Willow Pole Method during a high

flow event-Dec 27, 2006

Pix from John McCullah

Mini case study: 17 of 25

The Bent Willow Pole Method June 1, 2008

Pix from Dave Derrick

Mini case study: 18 of 25

Cottonwood from live stake

The Bent Willow Pole Method June 1, 2008, close-up of willows

Pix from Dave Derrick

Mini case study: 19 of 25

POSSIBLE VARIATIONPlant some rooted-stock trees &

shrubs within riprap area (in addition to the Bent Willow Poles)

Mini case study: 20 of 25

LPSTP weighted toe with paved midbank– Upper bank sloped & vegetated

Install Brush Layering

Mini case study: 21 of 25

LPSTP weighted toe with paved midbank– Upper bank sloped & vegetated

Install rooted-sto

ck plants

Mini case study: 22 of 25

LPSTP weighted toe with paved midbank– Upper bank sloped & vegetated

Soil-choke riprap

Mini case study: 23 of 25

LPSTP weighted toe with paved midbank– Upper bank sloped & vegetated

Hydroseed all disturbed areas

Mini case study: 24 of 25

DONE

Mini case study: 24 of 25

MAKE IT A SHOWCASE!!• Anything that should be along the stream corridor that is

missing?• Diversity: native plant assemblage (large variety of species

and age)• Native plants to out-compete non-natives? • Wildlife / bird attractors-nesting• Food sources: native pear-apple, crabapple, oak, berries • Vines? Ground cover? Trumpet vines? • Hummingbirds - butterflies - pollinators-insect attractors?• Year round color: budding trees in spring (dogwood,

redbud,) colorful flowering plants in summer (native azaleas, mountain laurel), fall and winter color (maples), trees that have unusual colored leaves-berries in fall winter?

• Good urban plants? Pollution tolerant?

Adventitious Rooting Plants(when trunk or branches are in contact with soil the plant will sprout roots)

• Banker’s Willow- Salix x cottetii, Streamco Willow- Salix purpurea, Black Willow- Salix nigra, Pussy Willow- Salix discolor, & Crack, Autumn etc.

• Red Osier Dogwood- Cornus stolonifera• Silky Dogwood- Cornus amomum• Buttonbush- Cephalanthus occidentalis• Sycamore- Platanus occidentalis• Cottonwood- Populus deltoides• Box Elder- Acer negundo• Speckled Elder-(bark was scarred)- Alnus rugosa• Elderberry- Sambucus Canadensis• Elm- Ulmus Americana• Bois d'arc, Mock Orange, Bow Wood, Hedge Apple, Horse Apple, Osage Orange- all

are Maclura pomifera.  • River Birch- (Betula nigra)• Black Locust- (Robinia psedoacacia) • Northern Catalpa- (Catalpa speciosa) • Mulefat- (Baccharis salicifolia)

Anyone know of any others???

ADVENTITIOUS ROOTING PLANTS NEED TO BE PLANTED WHEN THE

PLANTS ARE DORMANT {AFTER THE LEAVES

HAVE DROPPED & BEFORE THE LEAF BUDS APPEAR

IN THE SPRING}

This PowerPoint presentation was developed & built by Dave Derrick.

Any questions or comments, call my personal cell @ 601-218-7717, or email @ d_derrick@r2d-eng.com

Enjoy the information!!

THAT’S ALL FOR NOW FOLKS !!!!