THE BENT WILLOW POLE METHOD

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THE BENT WILLOW POLE METHOD
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BIOENGINEERING The use of living plant
materials to stabilize streambanks

• Most bioengineering gives Mother Nature a jump
  start (plant those native species, tall, short,
  fast growing, slow growing, etc.)

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THE BENT WILLOW POLE METHOD, SULPHUR CREEK,
REDDING, CA.
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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
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Unique willow pole transportation
Mini case study 2 of 25
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This method invented by John McCullah!
From www.E-SenSS.com
Self-Filtering Stone can be used in this
application
Mini case study 3 of 25
Riprap can also be soil choked, seeded, planted
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LPSTP weighted toe with paved midbank Upper
bank sloped vegetated
Option
Grade the bank to the appropriate angle
Locked Logs
(not used in Johns
example) would be
angled downstream 30 degrees
Mini case study 4 of 25
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LPSTP weighted toe with paved midbank Upper
bank sloped vegetated
Option
Grade the bank to the appropriate angle
Horizontal Root Wads can also be used, flow
should be straight into the root wad (in
compression)
Mini case study 5 of 25
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LPSTP weighted toe with paved midbank Upper
bank sloped vegetated
Install gravel-cobble granular filter
Mini case study 6 of 25
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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
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The Bent Willow Pole Method installation-slope
bank lay willow poles in place

• Pix from John McCullah

Mini case study 8 of 25
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LPSTP weighted toe with paved midbank Upper
bank sloped vegetated
Start to install riprap
Mini case study 9 of 25
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LPSTP weighted toe with paved midbank Upper
bank sloped vegetated
More riprap
Bent Willow Pole Method (underlying willow bent
up, then next stone placed)
Mini case study 10 of 25
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LPSTP weighted toe with paved midbank Upper
bank sloped vegetated
Bent Willow Pole Method
Mini case study 11 of 25
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The Bent Willow Pole Method-bend willows up,
install stone, then bend next higher row of
willows, add stone.

• Pix from John McCullah

Mini case study 12 of 25
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LPSTP weighted toe with paved midbank Upper
bank sloped vegetated
More riprap
Mini case study 13 of 25
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LPSTP weighted toe with paved midbank Upper
bank sloped vegetated
Bent Willow Pole Method
Mini case study 14 of 25
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The Bent Willow Pole Method-8 months after
installation

• Pix from John McCullah

Mini case study 15 of 25
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The Bent Willow Pole Method-after 4 growing
seasons, note fence was removed

• Pix from John McCullah

Mini case study 16 of 25
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The Bent Willow Pole Method during a high flow
event-Dec 27, 2006

• Pix from John McCullah

Mini case study 17 of 25
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The Bent Willow Pole Method June 1, 2008
Cottonwood from live stake

• Pix from Dave Derrick

Mini case study 18 of 25
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The Bent Willow Pole Method June 1, 2008,
close-up of willows

• Pix from Dave Derrick

Mini case study 19 of 25
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POSSIBLE VARIATION
Plant some rooted-stock trees shrubs within
riprap area (in addition to the Bent Willow Poles)
Mini case study 20 of 25
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LPSTP weighted toe with paved midbank Upper
bank sloped vegetated
Install Brush Layering
Mini case study 21 of 25
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LPSTP weighted toe with paved midbank Upper
bank sloped vegetated
Install rooted-stock plants
Mini case study 22 of 25
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LPSTP weighted toe with paved midbank Upper
bank sloped vegetated
Soil-choke riprap
Mini case study 23 of 25
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LPSTP weighted toe with paved midbank Upper
bank sloped vegetated
Hydroseed all disturbed areas
Mini case study 24 of 25
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DONE
Mini case study 24 of 25
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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?

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

• Bankers 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???
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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
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This PowerPoint presentation was developed
built by Dave Derrick. Any questions or
comments, call my personal cell _at_ 601-218-7717,
or email _at_ d_derrick_at_r2d-eng.comEnjoy the
information!!
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THATS ALL FOR NOW FOLKS !!!!